PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.

Head-to-Head Verdict, Benchmarks, Value & Long-Term Outlook

This comparison brings together gaming FPS, productivity performance, platform differences, power efficiency, pricing context, and upgrade path so you can see which CPU actually makes more sense.

Core i7-11850HE

2021

Why buy it

✅Costs $9 less on MSRP ($400 MSRP vs $409 MSRP).
✅Draws 35W instead of 125W, a 90W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-12700K across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (21,365 vs 34,347).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 53.4 vs 84.0 PassMark/$ ($400 MSRP vs $409 MSRP).
❌Older platform position on FCBGA1787 with DDR4, while Core i7-12700K moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.

Core i7-12700K

2021

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +29.6% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Delivers 57.2% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 84.0 vs 53.4 PassMark/$ ($409 MSRP vs $400 MSRP).
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of FCBGA1787 and DDR4.

Trade-offs

❌
2.3% HIGHER MSRP
$409 MSRPvs$400 MSRP
❌257.1% higher power demand at 125W vs 35W.

Core i7-11850HE

2021

Core i7-12700K

2021

Why buy it

✅Costs $9 less on MSRP ($400 MSRP vs $409 MSRP).
✅Draws 35W instead of 125W, a 90W reduction.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +29.6% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Delivers 57.2% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 84.0 vs 53.4 PassMark/$ ($409 MSRP vs $400 MSRP).
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of FCBGA1787 and DDR4.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-12700K across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (21,365 vs 34,347).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 53.4 vs 84.0 PassMark/$ ($400 MSRP vs $409 MSRP).
❌Older platform position on FCBGA1787 with DDR4, while Core i7-12700K moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.

Trade-offs

❌
2.3% HIGHER MSRP
$409 MSRPvs$400 MSRP
❌257.1% higher power demand at 125W vs 35W.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i7-12700K better than Core i7-11850HE?

Yes. Core i7-12700K is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 29.6% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 60.8% better PassMark, and the stronger long-term platform, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core i7-12700K is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 29.6% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i7-12700K is the better fit. You are getting 60.8% better PassMark, backed by 12 cores and 20 threads.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Core i7-12700K is the smarter buy today. Core i7-12700K is 2.3% more expensive on MSRP at $409 MSRP versus $400 MSRP, and it gives you a 29.6% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 57.2% better value on MSRP (84.0 vs 53.4 PassMark/$), so the better CPU is not just faster, it is also the cleaner value play on paper.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Core i7-12700K is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a healthier platform with LGA1700 and DDR5 instead of FCBGA1787 and more multi-core headroom with 12 cores / 20 threads instead of 8/16. That should give you a better long-term upgrade path for motherboard, RAM, and future CPU swaps.

Games Benchmarks

Paired with RTX 4090

To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.

Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.

Core i7-11850HE Benchmark Check

Core i7-12700K Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i7-11850HE	Core i7-12700K
1080p
low	165 FPS	314 FPS
medium	145 FPS	295 FPS
high	118 FPS	246 FPS
ultra	98 FPS	193 FPS
1440p
low	141 FPS	269 FPS
medium	120 FPS	225 FPS
high	97 FPS	182 FPS
ultra	81 FPS	145 FPS
4K
low	77 FPS	170 FPS
medium	71 FPS	142 FPS
high	56 FPS	109 FPS
ultra	44 FPS	96 FPS

Open Core i7-11850HE Open Core i7-12700K

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i7-11850HE	Core i7-12700K
1080p
low	297 FPS	630 FPS
medium	257 FPS	533 FPS
high	217 FPS	450 FPS
ultra	196 FPS	410 FPS
1440p
low	255 FPS	536 FPS
medium	228 FPS	475 FPS
high	198 FPS	403 FPS
ultra	171 FPS	349 FPS
4K
low	158 FPS	312 FPS
medium	143 FPS	280 FPS
high	135 FPS	266 FPS
ultra	119 FPS	234 FPS

Open Core i7-11850HE Open Core i7-12700K

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i7-11850HE	Core i7-12700K
1080p
low	534 FPS	797 FPS
medium	534 FPS	633 FPS
high	524 FPS	556 FPS
ultra	419 FPS	472 FPS
1440p
low	534 FPS	704 FPS
medium	518 FPS	565 FPS
high	445 FPS	490 FPS
ultra	362 FPS	422 FPS
4K
low	444 FPS	510 FPS
medium	375 FPS	425 FPS
high	331 FPS	381 FPS
ultra	268 FPS	321 FPS

