Intel Core i5-12400 vs Intel Core i7-10700 Comparison

The Intel Core i7-10700 and Intel Core i5-12400 represent two distinct generations of Intel desktop silicon, and the benchmark data shows a clear generational shift in performance characteristics. The i7-10700, built on the older Comet Lake architecture, relies on a higher core count and thread count to maintain competitiveness. The i5-12400, from the Alder Lake family, counters with significantly improved single-threaded performance and efficiency per core. While the i7-10700 wins 7 out of 25 head-to-head benchmarks, the i5-12400 dominates the remaining 18, often by substantial margins. The average benchmark scores are close, with the i7-10700 at 19145 and the i5-12400 at 18683, but the distribution of wins tells a more nuanced story about where each processor excels.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking result in the database is the Cinebench R20 and R23 multicore tests, where the i5-12400 wins by a consistent 31.8% margin across all four comparisons. In Cinebench R23 multicore, the i5-12400 scores 15989 against the i7-10700's 10910. The same pattern appears in Cinebench R15 multicore, with scores of 1611 versus 1099, and in Geekbench multicore, where the i5-12400 scores 8564 versus 5092, a 40.5% lead. These are not marginal victories; the i5-12400's newer architecture delivers a massive throughput advantage in rendering and general multi-threaded workloads despite having only 6 cores and 12 threads compared to the i7-10700's 8 cores and 16 threads.

Single-threaded performance follows the same trend. The i5-12400 leads by 12.9% in 3DMark single-thread (910 versus 793), by 31.7% in Cinebench R15 single-core (227 versus 155), and by 16.3% in Passmark single-thread (3456 versus 2891). The Geekbench single-core result shows a 31% advantage for the i5-12400 (1848 versus 1275). This consistent single-core superiority explains why the i5-12400 wins in lightly threaded applications and games, where clock speed and IPC matter more than core count.

The i7-10700 does have its victories, and they are notable. In 3DMark 16-thread and max-thread tests, the i7-10700 wins by 10.1% and 14.1% respectively, scoring 6465 and 6719 against the i5-12400's 5873 and 5890. This indicates that in heavily parallel synthetic workloads, the extra two cores and four threads of the i7-10700 still provide a tangible benefit. The Passmark data compression test also favors the i7-10700, with a score of 252113 versus 226908, an 11.1% lead. Passmark integer math shows a 7.9% advantage (62988 versus 58366), and random string sorting is a significant win for the i7-10700, scoring 31585 against 22366, a 41.2% margin. Passmark extended instructions also goes to the i7-10700, with a 4.9% lead (16160 versus 15399).

However, the i5-12400 wins several specialized tests by large margins. Passmark data encryption shows a 52.9% advantage for the i5-12400 (11418 versus 5379), indicating much stronger cryptographic instruction support. Passmark find prime numbers goes to the i5-12400 by 30.9% (68 versus 47), and Passmark physics shows a 28.1% lead for the i5-12400 (1105 versus 794). Floating point math also favors the i5-12400, with a 14.7% advantage (45494 versus 38823). The overall Passmark multithread score goes to the i5-12400 by 13.8% (18747 versus 16161), which is notable given the i7-10700's core count advantage.

Architecture Differences

The fundamental architectural gap between these two processors explains nearly every benchmark result. The i7-10700 uses the Comet Lake architecture on a 14 nm process node, with 8 cores and 16 threads. The i5-12400 uses the Alder Lake architecture on a 10 nm process node, with 6 cores and 12 threads. The i5-12400 has a smaller die size at 163 mm², while the i7-10700's die size is not recorded in the database.

Cache configurations differ significantly. The i7-10700 has 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core, with 16 MB of shared L3 cache. The i5-12400 has 80 KB of L1 cache per core and 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core, with 18 MB of shared L3 cache. The larger per-core L2 cache on the i5-12400 is a major factor in its single-threaded performance advantage, as it allows more data to be stored closer to the execution units.

The i5-12400 also supports DDR5 memory in addition to DDR4, while the i7-10700 only supports DDR4. The i7-10700 has a recorded memory bandwidth of 46.9 GB/s, while the i5-12400's bandwidth is not listed. PCIe support differs as well: the i7-10700 uses PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU, while the i5-12400 uses PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes from the CPU. This gives the i5-12400 access to newer, faster storage and graphics interfaces.

Integrated graphics also differ. The i7-10700 includes UHD Graphics 630, while the i5-12400 includes UHD Graphics 730. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier, so overclocking is not officially supported on either. The socket types are different: the i7-10700 uses Intel Socket 1200, while the i5-12400 uses Intel Socket 1700, meaning they are not interchangeable on the same motherboard.

Where Each One Wins

The i7-10700 is the better choice for workloads that scale with raw core count and thread count. In 3DMark max-thread testing, the i7-10700 wins by 14.1%, and in 3DMark 16-thread testing, it wins by 10.1%. These results suggest that if a program can utilize all 16 threads of the i7-10700, it will outperform the i5-12400's 12 threads. Passmark data compression also favors the i7-10700 by 11.1%, and random string sorting shows a massive 41.2% advantage. Integer math is another area where the i7-10700 leads, with a 7.9% margin. For users running heavy multi-threaded productivity tasks that are not well optimized for single-core speed, such as certain types of data processing or compression, the i7-10700 remains competitive.

