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).
✅Newer platform on FCBGA1964 with DDR5 support instead of FP6 and DDR4.
✅200% more PCIe lanes (48 vs 16) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 9 5980HX across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (23,215 vs 23,300).
❌22.2% higher power demand at 55W vs 45W.

Ryzen 9 5980HX

2021

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +3.1% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Draws 45W instead of 55W, a 10W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (16 MB vs 24 MB).
❌Older platform position on FP6 with DDR4, while Core i7-12650HX moves to FCBGA1964 and DDR5.

Core i7-12650HX

2022

Ryzen 9 5980HX

2021

Why buy it

✅+50% larger total L3 cache (24 MB vs 16 MB).
✅Newer platform on FCBGA1964 with DDR5 support instead of FP6 and DDR4.
✅200% more PCIe lanes (48 vs 16) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +3.1% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Draws 45W instead of 55W, a 10W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 9 5980HX across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (23,215 vs 23,300).
❌22.2% higher power demand at 55W vs 45W.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (16 MB vs 24 MB).
❌Older platform position on FP6 with DDR4, while Core i7-12650HX moves to FCBGA1964 and DDR5.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 9 5980HX better than Core i7-12650HX?

Yes. Ryzen 9 5980HX is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 3.1% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data and 0.4% better PassMark, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Ryzen 9 5980HX is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 3.1% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Ryzen 9 5980HX is the better fit. You are getting 0.4% better PassMark, backed by 8 cores and 16 threads.

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

Ryzen 9 5980HX still looks like the safer overall buy. Ryzen 9 5980HX is at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it gives you a 3.1% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data.

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

Core i7-12650HX is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2022 vs 2021), a healthier platform with FCBGA1964 and DDR5 instead of FP6, and 50% larger total L3 cache (24 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 i7-12650HX Benchmark Check

Ryzen 9 5980HX Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i7-12650HX	Ryzen 9 5980HX
1080p
low	177 FPS	260 FPS
medium	164 FPS	239 FPS
high	137 FPS	201 FPS
ultra	116 FPS	170 FPS
1440p
low	147 FPS	231 FPS
medium	127 FPS	192 FPS
high	103 FPS	156 FPS
ultra	87 FPS	136 FPS
4K
low	84 FPS	159 FPS
medium	77 FPS	134 FPS
high	62 FPS	103 FPS
ultra	48 FPS	91 FPS

Open Core i7-12650HX Open Ryzen 9 5980HX

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i7-12650HX	Ryzen 9 5980HX
1080p
low	307 FPS	428 FPS
medium	261 FPS	356 FPS
high	221 FPS	308 FPS
ultra	201 FPS	273 FPS
1440p
low	258 FPS	357 FPS
medium	228 FPS	312 FPS
high	198 FPS	276 FPS
ultra	173 FPS	236 FPS
4K
low	158 FPS	245 FPS
medium	141 FPS	220 FPS
high	133 FPS	207 FPS
ultra	119 FPS	180 FPS

Open Core i7-12650HX Open Ryzen 9 5980HX

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i7-12650HX	Ryzen 9 5980HX
1080p
low	580 FPS	582 FPS
medium	580 FPS	582 FPS
high	545 FPS	576 FPS
ultra	462 FPS	472 FPS
1440p
low	580 FPS	582 FPS
medium	554 FPS	532 FPS
high	485 FPS	451 FPS
ultra	416 FPS	372 FPS
4K
low	498 FPS	456 FPS
medium	416 FPS	396 FPS
high	373 FPS	347 FPS
ultra	314 FPS	282 FPS

Open Core i7-12650HX Open Ryzen 9 5980HX

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i7-12650HX	Ryzen 9 5980HX
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	554 FPS
ultra	493 FPS	475 FPS
4K
low	522 FPS	511 FPS
medium	473 FPS	460 FPS
high	419 FPS	405 FPS
ultra	364 FPS	348 FPS

Open Core i7-12650HX Open Ryzen 9 5980HX

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i7-12650HX and Ryzen 9 5980HX

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 9 5980HX

The Ryzen 9 5980HX is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 12 January 2021 (4 years ago). It is based on the Cezanne-HX (Zen 3) (2021) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3.3 GHz, with boost up to 4.8 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 7 nm process technology. Socket: FP6. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 23,300 points. Launch price was $299.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i7-12650HX packs 14 cores / 20 threads, while the Ryzen 9 5980HX 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 4.8 GHz on the Ryzen 9 5980HX — a 2.1% clock advantage for the Ryzen 9 5980HX (base: 2 GHz vs 3.3 GHz). The Core i7-12650HX uses the Alder Lake-HX (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Ryzen 9 5980HX uses Cezanne-HX (Zen 3) (2021) (7 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-12650HX scores 23,215 against the Ryzen 9 5980HX's 23,300 — a 0.4% lead for the Ryzen 9 5980HX. L3 cache: 24 MB (total) on the Core i7-12650HX vs 16 MB (total) on the Ryzen 9 5980HX.

Feature	Core i7-12650HX	Ryzen 9 5980HX
Cores / Threads	14 / 20+75%	8 / 16
Boost Clock	4.7 GHz	4.8 GHz+2%
Base Clock	2 GHz	3.3 GHz+65%
L3 Cache	24 MB (total)+50%	16 MB (total)
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)+150%	512 kB (per core)
Process	Intel 7 nm	7 nm
Architecture	Alder Lake-HX (2022)	Cezanne-HX (Zen 3) (2021)
PassMark	23,215	23,300
Geekbench 6 Single	2,400	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	10,250	—

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i7-12650HX uses the FCBGA1964 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Ryzen 9 5980HX uses FP6 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR5-4800 on the Core i7-12650HX versus LPDDR4-4266 on the Ryzen 9 5980HX — the Core i7-12650HX supports 22.2% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Core i7-12650HX 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: 48 (Core i7-12650HX) vs 16 (Ryzen 9 5980HX) — the Core i7-12650HX offers 32 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives.

Feature	Core i7-12650HX	Ryzen 9 5980HX
Socket	FCBGA1964	FP6
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0+67%	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-4800+25%	LPDDR4-4266
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB+100%	64 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	48+200%	16

🔧

Advanced Features

Both processors feature an unlocked multiplier for overclocking. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i7-12650HX) vs AMD-V (Ryzen 9 5980HX). Both include integrated graphics — Intel UHD Graphics 770 (Core i7-12650HX) and Radeon Graphics (8CU) (Ryzen 9 5980HX) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i7-12650HX targets Gaming Laptop, Ryzen 9 5980HX targets Mobile High-End.

Feature	Core i7-12650HX	Ryzen 9 5980HX
Integrated GPU	Yes	Yes
IGPU Model	Intel UHD Graphics 770	Radeon Graphics (8CU)
Unlocked	Yes	Yes
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	AMD-V
Target Use	Gaming Laptop	Mobile High-End