CPU Comparison

The Intel Core i5-12400 and the Intel Core 7 360 are both six-core processors, but they target completely different platforms and use cases. The i5-12400 is a desktop chip on Intel Socket 1700, while the Core 7 360 is a mobile part on Intel BGA 1516. Despite the Core 7 360 being a newer design on a 3 nm node, the benchmark data shows a clear performance hierarchy that favors the older desktop chip in most workloads. This analysis breaks down the head-to-head results, where each processor excels, and what the architecture and specifications reveal about their intended roles.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Intel Core i5-12400 dominates the Core 7 360 in the majority of tested workloads, winning 13 out of 17 head-to-head comparisons. The Cinebench suite shows a remarkably consistent advantage for the desktop part. In Cinebench R15, R20, and R23, the i5-12400 wins both single-core and multi-core tests by a margin of approximately 17.2% to 17.6%. For example, in Cinebench R23 multi-core, the i5-12400 scores 15,989 against the Core 7 360's 13,634, a delta of 17.3%. The single-core results are similarly lopsided, with the i5-12400 scoring 2,257 in Cinebench R23 single-core versus 1,924 for the Core 7 360.

The gap widens considerably in certain PassMark tests. The most dramatic difference appears in PassMark integer math, where the i5-12400 scores 58,366 against 34,238 for the Core 7 360, a delta of 70.5%. Data compression also heavily favors the desktop chip: 226,908 for the i5-12400 versus 142,877 for the Core 7 360, a 58.8% advantage. Extended instructions show a 24.3% lead for the i5-12400 (15,399 vs 12,390), and random string sorting favors the i5-12400 by 26.8% (22,366 vs 17,636). The i5-12400 also wins PassMark multi-threaded by 20.6% (18,747 vs 15,544), though its lead narrows to just 1.2% in floating-point math (45,494 vs 44,963) and 2.3% in data encryption (11,418 vs 11,164).

The Core 7 360 secures four wins, and they are notable. Its strongest victory is in PassMark single-thread, where it scores 4,274 against the i5-12400's 3,456, a delta of -19.1% (meaning the Core 7 360 is 19.1% ahead). It also wins PassMark find prime numbers with a score of 120 versus 68, a 43.3% advantage. The mobile chip takes PassMark physics with 1,213 against 1,105, an 8.9% lead. These wins indicate that the Core 7 360 has a strong single-core design, but its lack of multi-threading (6 threads vs 12) and lower core clock strategy hurt it in heavily threaded workloads.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i5-12400 is the clear winner for multi-threaded productivity. Its 12 threads (6 cores with Hyper-Threading) provide a substantial advantage in rendering, encoding, and any workload that scales across cores. The Cinebench multi-core results (17.2% to 17.3% lead across R15, R20, and R23) and the PassMark multi-thread score (20.6% lead) confirm this. The i5-12400 is also decisively better in integer-heavy tasks like compression and sorting, as shown by the 70.5% lead in integer math and 58.8% lead in data compression. For desktop users running parallel workloads, the i5-12400 is the better choice by a wide margin.

The Intel Core 7 360 wins in specific single-threaded and specialized scenarios. Its 19.1% lead in PassMark single-thread indicates that for lightly-threaded applications, it can feel snappier. The 43.3% win in find prime numbers suggests an advantage in certain algorithmic or cryptographic types of work. The 8.9% lead in physics is interesting, as it may indicate better performance in certain game physics calculations, but this is a narrow win. The Core 7 360's higher boost clock of 4.80 GHz (vs 4.40 GHz for the i5-12400) likely contributes to these single-thread wins, but the i5-12400's higher base clock of 2.50 GHz (vs 1.50 GHz) helps it sustain performance under load.

The Verdict

The data points to the Intel Core i5-12400 as the superior processor for almost all performance metrics. Its 17.2% to 17.6% lead across the entire Cinebench suite is a strong indicator of overall compute capability. The massive 70.5% win in integer math and 58.8% win in data compression show that the i5-12400 is not just faster, but dramatically faster in certain workloads. With 13 wins out of 17 benchmarks and a higher average benchmark score (18,683 vs 18,374), the i5-12400 is the logical choice for users who need consistent, high-throughput performance.

Users should pick the Intel Core i5-12400 if they are building a desktop system and prioritize multi-threaded performance, integer-heavy tasks, or sustained all-core workloads. Its 12 threads and 18 MB of shared L3 cache give it a structural advantage over the Core 7 360's 6 threads and 6 MB of L3.

