Intel Core i5-12400 Desktop Processor 18M Cache, up to 4.40 GHz

Product Information

The K-SKU Alder Lake CPUs have been tested on the MSI Z690 Tomahawk Wi-Fi DDR4 using the same memory and all boards were updated to the latest BIOS revision. We've also updated the Ryzen data, using the MSI X570S Tomahawk Wi-Fi motherboard. Because this game only uses a single core heavily, the power configuration doesn't matter, allowing the 12400 to produce a score of 202 pts even when adhering to the 65-watt spec. That's the same score you'll receive from a Zen 3 processor and only 2.5% less than the 12600K. The quiet operation of the cooler made for a more comfortable and distraction-free computing experience.

The fully modular cabling on the Toughpower GF3 allows for easy customization and cable management, optimizing airflow and minimizing clutter in my build.Max Turbo Frequency refers to the maximum single-core processor frequency that can be achieved with Intel® Turbo Boost Technology. See www.intel.com/technology/turboboost/ for more information and applicability of this technology.

Unlike the standard Ryzen 5000 models, the Ryzen 5 5600G APU does come with integrated graphics. This Cezanne APU pairs six Zen 3 execution cores with the Radeon Vega graphics engine for iGPU-powered gaming rigs. As a result, this APU is the best value on the market if you're looking to game at lower resolutions without a discrete GPU. But aside from gaming on the iGPU, it can't compete with the Core i5-12400 and comes at a higher price point. It was up to 15% slower than the 12600K when looking at the 1% lows. Overall a good result here for Intel's new base model Core i5 processor. Intel has a serious performance advantage in The Riftbreaker. The i5-12400 easily beats the 5600X offering up to 26% greater performance, seen when looking at the 1% lows. It was also just a few frames slower than the 12600K and 13% faster than the 11600K.The TDP of the Core i5-12400 is an excellent way to determine the power supply's wattage requirement. The TDP indicates the CPU's power to draw under a heavy load at its max base speed. Too low of a wattage rating in a power supply can result in power throttling, which can cause the CPU to slow down, impacting performance. It's also important to note that the TDP only represents the CPU's power consumption, and other components, such as the graphics card, RAM, and storage devices, also require power. The Core i5-12400F is my new go-to budget CPU and we hope to see some nice budget B660 boards available soon! Shopping Shortcuts:

You should plan on using a 600-series B- or H-series motherboard with the 12400, and there are a plethora of options available that support DDR4 memory. AMD's AM4 motherboard ecosystem is generally less expensive, but AM4's connectivity options have come a bit long in the tooth. Unfortunately, it doesn't fare nearly as well for the decompression test as the 12400 was only able to edge out the 10600K making it slower than the 11600K by a 12% margin and almost 30% slower than the 5600X. As for CPU-Z, the 12400 scored 681 in single-threaded and 4,983 in multi-threaded. In testing on AIDA64, which was also shown here, the Alder Lake CPU didn’t get any hotter than 60C (with a peak power draw of 78W), so that’s good to see, as well. The Core i5-12400 has a base TDP of 65 watts. When the Core i5-12400 is turbo boosting it can use up to 117 watts, which means that the power supply should be rated to deliver at least 117 watts to the CPU alone. Interestingly, the 12400 was a lot slower than the 12600K in our Hitman 3 benchmark, trailing by an 18% margin.Another standout feature of the 700D Airflow is its ability to support vertically mounting a graphics card. This is a great option for those who want to showcase their high-end GPU and add a unique touch to their build. Processors that support 64-bit computing on Intel® architecture require an Intel 64 architecture-enabled BIOS. The ultra-quiet design of the Toughpower GF3 makes it an excellent choice for anyone looking for a power supply that won't add excess noise to their system, even under heavy workloads. You could point to a 20% drop in performance in Far Cry 6, but we are talking about a drop from 147fps to 118fps. That's the biggest cut, where our other gaming tests don't have that great a delta. And it bears saying that as you bump up the resolution, those differences get smaller as the game performance becomes more GPU bound. Then when power limited to the 65w spec, it matched the 5600X making it 8% slower than the unleashed configuration.

Intel has made plenty of progress, but AMD still holds the crown of the most power-efficient chips even though the margin has gotten slimmer, largely due to the single-die Ryzen 5000G models. The Ryzen 5000 chips generally consume less peak power, and some models can also accomplish more work per unit of power consumed. That results in superior power consumption, efficiency, and thermal output, so you'll end up with a cooler and quieter system. Pricing: Intel Core i5-12400 vs AMD Ryzen 5 5600X and Ryzen 5 5600G All of the chips come with a bundled cooler, which levels the playing field when you're only buying the chip. We say wallet-friendly, but of course what we don’t know is a key piece of the puzzle, and that’s how Intel will pitch pricing. In this case, it should be in line with current midrange pricing, you would hope – perhaps a bit more (or maybe not if Intel really wants to take the fight to AMD and go for the CPU jugular, to try to reclaim some of that desktop territory lost to Ryzen in recent years).This series of power supplies comes in power outputs including 750, 850, 1000, 1200, 1350 and 1650 watts.