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

The Intel Core i5-12400 and Intel Core i3-14100F are both affordable Socket 1700 desktop processors, but they are built for different priorities. The i5-12400 is a 6-core, 12-thread Alder Lake part, while the i3-14100F is a 4-core, 8-thread Raptor Lake Refresh part. Benchmark data shows the i5-12400 wins 16 of 19 head-to-head tests, but the i3-14100F takes the single-thread crown. The choice comes down to whether you need consistent multi-threaded throughput or maximum single-core responsiveness.

Where Each One Wins

The i5-12400 is the clear winner for any workload that scales across cores. Its 12 threads give it a decisive edge in rendering, compression, and math-heavy tasks. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the i5-12400 scores 15989 against the i3-14100F's 13084, a 22.2% advantage. That gap holds across the entire Cinebench suite, with the i5-12400 winning R15, R20, and R23 multi-core tests by exactly 22.2% in each case. The PassMark suite reinforces this pattern: the i5-12400 leads by 28.8% in data compression, 28% in data encryption, and 28.7% in integer math. For video editing, 3D rendering, or compiling code, the i5-12400 is the obvious pick.

The i3-14100F wins where single-core speed matters most. It beats the i5-12400 in Geekbench single-core, scoring 2105 versus 1848, a 12.2% margin. It also wins PassMark single-thread, 3778 against 3456, an 8.5% advantage. This translates to snappier everyday responsiveness, lighter gaming, and better performance in applications that rely on one or two fast cores. The i3-14100F also has a higher boost clock of 4.70 GHz compared to the i5-12400's 4.40 GHz, which explains its single-thread dominance. If your primary use is web browsing, office work, or older games that don't use many cores, the i3-14100F's speed per core is the deciding factor.

There is also a feature split beyond raw performance. The i3-14100F supports ECC memory, while the i5-12400 does not. The i5-12400 includes UHD Graphics 730 integrated graphics; the i3-14100F has no integrated graphics at all. For a build without a discrete GPU, the i5-12400 is the only one of these two that will output video.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU is faster in multi-threaded workloads?

A: The i5-12400 wins every multi-threaded benchmark in the data. It leads Cinebench R23 multi-core by 22.2% (15989 vs 13084) and PassMark multithread by 21.6% (18747 vs 15420).

Q: Which CPU has better single-core performance?

A: The i3-14100F wins Geekbench single-core by 12.2% (2105 vs 1848) and PassMark single-thread by 8.5% (3778 vs 3456). Its higher 4.70 GHz boost clock versus 4.40 GHz on the i5-12400 underpins this advantage.

Q: Do both CPUs use the same motherboard socket?

A: Yes, both use Intel Socket 1700. They also share the same PCIe configuration: Gen 5 with 16 lanes from the CPU.

Q: Does either CPU have integrated graphics?

A: The i5-12400 includes UHD Graphics 730. The i3-14100F has no integrated graphics, meaning it requires a discrete GPU for any display output.

Q: Which CPU supports ECC memory?

A: The i3-14100F supports ECC memory; the i5-12400 does not. This makes the i3-14100F relevant for certain workstation or server-style builds.

Q: Is there a significant difference in overall benchmark averages?

A: No. The i5-12400 has an average benchmark score of 18683, while the i3-14100F sits at 18519, a 0.9% difference. Both rank in the 72nd percentile of all CPUs.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench suite shows the i5-12400's dominance in sustained multi-core loads. Across R15, R20, and R23, the delta is a consistent 22.2% in multi-core tests, with scores of 1611 vs 1318, 6715 vs 5495, and 15989 vs 13084 respectively. Even in Cinebench single-core tests, the i5-12400 wins by 22% (227 vs 186 in R15, 947 vs 775 in R20, 2257 vs 1847 in R23). This uniformity suggests a structural advantage in core count and thread scheduling rather than a benchmark-specific quirk.

The Geekbench results tell a different story. In Geekbench multi-core, the i5-12400 wins 8564 to 7598, a 12.7% margin. But in Geekbench single-core, the i3-14100F flips the result, winning 2105 to 1848 with a 12.2% advantage. This split is the most dramatic single-core reversal in the data set. The PassMark suite mirrors this pattern: the i5-12400 wins multithread by 21.6% (18747 vs 15420), while the i3-14100F wins single-thread by 8.5% (3778 vs 3456).

