Intel Core i5-12400F vs Intel Core i5-1345U Comparison

The Intel Core i5-1345U and Intel Core i5-12400F occupy entirely different corners of the processor market, and the benchmark data reflects that split with unusual clarity. The 12400F wins 16 of the 17 recorded head-to-head comparisons, but the single victory for the 1345U is in a test that matters most for everyday responsiveness. The data shows a desktop part that crushes sustained multi-threaded workloads and a mobile part that edges ahead in lightly threaded, burst-oriented performance while operating within a fraction of the power envelope. Neither chip is a general-purpose champion; each is precisely optimized for its intended chassis and workload profile.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i5-12400F is the clear winner in every multi-threaded and heavy computational benchmark recorded in the database. Its advantages range from a modest 11.9% lead in integer math to a commanding 42% lead in extended instructions. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the desktop chip scores 12380 against 7724 for the 1345U, a 37.6% gap that reflects the fundamental difference between a 65W desktop processor with six full-performance cores and a 15W mobile processor with a hybrid layout. The 12400F also wins every PassMark multi-threaded test, including a 25.3% lead in multithread (19433 vs 14511), a 31.9% lead in physics (1202 vs 818), and a 29.7% lead in data compression (233327 vs 164005).

The Intel Core i5-1345U wins exactly one head-to-head benchmark: Cinebench R23 single-core, with a score of 1724 against 1680 for the 12400F, a 2.6% advantage. This is a narrow victory, but it is a meaningful one for a mobile processor. Single-threaded performance drives the feel of everyday applications, from web browsing to office documents, and the 1345U delivers that performance while consuming a fraction of the power. The mobile chip also holds its own in other single-threaded tests, coming within 1.9% in PassMark single-thread (3415 vs 3481) and within 1.6% in Cinebench R15 single-core (240 vs 244), even though those specific tests record wins for the desktop part.

The use-case split is stark. The 12400F is for sustained, parallel workloads: rendering, compiling, encoding, simulation. The 1345U is for mobile productivity where peak single-core bursts matter and battery life is paramount.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel families. The 1345U is built on Raptor Lake architecture, specifically the Raptor Lake-U variant, while the 12400F uses Alder Lake architecture, the Alder Lake-S desktop variant. Both are fabricated on a 10 nm process at Intel, but the similarities end there.

The core configurations diverge significantly. The 1345U packs 10 cores and 12 threads, using a hybrid arrangement of performance and efficiency cores to balance throughput against power draw. The 12400F has 6 cores and 12 threads, all of them performance cores, which explains why the desktop chip can outmuscle the mobile chip despite having fewer physical cores. Thread counts are identical at 12, but the quality and sustained power delivery of those threads differ enormously.

Cache hierarchies also differ. Both processors use 80 KB of L1 cache per core and 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core, but the L3 cache tells a different story. The 1345U has 12 MB of shared L3 cache, while the 12400F has 18 MB of shared L3 cache. That 50% larger L3 pool on the desktop part helps feed the six performance cores during large, repeated data sets.

Clock speeds favor the mobile chip on paper. The 1345U has a base clock of 1600 MHz and a boost clock of 4700 MHz. The 12400F has a base clock of 2500 MHz and a boost clock of 4400 MHz. The higher boost clock on the 1345U explains its single-core Cinebench R23 victory, while the higher base clock on the 12400F reflects its ability to sustain high frequencies across all cores under load.

Thermal design power differs by a factor of over four. The 1345U is rated at 15W TDP, while the 12400F is rated at 65W TDP. This single number explains most of the performance gap: the desktop chip has the thermal headroom to keep all cores running at high clocks indefinitely, while the mobile chip must throttle down to protect its slim chassis.

Platform support also diverges. The 1345U uses the Intel BGA 1744 socket and integrates Iris Xe Graphics with 80 execution units. The 12400F uses the Intel Socket 1700 and has no integrated graphics at all, as indicated by the null field for integratedGraphics. The mobile chip also uses PCIe Gen 4 with 8 lanes, while the desktop chip supports PCIe Gen 5 with 20 lanes. Both support DDR4 and DDR5 memory in dual-channel configurations, and neither supports ECC memory.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The Intel Core i5-1345U has 10 cores and 12 threads, while the Intel Core i5-12400F has 6 cores and 12 threads. The mobile chip has more physical cores, but the desktop chip matches it in thread count.

Q: Which processor wins in multi-core performance?

A: The Intel Core i5-12400F wins decisively. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 12380 against 7724 for the 1345U, a 37.6% lead. In Cinebench R20 multi-core, the lead is 29.2% (6980 vs 4942).

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core i5-1345U has a boost clock of 4700 MHz, while the Intel Core i5-12400F has a boost clock of 4400 MHz. The mobile chip's higher boost clock contributes to its single-core wins.

Q: Do both processors support the same memory types?

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

Q: Which processor has integrated graphics?

A: Only the Intel Core i5-1345U has integrated graphics, specifically Iris Xe Graphics with 80 execution units. The Intel Core i5-12400F has no integrated graphics at all.

Q: How do the two processors compare in single-threaded performance?

