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

✅+23.2% higher Cinebench R23 multi-core.
✅Costs $29 less on MSRP ($250 MSRP vs $279 MSRP).
✅Delivers 11.8% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 120.2 vs 107.5 PassMark/$ ($250 MSRP vs $279 MSRP).
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Ryzen 5 9600X.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 5 9600X across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Smaller total L3 cache (25 MB vs 32 MB).

Ryzen 5 9600X

2024

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +27.2% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+28% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 25 MB).
✅40% more PCIe lanes (28 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (17,500 vs 21,568).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 107.5 vs 120.2 PassMark/$ ($279 MSRP vs $250 MSRP).
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i7-12700.

Core i7-12700

2022

Ryzen 5 9600X

2024

Why buy it

✅+23.2% higher Cinebench R23 multi-core.
✅Costs $29 less on MSRP ($250 MSRP vs $279 MSRP).
✅Delivers 11.8% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 120.2 vs 107.5 PassMark/$ ($250 MSRP vs $279 MSRP).
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Ryzen 5 9600X.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +27.2% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+28% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 25 MB).
✅40% more PCIe lanes (28 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 5 9600X across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Smaller total L3 cache (25 MB vs 32 MB).

Trade-offs

❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (17,500 vs 21,568).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 107.5 vs 120.2 PassMark/$ ($279 MSRP vs $250 MSRP).
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i7-12700.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i7-12700 better than Ryzen 5 9600X?

It depends on what matters more to you. For gaming, Ryzen 5 9600X is ahead with a 27.2% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Core i7-12700 pulls ahead with 23.2% better Cinebench R23 multi-core. Ryzen 5 9600X also has the bigger cache pool with 28% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 25 MB).

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 23.2% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, 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 $29 cheaper on MSRP at $250 MSRP versus $279 MSRP, and it gives you 23.2% better Cinebench R23 multi-core. The trade-off is that Ryzen 5 9600X is still the better pure gaming CPU with a 27.2% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 11.8% better value on MSRP (120.2 vs 107.5 PassMark/$), 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 AM5 + DDR5 setup, Ryzen 5 9600X is still an elite gaming CPU and a very strong platform-matched choice because it avoids a motherboard and RAM swap while remaining one of the strongest gaming chips you can buy.

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

Ryzen 5 9600X is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2024 vs 2022) and 28% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 25 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 i7-12700 Benchmark Check

Ryzen 5 9600X Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i7-12700	Ryzen 5 9600X
1080p
low	257 FPS	264 FPS
medium	248 FPS	243 FPS
high	207 FPS	207 FPS
ultra	177 FPS	177 FPS
1440p
low	226 FPS	225 FPS
medium	194 FPS	188 FPS
high	156 FPS	153 FPS
ultra	137 FPS	134 FPS
4K
low	157 FPS	156 FPS
medium	134 FPS	131 FPS
high	103 FPS	101 FPS
ultra	91 FPS	87 FPS

Open Core i7-12700 Open Ryzen 5 9600X

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i7-12700	Ryzen 5 9600X
1080p
low	312 FPS	546 FPS
medium	265 FPS	451 FPS
high	224 FPS	379 FPS
ultra	204 FPS	339 FPS
1440p
low	257 FPS	469 FPS
medium	228 FPS	401 FPS
high	198 FPS	342 FPS
ultra	172 FPS	294 FPS
4K
low	157 FPS	294 FPS
medium	141 FPS	256 FPS
high	133 FPS	239 FPS
ultra	118 FPS	207 FPS

Open Core i7-12700 Open Ryzen 5 9600X

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i7-12700	Ryzen 5 9600X
1080p
low	751 FPS	750 FPS
medium	610 FPS	724 FPS
high	540 FPS	641 FPS
ultra	458 FPS	551 FPS
1440p
low	683 FPS	724 FPS
medium	547 FPS	565 FPS
high	479 FPS	486 FPS
ultra	411 FPS	414 FPS
4K
low	493 FPS	471 FPS
medium	412 FPS	397 FPS
high	369 FPS	346 FPS
ultra	311 FPS	285 FPS

