Intel Core i3-14100 vs Intel Core i5-12400 Comparison

The Intel Core i5-12400 and Intel Core i3-14100 are both affordable, locked desktop processors on the Intel Socket 1700 platform, but they serve distinctly different workloads. The data from the database shows a clear split: the i5-12400 is the definitive multi-core and throughput champion, dominating the vast majority of the benchmark suite, while the i3-14100 takes a narrow, but decisive, lead in specific single-threaded and frequency-sensitive tests. This is not a case of one chip being universally superior; it is a matter of matching the silicon to the task.

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark results are heavily skewed toward the Intel Core i5-12400. Out of 19 head-to-head comparison points, the i5-12400 secures 16 wins. This dominance is most pronounced in heavily threaded workloads and compute-intensive tasks that scale with core count and cache size. The i5-12400 wins every Cinebench test, every PassMark compute test, and the Geekbench multi-core test. This makes it the clear choice for rendering, video encoding, software compilation, and any productivity workload that can utilize more than four physical cores. Its victories in PassMark data compression (30.3% ahead) and data encryption (29.2% ahead) further cement its status as a workhorse for content creation and data handling.

The Intel Core i3-14100 wins only three head-to-head comparisons, but they are notable. It takes the Geekbench single-core test with a 13.4% margin, and it wins both PassMark single-thread tests with an 8.1% margin. These wins point to a key advantage in lightly threaded applications and tasks where raw clock speed and architectural efficiency per-core matter more than the total core count. For everyday desktop use, older games that rely on a few fast cores, or applications with poor multi-threading, the i3-14100 offers a measurable performance edge. The i5-12400 is the processor for those who need maximum throughput, while the i3-14100 is optimized for snappy, fast single-threaded response.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on the same 10 nm process node by Intel and share the same 163 mm² die size, but their internal configurations diverge significantly. The i5-12400 is an Alder Lake part, featuring 6 cores and 12 threads. The i3-14100 is a Raptor Lake Refresh part, offering 4 cores and 8 threads. This fundamental difference in core and thread counts is the primary driver of the multi-core performance gap.

Cache allocation is another major differentiator. Both chips feature 80 KB of L1 cache per core and 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core. However, the shared L3 cache tells a different story. The i5-12400 has 18 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i3-14100 has only 12 MB. This 6 MB difference in L3 cache gives the i5-12400 a significant advantage in workloads that repeatedly access large datasets, reducing the need to fetch data from slower system memory.

The clock speeds, conversely, favor the i3-14100. The i3-14100 has a base clock of 3.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.70 GHz, which are higher than the i5-12400's 2.50 GHz base and 4.40 GHz boost. This clock speed advantage helps the i3-14100 win the single-threaded tests. The TDP figures are close, with the i5-12400 rated at 65 watts and the i3-14100 at 60 watts. Both use the Intel Socket 1700, support dual-channel DDR4 and DDR5 memory, and feature Gen 5 PCIe with 16 lanes. Both also integrate the UHD Graphics 730. A notable specification difference is that the i3-14100 supports ECC memory, while the i5-12400 does not. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking result in the database is the consistent 24.7% to 24.8% lead for the i5-12400 across all three Cinebench versions, for both single-core and multi-core tests. In Cinebench R23, the i5-12400 scores 15989 in multi-core versus 12820 for the i3-14100. Even in the single-core R23 test, the i5-12400 wins with 2257 against 1809, a 24.8% margin that contradicts the expectation that the higher-clocked i3-14100 would take the single-thread crown. The i3-14100's 4.70 GHz boost clock is not enough to overcome the i5-12400's architectural efficiency in these specific tests.

The PassMark suite reinforces the i5-12400's dominance in compute-heavy tasks. In integer math, the i5-12400 scores 58366 against 45329, a 28.8% advantage. Floating-point math shows a 29% lead (45494 vs 35266), and extended instructions are 29.8% faster (15399 vs 11865). The i5-12400 also wins the PassMark physics test by 15.3%, scoring 1105 versus 958. These results show a processor that is substantially faster at crunching numbers and executing complex instruction sets.

The Geekbench tests provide the clearest split between the two chips. The i5-12400 wins the multi-core test by a significant 18.4% margin (8564 vs 7231). However, the i3-14100 dominates the single-core test, scoring 2133 against the i5-12400's 1848, a 13.4% win. This is a massive reversal and highlights the i3-14100's strength in low-thread-count scenarios. The PassMark single-thread results corroborate this, with the i3-14100 scoring 3759 versus 3456 for the i5-12400, an 8.1% lead. The data suggests that for users who prioritize a snappy, responsive system in lightly threaded applications, the i3-14100 holds a tangible advantage, but it is a narrow one compared to the i5-12400's sweeping wins elsewhere.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster overall in the database benchmarks?

A: The Intel Core i5-12400 has a higher average benchmark score of 18683 compared to the i3-14100's 18318. The i5-12400 wins 16 of the 19 head-to-head comparisons.

Q: Does the Intel Core i3-14100 win any benchmarks?

A: Yes. The i3-14100 wins the Geekbench single-core test by 13.4% and both PassMark single-thread tests by 8.1%.

Q: How large is the multi-core performance difference?

A: The i5-12400 leads by 24.7% in Cinebench R23 multi-core, 18.4% in Geekbench multi-core, and 24.2% in PassMark multithread.

Q: What is the main architectural difference between the two CPUs?

A: The i5-12400 has 6 cores and 12 threads, whereas the i3-14100 has 4 cores and 8 threads. The i5-12400 also has 18 MB of L3 cache versus 12 MB on the i3-14100.

Q: Do the processors support the same memory and expansion options?

A: Yes, both support dual-channel DDR4 and DDR5 memory and have Gen 5 PCIe with 16 lanes. Both also use the Intel Socket 1700.

Q: Is the integrated graphics the same?

A: Yes, both the i5-12400 and the i3-14100 use the UHD Graphics 730.

Specification Differences

The specification differences between the two processors are primarily in core configuration, clocks, cache, and a few feature-level details. The i5-12400 belongs to the Core 12th Gen Alder Lake series, while the i3-14100 is part of the Core 14th Gen Raptor Lake series. The i5-12400 has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the i3-14100 has 4 cores and 8 threads. The i3-14100 has a higher base clock of 3.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.70 GHz, compared to the i5-12400's 2.50 GHz base and 4.40 GHz boost. The TDP is 65 watts for the i5-12400 and 60 watts for the i3-14100. The shared L3 cache is 18 MB on the i5-12400 and 12 MB on the i3-14100. The i5-12400 does not support ECC memory, while the i3-14100 does. Both are on the 10 nm process, have a 163 mm² die size, and are unlocked. The launch MSRP for the i5-12400 is $199, and the launch MSRP for the i3-14100 is $134.