Intel Core i5-12400
The current Intel Core i5-12400 price from retailers, its key specifications, and how it performs for each job.
Intel · CPU · Intel 12th
Retailer photo of Intel Core i5-12400. View this offer in Where to buy
Trade-offs: you want strong value with Balanced priorities specifically
- Cores / threads
- 6C / 12T
- Boost clock
- 4400 MHz
- Socket
- LGA 1700
- TDP
- 117 W
- Memory support
- DDR5, DDR4
Move a slider and the page re-scores this product against the same market frame.
What does it cost today, and is that a good price?
Market confidence: MediumConsider: AMD Ryzen 5 7500F offers stronger value around $106.Compare
Prices & availability
Intel Core i5-12400: current price and offers
Compare the offers we track for this model, across variants and retailers.
3 tracked offers · 3 retailers
| Variant | Store | Condition | Price (snapshot) | Value · Balanced | Checked | Offer link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Intel Core i5-12400 | Amazon | New | Check on Amazon | 45 | 2026-11-09 | View offer → |
| Intel Core i5-12400 | Newegg | New | $183 | 44 | 2026-11-09 | View offer → |
| Intel Core i5-12400 | MemoryC | New | $238 | 34 | 2026-11-09 | View offer → |
Prices are dated snapshots, not live quotes — confirm the final price at the store. New, refurbished and used offers are listed separately; used offers carry warranty and seller risk.
Performance and where it ranks
Two different questions, side by side. Performance compares what the hardware can do; Value compares what that capability costs at today’s price. A product can rank high on one and low on the other — that gap is the point.
Performance Balanced
How much it can do. Price plays no part in this ranking.
#156 of 270 graded processors
- #153 AMDAMD Ryzen 5 5500 11
- #154 IntelIntel Core i9-10900 11
- #155 AMDAMD Ryzen 5 5500GT 11
- #156 IntelIntel Core i5-12400 11
- #157 AMDAMD Ryzen 5 3600XT 11
- #158 IntelIntel Core i7-10700K 11
- #159 IntelIntel Core i7-10700KF 11
Value Balanced
How much of that you get for today’s price.
#70 of 270 currently priced processors
- #67 AMDAMD Ryzen 7 8700F 45
- #68 IntelIntel Core i5-11600 45
- #69 IntelIntel Core i5-7600K 45
- #70 IntelIntel Core i5-12400 45
- #71 IntelIntel Core i7-7800X 45
- #72 AMDAMD Ryzen 5 5600GT 45
- #73 AMDAMD Ryzen 9 9900X 44
Performance Gaming
How much it can do. Price plays no part in this ranking.
#114 of 270 graded processors
- #111 IntelIntel Core i7-11700K 63
- #112 IntelIntel Core Ultra 5 225 63
- #113 IntelIntel Core i9-11900F 63
- #114 IntelIntel Core i5-12400 62
- #115 IntelIntel Core i9-11900 62
- #116 AMDAMD Ryzen 5 5600 62
- #117 IntelIntel Core i3-13100 62
Value Gaming
How much of that you get for today’s price.
#47 of 270 currently priced processors
- #44 AMDAMD Ryzen 9 9900X 63
- #45 AMDAMD Ryzen 7 7700X 63
- #46 IntelIntel Core i5-14500 63
- #47 IntelIntel Core i5-12400 63
- #48 AMDAMD Ryzen 5 5500GT 63
- #49 AMDAMD Ryzen 7 5700X 63
- #50 IntelIntel Core Ultra 7 265KF 61
Performance Productivity
How much it can do. Price plays no part in this ranking.
#156 of 270 graded processors
- #153 AMDAMD Ryzen 5 5500 11
- #154 IntelIntel Core i9-10900 11
- #155 AMDAMD Ryzen 5 5500GT 11
- #156 IntelIntel Core i5-12400 11
- #157 AMDAMD Ryzen 5 3600XT 11
- #158 IntelIntel Core i7-10700K 11
- #159 IntelIntel Core i7-10700KF 11
Value Productivity
How much of that you get for today’s price.
#105 of 270 currently priced processors
- #102 AMDAMD Ryzen 5 7600X3D 41
- #103 AMDAMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5965WX 40
- #104 AMDAMD Ryzen 5 3600 40
- #105 IntelIntel Core i5-12400 39
- #106 IntelIntel Core i3-14100 39
- #107 AMDAMD Ryzen 7 5800X 39
- #108 IntelIntel Core i7-11700KF 38
Performance Performance per Watt
How much it can do. Price plays no part in this ranking.
