Intel Core i5-11600KF vs Intel Core i5-12400F Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data for the Intel Core i5-11600KF and the Intel Core i5-12400F shows a matchup that is far from one-sided. The 11600KF wins 14 of the 25 recorded tests, while the 12400F takes 11. The largest single victory belongs to the 11600KF in Cinebench R23 single-core, where it leads by a massive 38.6 percent. That is a significant outlier, especially given that the 12400F wins the other single-core tests. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the 11600KF also dominates, scoring 16503 against 12380, a 33.3 percent advantage. These two results suggest the 11600KF has a particular strength in the Cinebench R23 workload that is not replicated across all applications.

The 12400F counters with its own clear wins. In PassMark physics, it leads by 20.6 percent, scoring 1202 versus 954. PassMark floating point math also favors the 12400F by 18.5 percent, with scores of 46759 and 38129. The 12400F wins Geekbench multi-core by 8.3 percent, scoring 9472 against 8688, and Geekbench single-core by 3.1 percent. These are not marginal differences; the 12400F is decisively better in several compute-heavy workloads.

The 3DMark suite is entirely owned by the 11600KF. Across all six 3DMark tests, it wins by margins ranging from 5.5 percent in max threads to 13.9 percent in 4 threads. The 3DMark 2-thread test shows a 9.5 percent lead, and the 8-thread test shows a 9.6 percent lead. This pattern indicates that the 11600KF has a consistent advantage in these threaded synthetic workloads, even though it loses in some other multi-threaded tests.

PassMark integer math goes to the 11600KF by 7 percent, and PassMark extended instructions by 11.3 percent. The 11600KF also wins PassMark random string sorting by a wide 20.9 percent margin. PassMark data compression and data encryption are closer, with the 11600KF ahead by 4 and 4.4 percent respectively. PassMark multi-thread is nearly a tie, with the 11600KF ahead by just 0.4 percent.

The Cinebench R15 and R20 results tell a different story. The 12400F wins Cinebench R15 multi-core by 5.5 percent and single-core by 4.1 percent. In Cinebench R20, the margins shrink dramatically: the 12400F leads multi-core by only 0.7 percent and single-core by 0.7 percent. This is curious, as the R23 results are so lopsided in the opposite direction. The data suggests that the two processors scale very differently across Cinebench versions, with the 11600KF's advantage appearing only in the R23 workload.

PassMark find prime numbers is another 12400F win, by 18.1 percent. PassMark single-thread and singlethread (which are identical scores) go to the 12400F by 4.4 percent. These single-thread PassMark results are interesting because the 11600KF has a higher boost clock, yet the 12400F still wins.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i5-11600KF has an average benchmark score of 19723, which is higher than the Intel Core i5-12400F's 19039. However, both CPUs sit at the 73rd percentile when compared to all CPUs in the database.

Q: How does the 11600KF compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The 11600KF is 0.3 percent ahead of the Intel Core i5-12500, 0.5 percent ahead of the AMD Ryzen AI 5 430, and 0.7 percent ahead of the AMD Ryzen 5 5500. It trails the Intel Core i5-11600K by 0.3 percent.

Q: What is the closest rival to the 12400F?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS is the closest, with a delta of 0 percent. The Intel Core 3 201E trails by 0.1 percent, while the Intel Core i5-1335U and AMD EPYC 7773X are each 0.3 percent behind.

Q: Which CPU wins more head-to-head tests?

A: The Intel Core i5-11600KF wins 14 tests, while the Intel Core i5-12400F wins 11 tests out of the 25 recorded head-to-head benchmarks.

Q: Are both CPUs the same generation?

A: No. The 11600KF is from Core 11th Gen with the Rocket Lake architecture, while the 12400F is from Core 12th Gen with the Alder Lake architecture. The 12400F was released later, in January 2022, whereas the 11600KF was released in March 2021.

Q: Do both CPUs have the same number of cores and threads?

A: Yes, both have 6 cores and 12 threads. Despite this, their benchmark results differ significantly in several tests, showing that core count alone does not determine performance.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between these two processors is substantial. The 11600KF is built on Rocket Lake, using a 14 nm process node from Intel, with a die size of 276 mm². The 12400F uses Alder Lake, fabricated on a 10 nm process, with a die size of 163 mm². The smaller process node and die size for the 12400F are notable, though the 11600KF has the higher base clock at 3.90 GHz versus 2.50 GHz, and a higher boost clock at 4.90 GHz versus 4.40 GHz.

Cache configurations differ as well. Both share the same L1 cache at 80 KB per core. The L2 cache, however, is 512 KB per core on the 11600KF and 1.25 MB per core on the 12400F, a significant increase. The L3 cache also favors the 12400F, with 18 MB shared versus 12 MB shared on the 11600KF. These differences in cache size may help explain why the 12400F wins certain cache-sensitive workloads.

