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 i7-12800HX

2022

Why buy it

✅+13.2% higher Cinebench R23 multi-core.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen AI Max PRO 385 across 3 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Smaller total L3 cache (25 MB vs 32 MB).

Ryzen AI Max PRO 385

2025

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +39.8% higher average FPS across 3 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+28% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 25 MB).

Trade-offs

❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (16,500 vs 18,680).

Core i7-12800HX

2022

Ryzen AI Max PRO 385

2025

Why buy it

✅+13.2% higher Cinebench R23 multi-core.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +39.8% higher average FPS across 3 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+28% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 25 MB).

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen AI Max PRO 385 across 3 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Smaller total L3 cache (25 MB vs 32 MB).

Trade-offs

❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (16,500 vs 18,680).

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen AI Max PRO 385 better than Core i7-12800HX?

It depends on what matters more to you. For gaming, Ryzen AI Max PRO 385 is ahead with a 39.8% average FPS lead across 3 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Core i7-12800HX pulls ahead with 13.2% better Cinebench R23 multi-core. Ryzen AI Max PRO 385 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 i7-12800HX is the better fit. You are getting 13.2% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, backed by 16 cores and 24 threads.

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

Ryzen AI Max PRO 385 still looks like the safer overall buy. Ryzen AI Max PRO 385 is at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it gives you a 39.8% average FPS lead across 3 shared CPU game tests in our data.

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

Ryzen AI Max PRO 385 is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2025 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 i7-12800HX Benchmark Check

Ryzen AI Max PRO 385 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i7-12800HX	Ryzen AI Max PRO 385
1080p
low	269 FPS	277 FPS
medium	259 FPS	243 FPS
high	214 FPS	209 FPS
ultra	184 FPS	179 FPS
1440p
low	230 FPS	233 FPS
medium	198 FPS	185 FPS
high	159 FPS	153 FPS
ultra	140 FPS	134 FPS
4K
low	159 FPS	162 FPS
medium	136 FPS	129 FPS
high	106 FPS	100 FPS
ultra	93 FPS	86 FPS

Open Core i7-12800HX Open Ryzen AI Max PRO 385

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i7-12800HX	Ryzen AI Max PRO 385
1080p
low	313 FPS	684 FPS
medium	265 FPS	565 FPS
high	224 FPS	460 FPS
ultra	205 FPS	417 FPS
1440p
low	258 FPS	591 FPS
medium	228 FPS	514 FPS
high	199 FPS	422 FPS
ultra	173 FPS	360 FPS
4K
low	159 FPS	352 FPS
medium	142 FPS	311 FPS
high	135 FPS	286 FPS
ultra	120 FPS	251 FPS

Open Core i7-12800HX Open Ryzen AI Max PRO 385

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i7-12800HX	Ryzen AI Max PRO 385
1080p
low	775 FPS	788 FPS
medium	616 FPS	788 FPS
high	545 FPS	706 FPS
ultra	462 FPS	594 FPS
1440p
low	692 FPS	788 FPS
medium	554 FPS	644 FPS
high	485 FPS	559 FPS
ultra	416 FPS	472 FPS
4K
low	498 FPS	562 FPS
medium	416 FPS	459 FPS
high	373 FPS	408 FPS
ultra	314 FPS	338 FPS

Open Core i7-12800HX Open Ryzen AI Max PRO 385

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i7-12800HX	Ryzen AI Max PRO 385
1080p
low	781 FPS	788 FPS
medium	781 FPS	788 FPS
high	672 FPS	788 FPS
ultra	597 FPS	781 FPS
1440p
low	742 FPS	788 FPS
medium	658 FPS	768 FPS
high	566 FPS	673 FPS
ultra	493 FPS	590 FPS
4K
low	522 FPS	609 FPS
medium	473 FPS	541 FPS
high	419 FPS	486 FPS
ultra	364 FPS	426 FPS

Open Core i7-12800HX Open Ryzen AI Max PRO 385

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i7-12800HX and Ryzen AI Max PRO 385

Core i7-12800HX

The Core i7-12800HX 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 16 cores and 24 threads. Base frequency is 2 GHz, with boost up to 4.8 GHz. L3 cache: 25 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: 31,229 points. Launch price was $499.

Ryzen AI Max PRO 385

The Ryzen AI Max PRO 385 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 6 January 2025 (less than a year ago). It is based on the Strix Halo (2025) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 5 GHz. L3 cache: 32 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 4 nm process technology. Socket: FP11. Thermal design power (TDP): 55 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 31,508 points. Launch price was $499.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i7-12800HX packs 16 cores / 24 threads, while the Ryzen AI Max PRO 385 offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Core i7-12800HX has 8 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.8 GHz on the Core i7-12800HX versus 5 GHz on the Ryzen AI Max PRO 385 — a 4.1% clock advantage for the Ryzen AI Max PRO 385 (base: 2 GHz vs 3.6 GHz). The Core i7-12800HX uses the Alder Lake-HX (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Ryzen AI Max PRO 385 uses Strix Halo (2025) (4 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-12800HX scores 31,229 against the Ryzen AI Max PRO 385's 31,508 — a 0.9% lead for the Ryzen AI Max PRO 385. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 18,680 vs 16,500 (12.4% advantage for the Core i7-12800HX). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,962 vs 2,886, a 38.1% lead for the Ryzen AI Max PRO 385 that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 15,000 vs 14,136 (5.9% advantage for the Core i7-12800HX). L3 cache: 25 MB (total) on the Core i7-12800HX vs 32 MB (total) on the Ryzen AI Max PRO 385.

Feature	Core i7-12800HX	Ryzen AI Max PRO 385
Cores / Threads	16 / 24+100%	8 / 16
Boost Clock	4.8 GHz	5 GHz+4%
Base Clock	2 GHz	3.6 GHz+80%
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-HX (2022)	Strix Halo (2025)
PassMark	31,229	31,508
Cinebench R23 Multi	18,680+13%	16,500
Geekbench 6 Single	1,962	2,886+47%
Geekbench 6 Multi	15,000+6%	14,136

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i7-12800HX uses the FCBGA1964 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Ryzen AI Max PRO 385 uses FP11 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR5-4800 memory speed. Both support up to 128 GB of RAM. Memory channels: 2 (Core i7-12800HX) vs 8 (Ryzen AI Max PRO 385). Both provide 20 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: HM670,WM690 (Core i7-12800HX) and Strix Halo platform (Ryzen AI Max PRO 385).

Feature	Core i7-12800HX	Ryzen AI Max PRO 385
Socket	FCBGA1964	FP11
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0+25%	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-4800	LPDDR5x-8000
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	128 GB
RAM Channels	2	8+300%
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	20	20

🔧

Advanced Features

Both processors feature an unlocked multiplier for overclocking. Only the Ryzen AI Max PRO 385 supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i7-12800HX) vs AMD-V (Ryzen AI Max PRO 385). Both include integrated graphics — Intel UHD Graphics 770 (Core i7-12800HX) and Radeon 8050S (Ryzen AI Max PRO 385) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i7-12800HX targets Extreme Gaming Laptop, Ryzen AI Max PRO 385 targets Enterprise AI Mobile. Direct competitor: Core i7-12800HX rivals Ryzen 7 6800HX; Ryzen AI Max PRO 385 rivals M3 Max.

Feature	Core i7-12800HX	Ryzen AI Max PRO 385
Integrated GPU	Yes	Yes
IGPU Model	Intel UHD Graphics 770	Radeon 8050S
Unlocked	Yes	Yes
AVX-512	No	Yes
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d, EPT	AMD-V
Target Use	Extreme Gaming Laptop	Enterprise AI Mobile