Intel Core i5-12400T vs Intel Core i5-12500TE Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core i5-12500TE boosts to 4.30 GHz, while the Intel Core i5-12400T reaches 4.20 GHz. The 12500TE also has a higher base clock of 1900.00 MHz compared to 1800.00 MHz on the 12400T.

Q: What is the difference in integrated graphics between the two?

A: The 12500TE ships with UHD Graphics 770, while the 12400T uses UHD Graphics 730. Both are integrated graphics solutions, but the 770 model is the higher-tier part in Intel's lineup.

Q: How do the two compare in multi-core Cinebench R23 performance?

A: The 12400T scores 13234 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, which is 0.2% ahead of the 12500TE's 13203. The margin is effectively negligible, with the 12400T winning by only 31 points.

Q: Which processor wins in Geekbench multi-core?

A: The 12500TE wins decisively, scoring 7781 versus 7144 for the 12400T. That is an 8.9% advantage, the largest performance gap in any benchmark between the two.

Q: Are both processors on the same socket and architecture?

A: Yes. Both use Intel Socket 1700 and are built on the Alder Lake-S architecture with a 10 nm process node from Intel. Their die size is identical at 163 mm².

Q: What is the launch MSRP of each chip?

A: The 12400T has a launch MSRP of $192. The 12500TE has no launch MSRP listed in the data.

Architecture Differences

Both processors belong to Intel's Core 12th Gen family and share the Alder Lake-S codename, but the comparison reveals several internal distinctions. The most significant architectural divergence is the integrated graphics: the 12500TE pairs its compute cores with UHD Graphics 770, whereas the 12400T carries UHD Graphics 730. This indicates a different iGPU tier, though both share the same CPU core configuration of 6 cores and 12 threads.

The clock strategy also differs. The 12500TE operates with a base clock of 1900.00 MHz and a boost clock of 4.30 GHz, while the 12400T starts lower at 1800.00 MHz but also boosts slightly lower to 4.20 GHz. This 100 MHz base-clock advantage for the 12500TE is notable for sustained workloads, while the 100 MHz boost-clock edge gives the 12500TE a theoretical single-thread ceiling advantage that the benchmark data does not fully confirm.

The cache hierarchy is identical: 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 18 MB of shared L3. Both support DDR4 and DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration, and both expose Gen 5 PCIe with 20 lanes from the CPU. Neither supports ECC memory, and neither has an unlocked multiplier. The process node is the same 10 nm Intel fabrication, with a die size of 163 mm².

The market segment is desktop for both, and both are listed as Active in production status. The 12400T has a part number (SRL5X) and a launch MSRP of $192, while the 12500TE lacks both fields in the data. The "E" suffix on the 12500TE typically indicates an embedded-oriented variant, which may explain the different iGPU and clock profile.

Where Each One Wins

The 12500TE is the clear winner in Geekbench multi-core, scoring 7781 versus 7144 for the 12400T. That 8.9% delta is the largest margin in any head-to-head test and suggests the 12500TE has a meaningful advantage in heavily threaded, memory-sensitive workloads that Geekbench's multi-core suite exercises. This makes the 12500TE the better choice for applications that scale across all 12 threads and benefit from the higher base clock maintaining sustained throughput.

The 12400T wins everywhere else. It takes all six Cinebench tests (R15, R20, R23, both single and multi-core) plus Geekbench single-core. The margins are small — ranging from 0.2% to 0.5% in Cinebench — but the consistency is telling. In single-core Geekbench, the 12400T leads by 3.3%, which is the second-largest gap in the comparison. This suggests the 12400T has a slight edge in lightly threaded tasks and in rendering workloads that rely on Cinebench's specific instruction mix.

For users prioritizing multi-threaded productivity with a focus on general system responsiveness, the 12500TE's Geekbench multi-core dominance is the standout feature. For those running Cinebench-style rendering or single-thread-constrained applications, the 12400T's across-the-board wins, even if narrow, make it the more reliable performer in those specific tests. The 12400T also offers a known launch MSRP of $192, which provides a reference point, though the 12500TE has no listed MSRP for comparison.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i5-12500TE | Intel Core i5-12400T |

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

| Base Clock | 1900.00 MHz | 1800.00 MHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.30 GHz | 4.20 GHz |

| Integrated Graphics | UHD Graphics 770 | UHD Graphics 730 |

| Launch MSRP | Not listed | $192 |

| Part Number | Not listed | SRL5X |

All other specifications are identical: 6 cores, 12 threads, 35 W TDP, Intel Socket 1700, Alder Lake architecture, 10 nm process, 163 mm² die size, 80 KB L1 per core, 1.25 MB L2 per core, 18 MB shared L3, DDR4/DDR5 support, dual-channel memory bus, Gen 5 PCIe with 20 lanes, no ECC support, and locked multiplier.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark suite consists of eight tests, and the 12400T wins seven of them. The single exception is Geekbench multi-core, where the 12500TE posts a decisive victory. The overall win count is 7-1 in favor of the 12400T, but the magnitude of the 12500TE's single win outweighs the narrow margins of the 12400T's victories.

Starting with the 12500TE's win: in Geekbench multi-core, the 12500TE scores 7781 against 7144 for the 12400T, a delta of 8.9%. This is the only test where the difference exceeds 1%, and it is a substantial gap. The 12500TE's higher base clock of 1900.00 MHz likely contributes to this advantage in sustained multi-threaded execution, where the 12400T's 1800.00 MHz base clock may cause it to fall behind under prolonged load.

The 12400T's wins are all close. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the 12400T scores 1333 versus 1330, a 0.2% margin. In single-core R15, it leads 188 to 187, a 0.5% edge. The R20 results follow the same pattern: 5558 versus 5545 in multi-core (0.2%), and 784 versus 782 in single-core (0.3%). R23 sees the 12400T at 13234 versus 13203 in multi-core (0.2%) and 1868 versus 1863 in single-core (0.3%). The Geekbench single-core test gives the 12400T its largest non-Cinebench win: 2044 versus 1976, a 3.3% advantage.

Notably, the 12400T wins both Cinebench multi-core and single-core tests despite having lower clocks. This suggests the 12400T's boost behavior or power management allows it to sustain higher effective frequencies in these short-duration tests, or that the 12500TE's embedded-oriented design trades some burst performance for sustained throughput. The Geekbench multi-core result flips the script, indicating that the 12500TE's architecture handles that specific workload's memory access patterns or thread scheduling more efficiently.

The average benchmark scores reflect the overall picture: the 12500TE has an average of 4083, while the 12400T averages 4019. Both sit at the 57th percentile against all CPUs. The 12500TE's nearest rival is the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1900X at 4073 (0.2% delta), while the 12400T's closest competitor is the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 4655G at 4010 (0.2% delta). The two Intel chips are separated by only 1.6% in average score, confirming that their overall performance tiers are nearly identical, with the 12500TE holding a slight aggregate edge driven entirely by its Geekbench multi-core performance.