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

Where Each One Wins

The split between these two Intel desktop processors is sharply defined by workload type. The Intel Core i5-12400F wins 14 of the 19 head-to-head benchmark comparisons, while the Intel Core i3-14100F takes 5 wins. That distribution alone suggests the i5 is the broader performer, but the specific tests each chip wins reveal the underlying story.

The i5-12400F dominates every multi-threaded and throughput-oriented workload in the recorded data. It wins all three Cinebench multi-core tests that are shared (R15, R20), plus Geekbench multi-core and PassMark's multithread test. It also sweeps the PassMark math, encryption, compression, instruction, and sorting workloads. The margin is often substantial, frequently landing in the 26% to 33% range. This is a chip that clearly flexes its additional cores and threads when the workload scales.

The i3-14100F, by contrast, wins exclusively in single-threaded and lightly threaded tests. It takes Cinebench R23 single-core, Geekbench single-core, and PassMark single-thread (recorded twice with identical scores). The margins here are more modest, between 5.4% and 9% depending on the test. It also wins Cinebench R23 multi-core, which is an outlier worth examining separately.

For practical use, the pattern is clear. The i5-12400F is the choice for rendering, video encoding, data compression, encryption, and any workload that can use more than four cores. The i3-14100F is better for lightly threaded tasks where its higher boost clock and newer architecture give it an edge, such as single-threaded application responsiveness or older games that rely on one or two strong cores.

Architecture Differences

Both processors sit on the Intel Socket 1700 platform, but they come from different generations and microarchitectures. The i5-12400F is Alder Lake-S, part of the Core 12th Gen family, built on Intel's 10 nm process node. The i3-14100F is Raptor Lake-R, from the Core 14th Gen family, also on a 10 nm node but representing the Raptor Lake Refresh generation.

The core configuration differs significantly. The i5-12400F has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the i3-14100F has 4 cores and 8 threads. That is a 50% core advantage and a 50% thread advantage for the i5. Both chips have the same L1 cache per core at 80 KB and the same L2 cache per core at 1.25 MB, but the shared L3 cache differs: the i5 has 18 MB shared, the i3 has 12 MB shared. That is a 6 MB difference in favor of the older chip.

Clock speeds are where the i3 pulls ahead. The i5-12400F has a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz. The i3-14100F runs at 3.50 GHz base and 4.70 GHz boost. The i3 has a 1 GHz higher base clock and a 300 MHz higher boost clock, which explains its single-thread wins despite fewer cores.

Thermal design power is close but not identical. The i5-12400F is rated at 65 W TDP, the i3-14100F at 58 W TDP. Both are locked processors with no unlocked multiplier. Both support DDR4 and DDR5 memory in dual-channel configuration. The i5 has 20 PCIe Gen 5 lanes (CPU only), while the i3 has 16 PCIe Gen 5 lanes.

There are two notable feature differences. The i3-14100F supports ECC memory, while the i5-12400F does not. The i3 also explicitly lists integrated graphics as N/A, while the i5-12400F has no integrated graphics listed at all. Both are F-series chips, meaning no iGPU is present, which requires a discrete graphics card for display output.

The die size is identical at 163 mm² for both, and both are manufactured by Intel. The i5 launched in January 2022 with a launch MSRP of $174. The i3 launched in January 2024 with a launch MSRP of $109. Both are still in active production.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest win for the i5-12400F comes in Cinebench R15 multi-core, where it scores 1759 against the i3's 1318, a 33.5% advantage. That same test in single-core also goes to the i5, scoring 244 versus 186, a 31.2% margin. These are the two biggest deltas in the entire comparison, and they are both in the i5's favor.

Cinebench R20 tells a similar story. The i5 wins multi-core with 6980 against 5495, a 27% margin, and wins single-core with 985 against 775, a 27.1% margin. Geekbench multi-core also goes to the i5: 9472 versus 7598, a 24.7% advantage.

PassMark results are consistently lopsided toward the i5. Data compression: 233327 versus 176106, a 32.5% win. Data encryption: 11679 versus 8922, a 30.9% win. Extended instructions: 15834 versus 11984, a 32.1% win. Floating point math: 46759 versus 35370, a 32.2% win. Integer math: 59995 versus 45357, a 32.3% win. Multithread: 19433 versus 15420, a 26% win. Random string sorting: 22975 versus 17596, a 30.6% win. Prime numbers: 72 versus 61, an 18% win. Physics: 1202 versus 1077, an 11.6% win.

