Core i5-12400F tested: 6-core Alder Lake takes on 12-core Haswell

The Intel Core i5-12400F processor has burst onto the mainstream CPU market, decimating most competitors from both manufacturers' current lineups. This isn't surprising at all: this CPU boasts the latest Alder Lake architecture, decent clock speeds, and support for affordable DDR4@3200-3600MHz RAM using the GEAR1 memory controller divider.

Many budget-conscious gamers and enthusiasts have long opted for cheaper platforms with multi-core processors. Of course, this was more of a necessity. Older budget chips like Intel Comet Lake-Rocket Lake or AMD Zen 2-3 were relatively expensive, and benchmarks showed they couldn't match the multi-threaded performance of 12-14 core Xeon CPUs on the LGA 2011 v3 platform. However, the situation changed drastically after the release of the Alder Lake architecture.

In this article, we'll find out if it's rational to swap a multi-core monster from the past for a budget 6-core CPU based on a new microarchitecture.

Processor

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Our test sample's designation is SRL5Z; the chip's nominal frequency is 2500MHz, and its TDP is set at 65W. This is a very modest figure, meaning almost any mid-range cooler can handle cooling this CPU.

Furthermore, the marking on the processor's integrated heat spreader (IHS) indicates we received the latest CPU revision, which features hardware-level blocking of AVX512 instructions. So, even if your motherboard BIOS has an option to enable this extension, you won't be able to. We checked.

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The i5-12400F processor is built around a 6-core, 10nm die, based on Intel's Alder Lake architecture. This chip features 1.25MB of L2 cache per core and a generous 18MB of shared L3 cache. Designed for LGA 1700 motherboards, the CPU's nominal clock speed is 2500MHz. However, thanks to Turbo Boost technology, it can significantly increase to 4400MHz for a single core and 4000MHz for all 6 cores/12 threads.

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The speed of the i5-12400F's integrated memory controller isn't tied to RAM frequency; it depends entirely on the dividers Intel refers to as

Officially, the Core i5-12400F processor's maximum RAM frequency is limited to dual-channel DDR4-3200MHz. However, we easily managed to run our Corsair Vengeance RGB PRO test sticks at DDR4-3600.

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Beyond these features, it's worth noting that the 6-core Alder Lake supports essential instructions for 2023, including SSE4.2, FMA3, AVX, and AVX2. This means avid gamers can seamlessly run any new release this year, even with ray tracing enabled, as benchmarks often show.

Test bench and software

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Test bench

• Intel Processors: Core i5-12400F, Xeon X5660, Xeon E5-2667, Xeon E5-2620 v3, and Xeon E5-2670 v3;

• AMD Processors: FX-8350;

• CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 Black Edition (RR-212S-20PK-R1);

• RAM for LGA 1366: 3x 8GB HyperX Genesis Na’Vi Edition (KHX16C9C2K2/8) modules, totaling 24GB;

• RAM for LGA 1700: 2x 8GB Corsair Vengeance RGB PRO (CMW16GX4M2C3600C18) modules, totaling 16GB;

• RAM for LGA 2011: 4x 8GB Micron MT36JSF1G72PZ-1G4M1HF modules, totaling 32GB;

• RAM for LGA 2011 v3: 4x 4GB G.SKILL DDR4 F4-2400C15S-4GNT modules, totaling 16GB;

• RAM for AM3+: 2x 8GB HyperX Genesis Na’Vi Edition (KHX16C9C2K2/8) modules, totaling 16GB;

• LGA 1366 Motherboard: DELL T3500 (09KPNV);

• LGA 1700 Motherboard: MSI PRO Z690-A DDR4 (MS-7D25);

• LGA 2011 Motherboard: DELL T3610 (09M8Y8);

• LGA 2011 v3 Motherboard: Qiyida X99-H9 with a modified BIOS from Huananzhi x99-8m-f (unlocking Turbo Boost and timing control);

• AM3+ Motherboard: ASUS M5A97 LE R2.0;

• Graphics Card: PALIT GAMEROCK GeForce RTX 3090 24GB (~1850/19000MHz, Power Limit 115%);

• Solid State Drive (SSD): KINGSTON SUV400S37120G 120GB (Windows 10), KINGSTON SUV400S37240G 240GB + KINGSTON SUV400S37400G 400GB (Games);

• Power Supply Unit (PSU): Chieftec GPS-1250C.