A: The results are close. The 1345U wins Cinebench R23 single-core (1724 vs 1680, a 2.6% lead), but the 12400F wins Cinebench R15 single-core (244 vs 240, a 1.6% lead) and PassMark single-thread (3481 vs 3415, a 1.9% lead).

Specification Differences

The recorded data shows the following differences between the two processors:

• Cores: 10 (1345U) vs 6 (12400F)
• Base Clock: 1600 MHz (1345U) vs 2500 MHz (12400F)
• Boost Clock: 4700 MHz (1345U) vs 4400 MHz (12400F)
• TDP: 15W (1345U) vs 65W (12400F)
• Socket: Intel BGA 1744 (1345U) vs Intel Socket 1700 (12400F)
• Architecture: Raptor Lake (1345U) vs Alder Lake (12400F)
• Codename: Raptor Lake-U (1345U) vs Alder Lake-S (12400F)
• L3 Cache: 12 MB shared (1345U) vs 18 MB shared (12400F)
• PCIe: Gen 4, 8 Lanes (1345U) vs Gen 5, 20 Lanes (12400F)
• Integrated Graphics: Iris Xe Graphics 80EU (1345U) vs None (12400F)
• Market Segment: Mobile (1345U) vs Desktop (12400F)
• Release Date: 2023-01-03 (1345U) vs 2022-01-03 (12400F)
• Die Size: Not recorded (1345U) vs 163 mm² (12400F)
• Launch MSRP: The 1345U has a launch MSRP of $309. The 12400F has a launch MSRP of $174.

The process node is identical at 10 nm from Intel for both. Both processors are active in production and have locked multipliers.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest margin of victory anywhere in the head-to-head data belongs to the 12400F in PassMark extended instructions, where it scores 15834 against 9178 for the 1345U, a 42% advantage. This test measures SIMD and vectorized workload performance, and the desktop chip's sustained power delivery gives it an overwhelming edge. The second-largest gap is 37.6% in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where the 12400F scores 12380 against 7724. Third is 31.9% in PassMark physics (1202 vs 818), a test that stresses memory latency and core coordination.

The 12400F also shows strong wins in Cinebench R20, where it leads by 29.2% in both multi-core (6980 vs 4942) and single-core (985 vs 697). The single-core margin in R20 is notable because it contradicts the closer single-core results in other tests. The R20 single-core test appears to favor the desktop chip's higher base clock and more consistent power delivery, while the R23 single-core test favors the mobile chip's higher boost clock.

In PassMark integer math, the 12400F leads by 11.9% (59995 vs 52847), and the same 11.9% margin appears in data encryption (11679 vs 10288). Floating-point math shows a 23.1% lead for the desktop chip (46759 vs 35939). Random string sorting goes to the 12400F by 17.8% (22975 vs 18888), and find prime numbers by 34.7% (72 vs 47). The multithread test shows a 25.3% lead (19433 vs 14511).

The 1345U's only win is in Cinebench R23 single-core, with a score of 1724 against 1680, a 2.6% margin. This is the newest Cinebench version in the data, and it appears to reward the mobile chip's higher boost clock of 4700 MHz more than the desktop chip's 4400 MHz boost. Even in its losing single-core efforts, the 1345U stays close: 1.6% behind in R15 single-core and 1.9% behind in PassMark single-thread.

The Verdict

The data directs each processor to a different buyer. The Intel Core i5-12400F is the choice for anyone who prioritizes sustained multi-threaded performance. It wins 16 of 17 benchmarks and leads by double digits in most of them. Its 65W TDP and desktop socket allow it to run at high clocks across all six cores for as long as the workload demands. The 18 MB L3 cache and PCIe Gen 5 support with 20 lanes make it a capable foundation for a desktop build. The lack of integrated graphics means a discrete GPU is mandatory, but that is expected in this segment.

The Intel Core i5-1345U is the choice for a mobile system where single-core responsiveness and power efficiency matter more than raw throughput. Its 15W TDP is a fraction of the desktop chip's draw, and its 10-core hybrid design with Raptor Lake architecture provides competitive single-thread performance. The 2.6% win in Cinebench R23 single-core is the proof point: for everyday tasks that rely on one or two threads, the 1345U matches or beats the desktop part. Its integrated Iris Xe Graphics with 80 execution units means no discrete GPU is required, and its BGA 1744 socket is designed for thin-and-light laptops.

The average benchmark scores tell a similar story. The 1345U averages 19411 across its benchmarks, placing it in the 73rd percentile of all CPUs. The 12400F averages 19039, also in the 73rd percentile. The near-identical averages hide the divergent workload profiles: the mobile chip's average is buoyed by its single-core efficiency, while the desktop chip's average is driven by multi-core dominance. The nearest rivals for the 1345U include the Intel Core Ultra 5 226V and AMD Ryzen 5 7533HS, both within 0.2% of its average score. The nearest rivals for the 12400F include the AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS at a 0% delta and the Intel Core i5-1335U at a 0.3% delta.

Choose the 12400F for rendering, compiling, data processing, and any workload that scales across cores. Choose the 1345U for a portable system where single-thread snappiness and low power draw are the priorities. The benchmark data does not support a single winner; it supports two clearly separated use cases.