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: +56.9% higher average FPS across 3 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+212.5% larger total L3 cache (25 MB vs 8 MB).
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of AM4 and DDR4.

Trade-offs

❌
104.5% HIGHER MSRP
$409 MSRPvs$200 MSRP
❌257.1% higher power demand at 125W vs 35W.

Ryzen 5 4600GE

2020

Why buy it

✅Costs $209 less on MSRP ($200 MSRP vs $409 MSRP).
✅Draws 35W instead of 125W, a 90W reduction.
✅20% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-12700K across 3 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (15,889 vs 34,347).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (8 MB vs 25 MB).
❌Older platform position on AM4 with DDR4, while Core i7-12700K moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.

Core i7-12700K

2021

Ryzen 5 4600GE

2020

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +56.9% higher average FPS across 3 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+212.5% larger total L3 cache (25 MB vs 8 MB).
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of AM4 and DDR4.

Why buy it

✅Costs $209 less on MSRP ($200 MSRP vs $409 MSRP).
✅Draws 35W instead of 125W, a 90W reduction.
✅20% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌
104.5% HIGHER MSRP
$409 MSRPvs$200 MSRP
❌257.1% higher power demand at 125W vs 35W.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-12700K across 3 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (15,889 vs 34,347).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (8 MB vs 25 MB).
❌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 5 4600GE?

Yes. Core i7-12700K is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 56.9% average FPS lead across 3 shared CPU game tests in our data, 116.2% 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 56.9% more average FPS across 3 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 116.2% better PassMark, backed by 12 cores and 20 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 212.5% larger total L3 cache (25 MB vs 8 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 104.5% more expensive on MSRP at $409 MSRP versus $200 MSRP, and it gives you a 56.9% average FPS lead across 3 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 5.7% better value on MSRP (84.0 vs 79.4 PassMark/$), 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 5 4600GE 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, 212.5% larger total L3 cache (25 MB vs 8 MB), and more multi-core headroom with 12 cores / 20 threads instead of 6/12. 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 5 4600GE Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i7-12700K	Ryzen 5 4600GE
1080p
low	314 FPS	177 FPS
medium	295 FPS	143 FPS
high	246 FPS	114 FPS
ultra	193 FPS	90 FPS
1440p
low	269 FPS	152 FPS
medium	225 FPS	121 FPS
high	182 FPS	94 FPS
ultra	145 FPS	74 FPS
4K
low	170 FPS	69 FPS
medium	142 FPS	59 FPS
high	109 FPS	46 FPS
ultra	96 FPS	37 FPS

Open Core i7-12700K Open Ryzen 5 4600GE

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i7-12700K	Ryzen 5 4600GE
1080p
low	630 FPS	298 FPS
medium	533 FPS	257 FPS
high	450 FPS	229 FPS
ultra	410 FPS	198 FPS
1440p
low	536 FPS	261 FPS
medium	475 FPS	229 FPS
high	403 FPS	208 FPS
ultra	349 FPS	179 FPS
4K
low	312 FPS	225 FPS
medium	280 FPS	202 FPS
high	266 FPS	182 FPS
ultra	234 FPS	156 FPS

Open Core i7-12700K Open Ryzen 5 4600GE

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i7-12700K	Ryzen 5 4600GE
1080p
low	797 FPS	397 FPS
medium	633 FPS	397 FPS
high	556 FPS	397 FPS
ultra	472 FPS	397 FPS
1440p
low	704 FPS	397 FPS
medium	565 FPS	397 FPS
high	490 FPS	397 FPS
ultra	422 FPS	362 FPS
4K
low	510 FPS	393 FPS
medium	425 FPS	332 FPS
high	381 FPS	286 FPS
ultra	321 FPS	227 FPS

Open Core i7-12700K Open Ryzen 5 4600GE

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i7-12700K	Ryzen 5 4600GE
1080p
low	859 FPS	397 FPS
medium	802 FPS	397 FPS
high	699 FPS	397 FPS
ultra	628 FPS	397 FPS
1440p
low	760 FPS	397 FPS
medium	678 FPS	397 FPS
high	590 FPS	397 FPS
ultra	519 FPS	397 FPS
4K
low	535 FPS	397 FPS
medium	488 FPS	397 FPS
high	437 FPS	378 FPS
ultra	384 FPS	316 FPS

Open Core i7-12700K Open Ryzen 5 4600GE

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i7-12700K and Ryzen 5 4600GE

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 5 4600GE

The Ryzen 5 4600GE 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 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.3 GHz, with boost up to 4.2 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 7 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 15,889 points. Launch price was $299.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i7-12700K packs 12 cores / 20 threads, while the Ryzen 5 4600GE offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the Core i7-12700K has 6 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5 GHz on the Core i7-12700K versus 4.2 GHz on the Ryzen 5 4600GE — a 17.4% clock advantage for the Core i7-12700K (base: 3.6 GHz vs 3.3 GHz). The Core i7-12700K uses the Alder Lake, Golden Cove, Gracemont (2021) architecture (10 nm), while the Ryzen 5 4600GE uses Renoir (2020−2023) (7 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-12700K scores 34,347 against the Ryzen 5 4600GE's 15,889 — a 73.5% lead for the Core i7-12700K. L3 cache: 25 MB (total) on the Core i7-12700K vs 8 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 4600GE.

Feature	Core i7-12700K	Ryzen 5 4600GE
Cores / Threads	12 / 20+100%	6 / 12
Boost Clock	5 GHz+19%	4.2 GHz
Base Clock	3.6 GHz+9%	3.3 GHz
L3 Cache	25 MB (total)+213%	8 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+116%	15,889
Cinebench R23 Multi	—	7,800

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i7-12700K uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Ryzen 5 4600GE uses AM4 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches 4800 on the Core i7-12700K versus DDR4-3200 on the Ryzen 5 4600GE — the Core i7-12700K supports 199.7% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Core i7-12700K supports up to 128 of RAM compared to 64 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i7-12700K) vs 24 (Ryzen 5 4600GE) — the Ryzen 5 4600GE offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Z690,B660 (Core i7-12700K) and AM4 (Ryzen 5 4600GE).

Feature	Core i7-12700K	Ryzen 5 4600GE
Socket	LGA1700	AM4
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0+67%	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	4800+119900%	DDR4-3200
Max RAM Capacity	128	64 GB+52428700%
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	20	24+20%

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Core i7-12700K has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i7-12700K) vs AMD-V (Ryzen 5 4600GE). Both include integrated graphics — Intel UHD Graphics 770 (Core i7-12700K) and Radeon Vega 7 (Ryzen 5 4600GE) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: Core i7-12700K rivals Ryzen 7 5800X.

Feature	Core i7-12700K	Ryzen 5 4600GE
Integrated GPU	Yes	Yes
IGPU Model	Intel UHD Graphics 770	Radeon Vega 7
Unlocked	Yes	No
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	AMD-V

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i7-12700K launched at $409 MSRP, while the Ryzen 5 4600GE debuted at $200. On MSRP ($409 vs $200), the Ryzen 5 4600GE is $209 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i7-12700K delivers 84.0 pts/$ vs 79.4 pts/$ for the Ryzen 5 4600GE — making the Core i7-12700K the 5.5% better value option.