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 i7-12700K

2021

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +9.1% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of AM4 and DDR4.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel UHD Graphics 770, while Ryzen 9 PRO 5945 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (34,347 vs 34,549).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (25 MB vs 64 MB).
❌Launch MSRP is still $409 MSRP, while Ryzen 9 PRO 5945 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌92.3% higher power demand at 125W vs 65W.

Ryzen 9 PRO 5945

2022

Why buy it

✅+0.6% higher PassMark.
✅+156% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 25 MB).
✅Draws 65W instead of 125W, a 60W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-12700K across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Older platform position on AM4 with DDR4, while Core i7-12700K moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i7-12700K can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i7-12700K

2021

Ryzen 9 PRO 5945

2022

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +9.1% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of AM4 and DDR4.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel UHD Graphics 770, while Ryzen 9 PRO 5945 needs a discrete GPU.

Why buy it

✅+0.6% higher PassMark.
✅+156% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 25 MB).
✅Draws 65W instead of 125W, a 60W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (34,347 vs 34,549).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (25 MB vs 64 MB).
❌Launch MSRP is still $409 MSRP, while Ryzen 9 PRO 5945 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌92.3% higher power demand at 125W vs 65W.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-12700K across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Older platform position on AM4 with DDR4, while Core i7-12700K moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i7-12700K can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i7-12700K better than Ryzen 9 PRO 5945?

It depends on what matters more to you. For gaming, Core i7-12700K is ahead with a 9.1% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Ryzen 9 PRO 5945 pulls ahead with 0.6% better PassMark. Ryzen 9 PRO 5945 also has the bigger cache pool with 156% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 25 MB).

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Ryzen 9 PRO 5945 is the better fit. You are getting 0.6% better PassMark, backed by 12 cores and 24 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 156% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 25 MB).

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

Core i7-12700K is the smarter buy today. Core i7-12700K is at an unclear MSRP at $409 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it gives you a 9.1% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. The trade-off is that Ryzen 9 PRO 5945 is still stronger for heavier multi-core work with 0.6% better PassMark. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (84.0 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), 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 9 PRO 5945 can still make sense as a platform-matched option because it avoids a motherboard and RAM swap.

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

Core i7-12700K is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a healthier platform with LGA1700 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 i7-12700K Benchmark Check

Ryzen 9 PRO 5945 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i7-12700K	Ryzen 9 PRO 5945
1080p
low	314 FPS	164 FPS
medium	295 FPS	136 FPS
high	246 FPS	116 FPS
ultra	193 FPS	97 FPS
1440p
low	269 FPS	149 FPS
medium	225 FPS	119 FPS
high	182 FPS	97 FPS
ultra	145 FPS	82 FPS
4K
low	170 FPS	83 FPS
medium	142 FPS	72 FPS
high	109 FPS	57 FPS
ultra	96 FPS	46 FPS

Open Core i7-12700K Open Ryzen 9 PRO 5945

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i7-12700K	Ryzen 9 PRO 5945
1080p
low	630 FPS	630 FPS
medium	533 FPS	544 FPS
high	450 FPS	434 FPS
ultra	410 FPS	381 FPS
1440p
low	536 FPS	524 FPS
medium	475 FPS	460 FPS
high	403 FPS	385 FPS
ultra	349 FPS	315 FPS
4K
low	312 FPS	307 FPS
medium	280 FPS	271 FPS
high	266 FPS	249 FPS
ultra	234 FPS	221 FPS

Open Core i7-12700K Open Ryzen 9 PRO 5945

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i7-12700K	Ryzen 9 PRO 5945
1080p
low	797 FPS	845 FPS
medium	633 FPS	670 FPS
high	556 FPS	586 FPS
ultra	472 FPS	494 FPS
1440p
low	704 FPS	676 FPS
medium	565 FPS	535 FPS
high	490 FPS	460 FPS
ultra	422 FPS	387 FPS
4K
low	510 FPS	480 FPS
medium	425 FPS	398 FPS
high	381 FPS	354 FPS
ultra	321 FPS	293 FPS

