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The Intel Core i5 12400 is one of the best mainstream chips ever produced, but it would be simple to write it off as one of the least exciting processors from the 12th Gen Alder Lake series of CPUs. The fact that this CPU is not just a fantastic six-core, 12-thread gaming processor but also a tremendously remarkable overclocking chip doesn’t change the possibility that some of its nerdy allure is the result of a lucky accident on the part of Intel’s microcode.

However, if you’re looking for the special Alder Lake hybrid sauce that’s made the Core i9 12900K(opens in new tab) and Core i5 12600K(opens in new tab) such potent new processors, you’d be out of luck because the $200 Intel Core i5 12400 lacks its LITTLE uniqueness. It’s a fairly standard six-core CPU along the lines of the previous generations of budget Intel i5.

By the way, that’s still a very good thing. Since AMD’s outstanding Ryzen CPUs captured the hearts and minds of PC gamers, Intel has refocused on the mid-range market and has been putting out the absolute best value gaming chips available. Especially since it decided to enable HyperThreading on all of its processors. That gives the Intel Core i5 12400 some serious multithreading power for the money.

However, some of Alder Lake’s silicon goodness remains beneath that broad heat spreader. While this is not a hybrid processor (it lacks the extra Efficient Cores (E-Cores) that add to the versatility of higher-spec chips), it does feature the Golden Cove architecture within its pure Performance Cores (P-Cores).

That makes a huge difference for us PC gamers because it means the single-core performance of the Intel Core i5 12400 is on par with the best processors available.

And, yes, AMD’s Ryzen 5000 chips are included because, in the most recent Cinebench tests, this stock-clocked $220 Core i5 CPU outperforms AMD’s $750 Ryzen 9 5950X(opens in new tab) in single-core testing. It should be noted that this is only one benchmark, and it does not always follow that the Core i5 12400 can therefore outperform AMD’s best in every gaming run, but there are a few where it absolutely does.

Intel Core i5 12400 Specifications

All Alder Lake chips support DDR4-3200 or up to DDR5-4800 memory, but there are some limitations. PCIe support varies by motherboard, but Alder Lake chips expose up to 16 PCIe 5.0 lanes (technically for storage and graphics only, no networking devices) and four PCIe 4.0 lanes from the chip for M.2 storage.

The Intel Core i5 12400 has a power rating of 65W PBP (base) and 117W MTP (peak). We clocked the chip at 2.5 GHz base and boosted it to 4.4 GHz. The chip also includes 18 MB of L3 cache.

The Core i5-12400 is a locked chip, which means it cannot be overclocked. However, Intel supports memory overclocking on Z690 and B660 motherboards (though Z690 isn’t appropriate for this class of chip). As you’ll see, tinkering with the power limits acts as a sort of overclock that can eke out some extra performance in some gaming and threaded work.

The standard Intel Core i5 12400 processor includes the UHD Graphics 730 engine, which has 24 EUs. We ran it at 300 / 1400 MHz base/boost frequencies. If you want to save money, the graphics-less Core i5-12400F will be $25 cheaper (if tradition holds) and will have the same specs as the 12400, which is incredibly appealing if you plan on using a discrete graphics card.

Notably, you will lose Quick Sync capabilities as well as the iGPU fallback that you can use for troubleshooting if a discrete GPU fails. However, AMD’s price-comparable Ryzen 5 3600X and 3600 do not have a graphics option.

