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 i7-12650HX

2022

Why buy it

✅+50% larger total L3 cache (24 MB vs 16 MB).
✅140% more PCIe lanes (48 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 7 7840S across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Geekbench multi-core (10,250 vs 13,535).
❌587.5% higher power demand at 55W vs 8W.

Ryzen 7 7840S

2023

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +19.6% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Draws 8W instead of 55W, a 47W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (16 MB vs 24 MB).

Core i7-12650HX

2022

Ryzen 7 7840S

2023

Why buy it

✅+50% larger total L3 cache (24 MB vs 16 MB).
✅140% more PCIe lanes (48 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +19.6% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Draws 8W instead of 55W, a 47W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 7 7840S across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Geekbench multi-core (10,250 vs 13,535).
❌587.5% higher power demand at 55W vs 8W.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (16 MB vs 24 MB).

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 7 7840S better than Core i7-12650HX?

Yes. Ryzen 7 7840S is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 19.6% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data, 32% better Geekbench multi-core, 0.3% higher 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, Ryzen 7 7840S is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 19.6% 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 7 7840S is the better fit. You are getting 32% better Geekbench multi-core, backed by 8 cores and 16 threads.

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

Ryzen 7 7840S still looks like the safer overall buy. Ryzen 7 7840S is at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it gives you a 19.6% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data.

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

Ryzen 7 7840S is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2023 vs 2022) and more multi-core headroom with 8 cores / 16 threads instead of 14/20. That extra compute headroom should age better as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

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 i7-12650HX Benchmark Check

Ryzen 7 7840S Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i7-12650HX	Ryzen 7 7840S
1080p
low	177 FPS	269 FPS
medium	164 FPS	243 FPS
high	137 FPS	204 FPS
ultra	116 FPS	176 FPS
1440p
low	147 FPS	236 FPS
medium	127 FPS	193 FPS
high	103 FPS	157 FPS
ultra	87 FPS	139 FPS
4K
low	84 FPS	164 FPS
medium	77 FPS	136 FPS
high	62 FPS	105 FPS
ultra	48 FPS	92 FPS

Open Core i7-12650HX Open Ryzen 7 7840S

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i7-12650HX	Ryzen 7 7840S
1080p
low	307 FPS	509 FPS
medium	261 FPS	419 FPS
high	221 FPS	361 FPS
ultra	201 FPS	322 FPS
1440p
low	258 FPS	445 FPS
medium	228 FPS	386 FPS
high	198 FPS	332 FPS
ultra	173 FPS	283 FPS
4K
low	158 FPS	293 FPS
medium	141 FPS	266 FPS
high	133 FPS	251 FPS
ultra	119 FPS	216 FPS

Open Core i7-12650HX Open Ryzen 7 7840S

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i7-12650HX	Ryzen 7 7840S
1080p
low	580 FPS	582 FPS
medium	580 FPS	582 FPS
high	545 FPS	582 FPS
ultra	462 FPS	546 FPS
1440p
low	580 FPS	582 FPS
medium	554 FPS	582 FPS
high	485 FPS	541 FPS
ultra	416 FPS	464 FPS
4K
low	498 FPS	541 FPS
medium	416 FPS	473 FPS
high	373 FPS	419 FPS
ultra	314 FPS	355 FPS

Open Core i7-12650HX Open Ryzen 7 7840S

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i7-12650HX	Ryzen 7 7840S
1080p
low	580 FPS	582 FPS
medium	580 FPS	582 FPS
high	580 FPS	582 FPS
ultra	580 FPS	582 FPS
1440p
low	580 FPS	582 FPS
medium	580 FPS	582 FPS
high	566 FPS	582 FPS
ultra	493 FPS	573 FPS
4K
low	522 FPS	572 FPS
medium	473 FPS	511 FPS
high	419 FPS	457 FPS
ultra	364 FPS	394 FPS

Open Core i7-12650HX Open Ryzen 7 7840S

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i7-12650HX and Ryzen 7 7840S

Core i7-12650HX

The Core i7-12650HX is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 10 May 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Alder Lake-HX (2022) architecture. It features 14 cores and 20 threads. Base frequency is 2 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: FCBGA1964. Thermal design power (TDP): 55 Watt. Memory support: DDR4, DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 23,215 points. Launch price was $299.

