Core i5-12400F vs Core i5-10400F
The Core i5-12400F is about 40% faster in games than the Core i5-10400F (132 vs 94 FPS frame rate limit).
Quick verdict: the Core i5-12400F is the better processor for gaming, and the gap is large enough to notice with a fast graphics card.
Core i5-12400F vs Core i5-10400F: Specs and Performance
| Spec | Core i5-12400F | Core i5-10400F |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming frame rate limit | 132 FPS | 94 FPS |
| Multi-core score (6 threads) | 3,282 | 2,562 |
| Cores | 6 | 6 |
| Threads | 12 | 12 |
| Base clock | 2.5 GHz | 2.9 GHz |
| Boost clock | 4.4 GHz | 4.3 GHz |
| Socket | LGA 1700 | LGA 1200 |
| Memory | DDR4 or DDR5 | DDR4 |
| Release year | 2022 | 2020 |
| Generation | Intel 12th Gen (Alder Lake) | Intel 10th Gen (Comet Lake) |
Estimated FPS With an RTX 5080
A processor's gaming performance only shows when the graphics card is not the limit. With an RTX 5080, 1080p favours the Core i5-12400F by 40%, 1440p favours the Core i5-12400F by 40%, 4K favours the Core i5-12400F by 5%, which is why the higher the resolution, the less the processor matters. Figures come from our performance model, not from measurements on your PC.
Frame Rate Limit in Popular Games
| Game (settings) | Core i5-12400F | Core i5-10400F |
|---|---|---|
| Cyberpunk 2077 (High, no ray tracing) | ~110 | ~80 |
| Fortnite (High, DirectX 12) | ~165 | ~120 |
| Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 (High) | ~145 | ~105 |
| Counter-Strike 2 (High) | ~290 | ~205 |
The most frames each processor can feed in that game with an unlimited graphics card, rounded to the nearest 5 FPS. Your real frame rate is the lower of this and what your card can render.
Verdict: Core i5-12400F or Core i5-10400F?
The Core i5-12400F is about 40% faster in games than the Core i5-10400F (132 vs 94 FPS frame rate limit). That ceiling only matters when the graphics card is fast enough to reach it: at 1080p with a high-end card you will see most of the gap, at 4K very little of it.
In multi-threaded work the Core i5-12400F scores 28% higher on 6 threads, which shows up in rendering, video encoding, compiling and streaming while gaming.
They sit on different platforms: the Core i5-12400F uses LGA 1700 with DDR4 or DDR5, the Core i5-10400F uses LGA 1200 with DDR4. Switching between them means a new motherboard and possibly new memory, which often costs more than the gap between the processors.
Bottom line: the Core i5-12400F is the better processor for gaming, and the gap is large enough to notice with a fast graphics card.
Which Graphics Card Should You Pair With Them?
Each processor's own page lists the graphics cards it is best matched with at 1080p, 1440p and 4K, and the cards it would hold back:
Related CPU Comparisons
- Core i5-12400F vs Ryzen 5 5600 Core i5-12400F 5% faster in games
- Core i5-12400F vs Ryzen 5 5600X Core i5-12400F 5% faster in games
- Ryzen 5 3600 vs Core i5-10400F Ryzen 5 3600 4% faster in games
- Ryzen 5 5600X vs Ryzen 5 3600 Ryzen 5 5600X 29% faster in games
- Core i3-12100F vs Ryzen 5 5500 Core i3-12100F 14% faster in games
- Compare any two processorsThe full CPU vs CPU tool
Core i5-12400F vs Core i5-10400F: Common Questions
Is the Core i5-12400F better than the Core i5-10400F?
The Core i5-12400F is the better processor for gaming, and the gap is large enough to notice with a fast graphics card. The Core i5-12400F is about 40% faster in games than the Core i5-10400F (132 vs 94 FPS frame rate limit).
Which is better for gaming, the Core i5-12400F or the Core i5-10400F?
The Core i5-12400F, with a model frame rate limit of 132 FPS against 94. With an RTX 5080 at 1440p that works out to about 132 FPS for the Core i5-12400F and 94 FPS for the Core i5-10400F.
Which is better for streaming and productivity?
On 6 threads the Core i5-12400F scores 28% higher in our multi-core benchmark data. Beyond that, the chip with more cores and threads (Core i5-12400F, 12 threads) handles streaming, rendering and encoding better.
Can I swap the Core i5-10400F for the Core i5-12400F on the same motherboard?
No. The Core i5-12400F uses LGA 1700 and the Core i5-10400F uses LGA 1200, so you would need a new motherboard and possibly new memory (DDR4 or DDR5 vs DDR4).
Data last reviewed October 15, 2026. See the methodology for how every figure is produced.