Intel Core i3 14100F vs Intel Core i5 12400F: Which is the Better CPU?

Intel Core i3 14100F meets Core i5 12400F. Find out which one is better in gaming, benchmarks, and multithreading.

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The Core i3 14100F is a 4-core 8-threaded CPU powered by the 14th generation Raptor Lake refresh architecture, and the Core i5 12400F is a 6-core 12-threaded CPU powered by the Alder Lake CPU architecture. The 14100F has a clock speed advantage, and the 12400F has a core count and cache advantage.

Find out below how the two compare.

Also Read: AMD Ryzen 7 5700X vs Intel Core I5 14400F: Which Is the Better CPU?

Intel Core i3 14100F vs Intel Core i5 12400F: Detailed Comparison

An image showing the 12400F (Image via Intel) — An image showing the 12400F (Image via Amazon)

Specs Comparison

Here are the specs for the Core i3 14100F and Core i5 12400F:

Specifications	Core i3 14100F	Core i5 12400F
Architecture	Raptor Lake-R (14th Gen)	Alder Lake (12th Gen)
Core/Thread count	4 cores / 8 threads	6 cores, / 12 threads
Max clock speed	Up to 4.7 GHz	Up to 4.4 GHz
L3 cache	12 MB	18 MB
RAM support	DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200 (up to 2 channels, max 192 GB)	DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200 (up to 2 channels, max 128 GB)
PCIe Gen support	PCIe 5.0 and 4.0 (up to 20 lanes)	PCIe 5.0 and 4.0 (up to 20 lanes)
Platform Socket	LGA 1700	LGA 1700
Thermal design power (TDP)	58W base, 110W max turbo	65W base, 117W max turbo
Manufacturing nodes	Intel 7 (10nm)	Intel 7 (10nm)

From the specifications, we can see that the 14100F has more memory support, a higher boost clock, but a lower L3 cache in contrast to the 12400F. Now, all of this can translate to a perfect NAS build, where you can buy a good B760 motherboard and slot in 192GB DDR5 memory. While the 12400F would have more physical cores, the memory support is up to 128GB only.

Synthetic Performance Comparison

An image showing the 14100F processor (Image via Amazon)

Due to the higher clock speeds in the 14100F, the single-core scores are higher, but not by a considerable margin compared to the 12400F. Even with the clock speed advantage, the 12400F, with more physical cores, will be better for gaming, multi-threading, content creation, and possibly anything you throw at it.

Benchmark	Core i3 14100F	Core i5 12400F
Cinebench R23 Single-Core	1740	1704
Cinebench R23 Multi-Core	8794	12047
Geekbench 6 Single-Core	2429	2300
Geekbench 6 Multi-Core	8890	9477

Gaming Performance Comparison

The data is sourced from Testing Games’ YouTube channel, where the person conducted the tests with all the mentioned games at the max settings using a low-latency Dual Channel Memory kit with the RTX 4090 at 1080p.

Games	Core i3 14100F	Core i5 12400F
Starfield	80 FPS	91 FPS
Forza Horizon 5	194 FPS	204 FPS
Ghost of Tsushima	142 FPS	143 FPS
Horizon Forbidden West	115 FPS	130 FPS
Cyberpunk: 2077	69 FPS	77 FPS

As stated earlier, due to more physical cores, the 12400F will win in gaming and every other use case. However, the higher clock speed advantage is showing itself, as the discrepancy isn’t that huge. If you plan to play games on the 14100F, it’s also a great buy.

Price Comparison

The Core i3 14100F currently retails at Newegg.com for $90, and the Core i5 for $108. Pricing information is accurate as of August 4, 2025, and can change without notice.

Final Verdict: Core i3 14100F vs Intel Core i5 12400F

For a few dollars more, you get better gaming performance with the 12400F and more multithreading capabilities. As for supported memory, the use case becomes pretty niche if you are among those who would pair a four-core, eight-threaded CPU with 192GB of RAM. It can be done, but it’s pretty unrealistic.

So the better buy is the 12400F here, in all realistic use cases, and even in a NAS, as 128GB RAM coupled with this potent six-core CPU still makes a superfast solution.

Also Read: AMD Ryzen 5 5600X vs Intel Core I5 12400F: Which Is the Better CPU?

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Intel Core i3 14100F vs Intel Core i5 12400F: Which is the Better CPU?