The PassMark math tests show the i5-12400's biggest wins. It leads floating-point math by 28.6% (45494 vs 35370) and integer math by 28.7% (58366 vs 45357). Data compression and encryption follow closely at 28.8% and 28% respectively. The smallest multi-core win is in PassMark physics, where the i5-12400 leads by just 2.6% (1105 vs 1077). The i3-14100F's three wins are all single-threaded: Geekbench single-core, PassMark single-thread, and PassMark singlethread (the latter two are the same test listed twice).

Specification Differences

The core and thread counts are the primary differentiators. The i5-12400 has 6 cores and 12 threads; the i3-14100F has 4 cores and 8 threads. Clock speeds favor the i3-14100F in both base and boost: 3.50 GHz base and 4.70 GHz boost versus 2.50 GHz base and 4.40 GHz boost on the i5-12400. The TDP is close but not identical: 65W for the i5-12400 and 58W for the i3-14100F.

Cache configurations differ meaningfully. Both chips have 80 KB of L1 per core and 1.25 MB of L2 per core, but the i5-12400 has 18 MB of shared L3 cache while the i3-14100F has 12 MB. This 6 MB difference can matter in workloads with large working sets. Both support DDR4 and DDR5 memory in dual-channel mode, and both use Gen 5 PCIe with 16 CPU lanes.

The i5-12400 includes UHD Graphics 730; the i3-14100F has no integrated graphics. The i3-14100F supports ECC memory; the i5-12400 does not. The i5-12400 launched with a $199 MSRP, while the i3-14100F launched with a $109 MSRP. The i5-12400 released on 2022-01-03, and the i3-14100F released on 2024-01-07. Both are actively in production, and neither has an unlocked multiplier.

Architecture Differences

The i5-12400 is built on Alder Lake architecture, specifically the Alder Lake-S die, while the i3-14100F uses Raptor Lake architecture, specifically Raptor Lake-R. Both are fabricated on Intel's 10 nm process at Intel's foundry, and both have a die size of 163 mm². The generation labels differ: the i5-12400 is "Core i5 (Alder Lake-S)" and the i3-14100F is "Core i3 (Raptor Lake Refresh)".

The core count difference stems from the architecture design. Alder Lake-S in the i5-12400 provides 6 full cores with Hyper-Threading, yielding 12 threads. Raptor Lake-R in the i3-14100F provides 4 full cores with Hyper-Threading, yielding 8 threads. The per-core cache structure is identical (80 KB L1, 1.25 MB L2), but the shared L3 pool differs: 18 MB on the i5-12400 versus 12 MB on the i3-14100F. This suggests the i5-12400's larger die allocation for cache is a deliberate design choice for multi-threaded throughput.

The i3-14100F's higher base and boost clocks (3.50/4.70 GHz vs 2.50/4.40 GHz) reflect a different optimization target: fewer cores running faster. The ECC memory support on the i3-14100F is notable, as it is absent on the i5-12400. The i5-12400's integrated UHD Graphics 730 is a major architectural difference, since the i3-14100F lacks any iGPU. Both chips share the same memory support (DDR4, DDR5), dual-channel memory bus, and Gen 5 PCIe implementation.

The Verdict

The data points to the i5-12400 for users who need multi-threaded performance. Its 22.2% lead across Cinebench multi-core tests and 21.6% lead in PassMark multithread are decisive for rendering, encoding, and compilation workloads. The 28.8% advantage in data compression and 28.7% in integer math further solidify its position for productivity tasks. The i5-12400's integrated graphics also make it a more flexible option for builds without a discrete GPU.

The i3-14100F is the pick for single-thread-sensitive applications. Its 12.2% Geekbench single-core win and 8.5% PassMark single-thread win come from a higher boost clock of 4.70 GHz. It also brings ECC memory support, which the i5-12400 lacks. For a low-power build (58W TDP) focused on fast single-core response, or for a system requiring ECC, the i3-14100F is the data-backed choice.

The average benchmark scores tell a cautionary tale: the i5-12400 averages 18683 and the i3-14100F averages 18519, a 0.9% gap that is nearly negligible. Both sit at the 72nd percentile of all CPUs. The i5-12400's 16 wins versus the i3-14100F's 3 wins in head-to-head tests are the real signal. If you don't specifically need single-thread speed or ECC, the i5-12400 is the safer, more capable processor across the broader benchmark spectrum. If you do need those specific features, the i3-14100F is the only one of the two that delivers them.