Intel Core i5-12400 vs Intel Core i5-1335U Comparison

The Intel Core i5-1335U and Intel Core i5-12400 represent two distinct design philosophies from Intel, targeting different market segments with contrasting power envelopes and physical footprints. The benchmark data shows a clear performance hierarchy, with the desktop-oriented i5-12400 dominating in the vast majority of compute tasks, while the mobile i5-1335U claims a narrow but notable victory in one single-threaded workload. Across 17 head-to-head comparisons, the i5-12400 records 16 wins, while the i5-1335U manages only a single victory, establishing a decisive overall performance gap that aligns with their respective TDP classifications of 65 W for the desktop part versus 15 W for the mobile part.

The Verdict

The data presents a straightforward recommendation for users prioritizing raw compute throughput: the Intel Core i5-12400 is the superior choice for multi-threaded and sustained workloads. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the i5-12400 scores 15989 against the i5-1335U’s 8889.5, a massive 44.4% advantage that underscores the desktop processor’s ability to sustain high performance under load. Similarly, in PassMark integer math, the i5-12400 leads with 58366 versus 51244 (a 12.2% delta), and in floating-point math it posts 45494 against 35176 (22.7% ahead). These results indicate that for content creation, compilation, or any task that scales across cores, the i5-12400 is the clear pick.

Conversely, the i5-1335U’s single win comes in Cinebench R15 single-core, where it scores 238 against the i5-12400’s 227, a 4.8% margin. This suggests that in extremely short, lightly-threaded bursts, the mobile chip can edge ahead, likely due to its higher boost clock of 4.60 GHz versus 4.40 GHz. However, this advantage does not persist in newer single-thread tests: in Cinebench R23 single-core, the i5-12400 leads with 2257 versus 1684.5 (25.4% ahead), and in PassMark single-thread, it scores 3456 versus 3336 (3.5% ahead). Therefore, the i5-1335U’s single-core win appears isolated to an older benchmark generation.

From a platform perspective, the i5-12400 sits in the 72nd percentile of all CPUs, while the i5-1335U sits in the 73rd percentile, a statistical tie that reflects their similar average benchmark scores (18683 versus 18982). Despite this near-equal ranking, the direct head-to-head results show a lopsided performance distribution. The i5-12400’s nearest rivals include the AMD EPYC 7643 (deltaPct -0.1) and Intel Core i7-1355U (deltaPct -0.3), while the i5-1335U’s rivals include the AMD EPYC 7773X (deltaPct 0) and Intel Core i5-12400F (deltaPct -0.3). This positions both CPUs in the same performance tier, but the i5-12400 achieves this with fewer cores (6 vs 10) and a significantly higher power envelope.

Architecture Differences

The architectural divide between these two processors is fundamental. The i5-1335U is built on the Raptor Lake architecture with the Raptor Lake-U codename, while the i5-12400 uses the Alder Lake architecture with the Alder Lake-S codename. Both are fabricated on Intel’s 10 nm process node, but their core configurations differ dramatically: the i5-1335U packs 10 cores and 12 threads, whereas the i5-12400 has 6 cores and 12 threads. This means the mobile part relies on a hybrid core arrangement to achieve its thread count, while the desktop part uses fewer, presumably larger cores with simultaneous multithreading.

Cache allocation also diverges. The i5-1335U has 12 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i5-12400 offers 18 MB of shared L3 cache, a 50% increase for the desktop chip. Both share identical L1 (80 KB per core) and L2 (1.25 MB per core) configurations, but the larger L3 pool on the i5-12400 likely contributes to its superior performance in cache-sensitive workloads. The die size for the i5-12400 is reported at 163 mm², while no die size is listed for the i5-1335U, reflecting the different physical packages.

Platform support further separates them. The i5-1335U uses the Intel BGA 1744 socket and supports PCIe Gen 4 with 8 lanes (CPU only), while the i5-12400 uses Intel Socket 1700 and supports PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only). This difference is critical for system builders: the i5-12400 offers twice the PCIe lanes and a newer generation, enabling faster connectivity for GPUs and NVMe drives. Both support DDR4 and DDR5 memory in dual-channel configuration, but the i5-1335U’s mobile design limits its expansion options compared to the desktop platform.