#126 of 270 graded processors
- #123 IntelIntel Core i5-12500 31
- #124 AMDAMD Ryzen 7 3800X 30
- #125 IntelIntel Core i5-13400 29
- #126 IntelIntel Core i5-12400 29
- #127 IntelIntel Core i3-13100 29
- #128 IntelIntel Core i9-9900K 28
- #129 AMDAMD Ryzen 5 2600 27
Value Performance per Watt
How much of that you get for today’s price.
#59 of 270 currently priced processors
- #56 IntelIntel Core i5-12600KF 43
- #57 IntelIntel Core i5-8400 43
- #58 IntelIntel Core i5-14400 43
- #59 IntelIntel Core i5-12400 43
- #60 IntelIntel Core i5-8600K 43
- #61 AMDAMD Ryzen 3 2200G 43
- #62 AMDAMD Ryzen 7 3700X 42
These ladders follow the preset scenario shown above. Your own weights re-score this product, not the whole field.
What it is good for
| Scenario | this productCapability grade · Value at current price | Higher capability | Higher Value with current priorities |
|---|---|---|---|
| Balanced (all-round)Weighted all-round view | GradeNo grade Value45 | Higher capability Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus 75 +157% capability | Higher Value with current priorities AMD Ryzen 5 7500F 94 +19% capability |
| GamingScenario capability | GradeB Value63 | Higher capability Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus A 88 +17% capability | Higher Value with current priorities AMD Ryzen 5 7500F A 100 +11% capability |
| ProductivityScenario capability | GradeD Value39 | Higher capability Higher capability · Higher Value with current priorities Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus A 100 +157% capability | |
| Performance per WattScenario capability | GradeD Value43 | Higher capability Ryzen 5 9600X A 70 +113% capability | Higher Value with current priorities AMD Ryzen 5 5500 C 100 +38% capability |
Balanced has no letter: it is a weighting preset, not a capability rubric. A grade answers “how well does this handle that job?” — price is never part of it. Relative Value puts the current market price back in.
Compare these grades with the full tier list
Browse shortlists for different uses
Trade-offs
Works well if
- Gaming is your main prioritygraded B for Gaming on the same rubric as the tier list
Consider other options if
- You want strong value with Balanced priorities specifically$102 is where Relative Value reaches 80 with Balanced priorities, in the 2026-11-02–2026-11-09 offer frame
- Value for money matters more to you than this exact modelAMD Ryzen 5 7500F holds Relative Value 94 against its 45 with Balanced priorities, at $106
- Not the pick if Productivity is your main useit grades only D there
Works well if
- Gaming is your main prioritygraded B for Gaming on the same rubric as the tier list
Consider other options if
- You want strong value for Gaming specifically$111 is where Relative Value reaches 80 for Gaming, in the 2026-11-02–2026-11-09 offer frame
- Value for money matters more to you than this exact modelAMD Ryzen 5 7500F holds Relative Value 100 against its 63 for Gaming, at $106
- Not the pick if Productivity is your main useit grades only D there
For the selected scenario this is not a strong fit — the grade above is the reason, and the models below suit it better.
Works well if
- Productivity is not actually your main job — Gaming isit grades D for Productivity, but B for Gaming
Consider other options if
- Not the pick if Productivity is your main useGraded D; Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus reaches A. Check on Amazon.
- You want strong value for Productivity specificallycompeting products deliver so much more for Productivity per dollar that no price this model realistically trades at reaches the strong-value mark for this job
For the selected scenario this is not a strong fit — the grade above is the reason, and the models below suit it better.
Works well if
- Performance per Watt is not actually your main job — Gaming isit grades D for Performance per Watt, but B for Gaming
Consider other options if
- Not the pick if Performance per Watt is your main useit grades D there; Ryzen 5 9600X grades A at $171
- You want strong value for Performance per Watt specifically$96 is where Relative Value reaches 80 for Performance per Watt, in the 2026-11-02–2026-11-09 offer frame
- Value for money matters more to you than this exact modelAMD Ryzen 5 5500 holds Relative Value 100 against its 43 for Performance per Watt. Check on Amazon.
