Core i5-12400 vs Ryzen 9 4900HS
Core i5-12400
Ryzen 9 4900HS
Performance Spectrum - CPU
About PassMark
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.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-12400
Performance Per Dollar Ryzen 9 4900HS
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-12400 | Ryzen 9 4900HS |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($195) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Alder Lake-S (2022) / Intel 7 nm) | ✨ Modern (Renoir (Zen 2) (2020) / 7 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-12400 | Ryzen 9 4900HS |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($195) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
Performance Check
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.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-12400 and Ryzen 9 4900HS
Core i5-12400
The Core i5-12400 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 4 January 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 4.4 GHz. L3 cache: 18 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1700. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 18,794 points. Launch price was $299.
Ryzen 9 4900HS
The Ryzen 9 4900HS is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 7 March 2020 (5 years ago). It is based on the Renoir (Zen 2) (2020) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 4.3 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 7 nm process technology. Socket: FP6. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-4266. Passmark benchmark score: 18,793 points. Launch price was $299.
Processing Power
The Core i5-12400 packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Ryzen 9 4900HS offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Ryzen 9 4900HS has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.4 GHz on the Core i5-12400 versus 4.3 GHz on the Ryzen 9 4900HS — a 2.3% clock advantage for the Core i5-12400 (base: 2.5 GHz vs 3 GHz). The Core i5-12400 uses the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Ryzen 9 4900HS uses Renoir (Zen 2) (2020) (7 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-12400 scores 18,794 against the Ryzen 9 4900HS's 18,793 — a 0% lead for the Core i5-12400. L3 cache: 18 MB (total) on the Core i5-12400 vs 8 MB (total) on the Ryzen 9 4900HS.
| Feature | Core i5-12400 | Ryzen 9 4900HS |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 6 / 12 | 8 / 16+33% |
| Boost Clock | 4.4 GHz+2% | 4.3 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.5 GHz | 3 GHz+20% |
| L3 Cache | 18 MB (total)+125% | 8 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 1.25 MB (per core)+150% | 512 kB (per core) |
| Process | Intel 7 nm | 7 nm |
| Architecture | Alder Lake-S (2022) | Renoir (Zen 2) (2020) |
| PassMark | 18,794 | 18,793 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | 12,400 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 2,381 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 10,632 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i5-12400 uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Ryzen 9 4900HS uses FP6 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200 on the Core i5-12400 versus LPDDR4-4266 on the Ryzen 9 4900HS — the Core i5-12400 supports 22.2% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Core i5-12400 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: 20 (Core i5-12400) vs 8 (Ryzen 9 4900HS) — the Core i5-12400 offers 12 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives.
| Feature | Core i5-12400 | Ryzen 9 4900HS |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1700 | FP6 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 5.0+67% | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200+25% | LPDDR4-4266 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 128 GB+100% | 64 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 20+150% | 8 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-12400) vs AMD-V (Ryzen 9 4900HS). Both include integrated graphics — UHD Graphics 730 (Core i5-12400) and Vega 8 (Ryzen 9 4900HS) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-12400 targets Gaming Performance/Value, Ryzen 9 4900HS targets Mobile High-End. Direct competitor: Core i5-12400 rivals Ryzen 5 5600.
| Feature | Core i5-12400 | Ryzen 9 4900HS |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | UHD Graphics 730 | Vega 8 |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d, EPT | AMD-V |
| Target Use | Gaming Performance/Value | Mobile High-End |
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