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CPU Comparison: FPS, Specs & Value

Core i5-6400 vs Core i3-12100F

The Core i5-6400 is quite a bit slower than the Core i3-12100F on average across 100+ games and it's also a much worse value for money, as it's $64.47 more expensive!

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CPU

$180.46View CPUAll CPUs

Up to 88% more expensive – $180.46 vs $115.99

CPU

$115.99View CPUAll CPUs

Up to 78% faster on average across 100+ games
Is 6 years and 8 months newer
Up to 88% cheaper – $115.99 vs $180.46
Up to 235% better value for money

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

Fortnite2017

Core i5-6400

324FPS

Core i3-12100F

332FPS

Overwatch 22023

516FPS

542FPS

475FPS

644FPS

Grand Theft Auto V2013

Core i5-6400

198FPS

Core i3-12100F

215FPS

Minecraft2011

Core i5-6400

591FPS

Core i3-12100F

710FPS

League of Legends2009

Core i5-6400

179FPS

Core i3-12100F

308FPS

Valorant2020

Core i5-6400

563FPS

Core i3-12100F

678FPS

Dota 22013

Core i5-6400

178FPS

Core i3-12100F

234FPS

Specs & Benchmark Comparison

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

Scorehelp

Core i5-6400

21%

Core i3-12100F

50%

Core i3-12100F ranks 29 points higher.

Coreshelp

Threadshelp

Core i3-12100F has 4 more threads.

L3 Cachehelp

Core i5-6400

6 MB

Core i3-12100F

12 MB

Core i3-12100F has 6 MB more L3 cache.

Base Frequencyhelp

Core i5-6400

2.7 GHz

Core i3-12100F

3.3 GHz

Core i3-12100F has a 22% higher base clock.

Turbo Frequencyhelp

Core i5-6400

3.3 GHz

Core i3-12100F

4.3 GHz

Core i3-12100F boosts 30% higher.

TDPhelp

Core i5-6400

65W

Core i3-12100F

58W

Core i3-12100F draws 7W less power.

Pricehelp

Core i5-6400

$180.46

Core i3-12100F

$115.99

Core i3-12100F is $64.47 cheaper.

Core i5-6400Core i3-12100F

LGA1151

Sockethelp

LGA1700

Skylake

Codenamehelp

Alder Lake-S

Desktop

Segmenthelp

Desktop

HD Graphics 530

Integrated GPUhelp

No Integrated Graphics

2133 MHz (DDR4)

RAMhelp

3200 MHz (DDR4), 4800 MHz (DDR5)

Not Overclockable

Overclock Supporthelp

Not Overclockable

Frequently Asked Questions

compare_arrowsWhich is better, Core i5-6400 or Core i3-12100F?expand_more

The Core i3-12100F. It's 138% faster than the Core i5-6400 on average across 100+ games, scoring 50/100 vs 21/100 in our gaming rating.

speedHow much faster is Core i3-12100F than Core i5-6400?expand_more

138% 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 i5-6400 or Core i3-12100F?expand_more

The Core i3-12100F is faster at both resolutions. Toggle the resolution selector above to see per-game FPS.

paidIs the Core i3-12100F worth buying in 2026?expand_more

It scores 50/100 in our gaming rating, faster than most CPUs on the market. Good buy if the price is right.

differenceWhat is the difference between Core i5-6400 and Core i3-12100F?expand_more

Performance: Core i5-6400 scores 21/100, Core i3-12100F scores 50/100. They also differ in core count, clock speeds, L3 cache, and power draw. Full breakdown in the specs section above.

compressWill the Core i5-6400 or Core i3-12100F 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 i5-6400 or Core i3-12100F?expand_more

The Core i3-12100F is the stronger pick at 50/100. Compare your current CPU against it to see the exact FPS gain across 100+ games.