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 i7-12700

2022

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +9.8% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $49 less on MSRP ($250 MSRP vs $299 MSRP).
✅Delivers 64.5% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 120.2 vs 73.1 PassMark/$ ($250 MSRP vs $299 MSRP).
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of AM4 and DDR4.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel UHD Graphics 770, while Ryzen 5 5600X needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (25 MB vs 32 MB).

Ryzen 5 5600X

2020

Why buy it

✅+28% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 25 MB).
✅20% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-12700 across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (21,845 vs 30,055).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 73.1 vs 120.2 PassMark/$ ($299 MSRP vs $250 MSRP).
❌Older platform position on AM4 with DDR4, while Core i7-12700 moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i7-12700 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i7-12700

2022

Ryzen 5 5600X

2020

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +9.8% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $49 less on MSRP ($250 MSRP vs $299 MSRP).
✅Delivers 64.5% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 120.2 vs 73.1 PassMark/$ ($250 MSRP vs $299 MSRP).
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of AM4 and DDR4.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel UHD Graphics 770, while Ryzen 5 5600X needs a discrete GPU.

Why buy it

✅+28% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 25 MB).
✅20% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (25 MB vs 32 MB).

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-12700 across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (21,845 vs 30,055).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 73.1 vs 120.2 PassMark/$ ($299 MSRP vs $250 MSRP).
❌Older platform position on AM4 with DDR4, while Core i7-12700 moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i7-12700 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i7-12700 better than Ryzen 5 5600X?

Yes. Core i7-12700 is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 9.8% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data, 37.6% 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 i7-12700 is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 9.8% 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, Core i7-12700 is the better fit. You are getting 37.6% better PassMark, backed by 12 cores and 20 threads.

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

Core i7-12700 is the smarter buy today. Core i7-12700 is $49 cheaper on MSRP at $250 MSRP versus $299 MSRP, and it gives you a 9.8% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 64.5% better value on MSRP (120.2 vs 73.1 PassMark/$), 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 5600X can still make sense as a platform-matched option because it avoids a motherboard and RAM swap, but on MSRP alone you would want to find it meaningfully cheaper in real-world listings before that path becomes easy to justify.

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

Core i7-12700 is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2022 vs 2020), a healthier platform with LGA1700 and DDR5 instead of AM4, 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 i7-12700 Benchmark Check

Ryzen 5 5600X Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i7-12700	Ryzen 5 5600X
1080p
low	257 FPS	203 FPS
medium	248 FPS	174 FPS
high	207 FPS	140 FPS
ultra	177 FPS	107 FPS
1440p
low	226 FPS	169 FPS
medium	194 FPS	141 FPS
high	156 FPS	113 FPS
ultra	137 FPS	86 FPS
4K
low	157 FPS	85 FPS
medium	134 FPS	76 FPS
high	103 FPS	60 FPS
ultra	91 FPS	47 FPS

Open Core i7-12700 Open Ryzen 5 5600X

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i7-12700	Ryzen 5 5600X
1080p
low	312 FPS	464 FPS
medium	265 FPS	387 FPS
high	224 FPS	324 FPS
ultra	204 FPS	291 FPS
1440p
low	257 FPS	397 FPS
medium	228 FPS	334 FPS
high	198 FPS	290 FPS
ultra	172 FPS	253 FPS
4K
low	157 FPS	263 FPS
medium	141 FPS	226 FPS
high	133 FPS	205 FPS
ultra	118 FPS	171 FPS

Open Core i7-12700 Open Ryzen 5 5600X

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i7-12700	Ryzen 5 5600X
1080p
low	751 FPS	546 FPS
medium	610 FPS	473 FPS
high	540 FPS	432 FPS
ultra	458 FPS	358 FPS
1440p
low	683 FPS	508 FPS
medium	547 FPS	413 FPS
high	479 FPS	375 FPS
ultra	411 FPS	312 FPS
4K
low	493 FPS	348 FPS
medium	412 FPS	292 FPS
high	369 FPS	255 FPS
ultra	311 FPS	199 FPS

