CPU vs CPU Comparison: Compare Any Two Processors

Pick any two processors and see how they line up: generation, release year, cores, threads, base and boost clock and multi-core benchmark score. Below: the Core i5-12400F vs Ryzen 5 5600, two of the most popular budget gaming chips.

CPU 1

CPU 2

Intel Core i5-12400F vs AMD Ryzen 5 5600

Brand Intel

Brand AMD

Generation Intel 12th Gen (Alder Lake)

Generation AMD Ryzen 5000 (Zen 3)

Release year 2022

Cores 6

Threads 12

Base clock 2.5 GHz

Base clock 3.5 GHz ▲ +40%

Boost clock 4.4 GHz

Multi-core score 4764 ▲ +1.9%

Multi-core score 4674

Scores come from published multi-core benchmark results, not measured on your PC — see the methodology. Wondering which graphics card either processor can keep fed? Run the pair through the bottleneck calculator.

Core i5-12400F vs Ryzen 5 5600: Which Is Better for Gaming?

Spec	Core i5-12400F	Ryzen 5 5600
Gaming frame rate limit	132 FPS	126 FPS
Multi-core score (12 threads)	4,764	4,674
Cores	6	6
Threads	12	12
Base clock	2.5 GHz	3.5 GHz
Boost clock	4.4 GHz	4.4 GHz
Socket	LGA 1700	AM4
Memory	DDR4 or DDR5	DDR4
Release year	2022	2022
Generation	Intel 12th Gen (Alder Lake)	AMD Ryzen 5000 Series (Zen 3)

Verdict: The Core i5-12400F is about 5% faster in games than the Ryzen 5 5600 (132 vs 126 FPS frame rate limit). the Core i5-12400F is a little faster, but the gap is small enough that price and platform should decide it.

The two budget six-core chips that built most entry gaming PCs of the last few years. Both are close in games; the 5600 drops into older AM4 boards, while the 12400F starts you on LGA 1700 with the option of DDR5.

Read the full Core i5-12400F vs Ryzen 5 5600 comparison, with gaming FPS at every resolution.

Head to head

Popular CPU Comparisons

The processor matchups people search for most, each with its own page: specs, platform, gaming FPS at every resolution and a written verdict.

Reading the table

Processor Comparison: What Each Specification Means

Eight rows, eight different questions. Only one of them is about raw speed, and the others decide whether that speed suits you.

Brand

Who makes the chip. It decides the platform you are buying into — socket, chipset and upgrade path — so it matters even when two scores are close.

Generation

The architecture the chip is built on. It sets the socket, memory type and feature set, and it is why a newer mid-range part can beat an older flagship with more cores.

Release year

When the processor launched. Newer usually means better performance per clock and per watt, plus a motherboard platform with more upgrade life left in it.

Cores

Physical cores do the actual work. On newer Intel chips this counts performance and efficiency cores together. Most games are comfortable on six to eight fast cores.

Threads

How many threads the benchmark ran on. Scores are only directly comparable at the same thread count, so the quick picks under each box stay within one group.

Base clock

The speed every core is guaranteed to hold under sustained load. On hybrid Intel chips this is the performance-core figure. It matters most in long, heavy jobs where boost cannot last.

Boost clock

The highest speed a core can reach for short bursts, which is what lightly threaded tasks and many games lean on. A dash means the chip has no boost or the figure is not published.

Multi-core score

The closest thing to a single answer on this page. It is a benchmark result with every core loaded at once, so it shows how much total work the processor can get through.

Choosing

How to Compare Two Processors

The winner badge is a starting point, not a verdict. Work down these four checks and you will know whether the gap is worth paying for.

Start with the multi-core score

Read the percentage under the winner. Under about 10% is close enough that price, platform cost and power draw should decide it. Past 25%, you will feel the difference in heavy, multi-threaded work.

Match the threads to what you do

For gaming alone, six to eight modern cores are plenty. If you also stream, edit video or compile code, the processor with more threads earns its keep even if the gap in score looks small.

Count the platform cost

A newer generation may need a new motherboard and new memory. An older chip that drops into the board you already own can be the better value, even when it loses on the numbers.

Then check your graphics card

A faster processor only helps if the GPU is not already the limit. Once you have a favourite, put it and your graphics card through the bottleneck calculator and see whether the upgrade actually lands.

Questions

CPU Comparison FAQ

Is the Ryzen 7 9800X3D better than the 7800X3D?

Yes. In our model the 9800X3D is about 6% faster in games, and the gap is larger in multi-threaded work because it clocks higher. Both use AM5, so the 9800X3D drops into the same board. If you already own a 7800X3D, it is not worth upgrading for gaming.

Is Intel or AMD better for gaming?

For pure gaming, AMD's X3D chips lead: the 7800X3D's frame rate limit is 7% above the Core i7-14700K's in our model. Intel's chips with more cores are stronger all-rounders for rendering, encoding and streaming. At budget prices the two trade blows, so compare the specific chips you can afford.

How many cores do I need for gaming?

Six modern cores with twelve threads handle current games well. Eight cores give headroom for streaming and background apps. Beyond that, extra cores help productivity work far more than frame rates.

Why are some chips listed more than once in the tool?

Multi-core scores are only comparable at the same thread count, so each chip appears once for every thread count it was benchmarked on. Compare two chips within the same group for a fair result.

How accurate are these CPU comparisons?

Multi-core scores come from published benchmark results; the gaming frame rate limits on the comparison pages are modelled, calibrated against published benchmark averages, with an error margin of roughly ±15%. They are reliable for ranking two processors and sizing the gap, less so for predicting a frame rate in one specific game.

Data last reviewed October 15, 2026. Comparing graphics cards instead? Use the GPU vs GPU comparison.