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 i7-12650H

2022

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +4.1% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Draws 45W instead of 65W, a 20W reduction.
✅Newer platform on FCBGA1744 with DDR5 support instead of AM4 and DDR4.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with UHD Graphics 64EU, while Ryzen 5 5600X needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (21,742 vs 21,845).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (24 MB vs 32 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 47.6 vs 73.1 PassMark/$ ($457 MSRP vs $299 MSRP).

Ryzen 5 5600X

2020

Why buy it

✅+0.5% higher PassMark.
✅+33.3% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 24 MB).
✅Costs $158 less on MSRP ($299 MSRP vs $457 MSRP).
✅Delivers 53.6% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 73.1 vs 47.6 PassMark/$ ($299 MSRP vs $457 MSRP).
✅50% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 16) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-12650H across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌44.4% higher power demand at 65W vs 45W.
❌Older platform position on AM4 with DDR4, while Core i7-12650H moves to FCBGA1744 and DDR5.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i7-12650H can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i7-12650H

2022

Ryzen 5 5600X

2020

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +4.1% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Draws 45W instead of 65W, a 20W reduction.
✅Newer platform on FCBGA1744 with DDR5 support instead of AM4 and DDR4.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with UHD Graphics 64EU, while Ryzen 5 5600X needs a discrete GPU.

Why buy it

✅+0.5% higher PassMark.
✅+33.3% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 24 MB).
✅Costs $158 less on MSRP ($299 MSRP vs $457 MSRP).
✅Delivers 53.6% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 73.1 vs 47.6 PassMark/$ ($299 MSRP vs $457 MSRP).
✅50% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 16) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (21,742 vs 21,845).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (24 MB vs 32 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 47.6 vs 73.1 PassMark/$ ($457 MSRP vs $299 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-12650H across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌44.4% higher power demand at 65W vs 45W.
❌Older platform position on AM4 with DDR4, while Core i7-12650H moves to FCBGA1744 and DDR5.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i7-12650H can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i7-12650H better than Ryzen 5 5600X?

It depends on what matters more to you. For gaming, Core i7-12650H is ahead with a 4.1% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Ryzen 5 5600X pulls ahead with 0.5% better PassMark. Ryzen 5 5600X also has the bigger cache pool with 33.3% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 24 MB).

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Ryzen 5 5600X is the better fit. You are getting 0.5% better PassMark, backed by 6 cores and 12 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 33.3% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 24 MB).

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

Core i7-12650H is still the faster CPU overall, but Ryzen 5 5600X makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. Core i7-12650H is 52.8% more expensive on MSRP at $457 MSRP versus $299 MSRP, and it gives you a 4.1% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. The trade-off is that Ryzen 5 5600X is still stronger for heavier multi-core work with 0.5% better PassMark. Ryzen 5 5600X is also 53.6% better value on MSRP (73.1 vs 47.6 PassMark/$), which is why it is easier to justify for price-conscious builds on paper.

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

Core i7-12650H is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2022 vs 2020) and 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 i7-12650H Benchmark Check

Ryzen 5 5600X Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i7-12650H	Ryzen 5 5600X
1080p
low	176 FPS	203 FPS
medium	163 FPS	174 FPS
high	136 FPS	140 FPS
ultra	116 FPS	107 FPS
1440p
low	147 FPS	169 FPS
medium	127 FPS	141 FPS
high	103 FPS	113 FPS
ultra	87 FPS	86 FPS
4K
low	84 FPS	85 FPS
medium	77 FPS	76 FPS
high	62 FPS	60 FPS
ultra	48 FPS	47 FPS

Open Core i7-12650H Open Ryzen 5 5600X

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i7-12650H	Ryzen 5 5600X
1080p
low	544 FPS	464 FPS
medium	483 FPS	387 FPS
high	407 FPS	324 FPS
ultra	372 FPS	291 FPS
1440p
low	478 FPS	397 FPS
medium	420 FPS	334 FPS
high	365 FPS	290 FPS
ultra	318 FPS	253 FPS
4K
low	293 FPS	263 FPS
medium	260 FPS	226 FPS
high	245 FPS	205 FPS
ultra	216 FPS	171 FPS

Open Core i7-12650H Open Ryzen 5 5600X

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i7-12650H	Ryzen 5 5600X
1080p
low	544 FPS	546 FPS
medium	544 FPS	473 FPS
high	544 FPS	432 FPS
ultra	462 FPS	358 FPS
1440p
low	544 FPS	508 FPS
medium	544 FPS	413 FPS
high	483 FPS	375 FPS
ultra	415 FPS	312 FPS
4K
low	498 FPS	348 FPS
medium	416 FPS	292 FPS
high	373 FPS	255 FPS
ultra	314 FPS	199 FPS

