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 i5-1250P

2022

Why buy it

✅Draws 28W instead of 65W, a 37W reduction.
✅Newer platform on FCBGA1744 with DDR5 support instead of AM4 and DDR4.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Iris Xe Graphics (80 EU), while Ryzen 5 5500 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 5 5500 across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (19,167 vs 19,311).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 16 MB).

Ryzen 5 5500

2022

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +7.1% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+33.3% larger total L3 cache (16 MB vs 12 MB).
✅20% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $159 MSRP, while Core i5-1250P mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌132.1% higher power demand at 65W vs 28W.
❌Older platform position on AM4 with DDR4, while Core i5-1250P moves to FCBGA1744 and DDR5.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i5-1250P can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i5-1250P

2022

Ryzen 5 5500

2022

Why buy it

✅Draws 28W instead of 65W, a 37W reduction.
✅Newer platform on FCBGA1744 with DDR5 support instead of AM4 and DDR4.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Iris Xe Graphics (80 EU), while Ryzen 5 5500 needs a discrete GPU.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +7.1% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+33.3% larger total L3 cache (16 MB vs 12 MB).
✅20% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 5 5500 across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (19,167 vs 19,311).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 16 MB).

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $159 MSRP, while Core i5-1250P mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌132.1% higher power demand at 65W vs 28W.
❌Older platform position on AM4 with DDR4, while Core i5-1250P moves to FCBGA1744 and DDR5.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i5-1250P can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 5 5500 better than Core i5-1250P?

Yes. Ryzen 5 5500 is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 7.1% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data and 0.8% better PassMark, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Ryzen 5 5500 is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 7.1% more average FPS across 4 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Ryzen 5 5500 is the better fit. You are getting 0.8% better PassMark, backed by 6 cores and 12 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 33.3% larger total L3 cache (16 MB vs 12 MB).

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

Ryzen 5 5500 is the smarter buy today. Ryzen 5 5500 is at an unclear MSRP at $159 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it gives you a 7.1% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (121.5 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), 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 i5-1250P is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a healthier platform with FCBGA1744 and DDR5 instead of AM4. 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 i5-1250P Benchmark Check

Ryzen 5 5500 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-1250P	Ryzen 5 5500
1080p
low	169 FPS	181 FPS
medium	151 FPS	150 FPS
high	123 FPS	120 FPS
ultra	105 FPS	97 FPS
1440p
low	142 FPS	153 FPS
medium	122 FPS	124 FPS
high	98 FPS	98 FPS
ultra	83 FPS	79 FPS
4K
low	80 FPS	70 FPS
medium	74 FPS	61 FPS
high	59 FPS	48 FPS
ultra	45 FPS	38 FPS

Open Core i5-1250P Open Ryzen 5 5500

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-1250P	Ryzen 5 5500
1080p
low	195 FPS	329 FPS
medium	166 FPS	285 FPS
high	153 FPS	254 FPS
ultra	137 FPS	221 FPS
1440p
low	172 FPS	291 FPS
medium	150 FPS	258 FPS
high	141 FPS	233 FPS
ultra	124 FPS	201 FPS
4K
low	139 FPS	229 FPS
medium	125 FPS	206 FPS
high	119 FPS	189 FPS
ultra	104 FPS	162 FPS

Open Core i5-1250P Open Ryzen 5 5500

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-1250P	Ryzen 5 5500
1080p
low	479 FPS	483 FPS
medium	479 FPS	483 FPS
high	461 FPS	483 FPS
ultra	406 FPS	406 FPS
1440p
low	479 FPS	483 FPS
medium	465 FPS	411 FPS
high	415 FPS	361 FPS
ultra	367 FPS	300 FPS
4K
low	435 FPS	340 FPS
medium	356 FPS	285 FPS
high	315 FPS	248 FPS
ultra	257 FPS	192 FPS

Open Core i5-1250P Open Ryzen 5 5500

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-1250P	Ryzen 5 5500
1080p
low	479 FPS	483 FPS
medium	479 FPS	483 FPS
high	479 FPS	483 FPS
ultra	479 FPS	483 FPS
1440p
low	479 FPS	483 FPS
medium	479 FPS	483 FPS
high	479 FPS	483 FPS
ultra	448 FPS	425 FPS
4K
low	470 FPS	448 FPS
medium	427 FPS	404 FPS
high	375 FPS	360 FPS
ultra	328 FPS	308 FPS

Open Core i5-1250P Open Ryzen 5 5500

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-1250P and Ryzen 5 5500

Core i5-1250P

The Core i5-1250P is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 23 February 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Alder Lake-P (2022) architecture. It features 12 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 1.7 GHz, with boost up to 4.4 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1744. Thermal design power (TDP): 28 Watt. Memory support: DDR4, DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 19,167 points. Launch price was $299.

Ryzen 5 5500

The Ryzen 5 5500 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 4 April 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Cezanne (2021−2025) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 4.2 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB. L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 19,311 points. Launch price was $159.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i5-1250P packs 12 cores / 16 threads, while the Ryzen 5 5500 offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the Core i5-1250P has 6 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.4 GHz on the Core i5-1250P versus 4.2 GHz on the Ryzen 5 5500 — a 4.7% clock advantage for the Core i5-1250P (base: 1.7 GHz vs 3.6 GHz). The Core i5-1250P uses the Alder Lake-P (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Ryzen 5 5500 uses Cezanne (2021−2025) (7 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-1250P scores 19,167 against the Ryzen 5 5500's 19,311 — a 0.7% lead for the Ryzen 5 5500. L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Core i5-1250P vs 16 MB on the Ryzen 5 5500.

Feature	Core i5-1250P	Ryzen 5 5500
Cores / Threads	12 / 16+100%	6 / 12
Boost Clock	4.4 GHz+5%	4.2 GHz
Base Clock	1.7 GHz	3.6 GHz+112%
L3 Cache	12 MB (total)	16 MB+33%
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)+150%	512K (per core)
Process	Intel 7 nm	7 nm
Architecture	Alder Lake-P (2022)	Cezanne (2021−2025)
PassMark	19,167	19,311
Cinebench R23 Multi	9,250	—
Geekbench 6 Single	1,785	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	8,420	—

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i5-1250P uses the FCBGA1744 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Ryzen 5 5500 uses AM4 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR5-4800 on the Core i5-1250P versus DDR4-3200 on the Ryzen 5 5500 — the Core i5-1250P supports 22.2% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Ryzen 5 5500 supports up to 128 GB 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 i5-1250P) vs 24 (Ryzen 5 5500) — the Ryzen 5 5500 offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: BGA1744 (Core i5-1250P) and AMD 500 series,AMD 400 series (Ryzen 5 5500).

Feature	Core i5-1250P	Ryzen 5 5500
Socket	FCBGA1744	AM4
PCIe Generation	PCIe 4.0+33%	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-4800+25%	DDR4-3200
Max RAM Capacity	64 GB	128 GB+100%
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	20	24+20%

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Ryzen 5 5500 has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Only the Core i5-1250P supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-1250P) vs AMD-V (Ryzen 5 5500). The Core i5-1250P includes integrated graphics (Iris Xe Graphics (80 EU)), while the Ryzen 5 5500 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Ryzen 5 5500 targets Desktop.