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 i7-12700K

2021

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +65.1% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+525% larger total L3 cache (25 MB vs 4 MB).
✅Delivers 14.4% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 84.0 vs 73.4 PassMark/$ ($409 MSRP vs $149 MSRP).
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of AM4 and DDR4.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌
174.5% HIGHER MSRP
$409 MSRPvs$149 MSRP
❌257.1% higher power demand at 125W vs 35W.

Ryzen 3 PRO 4350GE

2020

Why buy it

✅Costs $260 less on MSRP ($149 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 (10,940 vs 34,347).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (4 MB vs 25 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 73.4 vs 84.0 PassMark/$ ($149 MSRP vs $409 MSRP).
❌Older platform position on AM4 with DDR4, while Core i7-12700K moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.

Core i7-12700K

2021

Ryzen 3 PRO 4350GE

2020

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +65.1% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+525% larger total L3 cache (25 MB vs 4 MB).
✅Delivers 14.4% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 84.0 vs 73.4 PassMark/$ ($409 MSRP vs $149 MSRP).
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of AM4 and DDR4.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Why buy it

✅Costs $260 less on MSRP ($149 MSRP vs $409 MSRP).
✅Draws 35W instead of 125W, a 90W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌
174.5% HIGHER MSRP
$409 MSRPvs$149 MSRP
❌257.1% higher power demand at 125W vs 35W.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-12700K across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (10,940 vs 34,347).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (4 MB vs 25 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 73.4 vs 84.0 PassMark/$ ($149 MSRP vs $409 MSRP).
❌Older platform position on AM4 with DDR4, while Core i7-12700K moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i7-12700K better than Ryzen 3 PRO 4350GE?

Yes. Core i7-12700K is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 65.1% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 214% 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 65.1% 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 214% better PassMark, backed by 12 cores and 20 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 525% larger total L3 cache (25 MB vs 4 MB).

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

Core i7-12700K is the smarter buy today. Core i7-12700K is 174.5% more expensive on MSRP at $409 MSRP versus $149 MSRP, and it gives you a 65.1% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 14.4% better value on MSRP (84.0 vs 73.4 PassMark/$), so the better CPU is not just faster, it is also the cleaner value play on paper. That said, if you already own a compatible AM4 + DDR4 setup, Ryzen 3 PRO 4350GE can still make sense as a platform-matched option because it avoids a motherboard and RAM swap.

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 newer CPU generation (2021 vs 2020), a healthier platform with LGA1700 and DDR5 instead of AM4, 525% larger total L3 cache (25 MB vs 4 MB), and more multi-core headroom with 12 cores / 20 threads instead of 4/8. 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 i7-12700K Benchmark Check

Ryzen 3 PRO 4350GE Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i7-12700K	Ryzen 3 PRO 4350GE
1080p
low	314 FPS	175 FPS
medium	295 FPS	141 FPS
high	246 FPS	113 FPS
ultra	193 FPS	86 FPS
1440p
low	269 FPS	150 FPS
medium	225 FPS	120 FPS
high	182 FPS	94 FPS
ultra	145 FPS	71 FPS
4K
low	170 FPS	67 FPS
medium	142 FPS	57 FPS
high	109 FPS	44 FPS
ultra	96 FPS	35 FPS

Open Core i7-12700K Open Ryzen 3 PRO 4350GE

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i7-12700K	Ryzen 3 PRO 4350GE
1080p
low	630 FPS	240 FPS
medium	533 FPS	204 FPS
high	450 FPS	181 FPS
ultra	410 FPS	140 FPS
1440p
low	536 FPS	199 FPS
medium	475 FPS	174 FPS
high	403 FPS	155 FPS
ultra	349 FPS	125 FPS
4K
low	312 FPS	147 FPS
medium	280 FPS	133 FPS
high	266 FPS	107 FPS
ultra	234 FPS	82 FPS