Memory support is another differentiator. The 11600KF supports DDR4 only, with dual-channel memory and a recorded memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s. The 12400F supports both DDR4 and DDR5, also dual-channel, though no memory bandwidth figure is recorded for it. The 12400F therefore offers more flexibility for platform memory choices.

PCIe capabilities also differ. The 11600KF features PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes from the CPU. The 12400F steps up to PCIe Gen 5 with 20 lanes from the CPU. This is a forward-looking difference, relevant for storage and GPU bandwidth.

The sockets are incompatible: the 11600KF uses Intel Socket 1200, while the 12400F uses Intel Socket 1700. The 11600KF has an unlocked multiplier, making it overclockable, while the 12400F does not. The 11600KF carries a 125 W TDP, whereas the 12400F is rated at 65 W. The 11600KF is marked as end-of-life production, while the 12400F is still active. The 12400F launch MSRP is $174, and the 11600KF launch MSRP is $237.

The Verdict

The data paints a nuanced picture. The Intel Core i5-11600KF is the stronger choice in the 3DMark suite, winning all six tests with margins from 5.5 to 13.9 percent. It also has commanding leads in Cinebench R23, with a 33.3 percent multi-core advantage and a 38.6 percent single-core advantage. For users whose workloads resemble these tests, the 11600KF is clearly the better performer.

The Intel Core i5-12400F, however, wins in PassMark physics, floating point math, and find prime numbers, with margins of 20.6, 18.5, and 18.1 percent respectively. It also takes Geekbench multi-core and single-core by 8.3 and 3.1 percent. In Cinebench R15 and R20, the 12400F leads, though the R20 margins are tiny. The 12400F also has a higher PassMark single-thread score at 3481 versus 3327.

The 11600KF has the higher average benchmark score, 19723 versus 19039, and wins more head-to-head tests. Yet the 12400F wins in several important general-purpose and physics-related workloads. Neither CPU is a clear winner across the board. The choice depends on which benchmark families matter more. The 11600KF is the pick for 3DMark and Cinebench R23 dominance. The 12400F is the pick for Geekbench, PassMark physics, and floating point workloads.

Specification Differences

The two CPUs differ in several recorded specifications. The 11600KF has a base clock of 3.90 GHz, while the 12400F has a base clock of 2.50 GHz. The boost clock is 4.90 GHz for the 11600KF and 4.40 GHz for the 12400F. TDP is 125 W for the 11600KF and 65 W for the 12400F. The socket is Intel Socket 1200 for the 11600KF and Intel Socket 1700 for the 12400F.

The process node is 14 nm for the 11600KF and 10 nm for the 12400F. Die size is 276 mm² versus 163 mm². L2 cache is 512 KB per core versus 1.25 MB per core. L3 cache is 12 MB shared versus 18 MB shared. Memory support is DDR4 only for the 11600KF, while the 12400F supports DDR4 and DDR5. Memory bandwidth is recorded as 51.2 GB/s for the 11600KF, with no figure for the 12400F. PCIe is Gen 4 for the 11600KF and Gen 5 for the 12400F, both with 20 lanes. The 11600KF has an unlocked multiplier; the 12400F does not. Release dates differ, March 2021 versus January 2022. Production status is end-of-life for the 11600KF and active for the 12400F. The part numbers are SRKNV for the 11600KF and SRL4WSRL5Z for the 12400F.

Where Each One Wins

The 11600KF wins decisively in the 3DMark family, taking 16 threads, 2 threads, 4 threads, 8 threads, max threads, and single thread. It also wins Cinebench R23 multi-core and single-core by large margins. PassMark tests favor it in data compression, data encryption, extended instructions, integer math, multi-thread, and random string sorting. Its total win count is 14.

The 12400F wins in Cinebench R15 multi-core and single-core, Cinebench R20 multi-core and single-core, Geekbench multi-core and single-core, PassMark find prime numbers, PassMark floating point math, PassMark physics, and PassMark single-thread. Its total win count is 11.

The split is revealing. The 11600KF dominates 3DMark and several integer and sorting workloads, while the 12400F dominates physics, floating point, and the Geekbench suite. The 12400F also takes the Cinebench R15 and R20 tests, but loses R23 by a huge margin. This is a peculiar result that suggests workload-specific scaling behavior. For gaming-adjacent synthetic tests like 3DMark, the 11600KF is the clear winner. For physics simulation and floating point math, the 12400F is the better option. The data does not support a universal recommendation, only a workload-based one.