Intel Core i5 12400 Essential information

Product Collection	12th Generation Intel® Core™ i5 Processors
Code Name	Products formerly Alder Lake
Vertical Segment	Desktop
Processor Number	i5-12400
Status	Launched
Launch Date	Q1’22
Lithography	Intel 7
Recommended Customer Price	$211.00 – $221.00
Use Conditions	PC/Client/Tablet

Intel Core i5 12400 Specs

Total Cores	6
# of Performance-cores	6
# of Efficient-cores	0
Total Threads	12
Max Turbo Frequency	4.40 GHz
Performance-core Max Turbo Frequency	4.40 GHz
Performance-core Base Frequency	2.50 GHz
Cache	18 MB Intel® Smart Cache
Total L2 Cache	7.5 MB
Processor Base Power	65 W
Maximum Turbo Power	117 W

Intel Core i5 12400 Performance & Tests

During demanding workloads, the sample chip runs at an all-core 4.0GHz. Remember that this speed is only available to the Performance ‘Golden Cove’ core, so Efficient cores cannot assist. Because we’re comparing on an equal core-and-thread basis, this actually makes the comparison to the Ryzen 5 5600X more revealing.

In the Blender rendering test, which has traditionally been AMD’s domain, Intel’s latest Performance architecture is a tad faster than AMD’s Zen 3.

Single-thread performance is important for day-to-day tasks because it indicates the quick dispatching of common applications. The Intel Core i5 12400 can reach 4.4GHz, giving it a significant advantage over the Ryzen 5 5600X.

The Intel Core i5 12400 appears to outperform the Ryzen 5 5600X in every way. The next significant step up is to an 8C16T part, which Intel does not have in its arsenal of 12th Gen Core processors.

Other general-purpose workload benchmarks paint a different picture of performance. What is certain is that Intel’s latest-generation Performance cores are more than capable of handling a wide range of everyday tasks.

We’re using DDR5 memory to stay consistent with other 12th Gen Core results. At 4,800MT/s, the numbers are adequate for bandwidth but relatively poor for first-access latency.

It is not as simple to specify one mainstream chip over another in gaming. Our findings indicate that the Intel Core i5 12400 and AMD Ryzen 5 5600X are nearly identical.

It should be noted that we are testing the subsystem with an RTX 3080 Founders Edition card at an FHD resolution. Most readers will not have access to this graphics horsepower, or if they do, they will play at a higher resolution, which will reduce the framerate difference between the highest and lowest.

To put it another way, the Intel Core i5 12400 is an excellent gaming processor.

Intel Core i5 12400 Conclusion

We have absolutely no complaints about the Intel Core i5 12400. Its high-performance scores of up to 4400 MHz make it suitable for any PC application. By combining the entire infrastructure of the B660, fast memory, fast PCIe, and a fast processor, this platform becomes an excellent gaming and overall desktop PC.

Games prefer fast cores; you’re better off with six high-performance cores than 16 slow cores, and that’s the honest truth. While we are moving toward 8-core as the new standard, the reality is that for the vast majority of games, six cores and 12 threads are more than adequate. So, for just over $200, you can get an excellent processor.

Is the Intel Core i5 12400 worth it?

The Intel Core i5 12400 is a 10-core, 16-thread CPU with excellent gaming and multitasking performance. It features a base frequency of 3.7 GHz and a peak rate of 4.9 GHz, and it supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory. If you have a suitable motherboard and cooling setup, it is also unlocked for overclocking.

The Intel Core i5 12400 CPU is one of the finest in its price range, outperforming or matching the AMD Ryzen 5 5600X in most benchmarks. It also represents a major upgrade over the previous generation Core i5 11600K, which had fewer cores and lower clock rates.

However, the Intel Core i5 12400 has certain disadvantages over its predecessor, including increased power consumption, more heat production, and a higher price. If you wish to upgrade from an earlier Intel CPU, you’ll also need a new LGA 1700 socket, which means you’ll need a new motherboard.

Finally, whether the Intel Core i5 12400 is worthwhile depends on your budget, present system, and performance requirements. If you want a strong CPU that can handle most games and programs and don’t mind spending a little extra and updating your motherboard, the Intel Core i5 12400 is an excellent option. If you are on a limited budget or already have a good processor that fulfills your needs, you may want to wait for a price decrease or a better bargain.

Is Intel Core i5 12400 good for gaming?

