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 5 120

2025

Why buy it

✅Costs $69 less on MSRP ($340 MSRP vs $409 MSRP).
✅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.
❌Lower PassMark (21,629 vs 34,347).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (18 MB vs 25 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 63.6 vs 84.0 PassMark/$ ($340 MSRP vs $409 MSRP).
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i7-12700K can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i7-12700K

2021

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +33.2% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+38.9% larger total L3 cache (25 MB vs 18 MB).
✅Delivers 32.0% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 84.0 vs 63.6 PassMark/$ ($409 MSRP vs $340 MSRP).
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel UHD Graphics 770, while Core 5 120 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌
20.3% HIGHER MSRP
$409 MSRPvs$340 MSRP
❌92.3% higher power demand at 125W vs 65W.

Core 5 120

2025

Core i7-12700K

2021

Why buy it

✅Costs $69 less on MSRP ($340 MSRP vs $409 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 125W, a 60W reduction.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +33.2% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+38.9% larger total L3 cache (25 MB vs 18 MB).
✅Delivers 32.0% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 84.0 vs 63.6 PassMark/$ ($409 MSRP vs $340 MSRP).
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel UHD Graphics 770, while Core 5 120 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-12700K across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (21,629 vs 34,347).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (18 MB vs 25 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 63.6 vs 84.0 PassMark/$ ($340 MSRP vs $409 MSRP).
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i7-12700K can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌
20.3% HIGHER MSRP
$409 MSRPvs$340 MSRP
❌92.3% higher power demand at 125W vs 65W.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i7-12700K better than Core 5 120?

Yes. Core i7-12700K is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 33.2% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data and 58.8% better PassMark, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core i7-12700K is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 33.2% 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, Core i7-12700K is the better fit. You are getting 58.8% better PassMark, backed by 12 cores and 20 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 38.9% larger total L3 cache (25 MB vs 18 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 20.3% more expensive on MSRP at $409 MSRP versus $340 MSRP, and it gives you a 33.2% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 32.0% better value on MSRP (84.0 vs 63.6 PassMark/$), so the better CPU is not just faster, it is also the cleaner value play on paper.

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

Core 5 120 is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2025 vs 2021). That makes it the safer long-term pick.

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 5 120 Benchmark Check

Core i7-12700K Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core 5 120	Core i7-12700K
1080p
low	170 FPS	314 FPS
medium	147 FPS	295 FPS
high	118 FPS	246 FPS
ultra	99 FPS	193 FPS
1440p
low	145 FPS	269 FPS
medium	123 FPS	225 FPS
high	99 FPS	182 FPS
ultra	83 FPS	145 FPS
4K
low	79 FPS	170 FPS
medium	72 FPS	142 FPS
high	57 FPS	109 FPS
ultra	44 FPS	96 FPS

Open Core 5 120 Open Core i7-12700K

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core 5 120	Core i7-12700K
1080p
low	471 FPS	630 FPS
medium	401 FPS	533 FPS
high	338 FPS	450 FPS
ultra	298 FPS	410 FPS
1440p
low	409 FPS	536 FPS
medium	355 FPS	475 FPS
high	309 FPS	403 FPS
ultra	264 FPS	349 FPS
4K
low	274 FPS	312 FPS
medium	243 FPS	280 FPS
high	223 FPS	266 FPS
ultra	191 FPS	234 FPS

Open Core 5 120 Open Core i7-12700K

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core 5 120	Core i7-12700K
1080p
low	541 FPS	797 FPS
medium	541 FPS	633 FPS
high	541 FPS	556 FPS
ultra	496 FPS	472 FPS
1440p
low	541 FPS	704 FPS
medium	491 FPS	565 FPS
high	445 FPS	490 FPS
ultra	388 FPS	422 FPS
4K
low	411 FPS	510 FPS
medium	347 FPS	425 FPS
high	303 FPS	381 FPS
ultra	244 FPS	321 FPS

Open Core 5 120 Open Core i7-12700K

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core 5 120	Core i7-12700K
1080p
low	541 FPS	859 FPS
medium	541 FPS	802 FPS
high	541 FPS	699 FPS
ultra	541 FPS	628 FPS
1440p
low	541 FPS	760 FPS
medium	541 FPS	678 FPS
high	541 FPS	590 FPS
ultra	534 FPS	519 FPS
4K
low	541 FPS	535 FPS
medium	499 FPS	488 FPS
high	440 FPS	437 FPS
ultra	376 FPS	384 FPS

Open Core 5 120 Open Core i7-12700K

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core 5 120 and Core i7-12700K

Core 5 120

The Core 5 120 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 31 July 2025 (less than a year ago). It is based on the Raptor Lake-R (2023−2025) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 4.5 GHz. L3 cache: 18 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on 10 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1700. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4, DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 21,629 points. Launch price was $211.

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.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core 5 120 packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Core i7-12700K offers 12 cores / 20 threads — the Core i7-12700K has 6 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.5 GHz on the Core 5 120 versus 5 GHz on the Core i7-12700K — a 10.5% clock advantage for the Core i7-12700K (base: 2.5 GHz vs 3.6 GHz). The Core 5 120 uses the Raptor Lake-R (2023−2025) architecture (10 nm), while the Core i7-12700K uses Alder Lake, Golden Cove, Gracemont (2021) (10 nm). In PassMark, the Core 5 120 scores 21,629 against the Core i7-12700K's 34,347 — a 45.4% lead for the Core i7-12700K. L3 cache: 18 MB (total) on the Core 5 120 vs 25 MB (total) on the Core i7-12700K.

Feature	Core 5 120	Core i7-12700K
Cores / Threads	6 / 12	12 / 20+100%
Boost Clock	4.5 GHz	5 GHz+11%
Base Clock	2.5 GHz	3.6 GHz+44%
L3 Cache	18 MB (total)	25 MB (total)+39%
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)	1.25 MB (per core)
Process	10 nm	10 nm
Architecture	Raptor Lake-R (2023−2025)	Alder Lake, Golden Cove, Gracemont (2021)
PassMark	21,629	34,347+59%

🧠

Memory & Platform

Both processors use the LGA1700 socket with PCIe 5.0.

Feature	Core 5 120	Core i7-12700K
Socket	LGA1700	LGA1700
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0	PCIe 5.0
Max RAM Speed	—	4800
Max RAM Capacity	—	128
RAM Channels	—	2
ECC Support	—	Yes
PCIe Lanes	—	20

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: not specified (Core 5 120) / VT-x, VT-d (Core i7-12700K). The Core i7-12700K includes integrated graphics (Intel UHD Graphics 770), while the Core 5 120 requires a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: Core i7-12700K rivals Ryzen 7 5800X.

Feature	Core 5 120	Core i7-12700K
Integrated GPU	—	Yes
IGPU Model	—	Intel UHD Graphics 770
Unlocked	—	Yes
AVX-512	—	No
Virtualization	—	VT-x, VT-d

💰

Value Analysis

The Core 5 120 launched at $340 MSRP, while the Core i7-12700K debuted at $409. On MSRP ($340 vs $409), the Core 5 120 is $69 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core 5 120 delivers 63.6 pts/$ vs 84.0 pts/$ for the Core i7-12700K — making the Core i7-12700K the 27.6% better value option.