Integrated graphics also differ. The i5-1335U features Iris Xe Graphics with 80 execution units, while the i5-12400 has UHD Graphics 730. This gives the mobile chip a significant advantage in iGPU-bound scenarios, though the benchmark data does not include graphics tests. The i5-1335U’s TDP of 15 W versus the i5-12400’s 65 W highlights the mobile part’s focus on efficiency, while the desktop part prioritizes sustained performance. Both processors are currently listed as Active in production status, with the i5-1335U released on 2023-01-03 and the i5-12400 released on 2022-01-03.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench suite reveals the starkest contrasts. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i5-12400 scores 1611 against 1464 for the i5-1335U, a 9.1% gap that widens considerably in newer versions. Cinebench R20 multi-core shows the i5-12400 at 6715 versus 4935, a 26.5% lead, and Cinebench R23 multi-core amplifies this to 15989 versus 8889.5, a 44.4% margin. This progressive widening suggests that the i5-12400 scales better with increasing thread counts, while the i5-1335U’s performance degrades relative to its rival as workload duration grows.

Single-core results are more nuanced. In Cinebench R15 single-core, the i5-1335U wins with 238 versus 227, a 4.8% edge that represents its only head-to-head victory. However, this reverses in Cinebench R20 single-core, where the i5-12400 posts 947 versus 696, a 26.5% lead, and in Cinebench R23 single-core, where it scores 2257 versus 1684.5, a 25.4% advantage. This pattern implies that the i5-1335U’s boost behavior favors very short bursts, but the i5-12400’s sustained single-thread performance is far superior.

PassMark tests tell a consistent story of i5-12400 dominance. In data compression, the i5-12400 scores 226908 against 159593, a 29.7% lead. Integer math shows 58366 versus 51244 (12.2%), while floating-point math shows 45494 versus 35176 (22.7%). Extended instructions reveal the largest gap: 15399 versus 8974, a 41.7% deficit for the i5-1335U. Prime number finding favors the desktop chip at 68 versus 48 (29.4%), and multi-thread performance shows 18747 versus 14281 (23.8%). The smallest PassMark gap is in single-thread, where the i5-12400 leads 3456 versus 3336, a 3.5% margin that confirms the mobile chip’s competitiveness in lightly-threaded tasks.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every key specification. Core count: the i5-1335U has 10 cores versus 6 for the i5-12400. Threads are equal at 12. Base clock: 1300 MHz for the i5-1335U versus 2500 MHz for the i5-12400. Boost clock: 4.60 GHz for the mobile chip versus 4.40 GHz for the desktop chip. TDP: 15 W versus 65 W. Socket: Intel BGA 1744 versus Intel Socket 1700. Architecture: Raptor Lake versus Alder Lake. Codename: Raptor Lake-U versus Alder Lake-S. L3 cache: 12 MB versus 18 MB. PCIe: Gen 4 with 8 lanes versus Gen 5 with 16 lanes. Integrated graphics: Iris Xe Graphics 80EU versus UHD Graphics 730. Market segment: Mobile versus Desktop. Die size: not specified versus 163 mm². Release date: 2023-01-03 versus 2022-01-03. Launch MSRP: the i5-1335U launched at $340, while the i5-12400 launched at $199. Part numbers also differ: SRMEX for the mobile chip, SRL4VSRL5Y for the desktop chip.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher core count?

A: The Intel Core i5-1335U has 10 cores, while the Intel Core i5-12400 has 6 cores. However, both have 12 threads.

Q: What is the difference in Cinebench R23 multi-core scores?

A: The i5-12400 scores 15989, while the i5-1335U scores 8889.5, giving the desktop chip a 44.4% advantage.

Q: Does the i5-1335U win any benchmark?

A: Yes, it wins Cinebench R15 single-core with a score of 238 versus 227 for the i5-12400, a 4.8% margin.

Q: How do their PCIe capabilities differ?

A: The i5-1335U supports PCIe Gen 4 with 8 lanes (CPU only), while the i5-12400 supports PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only).

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two?

A: The i5-1335U has a TDP of 15 W, while the i5-12400 has a TDP of 65 W.

Q: Which CPU has a larger L3 cache?

A: The i5-12400 has 18 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i5-1335U has 12 MB of shared L3 cache.