Intel Core i5-12400 vs Intel Core i5-13420H Comparison

The Intel Core i5-12400 and Intel Core i5-13420H are two active processors from different generations and market segments, yet they land in a similar performance tier. The 12400 is a desktop part with a 65W TDP and a 72nd percentile ranking, while the 13420H is a 45W mobile chip that also sits at the 72nd percentile. Despite the 13420H having two more physical cores, the 12400 wins the majority of head-to-head benchmarks, taking 17 out of 23 tests. The data shows a clear split: the desktop chip dominates in sustained multi-threaded workloads, while the mobile chip shows surprising strength in short-burst and lightly-threaded tests.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The Intel Core i5-13420H has 8 cores and 12 threads, while the Intel Core i5-12400 has 6 cores and 12 threads. Both parts present the same thread count, but the mobile chip relies on additional physical cores.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The i5-12400 has an average benchmark score of 18683, and the i5-13420H scores 18511. The desktop chip is ahead by less than 1%, a margin that places them in the same performance class.

Q: Is the i5-13420H a newer architecture?

A: Yes. The 13420H is based on Raptor Lake (Raptor Lake-H), released in 2023, whereas the 12400 uses Alder Lake (Alder Lake-S), released in 2022. Both are built on a 10 nm process by Intel.

Q: What is the difference in their cache configurations?

A: The i5-12400 has 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core and 18 MB of shared L3 cache. The i5-13420H has 2 MB of L2 per core but only 12 MB of shared L3 cache.

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The i5-13420H has a boost clock of 4.60 GHz, compared to 4.40 GHz for the i5-12400. However, the desktop part has a higher base clock at 2.50 GHz versus 2.10 GHz.

Q: Do they support the same memory types?

A: Yes, both support DDR4 and DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration. Neither supports ECC memory.

Architecture Differences

The i5-12400 is a desktop processor on the Intel Socket 1700 platform, using the Alder Lake-S architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads, with a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz. Its thermal design power is 65W, and it integrates UHD Graphics 730. The chip has a die size of 163 mm² and provides PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only).

The i5-13420H is a mobile processor on the Intel BGA 1744 socket, using the Raptor Lake-H architecture. It packs 8 cores and 12 threads, with a lower base clock of 2.10 GHz but a higher boost clock of 4.60 GHz. Its TDP is 45W, and it features Iris Xe Graphics 80EU. The mobile chip offers PCIe Gen 5 with 8 lanes (CPU only). The 13420H lacks a listed die size, while the 12400 is specified at 163 mm².

Cache layouts differ significantly between the two. The 12400 has 1.25 MB of L2 per core and a larger 18 MB shared L3. The 13420H has 2 MB of L2 per core but only 12 MB of shared L3. This trade-off means the mobile chip has more dedicated per-core cache, while the desktop part has a larger pool of shared cache for multi-core workloads. Both processors have 80 KB of L1 per core, and both are produced on Intel's 10 nm node.

The market segments dictate their platform traits. The 12400 is a desktop part with a launch MSRP of $199, and it is not multiplier unlocked. The 13420H is a mobile part with no launch MSRP listed and is also locked. Both are currently active in production. The 12400's part number is SRL4VSRL5Y, while the 13420H's is SRMHX.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The biggest win for the i5-12400 comes in the Cinebench R23 multicore test, where it scores 15989 against the 13420H's 11084, a massive 44.3% advantage. This is the largest delta in the entire benchmark set. The desktop chip also dominates in Cinebench R23 single-core, scoring 2257 versus 1689, a 33.6% lead.

The 12400 continues its winning streak in Cinebench R20, taking both multicore and single-core tests by 11.7% each, with scores of 6715 versus 6013 and 947 versus 848 respectively. In PassMark extended instructions, the 12400 posts 15399 against 12897, a 19.4% margin. The PassMark find prime numbers test also favors the desktop part, 68 versus 52, a 30.8% lead.

Other notable wins for the 12400 include PassMark data compression (226908 vs 209450, 8.3%), PassMark physics (1105 vs 1012, 9.2%), and PassMark multithread (18747 vs 17475, 7.3%). The desktop chip also wins 3DMark 16-thread (5873 vs 5518, 6.4%), 8-thread (4745 vs 4614, 2.8%), and max-thread (5890 vs 5587, 5.4%). It edges out the mobile part in PassMark floating point math (45494 vs 42806, 6.3%), integer math (58366 vs 58156, 0.4%), random string sorting (22366 vs 22045, 1.5%), and single-thread (3456 vs 3396, 1.8%).