Software

• Operating System: Windows 10 x64 with the latest updates as of January 2023;

• Graphics Card Drivers: NVIDIA GeForce 528.02 WHQL;

• Additional Software for FPS Measurement: MSI Afterburner 4.6.4;

• Games: Testing was conducted on the latest game versions as of January 2023;

• Game Settings: Testing was performed at maximum graphics settings in 1080p resolution.

Tested processor settings

• Intel Processors:Core i5-12400F@4000MHz, Dual Channel DDR4@3600MHz (16-19-19-36)

• Xeon X5660@3066MHz, Triple-Channel DDR3@1333MHz (9-9-9-24);

• Xeon E5-2667@3200MHz, Quad-Channel DDR3@1333MHz (9-9-9-24);

• Xeon E5-2620 v3@3200MHz, Quad-Channel DDR4@1866MHz (10-10-10-24);

• Xeon E5-2670 v3@3100MHz, Quad-Channel DDR4@2133MHz (12-12-12-35).

AMD Processors: FX-8350@4200MHz, CPU-NB@2200MHz, Dual-Channel DDR3@1866MHz (11-11-11-28);

FX-8350@4434MHz, CPU-NB@2608MHz, Dual-Channel DDR3@2086MHz (11-12-12-30, CPU Core voltage — 1.416v, CPU-NB voltage — 1.375v, DDR3 voltage — 1.660v).

You can find more detailed information on almost all the tested components in our full-length articles, or browse the blogs section for shorter notes.

As a reminder, our CPU testing methodology involved running each game five times. We then took the average frame rate from these runs as the final result. All games were installed on an SSD.

Test results

Software

7-Zip

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In the free 7-Zip archiver, the i5-12400F couldn't beat the 12-core E5-2670 v3. This isn't particularly surprising; 24 threads with quad-channel DDR4 RAM in a demanding application like 7-Zip provide a significant advantage over Alder Lake's current architecture.

Admittedly, the 6-core 12400F's deficit isn't huge — just 6%. However, consider the price difference: the Core i5-12400F costs 11.5 times more than the Xeon E5-2670 v3.

Blender

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But the i5-12400F quickly redeemed itself. In Blender 3.4's final 3D renders, the 6-core chip slightly edged out the E5-2670 v3. Even more impressive, Alder Lake can deliver up to a two-fold performance increase in 3D object sculpting and modeling compared to the 12-core Haswell.

Comparing this plucky newcomer against older 6-core CPUs like Haswell, Sandy Bridge, and Westmere reveals even more. The 12400F's render speed is over 100% faster than the E5-2620 v3 and up to 300% faster than the X5660.

Blender Open Data Benchmark

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The results speak for themselves: if you're into 3D modeling with Blender and are still stuck on an old 6-core CPU for some reason, upgrading to Intel Alder Lake will net you substantial dividends.

Corona Render Benchmark

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The Corona Render Benchmark hasn't been updated in a long time, and consequently, it doesn't support modern CPU instruction sets. Yet, even under these conditions, the 6-core Alder Lake can still hold its own against the 12-core Haswell monster.

So, it's safe to say that even with outdated software, you'll still see a significant speed boost by upgrading from an old CPU like the Xeon X5660 or FX-8350 to the Core i5-12400F.

Cinebench R23

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In the latest Cinebench R23 benchmark, the i5-12400F outpaced the E5-2670 v3 by 18%, the E5-2620 v3 by 132%, the E5-2667 by 179%, and delivered a stunning 236% lead over the X5660! This test suite supports virtually all modern instruction sets, which ultimately allowed the 6-core Alder Lake to significantly outperform the 12-core Haswell.

xNormal, AO & NM Map render

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xNormal hasn't seen an update since 2017, meaning it can't fully leverage Intel's newer architectures. Yet, map baking is still fastest on the Core i5-12400F.