The Intel Core i5 12400 is a decent gaming CPU since it performs well in most games at 1080p and 1440p resolutions. In most scores, the Intel Core i5 12400 outperforms or rivals the AMD Ryzen 5 5600X, another popular gaming CPU, according to several reports. It also features more cores, a faster clock speed, and a bigger cache than the previous generation Core i9 12900K.

However, the Intel Core i5 12400 has certain disadvantages over its predecessor, including increased power consumption, more heat production, and a higher price. If you wish to upgrade from an earlier Intel CPU, you’ll also need a new LGA 1700 socket, which means you’ll need a new motherboard.

Finally, whether the Intel Core i5 12400 is suitable for gaming is determined by your budget, present system, and performance requirements. If you want a strong CPU that can easily handle any game or program and don’t mind paying a little more and updating your motherboard, the Intel Core i5 12400 is a fantastic alternative. If you are on a limited budget or already have a good processor that fulfills your needs, you may want to wait for a price decrease or a better bargain.

Can you overclock the Intel Core i5 12400?

Because it is an unlocked CPU with manual frequency and voltage modifications, the Intel Core i5 12400 may be overclocked. Overclocking, on the other hand, needs a suitable motherboard, a good cooling system, and some technical understanding. Overclocking can also raise your system’s power consumption, heat production, and noise level, and if done wrong, it might invalidate your warranty or harm your hardware.

In general, the processes entail opening your motherboard’s BIOS, configuring your memory’s XMP profile, boosting the base clock frequency and voltage for the P-Cores, and checking the stability and temperature of your overclock.

Depending on your cooling system and CPU quality, you may be able to achieve a consistent overclock of 5.2 GHz or more on all P-Cores, which can greatly improve gaming and application performance. However, overclocking is not guaranteed and may vary from system to system, so proceed with caution and regularly monitor your system.

What temperature should an Intel Core i5 12400 run at?

The particular temperature at which an Intel Core i5-12400 should operate is determined by a number of factors, including the cooling solution employed, the ambient temperature, and the processor’s workload. Intel CPUs generally have a temperature range within which they may securely run.

Temperatures at Idle: When the system is not under significant load, the temperature at idle should be relatively low, generally just a few degrees over ambient.

average Operating Temperatures: During average workloads and gaming, temperatures might range from the mid to high 60s to the low 70s degrees Celsius.

Peak temperatures may reach greater levels under severe workloads or stress testing, although it is normally recommended to maintain them below the thermal throttling cutoff. The maximum junction temperature (Tjmax) of Intel CPUs is typically about 100°C.

The Intel Core i5 12400 CPU is from the 12th generation and has a base frequency of 2.50 GHz and a maximum turbo frequency of 4.40 GHz. It boasts 65 W of CPU base power and 117 W of maximum turbo power. This processor’s suggested temperature range is 0°C to 100°C.

Under severe demand, the Intel Core i5 12400 may operate at roughly 50°C with a 360mm AIO cooler, or up to 75°C with the standard cooler3. These temperatures, however, may vary based on the ambient temperature, case airflow, thermal paste application, and power limit settings.

You may use software tools like HWiNFO, Core Temp, or Open Hardware Monitor to monitor the temperature of your CPU. Other information that these tools may provide includes CPU utilization, frequency, voltage, and power consumption.

How much power does the Intel Core i5 12400 draw?

The Intel Core i5 12400 CPU is from the 12th generation and has a base frequency of 2.50 GHz and a maximum turbo frequency of 4.40 GHz. It boasts 65 W of CPU base power and 117 W of maximum turbo power. The Intel Core i5 12400 CPU has a peak power consumption of 117 watts at its maximum boost frequency of 4.40 GHz. Power consumption varies according on system setup, cooling method, and power source.

If you want to monitor your system’s power usage in real-time, you may use hardware monitoring tools like HWMonitor, Core Temp, or other comparable programs. These instruments may offer information on a variety of characteristics such as power usage, temperature, and voltage.

Always refer to the official Intel product documentation and specifications for the most accurate and up-to-date information on the Intel Core i5-12400 TDP and other technical specs.