Open Core i7-12700K Open Ryzen 3 PRO 4350GE

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i7-12700K	Ryzen 3 PRO 4350GE
1080p
low	797 FPS	274 FPS
medium	633 FPS	274 FPS
high	556 FPS	274 FPS
ultra	472 FPS	274 FPS
1440p
low	704 FPS	274 FPS
medium	565 FPS	274 FPS
high	490 FPS	274 FPS
ultra	422 FPS	274 FPS
4K
low	510 FPS	274 FPS
medium	425 FPS	274 FPS
high	381 FPS	274 FPS
ultra	321 FPS	236 FPS

Open Core i7-12700K Open Ryzen 3 PRO 4350GE

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i7-12700K	Ryzen 3 PRO 4350GE
1080p
low	859 FPS	274 FPS
medium	802 FPS	274 FPS
high	699 FPS	274 FPS
ultra	628 FPS	274 FPS
1440p
low	760 FPS	274 FPS
medium	678 FPS	274 FPS
high	590 FPS	274 FPS
ultra	519 FPS	274 FPS
4K
low	535 FPS	274 FPS
medium	488 FPS	274 FPS
high	437 FPS	274 FPS
ultra	384 FPS	274 FPS

Open Core i7-12700K Open Ryzen 3 PRO 4350GE

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i7-12700K and Ryzen 3 PRO 4350GE

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.

Ryzen 3 PRO 4350GE

The Ryzen 3 PRO 4350GE is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 21 July 2020 (5 years ago). It is based on the Renoir (2020−2023) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 4 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 7 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2933. Passmark benchmark score: 10,940 points. Launch price was $149.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i7-12700K packs 12 cores / 20 threads, while the Ryzen 3 PRO 4350GE offers 4 cores / 8 threads — the Core i7-12700K has 8 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5 GHz on the Core i7-12700K versus 4 GHz on the Ryzen 3 PRO 4350GE — a 22.2% clock advantage for the Core i7-12700K (base: 3.6 GHz vs 3.5 GHz). The Core i7-12700K uses the Alder Lake, Golden Cove, Gracemont (2021) architecture (10 nm), while the Ryzen 3 PRO 4350GE uses Renoir (2020−2023) (7 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-12700K scores 34,347 against the Ryzen 3 PRO 4350GE's 10,940 — a 103.4% lead for the Core i7-12700K. L3 cache: 25 MB (total) on the Core i7-12700K vs 4 MB (total) on the Ryzen 3 PRO 4350GE.

Feature	Core i7-12700K	Ryzen 3 PRO 4350GE
Cores / Threads	12 / 20+200%	4 / 8
Boost Clock	5 GHz+25%	4 GHz
Base Clock	3.6 GHz+3%	3.5 GHz
L3 Cache	25 MB (total)+525%	4 MB (total)
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)+150%	512 kB (per core)
Process	10 nm	7 nm-30%
Architecture	Alder Lake, Golden Cove, Gracemont (2021)	Renoir (2020−2023)
PassMark	34,347+214%	10,940

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i7-12700K uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Ryzen 3 PRO 4350GE uses AM4 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Core i7-12700K	Ryzen 3 PRO 4350GE
Socket	LGA1700	AM4
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0+67%	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	4800	—
Max RAM Capacity	128	—
RAM Channels	2	—
ECC Support	Yes	—
PCIe Lanes	20	—

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d (Core i7-12700K) / not specified (Ryzen 3 PRO 4350GE). The Core i7-12700K includes integrated graphics (Intel UHD Graphics 770), while the Ryzen 3 PRO 4350GE requires a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: Core i7-12700K rivals Ryzen 7 5800X.

Feature	Core i7-12700K	Ryzen 3 PRO 4350GE
Integrated GPU	Yes	—
IGPU Model	Intel UHD Graphics 770	—
Unlocked	Yes	—
AVX-512	No	—
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	—

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i7-12700K launched at $409 MSRP, while the Ryzen 3 PRO 4350GE debuted at $149. On MSRP ($409 vs $149), the Ryzen 3 PRO 4350GE is $260 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i7-12700K delivers 84.0 pts/$ vs 73.4 pts/$ for the Ryzen 3 PRO 4350GE — making the Core i7-12700K the 13.4% better value option.