Users should pick the Intel Core 7 360 if they need a mobile processor with strong single-thread performance and can accept lower multi-threaded scores. Its 19.1% single-thread lead over the i5-12400 is significant, and its 4.80 GHz boost clock is the highest of the two. However, this is a trade-off: the Core 7 360 sacrifices multi-threading (6 threads total) and has a 15 W TDP, which is far lower than the i5-12400's 65 W, indicating it is designed for power-constrained environments like thin laptops. The launch MSRP of the Core 7 360 is $426, while the i5-12400 launched at $199.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in multi-core workloads?

A: The Intel Core i5-12400 wins all multi-core tests, with leads of 17.2% in Cinebench R15, 17.3% in R20, and 17.3% in R23. It also leads PassMark multi-threaded by 20.6% (18,747 vs 15,544).

Q: Does the Intel Core 7 360 have any single-threaded advantage?

A: Yes, the Core 7 360 wins PassMark single-thread by 19.1% (4,274 vs 3,456). It also wins PassMark find prime numbers by 43.3% (120 vs 68) and PassMark physics by 8.9% (1,213 vs 1,105).

Q: How do the core and thread counts compare?

A: Both have 6 cores, but the i5-12400 has 12 threads while the Core 7 360 has 6 threads. The i5-12400 supports Hyper-Threading, the Core 7 360 does not.

Q: What are the launch prices of these two processors?

A: The Intel Core i5-12400 has a launch MSRP of $199. The Intel Core 7 360 has a launch MSRP of $426.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core 7 360 has a boost clock of 4.80 GHz, which is higher than the i5-12400's boost clock of 4.40 GHz.

Q: What is the performance percentile of each processor?

A: Both processors are at the 72nd percentile versus all CPUs. Their average benchmark scores are very close: 18,683 for the i5-12400 and 18,374 for the Core 7 360.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on fundamentally different architectures and for different platforms. The Intel Core i5-12400 uses the Alder Lake-S architecture on a 10 nm process node, while the Intel Core 7 360 uses the Wildcat Lake architecture on a 3 nm node. The process node difference is stark: 3 nm is a much more advanced manufacturing process than 10 nm, allowing for higher transistor density and lower power consumption per transistor.

Cache configuration differs significantly. The i5-12400 has 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 18 MB of shared L3 cache. The Core 7 360 has a larger L1 at 192 KB per core and 2.5 MB of L2 per core, but a much smaller 6 MB of shared L3. This means the Core 7 360 has more per-core cache for its 6 threads, but far less total shared cache, which may explain its single-thread advantages but multi-thread disadvantages.

Memory support also diverges. The i5-12400 supports both DDR4 and DDR5 in dual-channel mode, while the Core 7 360 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X in single-channel mode with a memory bandwidth of 59.7 GB/s. PCIe capabilities differ: the i5-12400 offers Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the Core 7 360 offers Gen 4 with 6 lanes (CPU only). Integrated graphics are different: the i5-12400 has UHD Graphics 730, while the Core 7 360 has Intel Xe3 Graphics (2 Xe). The i5-12400 is a desktop part with a 65 W TDP, while the Core 7 360 is a mobile part with a 15 W TDP, reflecting their different target markets.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key specification fields. The i5-12400 has a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz. The Core 7 360 has a base clock of 1.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.80 GHz. Thread counts differ: 12 threads for the i5-12400 versus 6 threads for the Core 7 360. TDP is a major differentiator: 65 W for the i5-12400 versus 15 W for the Core 7 360.

Socket types are incompatible: Intel Socket 1700 for the i5-12400 versus Intel BGA 1516 for the Core 7 360. Process nodes differ (10 nm vs 3 nm). The i5-12400 has a die size of 163 mm², while the Core 7 360 has no listed die size. The i5-12400 supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory, while the Core 7 360 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X. Memory bus width differs (dual-channel for i5-12400, single-channel for Core 7 360). The i5-12400 has PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes, while the Core 7 360 has PCIe Gen 4 with 6 lanes. Release dates differ: 2022-01-03 for the i5-12400 and 2026-04-15 for the Core 7 360. The i5-12400 has a part number of SRL4VSRL5Y, while the Core 7 360 has SAE3E.