The i5-13420H takes its biggest win in 3DMark 4-thread, scoring 3357 versus 3012, a 10.3% lead. It also wins 3DMark 2-thread (1871 vs 1692, 9.6%) and 3DMark single-thread (948 vs 910, 4%). In Cinebench R15, the mobile chip wins both multicore (1738 vs 1611, 7.3%) and single-core (238 vs 227, 4.6%). The 13420H also takes PassMark data encryption (11559 vs 11418, 1.2%).

The pattern is clear: the 12400 wins on modern Cinebench versions and most PassMark tests, while the 13420H wins on older Cinebench R15 and on 2-thread and 4-thread 3DMark tests. The desktop chip's advantage grows with workload intensity, as evidenced by the 44.3% lead in R23 multicore.

The Verdict

The data points to the Intel Core i5-12400 as the stronger overall performer in this matchup. It wins 17 of the 23 head-to-head benchmarks and holds a slight edge in average benchmark score (18683 vs 18511). The desktop chip's victory in Cinebench R23 multicore by 44.3% is a definitive statement for sustained multi-threaded workloads. Its larger 18 MB shared L3 cache likely contributes to this dominance in rendering and heavy compute tasks.

The Intel Core i5-13420H still has a role. It wins in short-duration tests like 3DMark 2-thread and 4-thread, and it posts a higher boost clock at 4.60 GHz. For users prioritizing quick single-burst performance or working within a 45W power envelope, the mobile chip holds appeal. However, the 12400's higher base clock and superior cache configuration make it the better choice for those who can accommodate a desktop platform.

Benchmark results indicate that the 12400 is the more versatile processor. Its wins span Cinebench, PassMark, and higher-thread 3DMark tests. The 13420H's wins are concentrated in low-thread scenarios and one older Cinebench version. For most users comparing these two, the 12400 offers superior performance across a wider range of applications.

Specification Differences

The table below highlights only the fields where the two processors differ according to the data.

| Specification | Intel Core i5-12400 | Intel Core i5-13420H |

|---|---|---|

| Series | Core 12th Gen | Core 13th Gen |

| Cores | 6 | 8 |

| Base Clock | 2.50 GHz | 2.10 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.40 GHz | 4.60 GHz |

| TDP | 65W | 45W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1700 | Intel BGA 1744 |

| Architecture | Alder Lake | Raptor Lake |

| Codename | Alder Lake-S | Raptor Lake-H |

| Generation | Core i5 (Alder Lake-S) | Core i5 (Raptor Lake-H) |

| Die Size | 163 mm² | Not listed |

| L2 Cache | 1.25 MB (per core) | 2 MB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 18 MB (shared) | 12 MB (shared) |

| PCIe Lanes | Gen 5, 16 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 5, 8 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | UHD Graphics 730 | Iris Xe Graphics 80EU |

| Market Segment | Desktop | Mobile |

| Release Date | 2022-01-03 | 2023-01-03 |

| Launch MSRP | $199 | Not listed |

| Part Number | SRL4VSRL5Y | SRMHX |

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i5-12400 is the winner for sustained multi-threaded workloads. Its 44.3% lead in Cinebench R23 multicore and 11.7% lead in R20 multicore make it the obvious pick for rendering, video encoding, and other all-core tasks. It also wins in PassMark data compression by 8.3%, indicating an edge in file archiving and decompression. The 12400's 30.8% lead in PassMark find prime numbers suggests it handles mathematical and scientific workloads more efficiently. Its wins in PassMark extended instructions (19.4%) and floating point math (6.3%) further cement its position for compute-heavy applications.

The Intel Core i5-13420H wins in low-thread-count scenarios. Its 10.3% lead in 3DMark 4-thread and 9.6% lead in 3DMark 2-thread suggest it excels in older games or applications that rely on fewer threads. The mobile chip also wins Cinebench R15 multicore by 7.3% and single-core by 4.6%, showing strength in legacy benchmark scenarios. Its 1.2% win in PassMark data encryption indicates a slight edge in cryptographic tasks. For users on a mobile platform with a 45W TDP, the 13420H provides competitive performance in light, bursty workloads while consuming less power.

The desktop 12400 is the better overall choice for desktop builders. The mobile 13420H is the better choice for laptop users who need higher boost clocks and more physical cores in a constrained power envelope. The data shows the 12400 wins on 17 benchmarks, while the 13420H wins on 6, making the desktop part the more reliable performer across the board.