Intel Core i3-14100 vs Intel Core i5-12400

The Intel Core i5-12400 (Alder Lake S architecture, 10 nm) was designed as part of the 12th generation for the mainstream desktop market, while the Intel Core i3-14100 (Raptor Lake S Refresh architecture, also 10 nm) comes from the 14th generation and serves the entry-level segment.

Both Intel processors are intended for systems with a moderate budget and support PCIe 5.0 as well as a maximum memory bandwidth of 77 GB/s with integrated Intel UHD Graphics 730. The Intel Core i5-12400 features 6 Performance-cores and 12 threads with 8 MB L2 and 18 MB L3 cache. The Intel Core i3-14100 offers 4 Performance-cores and 8 threads with 5 MB L2 and 12 MB L3 cache.

In single-core performance, the Intel Core i3-14100 shows a slight advantage due to its newer architecture. For multi-core tasks, the Intel Core i5-12400 is clearly superior due to its higher core and thread count, making it better suited for computationally intensive multitasking. For gaming scenarios, the Intel Core i5-12400, with its higher core count, offers a more robust platform for modern games, while the Intel Core i3-14100 can keep up in games with a strong single-thread orientation.

The base TDP of the Intel Core i5-12400 is 65W (max. Turbo 117W), and for the Intel Core i3-14100 it is 60W (max. Turbo 110W). Both are energy-efficient. The older Intel Core i5-12400 often offers a more attractive price-performance ratio for its core count, while the newer Intel Core i3-14100 represents the latest architecture in the entry-level segment.