My favorite 12th Gen Intel CPU is down to a record-low price, and it's not the one you'd think
Mar. 20, 2024A cheap chip with a surprising kick
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Out of Intel’s 12th Gen CPU line-up, the i5-12400F remains a personal favorite. Sure, it’s only armed with six cores, and specs appear lacking on paper compared to newer options. However, I can attest to the fact that in most scenarios, this i5 Alder Lake chip can provide enough of a punch to support an RTX 4090 rig, and it’s currently super cheap thanks to Amazon’s Spring Sale.
As I’ve already touched on, I’ve spent quite a bit of time with the Intel Core i5-12400F, and it’s a surprisingly capable chip considering it’s not high-end. Arguably, you don’t necessarily need a powerhouse processor for specifically playing games, especially in adventures that aren’t particularly CPU intensive. Your mileage can vary depending on genre, but from experience, you won’t experience dramatic fps differences using an older Alder Lake chip compared to a newer Raptor Lake model.
US:
Buy it if:
✅ You’re building a mid-range rig✅ You looking to balance specs and price✅ You don’t need integrated graphics
Don’t buy it if:
❌ You don’t have a graphics card in your PC❌ You’d rather invest in the newest chip
UK:
Buy it if:
✅ You’re building a mid-range rig✅ You looking to balance specs and price✅ You don’t need integrated graphics
Don’t buy it if:
❌ You don’t have a graphics card in your PC❌ You’d rather invest in a newer chip
Price check:Ebuyer £156.28|Scan UK £128.99
Should you buy the Intel Core i5-12400F?
If you’re the type of player who likes to watch fps counters while you game, you’ll naturally feel inclined to pick up a top-end CPU. In the same vein, those of you who would rather splash out on DDR5 RAM will also be looking at fresh new parts with compatibility with the latest standards, which is completely understandable since that’s all part of the fun for enthusiasts.
That said, if you’re simply looking to put together a decent rig and save some change in the process, CPUs like the Intel Core i5-12400F are going to matter. Most of your Steam library is going to be happy so long as it has access to a fairly recent chipset, and a 12th Gen option like this is still absolutely considered new-ish in my book.
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I mean, it’s no slouch either, as it boasts a 4.40GHz boost clock, meaning general use will feel pretty snappy. If you’re serious about balancing specs and performance, you’re not going to pair the i5-12400F with theNvidia GeForce RTX 4090, even if I did personally commit that sin and noticed zero bottlenecking across my usual benchmark outings.
Simply put, the Intel Core i5-12400F is still a winner when it comes to entry-level and mid-range PC builds, and for under $140 (and just over £100 in the UK), this chip is going to do everything you need it to and then some.
Looking for more parts? Check out thebest RAM for gamingand thebest SSD for gaming. If you’d prefer a machine that’s ready to go, swing by thebest Alienware gaming PCbuilds for a selection of high-end systems.
I’ve been messing around with PCs, video game consoles, and tech since before I could speak. Don’t get me wrong, I kickstarted my relationship with technology by jamming a Hot Wheels double-decker bus into my parent’s VCR, but we all have to start somewhere. I even somehow managed to become a walking, talking buyer’s guide at my teenage supermarket job, which helped me accept my career fate. So, rather than try to realise my musician dreams, or see out my University degree, I started running my own retro pop culture site and writing about video games and tech for the likes of TechRadar, The Daily Star, and the BBC before eventually ending up with a job covering graphics card shenanigans at PCGamesN. Now, I’m your friendly neighbourhood Hardware Editor at GamesRadar, and it’s my job to make sure you can kick butt in all your favourite games using the best gaming hardware, whether you’re a sucker for handhelds like the Steam Deck and Nintendo Switch or a hardcore gaming PC enthusiast.
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