Open Core i7-12700 Open Ryzen 5 9600X

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i7-12700	Ryzen 5 9600X
1080p
low	751 FPS	750 FPS
medium	751 FPS	750 FPS
high	664 FPS	750 FPS
ultra	590 FPS	750 FPS
1440p
low	730 FPS	750 FPS
medium	651 FPS	750 FPS
high	560 FPS	676 FPS
ultra	487 FPS	583 FPS
4K
low	513 FPS	577 FPS
medium	468 FPS	512 FPS
high	414 FPS	462 FPS
ultra	360 FPS	399 FPS

Open Core i7-12700 Open Ryzen 5 9600X

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i7-12700 and Ryzen 5 9600X

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 9600X

The Ryzen 5 9600X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 8 August 2024 (1 year ago). It is based on the Granite Ridge (2024−2025) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.9 GHz, with boost up to 5.4 GHz. L3 cache: 32 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 4 nm process technology. Socket: AM5. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 30,003 points. Launch price was $279.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i7-12700 packs 12 cores / 20 threads, while the Ryzen 5 9600X 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 5.4 GHz on the Ryzen 5 9600X — a 9.7% clock advantage for the Ryzen 5 9600X (base: 2.1 GHz vs 3.9 GHz). The Core i7-12700 uses the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Ryzen 5 9600X uses Granite Ridge (2024−2025) (4 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-12700 scores 30,055 against the Ryzen 5 9600X's 30,003 — a 0.2% lead for the Core i7-12700. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 21,568 vs 17,500 (20.8% advantage for the Core i7-12700). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 2,497 vs 3,300, a 27.7% lead for the Ryzen 5 9600X that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 12,448 vs 15,000 (18.6% advantage for the Ryzen 5 9600X). L3 cache: 25 MB (total) on the Core i7-12700 vs 32 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 9600X.

Feature	Core i7-12700	Ryzen 5 9600X
Cores / Threads	12 / 20+100%	6 / 12
Boost Clock	4.9 GHz	5.4 GHz+10%
Base Clock	2.1 GHz	3.9 GHz+86%
L3 Cache	25 MB (total)	32 MB (total)+28%
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)+25%	1 MB (per core)
Process	Intel 7 nm	4 nm-43%
Architecture	Alder Lake-S (2022)	Granite Ridge (2024−2025)
PassMark	30,055	30,003
Cinebench R23 Multi	21,568+23%	17,500
Geekbench 6 Single	2,497	3,300+32%
Geekbench 6 Multi	12,448	15,000+21%

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i7-12700 uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Ryzen 5 9600X uses AM5 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR5-4800 / DDR4-3200 memory speed. The Ryzen 5 9600X supports up to 192 GB of RAM compared to 128 GB — 40% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i7-12700) vs 28 (Ryzen 5 9600X) — the Ryzen 5 9600X offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: H610,B660,H670,Z690,B760,Z790 (Core i7-12700) and X870E,X870,X670E,X670,B650E,B650 (Ryzen 5 9600X).

Feature	Core i7-12700	Ryzen 5 9600X
Socket	LGA1700	AM5
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0	PCIe 5.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-4800 / DDR4-3200	DDR5-5600
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	192 GB+50%
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	20	28+40%

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Ryzen 5 9600X has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Only the Ryzen 5 9600X supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: VT-x / VT-d / EPT (Core i7-12700) vs AMD-V (Ryzen 5 9600X). Both include integrated graphics — Intel UHD Graphics 770 (Core i7-12700) and AMD Radeon Graphics (2-core) (Ryzen 5 9600X) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i7-12700 targets Gaming, Ryzen 5 9600X targets Gaming. Direct competitor: Core i7-12700 rivals Ryzen 7 5700X; Ryzen 5 9600X rivals Intel Core i5-14600K.

Feature	Core i7-12700	Ryzen 5 9600X
Integrated GPU	Yes	Yes
IGPU Model	Intel UHD Graphics 770	AMD Radeon Graphics (2-core)
Unlocked	No	Yes
AVX-512	No	Yes
Virtualization	VT-x / VT-d / EPT	AMD-V
Target Use	Gaming	Gaming

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i7-12700 launched at $250 MSRP, while the Ryzen 5 9600X debuted at $279. On MSRP ($250 vs $279), the Core i7-12700 is $29 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i7-12700 delivers 120.2 pts/$ vs 107.5 pts/$ for the Ryzen 5 9600X — making the Core i7-12700 the 11.1% better value option.