Open Core i7-12700 Open Ryzen 5 5600X

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i7-12700	Ryzen 5 5600X
1080p
low	751 FPS	546 FPS
medium	751 FPS	546 FPS
high	664 FPS	546 FPS
ultra	590 FPS	546 FPS
1440p
low	730 FPS	546 FPS
medium	651 FPS	546 FPS
high	560 FPS	546 FPS
ultra	487 FPS	524 FPS
4K
low	513 FPS	529 FPS
medium	468 FPS	484 FPS
high	414 FPS	435 FPS
ultra	360 FPS	379 FPS

Open Core i7-12700 Open Ryzen 5 5600X

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i7-12700 and Ryzen 5 5600X

Core i7-12700

The Core i7-12700 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in Janeiro 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture. It features 12 cores and 20 threads. Base frequency is 2.1 GHz, with boost up to 4.9 GHz. L3 cache: 25 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1700. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 30,055 points. Launch price was $349.

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 i7-12700 packs 12 cores / 20 threads, while the Ryzen 5 5600X offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the Core i7-12700 has 6 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.9 GHz on the Core i7-12700 versus 4.6 GHz on the Ryzen 5 5600X — a 6.3% clock advantage for the Core i7-12700 (base: 2.1 GHz vs 3.7 GHz). The Core i7-12700 uses the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Ryzen 5 5600X uses Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020−2022) (7 nm, 12 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-12700 scores 30,055 against the Ryzen 5 5600X's 21,845 — a 31.6% lead for the Core i7-12700. L3 cache: 25 MB (total) on the Core i7-12700 vs 32 MB on the Ryzen 5 5600X.

Feature	Core i7-12700	Ryzen 5 5600X
Cores / Threads	12 / 20+100%	6 / 12
Boost Clock	4.9 GHz+7%	4.6 GHz
Base Clock	2.1 GHz	3.7 GHz+76%
L3 Cache	25 MB (total)	32 MB+28%
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)+150%	512K (per core)
Process	Intel 7 nm	7 nm, 12 nm
Architecture	Alder Lake-S (2022)	Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020−2022)
PassMark	30,055+38%	21,845
Cinebench R23 Multi	21,568	—
Geekbench 6 Single	2,497	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	12,448	—

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i7-12700 uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Ryzen 5 5600X uses AM4 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR5-4800 / DDR4-3200 on the Core i7-12700 versus DDR4-3200 on the Ryzen 5 5600X — the Core i7-12700 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 i7-12700) vs 24 (Ryzen 5 5600X) — the Ryzen 5 5600X offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: H610,B660,H670,Z690,B760,Z790 (Core i7-12700) and AMD 500 series,AMD 400 series,AMD 300 series (Ryzen 5 5600X).

Feature	Core i7-12700	Ryzen 5 5600X
Socket	LGA1700	AM4
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0+25%	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-4800 / DDR4-3200+25%	DDR4-3200
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	128 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	20	24+20%

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Ryzen 5 5600X has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Virtualization support: VT-x / VT-d / EPT (Core i7-12700) vs AMD-V (Ryzen 5 5600X). The Core i7-12700 includes integrated graphics (Intel UHD Graphics 770), while the Ryzen 5 5600X requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i7-12700 targets Gaming, Ryzen 5 5600X targets Desktop. Direct competitor: Core i7-12700 rivals Ryzen 7 5700X.

Feature	Core i7-12700	Ryzen 5 5600X
Integrated GPU	Yes	No
IGPU Model	Intel UHD Graphics 770	—
Unlocked	No	Yes
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	VT-x / VT-d / EPT	AMD-V
Target Use	Gaming	Desktop

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i7-12700 launched at $250 MSRP, while the Ryzen 5 5600X debuted at $299. On MSRP ($250 vs $299), the Core i7-12700 is $49 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i7-12700 delivers 120.2 pts/$ vs 73.1 pts/$ for the Ryzen 5 5600X — making the Core i7-12700 the 48.8% better value option.