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 i5-12490F

2022

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +8.3% higher average FPS across 3 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+25% larger total L3 cache (20 MB vs 16 MB).
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of AM4 and DDR4.

Trade-offs

❌Lower Geekbench multi-core (8,800 vs 9,300).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 81.5 vs 145.1 PassMark/$ ($250 MSRP vs $140 MSRP).
❌No integrated graphics, while Ryzen 5 5600GT can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Ryzen 5 5600GT

2024

Why buy it

✅+5.7% higher Geekbench multi-core.
✅Costs $110 less on MSRP ($140 MSRP vs $250 MSRP).
✅Delivers 78.1% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 145.1 vs 81.5 PassMark/$ ($140 MSRP vs $250 MSRP).
✅20% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Radeon Vega 7, while Core i5-12490F needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-12490F across 3 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Smaller total L3 cache (16 MB vs 20 MB).
❌Older platform position on AM4 with DDR4, while Core i5-12490F moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.

Core i5-12490F

2022

Ryzen 5 5600GT

2024

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +8.3% higher average FPS across 3 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+25% larger total L3 cache (20 MB vs 16 MB).
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of AM4 and DDR4.

Why buy it

✅+5.7% higher Geekbench multi-core.
✅Costs $110 less on MSRP ($140 MSRP vs $250 MSRP).
✅Delivers 78.1% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 145.1 vs 81.5 PassMark/$ ($140 MSRP vs $250 MSRP).
✅20% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Radeon Vega 7, while Core i5-12490F needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Lower Geekbench multi-core (8,800 vs 9,300).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 81.5 vs 145.1 PassMark/$ ($250 MSRP vs $140 MSRP).
❌No integrated graphics, while Ryzen 5 5600GT can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-12490F across 3 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Smaller total L3 cache (16 MB vs 20 MB).
❌Older platform position on AM4 with DDR4, while Core i5-12490F moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i5-12490F better than Ryzen 5 5600GT?

It depends on what matters more to you. For gaming, Core i5-12490F is ahead with a 8.3% average FPS lead across 3 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Ryzen 5 5600GT pulls ahead with 5.7% better Geekbench multi-core. Core i5-12490F also has the bigger cache pool with 25% larger total L3 cache (20 MB vs 16 MB).

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Ryzen 5 5600GT is the better fit. You are getting 5.7% better Geekbench multi-core, backed by 6 cores and 12 threads.

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

Core i5-12490F is still the faster CPU overall, but Ryzen 5 5600GT makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. Core i5-12490F is 78.6% more expensive on MSRP at $250 MSRP versus $140 MSRP, and it gives you a 8.3% average FPS lead across 3 shared CPU game tests in our data. The trade-off is that Ryzen 5 5600GT is still stronger for heavier multi-core work with 5.7% better Geekbench multi-core. Ryzen 5 5600GT is also 78.1% better value on MSRP (145.1 vs 81.5 PassMark/$), which is why it is easier to justify for price-conscious builds on paper. That said, if you already own a compatible AM4 + DDR4 setup, Ryzen 5 5600GT 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 i5-12490F is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a healthier platform with LGA1700 and DDR5 instead of AM4 and 25% larger total L3 cache (20 MB vs 16 MB). 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 i5-12490F Benchmark Check

Ryzen 5 5600GT Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-12490F	Ryzen 5 5600GT
1080p
low	172 FPS	178 FPS
medium	148 FPS	150 FPS
high	120 FPS	120 FPS
ultra	100 FPS	100 FPS
1440p
low	147 FPS	153 FPS
medium	123 FPS	125 FPS
high	99 FPS	100 FPS
ultra	83 FPS	84 FPS
4K
low	80 FPS	83 FPS
medium	72 FPS	74 FPS
high	58 FPS	59 FPS
ultra	45 FPS	46 FPS

Open Core i5-12490F Open Ryzen 5 5600GT

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-12490F	Ryzen 5 5600GT
1080p
low	475 FPS	360 FPS
medium	404 FPS	304 FPS
high	341 FPS	267 FPS
ultra	300 FPS	231 FPS
1440p
low	414 FPS	313 FPS
medium	360 FPS	271 FPS
high	313 FPS	245 FPS
ultra	267 FPS	208 FPS
4K
low	278 FPS	235 FPS
medium	246 FPS	207 FPS
high	226 FPS	192 FPS
ultra	193 FPS	161 FPS

