Choose between the I5 11400F and the 15 12400F based on your needs.
Choose between the I5 11400F and the 15 12400F based on your needs.
Check your setup and compare specs. The i5-12400F offers solid performance, but if you already have a strong GPU (RTX 3060) and ample RAM (2x8GB), it may suffice. The 11400F is more powerful but costs more—consider whether the extra gains justify the price.
What amount of variation in price are you expecting? Keep in mind that 12th Gen uses a different socket and platform compared to 11th Gen, and the costs for the motherboard differ accordingly. Also, look at the cost of DDR4 versus DDR5 memory for the 12th Gen model.
The cost variation between the 12-gen CPU and 1700 motherboard versus the 11-gen and 1200 motherboards is minimal. In Poland, it’s around 400 PLN, which is roughly equivalent to 100 USD.
Nonetheless, DDR5 memory modules are nearly three times more expensive than their DDR4 counterparts.
The price gap appears negligible to you. I’d choose the 12th generation CPU (and board) because it’s more up-to-date. You don’t have to install DDR5 RAM right now, but having that choice later makes sense. Unlike before, CPUs rarely get big overhauls, so this setup should work well for years, giving you room to upgrade to DDR5 when costs drop.