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CPU Comparison: FPS, Specs & Value

Core i3-2120 vs Core i5-12400

The Core i3-2120 is much slower than the Core i5-12400 on average across 100+ games and it's also a worse value for money, as it's only $114.52 cheaper!

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CPU

$166.00View CPUAll CPUs

Up to 44% cheaper – $166.00 vs $280.52

CPU

$280.52View CPUAll CPUs

Up to 164% faster on average across 100+ games
Is 11 years newer
Up to 83% better value for money
Up to 44% more expensive – $280.52 vs $166.00

FPS Comparison Across Popular Games

Predicted average FPS at 1080p, 1440p, and 4K, based on real game benchmarks.

Resolution

Quality

Paired GPU

View Compare All GPUs

Select GPU

Escape From Tarkov2017

Core i3-2120

208FPS

Core i5-12400

241FPS

League of Legends2009

Core i3-2120

112FPS

Core i5-12400

316FPS

Elden Ring2022

Core i3-2120

146FPS

Core i5-12400

164FPS

Grand Theft Auto V2013

Core i3-2120

182FPS

Core i5-12400

216FPS

Fortnite2017

Core i3-2120

332FPS

Core i5-12400

332FPS

Valorant2020

Core i3-2120

538FPS

Core i5-12400

686FPS

Overwatch 22023

Core i3-2120

530FPS

Core i5-12400

544FPS

Call of Duty: Warzone 2.02020

Core i3-2120

252FPS

Core i5-12400

238FPS

Specs & Benchmark Comparison

Side-by-side specs, synthetic benchmarks, and key hardware differences.

Scorehelp

Core i3-2120

Core i5-12400

52%

Core i5-12400 ranks 48 points higher.

Coreshelp

Core i3-2120

Core i5-12400

Core i5-12400 has 4 more cores.

Threadshelp

Core i3-2120

Core i5-12400

Core i5-12400 has 8 more threads.

L3 Cachehelp

Core i3-2120

3 MB

Core i5-12400

18 MB

Core i5-12400 has 15 MB more L3 cache.

Base Frequencyhelp

Core i3-2120

3.3 GHz

Core i5-12400

2.5 GHz

Core i3-2120 has a 32% higher base clock.

Turbo Frequencyhelp

Core i3-2120

Core i5-12400

4.4 GHz

TDPhelp

Core i3-2120

65W

Core i5-12400

65W

Pricehelp

Core i3-2120

$166.00

Core i5-12400

$280.52

Core i3-2120 is $114.52 cheaper.

Core i3-2120Core i5-12400

LGA1155

Sockethelp

LGA1700

Sandy Bridge

Codenamehelp

Alder Lake-S

Desktop

Segmenthelp

Desktop

Intel HD 2000

Integrated GPUhelp

UHD Graphics 730

1333 MHz (DDR3)

RAMhelp

3200 MHz (DDR4), 4800 MHz (DDR5)

Not Overclockable

Overclock Supporthelp

Not Overclockable

Frequently Asked Questions

compare_arrowsWhich is better, Core i3-2120 or Core i5-12400?expand_more

The Core i5-12400. It's 1125% faster than the Core i3-2120 on average across 100+ games, scoring 49/100 vs 4/100 in our gaming rating.

speedHow much faster is Core i5-12400 than Core i3-2120?expand_more

1125% faster on average. The gap varies by game and resolution, check the per-game FPS comparison above.

aspect_ratioWhich is better for 1440p and 4K gaming, Core i3-2120 or Core i5-12400?expand_more

The Core i5-12400 is faster at both resolutions. Toggle the resolution selector above to see per-game FPS.

paidIs the Core i5-12400 worth buying in 2026?expand_more

It scores 49/100 in our gaming rating, faster than most CPUs on the market. Good buy if the price is right.

differenceWhat is the difference between Core i3-2120 and Core i5-12400?expand_more

Performance: Core i3-2120 scores 4/100, Core i5-12400 scores 49/100. They also differ in core count, clock speeds, L3 cache, and power draw. Full breakdown in the specs section above.

compressWill the Core i3-2120 or Core i5-12400 bottleneck my PC?expand_more

Depends on the rest of your build, especially your GPU. Swap the paired GPU in the FPS section above to see if it limits performance, or use our bottleneck calculator for a full analysis.

upgradeIs it worth upgrading to the Core i3-2120 or Core i5-12400?expand_more

The Core i5-12400 is the stronger pick at 49/100. Compare your current CPU against it to see the exact FPS gain across 100+ games.