The i3-14100F's wins are all in single-thread or newer Cinebench tests. PassMark single-thread is its biggest margin: 3778 versus 3481, a 7.9% win (recorded identically twice). Geekbench single-core goes to the i3 at 2105 versus 1964, a 6.7% win. Cinebench R23 single-core goes to the i3 at 1847 versus 1680, a 9% win.

The most interesting result is Cinebench R23 multi-core, where the i3 wins 13084 versus 12380, a 5.4% margin. This is the only multi-threaded test that the i3 wins, and it directly contradicts the R15 and R20 multi-core results where the i5 won by 33.5% and 27% respectively. The data shows that newer versions of Cinebench can behave differently from older ones, and the i3's higher boost clock appears to help it in this specific workload despite having half the cores.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i5-12400F has 6 cores and 12 threads. The Intel Core i3-14100F has 4 cores and 8 threads. The i5 has a 50% advantage in both core count and thread count.

Q: Does the i3-14100F ever beat the i5-12400F in multi-threaded tests?

A: Yes, in Cinebench R23 multi-core, the i3 scores 13084 versus the i5's 12380, a 5.4% win. This is the only multi-threaded test the i3 wins, as the i5 wins all other multi-threaded comparisons by margins from 11.6% to 33.5%.

Q: Which CPU is better for single-threaded performance?

A: The i3-14100F wins every single-threaded comparison. It beats the i5 by 9% in Cinebench R23 single-core, 6.7% in Geekbench single-core, and 7.9% in PassMark single-thread. This aligns with its higher boost clock of 4.70 GHz versus the i5's 4.40 GHz.

Q: Do both CPUs support the same memory types?

A: Yes, both support DDR4 and DDR5 memory in dual-channel configuration. Neither has a listed memory bandwidth figure. The i3 additionally supports ECC memory, which the i5 does not.

Q: What are the TDP ratings for each processor?

A: The i5-12400F is rated at 65 W TDP. The i3-14100F is rated at 58 W TDP. Both are locked processors with no unlocked multiplier.

Q: Which CPU has a higher overall benchmark score?

A: The i5-12400F has an average benchmark score of 19039, placing it in the 73rd percentile of all CPUs. The i3-14100F has an average score of 18519, placing it in the 72nd percentile. The i5 scores about 2.8% higher overall.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear split based on workload priority. For anyone running multi-threaded workloads, the i5-12400F is the superior processor. It wins 14 of 19 benchmark comparisons, and its multi-threaded margins are often over 30%. Cinebench R15 multi-core shows a 33.5% lead, PassMark data compression shows 32.5%, and PassMark floating point math shows 32.2%. These are not small differences; they represent substantially faster completion times for rendering, compression, encryption, and math-heavy tasks.

The i3-14100F is the better choice for single-threaded performance. It wins every single-thread test, with margins between 6.7% and 9%. Its higher boost clock of 4.70 GHz against the i5's 4.40 GHz gives it a genuine edge in lightly threaded applications. It also has a lower TDP at 58 W versus 65 W, which may matter for compact builds with limited cooling.

The Cinebench R23 multi-core result is the one complication. The i3 wins that test by 5.4%, which means it is not universally slower in multi-threaded work. But every other multi-threaded test favors the i5, often by wide margins. The overall average benchmark score also favors the i5: 19039 versus 18519, a difference of roughly 2.8%.

The i5-12400F also carries more L3 cache (18 MB versus 12 MB) and more PCIe Gen 5 lanes (20 versus 16). The i3 counters with ECC memory support, which the i5 lacks. Both use the same socket, so motherboard compatibility is identical.

For a user who prioritizes multi-threaded throughput, rendering, or content creation, the i5-12400F is the data-supported pick. For a user who wants the fastest single-threaded response and does not need more than four cores, the i3-14100F is the better fit. The i5's launch MSRP was $174, and the i3's was $109, but the benchmark results show that the i5's extra cores deliver substantial performance gains in most workloads, while the i3's single-thread advantage is real but narrow.