CPU-z Benchmark

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In the synthetic CPU-Z benchmark, the 12400F's single-threaded performance is twice that of the E5-2670 v3. In fact, this is precisely why the 6-core Alder Lake achieves multi-threaded processing speeds comparable to the 12-core Haswell.

Geekbench 5

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The situation in Geekbench 5 is similar, with the notable exception that the Core i5, even if only slightly, managed to pull ahead of the 2670 v3 in multi-threaded performance.

HandBrake, AV1, 2160p, 60FPS

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When transcoding video to the AV1 codec using HandBrake, the 12400F emerged as the undisputed leader. Its more advanced architecture and higher clock speeds allowed this budget 6-core chip to open up a significant lead over the aging 12-core CPU.

When comparing 6-core CPUs head-to-head, the Core i5-12400F looks even more impressive.

HandBrake, H265, 2160p, 60FPS

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When encoding video with H.265, the hierarchy remains largely the same. The 6-core Alder Lake still holds the top spot, significantly outperforming the 12-core Haswell.

Core i5-12400F vs. Xeon E5-2670 v3: Performance in 10 Applications

In single-threaded benchmarks, the i5-12400F chip crushes the E5-2670 v3, delivering 95% to 117% higher performance. Multi-threaded scenarios paint a slightly different picture, but the 6-core Alder Lake still boasts a 2% to 32% lead, making it the significantly more advantageous option overall.

Games

3DMark Time Spy

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The 3DMark Time Spy gaming benchmark confirms the Core i5-12400F's undisputed lead across all subtests. This modern 6-core chip's multi-threaded CPU benchmark advantage over the server-grade 12-core processor hits an impressive 12%.

Assassins Creed Valhalla

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In our first real-world gaming test, Assassin's Creed Valhalla, the Core i5-12400F proved 38% faster than the E5-2670 v3. While a significant lead, it's worth noting that the older 12-core Haswell still delivers more than acceptable frame rates.

Battlefield 2042

Ray tracing – on

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In Battlefield 2042, with ray tracing enabled, the 12400F chip outpaces the E5-2670 v3 by 41%. Despite this, the overall situation doesn't significantly change: the 12-core processor handles the game perfectly well at ultra graphics settings.

It's also worth noting that for users with 144Hz monitors, the Core i5-12400F processor will be the best choice.

Ray tracing – off

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With RT disabled in Battlefield 2042, the Core i5's lead over the 2670 v3 shrinks to 36%, which is a rather modest result. However, when compared to other tested CPUs, the 12400F's advantage over the 6-core processors reaches 77%, 122%, and 198% for the 2620 v3, 2667, and X5660, respectively.

Cyberpunk 2077

Ray tracing – on

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In Cyberpunk 2077 with RT enabled, we saw a 58% increase in frame rate compared to the E5-2670 v3. The Core i5-12400F managed a significant 108 FPS, with rare dips to 72. This is a very good result and clearly shows a healthy performance reserve for the future.

Ray tracing – off

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Without ray tracing, the 6-core Alder Lake demonstrates 143 FPS and is still 58% faster than the 12-core Haswell.

Far Cry 6

Ray tracing – on

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The Far Cry series has an unfortunate tendency to inherit the "ailments" of previous installments. Ubisoft's Dunia Engine, which powers the shooter, can only utilize up to 8 threads. This limitation makes more advanced and higher-frequency processors significantly faster than older multi-core solutions. Consequently, in Far Cry 6, the Core i5-12400F chip managed to outperform the Xeon E5-2670 v3 by an astonishing 77%.

Notably, only the 6-core Alder Lake can deliver truly stable and high FPS, hovering around 96 with rare drops to 77 frames per second.

Ray tracing – off

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Without ray tracing, all tested CPUs perform much better. However, even then, the E5-2670 v3's rare drops to 44 FPS prevent it from being a worthy choice for this game. The Core i5 outperforms its competitor by 78%, delivering around 114 frames per second with occasional dips to 81.

Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered

Ray Tracing – ON

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We see a similarly significant advantage, around 64%, in the former PlayStation 4 exclusive Marvel's Spider-Man Remastered with RT enabled. Here, the 12400F can render 84 FPS, with rare dips to 57.

