The gap changes with resolution.
CPU differences shrink as resolution rises — at 4K the graphics card does most of the work.
| Resolution | i5-12600K | i5-14400F | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1080p | 85 | 80 | +6% |
| 1440p | 82 | 77 | +6% |
| 4K | 80 | 75 | +7% |
In a real build with a RTX 3080.
Specs alone don’t tell you which to buy. Here is what each one does when it’s actually paired up, at 1440p.
| Game (1440p, paired with the RTX 3080) | i5-12600K | i5-14400F |
|---|---|---|
| League of Legends | 313 fps | 305 fps |
| Counter-Strike 2 | 270 fps | 262 fps |
| Grand Theft Auto V | 134 fps | 131 fps |
| Elden Ring | 108 fps | 107 fps |
| Cyberpunk 2077 | 83 fps | 81 fps |
| Starfield | 83 fps | 81 fps |
Modelled from benchmark data, not measured for every pairing. Our published error rate is 21.6% mean absolute error.
So which should you buy?
The i5-12600K is faster, but the i5-14400F is the better buy per dollar. Take the i5-12600K only if you want the extra headroom and the price gap doesn't bother you.
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Common questions.
Straight answers on the i5-12600K versus the i5-14400F.
Is the i5-12600K better than the i5-14400F?
Yes, but by less than the spec sheet suggests. At 1440p the i5-12600K scores 82 against 77 for the i5-14400F — roughly 6% faster. It also costs about $93 more at MSRP, so the question is whether that gap is worth the money for your build.
Does the i5-12600K or i5-14400F bottleneck a RTX 3080?
Paired with a RTX 3080 at 1440p, the i5-12600K build comes out balanced, and the i5-14400F build comes out balanced. Being GPU-bound is the healthy outcome — it means the graphics card is the part working hardest.
Is it worth upgrading from the i5-14400F to the i5-12600K?
Only if you are also lifting the rest of the build. The i5-12600K is about 6% ahead at 1440p, and gaps like that shrink further at 4K where the GPU does more of the work. If you are upgrading from the i5-14400F purely for frames, check the pairing first.
Which is better value, the i5-12600K or the i5-14400F?
On performance per dollar at MSRP, the i5-14400F wins. The i5-12600K lists at $289 for an index of 82, and the i5-14400F at $196 for 77.
Check either one against your build.
Pick a CPU and its counterpart, and get a verdict at all three resolutions in under 30 seconds.