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

The Intel Core i7-10700F and Intel Core i5-12400F represent two distinct generations of Intel desktop processors, and the benchmark data reveals a clear split in their strengths. The i7-10700F, with its 8 cores and 16 threads, dominates in heavily threaded workloads, while the i5-12400F, despite having fewer cores (6 cores, 12 threads), leverages its newer architecture to win most single-threaded and lightly threaded tests. The overall win count favors the i5-12400F, which takes 16 of the 25 head-to-head benchmark comparisons, but the i7-10700F secures 9 decisive victories, particularly in multi-threaded scenarios where its extra cores provide a substantial advantage.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking result is the i7-10700F's 37.6% lead over the i5-12400F in PassMark random string sorting, scoring 31625 versus 22975. This is the largest margin of victory for either processor in any test. The i7-10700F also wins the 3DMark max threads test by 13% (6679 vs 5912), the Cinebench R23 multicore test by 10.6% (13689 vs 12380), and the 3DMark 16 threads test by 9.9% (6476 vs 5895). In data compression, the i7-10700F leads by 8.6% (253358 vs 233327), and it edges out the i5-12400F in extended instructions by 3.5% (16389 vs 15834) and integer math by 4.3% (62579 vs 59995).

The i5-12400F's wins are equally pronounced, though they come from a different angle. Its largest victory is in PassMark data encryption, where it scores 11679 against the i7-10700F's 5378, a massive 54% advantage. The i5-12400F also wins Cinebench R15 multicore by 21.6% (1759 vs 1379), Geekbench single-core by 20.8% (1964 vs 1555), and Cinebench R15 single-core by 20.5% (244 vs 194). In 3DMark single-thread, the newer chip leads by 12.8% (909 vs 793), and it takes PassMark physics by 33.2% (1202 vs 803) and PassMark find prime numbers by 34.7% (72 vs 47). The i5-12400F also wins PassMark multithread by 16.5% (19433 vs 16227) and Geekbench multicore by 16.9% (9472 vs 7867), despite having fewer cores.

In the mixed-thread 3DMark tests, the results are closer. The i5-12400F wins the 2-thread test by 7.9% (1699 vs 1565) and the 4-thread test by 1.5% (3067 vs 3022), while the i7-10700F takes the 8-thread test by 5.4% (5039 vs 4779). The Cinebench R20 numbers also favor the i5-12400F, with a 17.6% lead in multicore (6980 vs 5749) and a 17.7% lead in single-core (985 vs 811). The average benchmark scores reflect this split: the i7-10700F averages 19499, while the i5-12400F averages 19039, a difference of only 2.4%, with both sitting at the 73rd percentile among all CPUs.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on fundamentally different architectures. The i7-10700F uses Intel's Comet Lake architecture, fabricated on a 14 nm process node. It features 8 cores and 16 threads, with a base clock of 2.90 GHz and a boost clock of 4.80 GHz. Its cache layout includes 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 cache per core, and 16 MB of shared L3 cache. It supports DDR4 memory in a dual-channel configuration, with a recorded memory bandwidth of 46.9 GB/s. The i7-10700F uses the Intel Socket 1200 and provides PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only).

The i5-12400F, in contrast, uses the Alder Lake architecture (codename Alder Lake-S), built on a 10 nm process node. It has 6 cores and 12 threads, with a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz. Its cache hierarchy is different: 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core, and 18 MB of shared L3 cache. The i5-12400F supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, also in a dual-channel configuration, though no memory bandwidth figure is recorded for it. It uses the Intel Socket 1700 and provides PCIe Gen 5 with 20 lanes (CPU only). The die size for the i5-12400F is listed as 163 mm², while the i7-10700F does not have a recorded die size.

These architectural differences explain the benchmark results. The i7-10700F's higher boost clock (4.80 GHz vs 4.40 GHz) and additional cores give it an edge in raw multi-threaded throughput, but the i5-12400F's newer 10 nm process and larger L2 cache (1.25 MB per core vs 256 KB per core) allow it to execute instructions more efficiently per clock. The i5-12400F also benefits from a larger L3 cache (18 MB vs 16 MB), which helps in workloads that frequently access shared data.

Where Each One Wins

The i7-10700F is the clear choice for workloads that scale with core count and thread count. Its 8 cores and 16 threads provide a 33% core advantage over the i5-12400F's 6 cores and 12 threads. This manifests in wins like the 3DMark max threads test (13% ahead), Cinebench R23 multicore (10.6% ahead), and PassMark random string sorting (37.6% ahead). The i7-10700F also wins in data compression (8.6% ahead), integer math (4.3% ahead), and extended instructions (3.5% ahead), making it suitable for content creation, video rendering, and scientific computing where multi-threaded performance is paramount.

