Core i5-12400vsRyzen Threadripper 9970X
The Core i5-12400 is a sensible mid-range CPU for everyday gaming and productivity, while the Ryzen Threadripper 9970X is a workstation monster built for heavy rendering and multitasking.
Core i5-12400
Alder Lake-S · Intel 7 nm · 2022
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Ryzen Threadripper 9970X
Shimada Peak · 4 nm · 2025
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Overall Performance Score
A unified score from combined synthetic and real-world benchmarks. 100 represents the fastest desktop CPU available.
Side-by-Side Specs
Every detail compared. Highlighted cells indicate the leading value for that metric.
Which should you buy?
The Ryzen Threadripper 9970X wins overall for heavy multi-threaded work, but the Core i5-12400 is a fine choice for everyday tasks.
For budget buyers, the Core i5-12400 is the smarter pick, offering strong single-thread performance at a low price.
The Core i5-12400 is the right choice for a basic office PC where the Threadripper's high core count and cost are unnecessary.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Core i5-12400 better than the Ryzen Threadripper 9970X?
Overall the Ryzen Threadripper 9970X is the stronger processor: it ranks higher in our aggregate performance score (64 vs 11 out of 100), so it leads the Core i5-12400 in most workloads.
How much faster is the Ryzen Threadripper 9970X than the Core i5-12400?
Based on our aggregated benchmark scores the Ryzen Threadripper 9970X is roughly 482% faster than the Core i5-12400 overall. The real-world gap varies by game, resolution and settings.
Which should you buy, the Core i5-12400 or the Ryzen Threadripper 9970X?
If you want the most performance, pick the Ryzen Threadripper 9970X. If the Core i5-12400 is meaningfully cheaper where you shop, it can be the better value for similar real-world results — check current prices and the full spec comparison above before deciding.