Again, the E5-2670 v3 can't deliver 60 FPS, which seriously undermines its position.

Ray Tracing – OFF

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Disabling RT allows the 12-core processor to breathe a little, now pushing 60+ frames per second, albeit with some struggle. However, in the same situation, the 6-core Alder Lake delivers a smooth 120 FPS, outpacing its opponent by 83%.

RPCS3: PlayStation 3 emulator. Red Dead Redemption

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During real-time gameplay, the RPCS3 emulator can effectively distribute the workload across 6-8 cores. Consequently, the CPU's frequency, instruction set, and architectural sophistication become the primary performance factors. Among all tested chips, only the Core i5-12400F can boast such capabilities.

Thanks to these aforementioned features, the 6-core Alder Lake boasts a 130% lead over the 12-core E5-2670 v3.

Beyond its solo leadership, the 12400F chip was the only one among the tested participants capable of delivering a comfortable frame rate of around 30 FPS.

Red Dead Redemption 2

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RDR 2, on the other hand, is quite well-optimized for multi-core processors. As a result, the Core i5-12400F's lead over the Xeon E5-2670 v3 is just 29%. What's more, the 12-core Haswell delivers a more than acceptable frame rate, offering plenty of performance to complete Rockstar's title.

The Riftbreaker

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The same can't be said for the strategy game Riftbreaker. Here, optimization for a large number of CPU execution units isn't as robust, and the i5-12400F outperforms the E5-2670 v3 by a massive 90%. However, that's not the most crucial point. The important factor is that only the 6-core Alder Lake will allow for relatively comfortable gameplay in this strategy title, as it's the only one demonstrating a relatively stable minimum FPS of around 40. The other chips can't break the 16 frames per second barrier.

The Witcher 3 Next-Gen Update 4.00 (Complete Edition)

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Ray Tracing – ON

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In The Witcher 3 Next-Gen Update, the i5-12400F holds an astounding 96% advantage over the E5-2670 v3.

The Core i5-12400F is one of the few budget CPUs that can handle the Witcher 3 Remaster with ray tracing enabled. In one of the game's most demanding areas, this 6-core chip manages an average of 51 FPS, with rare dips to 35. Considering the abysmal optimization of the updated Witcher 3, that's an excellent result!

Ray tracing – off

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Without ray tracing, the Next-Gen Update runs significantly faster. Even so, only the 12400F delivers truly acceptable performance, maintaining an 89% lead over the 2670 v3.

Watch Dogs Legion

Ray tracing – on

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Surprisingly, Watch Dogs Legion is quite well-optimized. The game can utilize a bit over 12 threads.

In RT mode, Ubisoft's title runs acceptably even on a 12-core CPU. However, the 6-core Alder Lake delivers much better results, with a lead of up to 42%.

Ray tracing – off

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Without ray tracing, the 12400F's 39% advantage isn't quite as impressive, and the 2670 v3 can still handle Legion quite respectably.

Difference between Core i5-12400F and Xeon E5-2670 v3 in 11 games

In almost all games, the performance gap between the Core i5-12400F and the Xeon E5-2670 v3 is monstrously wide. Even in heavily threaded applications (excluding 3DMark, which is mostly synthetic), the 12-core Haswell couldn't even come close to the 6-core Alder Lake. This strongly suggests that game engines are still poorly optimized for multi-core CPUs.

Summary

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Looking at the raw performance numbers, the Core i5-12400F chip is simply stunning. Despite its relatively modest specs compared to more powerful CPUs on the same LGA 1700 socket, it manages to outperform the old 12-core server CPU in most professional applications and software. And when it comes to gaming, the 6-core Alder Lake proves to be the ultimate solution.

So, if you swap out the powerful 12-core/24-thread Xeon E5-2670 v3 for a 6-core/12-thread Core i5-12400F (or its higher-end siblings), you won't lose anything in either single-threaded or multi-threaded performance. On the contrary, our tests show that even in software heavily optimized for numerous threads, you could see performance gains of up to 30%.

Sure, the Core i5-12400F CPU costs significantly more than the E5-2670 v3. However, considering all the factors discussed above, the extra cost is definitely worth it.