The i5-12400F wins in almost every single-threaded and lightly threaded test. Its 20.8% lead in Geekbench single-core (1964 vs 1555) and 20.5% lead in Cinebench R15 single-core (244 vs 194) demonstrate a significant per-core performance advantage. This carries over to gaming and general desktop responsiveness, where the i5-12400F's 12.8% lead in 3DMark single-thread (909 vs 793) is particularly relevant. The i5-12400F also wins in encryption by a massive 54%, suggesting it has hardware features or architectural improvements that accelerate cryptographic operations. Its wins in PassMark physics (33.2% ahead) and find prime numbers (34.7% ahead) further indicate superior integer and mathematical throughput per core.

The i5-12400F also wins the Cinebench R15 and R20 multicore tests despite having fewer cores. In Cinebench R15 multicore, it leads by 21.6% (1759 vs 1379), and in R20 multicore, it leads by 17.6% (6980 vs 5749). This suggests that the i5-12400F's per-core efficiency is so high that it overcomes the i7-10700F's core count advantage in these specific workloads. However, in Cinebench R23 multicore, the i7-10700F reverses the trend, winning by 10.6% (13689 vs 12380), which indicates that the workload's scaling characteristics can favor either processor.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in single-threaded benchmarks?

A: The Intel Core i5-12400F is consistently faster in single-threaded tests. It leads by 20.8% in Geekbench single-core (1964 vs 1555), 20.5% in Cinebench R15 single-core (244 vs 194), 17.7% in Cinebench R20 single-core (985 vs 811), and 17.4% in PassMark single-thread (3481 vs 2875).

Q: Does the i7-10700F win any multicore benchmarks?

A: Yes, the i7-10700F wins several multicore tests, including 3DMark max threads by 13% (6679 vs 5912), Cinebench R23 multicore by 10.6% (13689 vs 12380), 3DMark 16 threads by 9.9% (6476 vs 5895), and PassMark multithread is actually won by the i5-12400F by 16.5% (19433 vs 16227), but the i7-10700F wins 3DMark 8 threads by 5.4% (5039 vs 4779).

Q: How do the average benchmark scores compare?

A: The i7-10700F has an average benchmark score of 19499, while the i5-12400F scores 19039. This puts the i7-10700F 2.4% higher on average, despite the i5-12400F winning more individual head-to-head tests (16 vs 9).

Q: What is the difference in memory support?

A: The i7-10700F supports only DDR4 memory, while the i5-12400F supports both DDR4 and DDR5. Both use a dual-channel memory bus. The i7-10700F has a recorded memory bandwidth of 46.9 GB/s, while the i5-12400F does not have a recorded bandwidth figure.

Q: Which processor has more cache?

A: The i5-12400F has a larger L2 cache at 1.25 MB per core compared to 256 KB per core on the i7-10700F. The i5-12400F also has more L3 cache at 18 MB shared, versus 16 MB shared on the i7-10700F. The i7-10700F has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, while the i5-12400F has 80 KB per core.

Q: What are the PCIe capabilities of each processor?

A: The i7-10700F provides PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the i5-12400F provides PCIe Gen 5 with 20 lanes (CPU only). This is a significant generational difference in both bandwidth and lane count.

The Verdict

The data presents a clear choice based on workload priorities. The Intel Core i7-10700F should be selected by users who prioritize multi-threaded performance above all else. Its wins in 3DMark max threads (13% ahead), Cinebench R23 multicore (10.6% ahead), and PassMark random string sorting (37.6% ahead) make it the stronger option for rendering, video encoding, and data compression tasks. Its 8 cores and 16 threads provide a tangible advantage in applications that can utilize all available threads, and its higher boost clock of 4.80 GHz helps in moderately threaded workloads.

The Intel Core i5-12400F is the better choice for users who value single-threaded performance and per-core efficiency. Its 20.8% lead in Geekbench single-core and 12.8% lead in 3DMark single-thread indicate superior responsiveness in everyday tasks and gaming. The 54% lead in data encryption makes it particularly attractive for security-focused workloads. Its support for DDR5 memory and PCIe Gen 5 also provide future-proofing advantages that the i7-10700F cannot match.

The overall win count of 16 vs 9 in favor of the i5-12400F is notable, but the i7-10700F's wins are often in heavier, more demanding workloads. Both processors sit at the 73rd percentile among all CPUs, and their average benchmark scores are within 2.4% of each other. For a user building a new system today, the i5-12400F's architectural advantages and platform support make it the more balanced choice. For a user upgrading an existing LGA 1200 system, the i7-10700F represents a straightforward multi-threaded upgrade path.

Specification Differences

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

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

| 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 |

| 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, 20 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Release Date | 2020-04-29 | 2022-01-03 |

| Launch MSRP | Not recorded | $174 |