Ryzen 7 7840S

The Ryzen 7 7840S is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 5 January 2023 (2 years ago). It is based on the Phoenix-HS (Zen 4) (2023) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3.8 GHz, with boost up to 5.1 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB. L2 cache: 8 MB. Built on 4 nm process technology. Socket: FP7/FP7r2/FP8. Thermal design power (TDP): 8 MB + 16 MB. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 23,290 points. Launch price was $299.

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Processing Power

The Core i7-12650HX packs 14 cores / 20 threads, while the Ryzen 7 7840S offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Core i7-12650HX has 6 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.7 GHz on the Core i7-12650HX versus 5.1 GHz on the Ryzen 7 7840S — a 8.2% clock advantage for the Ryzen 7 7840S (base: 2 GHz vs 3.8 GHz). The Core i7-12650HX uses the Alder Lake-HX (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Ryzen 7 7840S uses Phoenix-HS (Zen 4) (2023) (4 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-12650HX scores 23,215 against the Ryzen 7 7840S's 23,290 — a 0.3% lead for the Ryzen 7 7840S. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 2,400 vs 2,570, a 6.8% lead for the Ryzen 7 7840S that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 10,250 vs 13,535 (27.6% advantage for the Ryzen 7 7840S). L3 cache: 24 MB (total) on the Core i7-12650HX vs 16 MB on the Ryzen 7 7840S.

Feature	Core i7-12650HX	Ryzen 7 7840S
Cores / Threads	14 / 20+75%	8 / 16
Boost Clock	4.7 GHz	5.1 GHz+9%
Base Clock	2 GHz	3.8 GHz+90%
L3 Cache	24 MB (total)+50%	16 MB
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)	8 MB+540%
Process	Intel 7 nm	4 nm-43%
Architecture	Alder Lake-HX (2022)	Phoenix-HS (Zen 4) (2023)
PassMark	23,215	23,290
Cinebench R23 Multi	—	13,500
Geekbench 6 Single	2,400	2,570+7%
Geekbench 6 Multi	10,250	13,535+32%

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Memory & Platform

The Core i7-12650HX uses the FCBGA1964 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Ryzen 7 7840S uses FP7/FP7r2/FP8 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR5-4800 memory speed. The Ryzen 7 7840S supports up to 256 GB of RAM compared to 128 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 48 (Core i7-12650HX) vs 20 (Ryzen 7 7840S) — the Core i7-12650HX offers 28 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: HM670,WM690 (Core i7-12650HX) and SoC (Ryzen 7 7840S).

Feature	Core i7-12650HX	Ryzen 7 7840S
Socket	FCBGA1964	FP7/FP7r2/FP8
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0+25%	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-4800	DDR5-5600, LPDDR5x-7500
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	256 GB+100%
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	Yes
PCIe Lanes	48+140%	20

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Core i7-12650HX has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Only the Ryzen 7 7840S supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i7-12650HX) vs AMD-V (SVM) (Ryzen 7 7840S). Both include integrated graphics — Intel UHD Graphics 770 (Core i7-12650HX) and Radeon 780M (Ryzen 7 7840S) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i7-12650HX targets Gaming Laptop, Ryzen 7 7840S targets Gaming. Direct competitor: Ryzen 7 7840S rivals Core i7-1360P.

Feature	Core i7-12650HX	Ryzen 7 7840S
Integrated GPU	Yes	Yes
IGPU Model	Intel UHD Graphics 770	Radeon 780M
Unlocked	Yes	No
AVX-512	No	Yes
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	AMD-V (SVM)
Target Use	Gaming Laptop	Gaming