Models that suit Performance per Watt better, at this budget
Every line states the fact it was derived from, for the scenario selected above. Thresholds are calculated points on our value curve — information about where the maths turns, not instructions about what to pay.
Similar options to the Intel Core i5-12400
Chosen for Balanced
Chosen for Gaming
Chosen for Productivity
Chosen for Performance per Watt
Alternatives stay near this product’s price range. Step-up options may exceed the standard budget envelope when the capability gain is meaningful.
More head-to-head comparisons in this category
Upgrade planner
Judge the change in the active scenario, then make the cash gap explicit.
Using page scenarioWhat are you upgrading from? These are the axes we compare on, and where this product stands in the current market.
We rank upgrades by out-of-pocket cost — the new price minus what yours is worth — not by sticker price.
Only candidates that clear the configured meaningful-upgrade gate will be shown; roles are omitted rather than filled.
Capability differences are expressed as tiers and index points, not as benchmark percentages we did not measure.
Specifications and compatibility
What this product is, and what to check before it goes into your build.
Core / Performance
- Cores
- 6
- Threads
- 12
- Performance cores
- 6
- Efficiency cores
- 0
- Base clock
- 2500 MHz
- Boost clock
- 4400 MHz
Power / Interface
- TDP
- 117 W
- Maximum turbo power
- 117 W
- Socket
- LGA 1700
- Memory support
- DDR5, DDR4
- Maximum memory
- 128 GB
- Integrated graphics
- Intel UHD Graphics 730
- Process node
- 10 nm
Show all specifications
Core / Performance
- L2 cache
- 7 MB
- L3 cache
- 18 MB
- Unlocked multiplier
- No
Warranty & release
- Warranty
- 3 years
- Release year
- 2022
Hover any value to see where it came from: a manufacturer specification, or a figure The Comparator calculated.
Sources: Comparator offer frame 2026-11-02–2026-11-09
What to check in your build
LGA 1700 required
Your motherboard must use socket LGA 1700. A different socket does not fit — this is a physical constraint, not a preference.
Board BIOS must list this model
A matching socket is necessary but not sufficient — check the vendor CPU support list.
DDR5, DDR4 memory
This processor takes DDR5, DDR4. Memory of another generation does not fit the slots, even on a board with the right socket.
Cooler rated for 117 W or more
No cooler is included. Your cooler must be rated for at least 117 W on socket LGA 1700.
Found an error? Report this specification Email the field, corrected value and an optional source.
Compatibility guidance is practical help, not a score. Missing data is shown as unknown, never invented.
Summary
Intel Core i5-12400 offers a balanced view across an all-round mix of priorities. It ranks #156 by capability in the current modelled field. Its clearest measured strength is multi-thread index 529. AMD Ryzen 5 7500F currently clears the same practical bar with stronger Relative Value.
Intel Core i5-12400 offers B-grade capability for Gaming. It ranks #114 by capability in the current modelled field. Its clearest measured strength is multi-thread index 529. AMD Ryzen 5 7500F currently clears the same practical bar with stronger Relative Value.
Intel Core i5-12400 offers D-grade capability for Productivity. It ranks #156 by capability in the current modelled field. Its clearest measured strength is multi-thread index 529. The D grade is the decisive limitation for this workload.
Intel Core i5-12400 offers D-grade capability for Performance per Watt. It ranks #126 by capability in the current modelled field. Its clearest measured strength is multi-thread index 529. The D grade is the decisive limitation for this workload.
FAQ
Why does Relative Value change when I choose another scenario?
Each scenario changes the weights applied to capability, price and the other published factors. The hardware facts stay fixed, but the value question changes, so its score and rank can change too.
Why can Amazon appear without a tracked price?
Amazon listing snapshots can participate in Value while fresh. We show Check on Amazon instead of its price; confirm the current price and availability at the store. When no current listing snapshot exists, Amazon is a search link only.
Useful links & sources
offer frame 2026-11-02–2026-11-09 · formula cpu-value-v6.1 · facts facts-2026-11-09 · Relative Value is an estimate from our current dataset, the selected weights and dated market prices — not an official product rating and not a price forecast. Target prices are calculation thresholds, not predictions. Methodology We are not a shop. Affiliate links may earn us a commission; they never change the calculations or the ranking.