Open Core i7-12700K Open Ryzen 9 PRO 5945

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i7-12700K	Ryzen 9 PRO 5945
1080p
low	859 FPS	864 FPS
medium	802 FPS	864 FPS
high	699 FPS	836 FPS
ultra	628 FPS	743 FPS
1440p
low	760 FPS	864 FPS
medium	678 FPS	757 FPS
high	590 FPS	661 FPS
ultra	519 FPS	566 FPS
4K
low	535 FPS	626 FPS
medium	488 FPS	557 FPS
high	437 FPS	490 FPS
ultra	384 FPS	423 FPS

Open Core i7-12700K Open Ryzen 9 PRO 5945

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i7-12700K and Ryzen 9 PRO 5945

Core i7-12700K

The Core i7-12700K is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 4 November 2021 (4 years ago). It is based on the Alder Lake, Golden Cove, Gracemont (2021) architecture. It features 12 cores and 20 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 5 GHz. L3 cache: 25 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on 10 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1700. Thermal design power (TDP): 125 Watt. Memory support: DDR4, DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 34,347 points. Launch price was $409.

Ryzen 9 PRO 5945

The Ryzen 9 PRO 5945 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 4 April 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Vermeer (2020−2025) architecture. It features 12 cores and 24 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 4.7 GHz. L3 cache: 64 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 7 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 34,549 points. Launch price was $499.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i7-12700K packs 12 cores / 20 threads, matching the Ryzen 9 PRO 5945's 12 cores. Boost clocks reach 5 GHz on the Core i7-12700K versus 4.7 GHz on the Ryzen 9 PRO 5945 — a 6.2% clock advantage for the Core i7-12700K (base: 3.6 GHz vs 3 GHz). The Core i7-12700K uses the Alder Lake, Golden Cove, Gracemont (2021) architecture (10 nm), while the Ryzen 9 PRO 5945 uses Vermeer (2020−2025) (7 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-12700K scores 34,347 against the Ryzen 9 PRO 5945's 34,549 — a 0.6% lead for the Ryzen 9 PRO 5945. L3 cache: 25 MB (total) on the Core i7-12700K vs 64 MB on the Ryzen 9 PRO 5945.

Feature	Core i7-12700K	Ryzen 9 PRO 5945
Cores / Threads	12 / 20	12 / 24
Boost Clock	5 GHz+6%	4.7 GHz
Base Clock	3.6 GHz+20%	3 GHz
L3 Cache	25 MB (total)	64 MB+156%
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)+150%	512 kB (per core)
Process	10 nm	7 nm-30%
Architecture	Alder Lake, Golden Cove, Gracemont (2021)	Vermeer (2020−2025)
PassMark	34,347	34,549
Cinebench R23 Multi	—	23,200
Geekbench 6 Single	—	2,175
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	12,500

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i7-12700K uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Ryzen 9 PRO 5945 uses AM4 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches 4800 on the Core i7-12700K versus DDR4-3200 on the Ryzen 9 PRO 5945 — the Core i7-12700K supports 199.7% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. Both support up to 128 of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 20 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: Z690,B660 (Core i7-12700K) and X570,B550,A520,X470,B450 (Ryzen 9 PRO 5945).

Feature	Core i7-12700K	Ryzen 9 PRO 5945
Socket	LGA1700	AM4
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0+25%	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	4800+119900%	DDR4-3200
Max RAM Capacity	128	128 GB+104857500%
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	20	20

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Core i7-12700K has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i7-12700K) vs AMD-V (SVM) (Ryzen 9 PRO 5945). The Core i7-12700K includes integrated graphics (Intel UHD Graphics 770), while the Ryzen 9 PRO 5945 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Ryzen 9 PRO 5945 targets High-end Gaming. Direct competitor: Core i7-12700K rivals Ryzen 7 5800X; Ryzen 9 PRO 5945 rivals Core i9-12900.