Open Core i7-11850HE Open Core i7-12700K

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i7-11850HE	Core i7-12700K
1080p
low	534 FPS	859 FPS
medium	534 FPS	802 FPS
high	534 FPS	699 FPS
ultra	534 FPS	628 FPS
1440p
low	534 FPS	760 FPS
medium	534 FPS	678 FPS
high	534 FPS	590 FPS
ultra	512 FPS	519 FPS
4K
low	534 FPS	535 FPS
medium	482 FPS	488 FPS
high	429 FPS	437 FPS
ultra	373 FPS	384 FPS

Open Core i7-11850HE Open Core i7-12700K

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i7-11850HE and Core i7-12700K

Core i7-11850HE

The Core i7-11850HE is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 3 August 2021 (4 years ago). It is based on the Tiger Lake-H (2021) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 2.1 GHz, with boost up to 4.7 GHz. L3 cache: 24 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on 10 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1787. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 21,365 points. Launch price was $400.

Core i7-12700K

The Core i7-12700K is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 4 November 2021 (4 years ago). It is based on the Alder Lake, Golden Cove, Gracemont (2021) architecture. It features 12 cores and 20 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 5 GHz. L3 cache: 25 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on 10 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1700. Thermal design power (TDP): 125 Watt. Memory support: DDR4, DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 34,347 points. Launch price was $409.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i7-11850HE packs 8 cores / 16 threads, while the Core i7-12700K offers 12 cores / 20 threads — the Core i7-12700K has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.7 GHz on the Core i7-11850HE versus 5 GHz on the Core i7-12700K — a 6.2% clock advantage for the Core i7-12700K (base: 2.1 GHz vs 3.6 GHz). The Core i7-11850HE uses the Tiger Lake-H (2021) architecture (10 nm), while the Core i7-12700K uses Alder Lake, Golden Cove, Gracemont (2021) (10 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-11850HE scores 21,365 against the Core i7-12700K's 34,347 — a 46.6% lead for the Core i7-12700K. L3 cache: 24 MB (total) on the Core i7-11850HE vs 25 MB (total) on the Core i7-12700K.

Feature	Core i7-11850HE	Core i7-12700K
Cores / Threads	8 / 16	12 / 20+50%
Boost Clock	4.7 GHz	5 GHz+6%
Base Clock	2.1 GHz	3.6 GHz+71%
L3 Cache	24 MB (total)	25 MB (total)+4%
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)	1.25 MB (per core)
Process	10 nm	10 nm
Architecture	Tiger Lake-H (2021)	Alder Lake, Golden Cove, Gracemont (2021)
PassMark	21,365	34,347+61%
Geekbench 6 Single	1,984	—

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i7-11850HE uses the FCBGA1787 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Core i7-12700K uses LGA1700 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-3200 on the Core i7-11850HE versus 4800 on the Core i7-12700K — the Core i7-12700K supports 199.7% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. Both support up to 128 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 20 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: RM590E,QM580E (Core i7-11850HE) and Z690,B660 (Core i7-12700K).

Feature	Core i7-11850HE	Core i7-12700K
Socket	FCBGA1787	LGA1700
PCIe Generation	PCIe 4.0	PCIe 5.0+25%
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-3200	4800+119900%
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB+104857500%	128
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	Yes
PCIe Lanes	20	20

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Core i7-12700K has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Only the Core i7-11850HE supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i7-11850HE) vs VT-x, VT-d (Core i7-12700K). Both include integrated graphics — UHD Graphics (Core i7-11850HE) and Intel UHD Graphics 770 (Core i7-12700K) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i7-11850HE targets Embedded/Industrial. Direct competitor: Core i7-11850HE rivals Ryzen Embedded V3000; Core i7-12700K rivals Ryzen 7 5800X.

Feature	Core i7-11850HE	Core i7-12700K
Integrated GPU	Yes	Yes
IGPU Model	UHD Graphics	Intel UHD Graphics 770
Unlocked	No	Yes
AVX-512	Yes	No
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d, EPT	VT-x, VT-d
Target Use	Embedded/Industrial	—

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i7-11850HE launched at $400 MSRP, while the Core i7-12700K debuted at $409. On MSRP ($400 vs $409), the Core i7-11850HE is $9 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i7-11850HE delivers 53.4 pts/$ vs 84.0 pts/$ for the Core i7-12700K — making the Core i7-12700K the 44.5% better value option.