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 i5-11500H

2021

Why buy it

✅Draws 35W instead of 125W, a 90W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-12700K across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (15,669 vs 34,347).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 25 MB).
❌Older platform position on FCBGA1787 with DDR4, while Core i7-12700K moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.

Core i7-12700K

2021

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +31.0% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+108.3% larger total L3 cache (25 MB vs 12 MB).
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of FCBGA1787 and DDR4.

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $409 MSRP, while Core i5-11500H mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌257.1% higher power demand at 125W vs 35W.

Core i5-11500H

2021

Core i7-12700K

2021

Why buy it

✅Draws 35W instead of 125W, a 90W reduction.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +31.0% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+108.3% larger total L3 cache (25 MB vs 12 MB).
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of FCBGA1787 and DDR4.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-12700K across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (15,669 vs 34,347).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 25 MB).
❌Older platform position on FCBGA1787 with DDR4, while Core i7-12700K moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $409 MSRP, while Core i5-11500H mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌257.1% higher power demand at 125W vs 35W.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i7-12700K better than Core i5-11500H?

Yes. Core i7-12700K is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 31.0% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 119.2% better 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, Core i7-12700K is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 31.0% 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 119.2% better PassMark, backed by 12 cores and 20 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 108.3% larger total L3 cache (25 MB vs 12 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 $409 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it gives you a 31.0% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (84.0 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so the better CPU is not just faster, it is also the cleaner value play on paper.

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 FCBGA1787, 108.3% larger total L3 cache (25 MB vs 12 MB), and more multi-core headroom with 12 cores / 20 threads instead of 6/12. 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 i5-11500H Benchmark Check

Core i7-12700K Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-11500H	Core i7-12700K
1080p
low	191 FPS	314 FPS
medium	157 FPS	295 FPS
high	131 FPS	246 FPS
ultra	106 FPS	193 FPS
1440p
low	155 FPS	269 FPS
medium	122 FPS	225 FPS
high	99 FPS	182 FPS
ultra	81 FPS	145 FPS
4K
low	86 FPS	170 FPS
medium	74 FPS	142 FPS
high	59 FPS	109 FPS
ultra	46 FPS	96 FPS

Open Core i5-11500H Open Core i7-12700K

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-11500H	Core i7-12700K
1080p
low	384 FPS	630 FPS
medium	310 FPS	533 FPS
high	275 FPS	450 FPS
ultra	237 FPS	410 FPS
1440p
low	341 FPS	536 FPS
medium	279 FPS	475 FPS
high	254 FPS	403 FPS
ultra	218 FPS	349 FPS
4K
low	282 FPS	312 FPS
medium	236 FPS	280 FPS
high	216 FPS	266 FPS
ultra	182 FPS	234 FPS

Open Core i5-11500H Open Core i7-12700K

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-11500H	Core i7-12700K
1080p
low	392 FPS	797 FPS
medium	392 FPS	633 FPS
high	392 FPS	556 FPS
ultra	392 FPS	472 FPS
1440p
low	392 FPS	704 FPS
medium	392 FPS	565 FPS
high	392 FPS	490 FPS
ultra	392 FPS	422 FPS
4K
low	392 FPS	510 FPS
medium	378 FPS	425 FPS
high	325 FPS	381 FPS
ultra	256 FPS	321 FPS

Open Core i5-11500H Open Core i7-12700K

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-11500H	Core i7-12700K
1080p
low	392 FPS	859 FPS
medium	392 FPS	802 FPS
high	392 FPS	699 FPS
ultra	392 FPS	628 FPS
1440p
low	392 FPS	760 FPS
medium	392 FPS	678 FPS
high	392 FPS	590 FPS
ultra	392 FPS	519 FPS
4K
low	392 FPS	535 FPS
medium	392 FPS	488 FPS
high	392 FPS	437 FPS
ultra	392 FPS	384 FPS

Open Core i5-11500H Open Core i7-12700K

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-11500H and Core i7-12700K

Core i5-11500H

The Core i5-11500H is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 11 May 2021 (4 years ago). It is based on the Tiger Lake H45 (2021) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 2.9 GHz, with boost up to 4.6 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on 10 nm SuperFin process technology. Socket: FCBGA1787. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 15,669 points. Launch price was $299.

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 i5-11500H 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 4.6 GHz on the Core i5-11500H versus 5 GHz on the Core i7-12700K — a 8.3% clock advantage for the Core i7-12700K (base: 2.9 GHz vs 3.6 GHz). The Core i5-11500H uses the Tiger Lake H45 (2021) architecture (10 nm SuperFin), while the Core i7-12700K uses Alder Lake, Golden Cove, Gracemont (2021) (10 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-11500H scores 15,669 against the Core i7-12700K's 34,347 — a 74.7% lead for the Core i7-12700K. L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Core i5-11500H vs 25 MB (total) on the Core i7-12700K.

Feature	Core i5-11500H	Core i7-12700K
Cores / Threads	6 / 12	12 / 20+100%
Boost Clock	4.6 GHz	5 GHz+9%
Base Clock	2.9 GHz	3.6 GHz+24%
L3 Cache	12 MB (total)	25 MB (total)+108%
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)	1.25 MB (per core)
Process	10 nm SuperFin	10 nm
Architecture	Tiger Lake H45 (2021)	Alder Lake, Golden Cove, Gracemont (2021)
PassMark	15,669	34,347+119%
Cinebench R23 Multi	9,532	—
Geekbench 6 Single	1,801	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	6,248	—

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i5-11500H uses the FCBGA1787 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Core i7-12700K uses LGA1700 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-3200 on the Core i5-11500H versus 4800 on the Core i7-12700K — the Core i7-12700K supports 199.7% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. Both support up to 128 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 20 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: HM570,QM580,WM590 (Core i5-11500H) and Z690,B660 (Core i7-12700K).

Feature	Core i5-11500H	Core i7-12700K
Socket	FCBGA1787	LGA1700
PCIe Generation	PCIe 4.0	PCIe 5.0+25%
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-3200	4800+119900%
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB+104857500%	128
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	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. Only the Core i5-11500H supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-11500H) vs VT-x, VT-d (Core i7-12700K). Both include integrated graphics — UHD Graphics 750 (32 EU) (Core i5-11500H) and Intel UHD Graphics 770 (Core i7-12700K) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-11500H targets Gaming. Direct competitor: Core i5-11500H rivals Ryzen 5 5600H; Core i7-12700K rivals Ryzen 7 5800X.

Feature	Core i5-11500H	Core i7-12700K
Integrated GPU	Yes	Yes
IGPU Model	UHD Graphics 750 (32 EU)	Intel UHD Graphics 770
Unlocked	No	Yes
AVX-512	Yes	No
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d, EPT	VT-x, VT-d
Target Use	Gaming	—