The i5-12400 wins in almost every other category, particularly in single-threaded and lightly threaded workloads. The 3DMark single-thread test shows a 12.9% advantage for the i5-12400, and the Cinebench single-core tests show a 31.7% to 31.8% advantage. Geekbench single-core shows a 31% lead. These results make the i5-12400 the clear choice for gaming, where most games rely on a few fast cores rather than many slower ones. The Passmark physics test, which simulates realistic physics calculations, goes to the i5-12400 by 28.1%, reinforcing its gaming suitability.

The i5-12400 also wins in multi-threaded rendering tests despite having fewer cores. The Cinebench R23 multicore score of 15989 versus 10910 is a 31.8% lead, and Geekbench multicore shows a 40.5% advantage. This is a remarkable result: the i5-12400's newer cores are so much faster per thread that they overcome the i7-10700's 33% core count advantage. For video editing, 3D rendering, and other modern multi-threaded workloads, the i5-12400 is the stronger processor. The Passmark multithread score confirms this, with the i5-12400 leading by 13.8%.

The Verdict

The data clearly shows that the i5-12400 is the superior processor for the vast majority of use cases. It wins 18 of 25 benchmarks, including all Cinebench tests, all Geekbench tests, and all single-threaded tests. The only areas where the i7-10700 wins are in specific multi-threaded synthetic loads like 3DMark max-thread and Passmark data compression, where its extra cores provide a benefit. However, these wins are narrow in some cases and do not compensate for the i5-12400's overwhelming advantages in rendering, encryption, physics, and single-thread performance.

For a new build, the i5-12400 is the obvious recommendation. It offers a 31.8% lead in Cinebench R23 multicore and a 40.5% lead in Geekbench multicore, which are strong indicators of real-world performance in productivity applications. The i5-12400 also has access to DDR5 memory and PCIe Gen 5, making it more future-proof. The i7-10700 should only be considered if a user has a specific workload that heavily utilizes 16 threads and does not benefit from the i5-12400's per-core speed improvements, such as certain data compression tasks. Even then, the i5-12400's Passmark multithread score of 18747 versus 16161 shows that it is generally faster in overall multi-threaded performance.

The average benchmark scores are close, with the i7-10700 at 19145 and the i5-12400 at 18683, but this average is skewed by the i7-10700's wins in a few niche tests. The percentile rankings are also nearly identical, with the i7-10700 at 73 and the i5-12400 at 72. However, the distribution of wins is what matters: the i5-12400 wins by large margins in the most common workloads, while the i7-10700 wins by smaller margins in less common ones. Users should prioritize the i5-12400 unless they have a specific reason to need the i7-10700's core count. The launch MSRP of the i5-12400 is $199.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher single-threaded performance?

A: The Intel Core i5-12400 wins all single-threaded benchmarks, including a 12.9% lead in 3DMark single-thread, a 31.7% lead in Cinebench R15 single-core, and a 16.3% lead in Passmark single-thread.

Q: Does the i7-10700 win any multi-threaded tests?

A: Yes, the i7-10700 wins 3DMark 16-thread by 10.1%, 3DMark max-thread by 14.1%, Passmark data compression by 11.1%, Passmark integer math by 7.9%, and Passmark random string sorting by 41.2%.

Q: Which processor is better for Cinebench rendering?

A: The i5-12400 is significantly better, winning Cinebench R23 multicore by 31.8% with a score of 15989 versus 10910, and Cinebench R20 multicore by 31.8% as well.

Q: What are the core and thread counts for each processor?

A: The i7-10700 has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the i5-12400 has 6 cores and 12 threads.

Q: Which processor supports DDR5 memory?

A: Only the i5-12400 supports DDR5 memory, along with DDR4. The i7-10700 is limited to DDR4.

Q: What is the difference in PCIe support?

A: The i7-10700 uses PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU, while the i5-12400 uses PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes from the CPU.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i7-10700 | Intel Core i5-12400 |

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

| Cores | 8 | 6 |

| Threads | 16 | 12 |

| Base Clock | 2.90 GHz | 2.50 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.80 GHz | 4.40 GHz |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1200 | Intel Socket 1700 |

| Architecture | Comet Lake | Alder Lake |

| Process Node | 14 nm | 10 nm |

| Die Size | Not recorded | 163 mm² |

| L1 Cache | 64 KB (per core) | 80 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 256 KB (per core) | 1.25 MB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 16 MB (shared) | 18 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR4 | DDR4, DDR5 |

| Memory Bandwidth | 46.9 GB/s | Not recorded |

| PCIe | Gen 3, 16 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 5, 16 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | UHD Graphics 630 | UHD Graphics 730 |

| Launch MSRP | Not recorded | $199 |