Open Core i5-12490F Open Ryzen 5 5600GT

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-12490F	Ryzen 5 5600GT
1080p
low	509 FPS	508 FPS
medium	509 FPS	508 FPS
high	509 FPS	502 FPS
ultra	502 FPS	418 FPS
1440p
low	509 FPS	499 FPS
medium	498 FPS	409 FPS
high	451 FPS	369 FPS
ultra	393 FPS	308 FPS
4K
low	418 FPS	343 FPS
medium	351 FPS	291 FPS
high	306 FPS	252 FPS
ultra	247 FPS	194 FPS

Open Core i5-12490F Open Ryzen 5 5600GT

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-12490F	Ryzen 5 5600GT
1080p
low	509 FPS	508 FPS
medium	509 FPS	508 FPS
high	509 FPS	508 FPS
ultra	509 FPS	508 FPS
1440p
low	509 FPS	508 FPS
medium	509 FPS	508 FPS
high	509 FPS	508 FPS
ultra	509 FPS	492 FPS
4K
low	509 FPS	508 FPS
medium	499 FPS	459 FPS
high	441 FPS	407 FPS
ultra	377 FPS	352 FPS

Open Core i5-12490F Open Ryzen 5 5600GT

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-12490F and Ryzen 5 5600GT

Core i5-12490F

The Core i5-12490F is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 4.6 GHz. L3 cache: 20 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on 10 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1700. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4, DDR5 Dual-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 20,366 points. Launch price was $299.

Ryzen 5 5600GT

The Ryzen 5 5600GT is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 8 January 2024 (1 year 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 4.6 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 7 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 20,312 points. Launch price was $140.

⚡

Processing Power

Both the Core i5-12490F and Ryzen 5 5600GT share an identical 6-core/12-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 4.6 GHz on the Core i5-12490F versus 4.6 GHz on the Ryzen 5 5600GT — identical boost frequencies (base: 3 GHz vs 3.6 GHz). The Core i5-12490F uses the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture (10 nm), while the Ryzen 5 5600GT uses Cezanne (2021−2025) (7 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-12490F scores 20,366 against the Ryzen 5 5600GT's 20,312 — a 0.3% lead for the Core i5-12490F. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,800 vs 2,000, a 10.5% lead for the Ryzen 5 5600GT that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 8,800 vs 9,300 (5.5% advantage for the Ryzen 5 5600GT). L3 cache: 20 MB (total) on the Core i5-12490F vs 16 MB on the Ryzen 5 5600GT.

Feature	Core i5-12490F	Ryzen 5 5600GT
Cores / Threads	6 / 12	6 / 12
Boost Clock	4.6 GHz	4.6 GHz
Base Clock	3 GHz	3.6 GHz+20%
L3 Cache	20 MB (total)+25%	16 MB
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)+150%	512 kB (per core)
Process	10 nm	7 nm-30%
Architecture	Alder Lake-S (2022)	Cezanne (2021−2025)
PassMark	20,366	20,312
Cinebench R23 Multi	12,500	—
Geekbench 6 Single	1,800	2,000+11%
Geekbench 6 Multi	8,800	9,300+6%

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i5-12490F uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Ryzen 5 5600GT uses AM4 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR5-4800 on the Core i5-12490F versus DDR4-3200 on the Ryzen 5 5600GT — the Core i5-12490F supports 22.2% 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. PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i5-12490F) vs 24 (Ryzen 5 5600GT) — the Ryzen 5 5600GT offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: B660,H610,H670,Z690,B760 (Core i5-12490F) and A520,B550,X570,B450,X470 (Ryzen 5 5600GT).

Feature	Core i5-12490F	Ryzen 5 5600GT
Socket	LGA1700	AM4
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0+67%	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-4800+25%	DDR4-3200
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	128 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	20	24+20%

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Ryzen 5 5600GT has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-12490F) vs AMD-V (Ryzen 5 5600GT). The Ryzen 5 5600GT includes integrated graphics (Radeon Vega 7), while the Core i5-12490F requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-12490F targets Gaming Desktop, Ryzen 5 5600GT targets Budget Gaming/Desktop. Direct competitor: Core i5-12490F rivals Ryzen 5 5600X.

Feature	Core i5-12490F	Ryzen 5 5600GT
Integrated GPU	No	Yes
IGPU Model	None	Radeon Vega 7
Unlocked	No	Yes
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d, EPT	AMD-V
Target Use	Gaming Desktop	Budget Gaming/Desktop

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i5-12490F launched at $250 MSRP, while the Ryzen 5 5600GT debuted at $140. On MSRP ($250 vs $140), the Ryzen 5 5600GT is $110 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-12490F delivers 81.5 pts/$ vs 145.1 pts/$ for the Ryzen 5 5600GT — making the Ryzen 5 5600GT the 56.2% better value option.