Open Core i7-12650H Open Ryzen 5 5600X

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i7-12650H	Ryzen 5 5600X
1080p
low	544 FPS	546 FPS
medium	544 FPS	546 FPS
high	544 FPS	546 FPS
ultra	544 FPS	546 FPS
1440p
low	544 FPS	546 FPS
medium	544 FPS	546 FPS
high	544 FPS	546 FPS
ultra	496 FPS	524 FPS
4K
low	520 FPS	529 FPS
medium	474 FPS	484 FPS
high	421 FPS	435 FPS
ultra	366 FPS	379 FPS

Open Core i7-12650H Open Ryzen 5 5600X

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i7-12650H and Ryzen 5 5600X

Core i7-12650H

The Core i7-12650H is manufactured by Intel. It was released in Janeiro 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Alder Lake-H (2022) architecture. It features 10 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 2.3 GHz, with boost up to 4.7 GHz. L3 cache: 24 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1744. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR4, DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 21,742 points. Launch price was $299.

Ryzen 5 5600X

The Ryzen 5 5600X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 5 November 2020 (5 years ago). It is based on the Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020−2022) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.7 GHz, with boost up to 4.6 GHz. L3 cache: 32 MB. L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm, 12 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 21,845 points. Launch price was $299.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i7-12650H packs 10 cores / 16 threads, while the Ryzen 5 5600X offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the Core i7-12650H has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.7 GHz on the Core i7-12650H versus 4.6 GHz on the Ryzen 5 5600X — a 2.2% clock advantage for the Core i7-12650H (base: 2.3 GHz vs 3.7 GHz). The Core i7-12650H uses the Alder Lake-H (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Ryzen 5 5600X uses Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020−2022) (7 nm, 12 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-12650H scores 21,742 against the Ryzen 5 5600X's 21,845 — a 0.5% lead for the Ryzen 5 5600X. L3 cache: 24 MB (total) on the Core i7-12650H vs 32 MB on the Ryzen 5 5600X.

Feature	Core i7-12650H	Ryzen 5 5600X
Cores / Threads	10 / 16+67%	6 / 12
Boost Clock	4.7 GHz+2%	4.6 GHz
Base Clock	2.3 GHz	3.7 GHz+61%
L3 Cache	24 MB (total)	32 MB+33%
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)+150%	512K (per core)
Process	Intel 7 nm	7 nm, 12 nm
Architecture	Alder Lake-H (2022)	Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020−2022)
PassMark	21,742	21,845
Cinebench R23 Multi	13,500	—
Geekbench 6 Single	1,780	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	10,920	—

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i7-12650H uses the FCBGA1744 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Ryzen 5 5600X uses AM4 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR5-4800 on the Core i7-12650H versus DDR4-3200 on the Ryzen 5 5600X — the Core i7-12650H supports 22.2% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Ryzen 5 5600X 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: 16 (Core i7-12650H) vs 24 (Ryzen 5 5600X) — the Ryzen 5 5600X offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Alder Lake H (Core i7-12650H) and AMD 500 series,AMD 400 series,AMD 300 series (Ryzen 5 5600X).

Feature	Core i7-12650H	Ryzen 5 5600X
Socket	FCBGA1744	AM4
PCIe Generation	PCIe 4.0	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-4800+25%	DDR4-3200
Max RAM Capacity	64 GB	128 GB+100%
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	Yes
PCIe Lanes	16	24+50%

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Ryzen 5 5600X has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Only the Core i7-12650H supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i7-12650H) vs AMD-V (Ryzen 5 5600X). The Core i7-12650H includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 64EU), while the Ryzen 5 5600X requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Ryzen 5 5600X targets Desktop.

Feature	Core i7-12650H	Ryzen 5 5600X
Integrated GPU	Yes	No
IGPU Model	UHD Graphics 64EU	—
Unlocked	No	Yes
AVX-512	Yes	No
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	AMD-V
Target Use	—	Desktop

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i7-12650H launched at $457 MSRP, while the Ryzen 5 5600X debuted at $299. On MSRP ($457 vs $299), the Ryzen 5 5600X is $158 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i7-12650H delivers 47.6 pts/$ vs 73.1 pts/$ for the Ryzen 5 5600X — making the Ryzen 5 5600X the 42.3% better value option.