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 i5-1240P

2022

Why buy it

✅+33.6% higher Cinebench R23 multi-core.
✅+50% larger total L3 cache (12 MB vs 8 MB).
✅Draws 28W instead of 65W, a 37W reduction.
✅Newer platform on FCBGA1744 with DDR5 support instead of AM4 and DDR4.
✅25% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 16) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 5 4500 across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 52.5 vs 124.4 PassMark/$ ($309 MSRP vs $129 MSRP).
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Ryzen 5 4500.

Ryzen 5 4500

2022

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +3.4% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $180 less on MSRP ($129 MSRP vs $309 MSRP).
✅Delivers 137.0% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 124.4 vs 52.5 PassMark/$ ($129 MSRP vs $309 MSRP).
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Core i5-1240P.

Trade-offs

❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (8,433 vs 11,268).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (8 MB vs 12 MB).
❌132.1% higher power demand at 65W vs 28W.
❌Older platform position on AM4 with DDR4, while Core i5-1240P moves to FCBGA1744 and DDR5.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i5-1240P can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i5-1240P

2022

Ryzen 5 4500

2022

Why buy it

✅+33.6% higher Cinebench R23 multi-core.
✅+50% larger total L3 cache (12 MB vs 8 MB).
✅Draws 28W instead of 65W, a 37W reduction.
✅Newer platform on FCBGA1744 with DDR5 support instead of AM4 and DDR4.
✅25% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 16) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +3.4% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $180 less on MSRP ($129 MSRP vs $309 MSRP).
✅Delivers 137.0% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 124.4 vs 52.5 PassMark/$ ($129 MSRP vs $309 MSRP).
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Core i5-1240P.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 5 4500 across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 52.5 vs 124.4 PassMark/$ ($309 MSRP vs $129 MSRP).
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Ryzen 5 4500.

Trade-offs

❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (8,433 vs 11,268).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (8 MB vs 12 MB).
❌132.1% higher power demand at 65W vs 28W.
❌Older platform position on AM4 with DDR4, while Core i5-1240P moves to FCBGA1744 and DDR5.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i5-1240P can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i5-1240P better than Ryzen 5 4500?

It depends on what matters more to you. For gaming, Ryzen 5 4500 is ahead with a 3.4% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Core i5-1240P pulls ahead with 33.6% better Cinebench R23 multi-core. Core i5-1240P also has the bigger cache pool with 50% larger total L3 cache (12 MB vs 8 MB).

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i5-1240P is the better fit. You are getting 33.6% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, backed by 12 cores and 16 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 50% larger total L3 cache (12 MB vs 8 MB).

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

Core i5-1240P is still the faster CPU overall, but Ryzen 5 4500 makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. Core i5-1240P is 139.5% more expensive on MSRP at $309 MSRP versus $129 MSRP, and it gives you 33.6% better Cinebench R23 multi-core. The trade-off is that Ryzen 5 4500 is still the better pure gaming CPU with a 3.4% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. Ryzen 5 4500 is also 137.0% better value on MSRP (124.4 vs 52.5 PassMark/$), which is why it is easier to justify for price-conscious builds on paper.

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

Core i5-1240P is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a healthier platform with FCBGA1744 and DDR5 instead of AM4, 50% larger total L3 cache (12 MB vs 8 MB), and more multi-core headroom with 12 cores / 16 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 i5-1240P Benchmark Check

Ryzen 5 4500 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-1240P	Ryzen 5 4500
1080p
low	169 FPS	178 FPS
medium	151 FPS	142 FPS
high	123 FPS	113 FPS
ultra	105 FPS	90 FPS
1440p
low	142 FPS	152 FPS
medium	122 FPS	120 FPS
high	98 FPS	94 FPS
ultra	83 FPS	74 FPS
4K
low	80 FPS	70 FPS
medium	74 FPS	59 FPS
high	59 FPS	46 FPS
ultra	45 FPS	37 FPS

Open Core i5-1240P Open Ryzen 5 4500

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-1240P	Ryzen 5 4500
1080p
low	195 FPS	304 FPS
medium	166 FPS	261 FPS
high	153 FPS	230 FPS
ultra	137 FPS	198 FPS
1440p
low	172 FPS	266 FPS
medium	150 FPS	232 FPS
high	141 FPS	209 FPS
ultra	124 FPS	179 FPS
4K
low	139 FPS	229 FPS
medium	125 FPS	205 FPS
high	119 FPS	183 FPS
ultra	104 FPS	155 FPS

Open Core i5-1240P Open Ryzen 5 4500

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-1240P	Ryzen 5 4500
1080p
low	406 FPS	401 FPS
medium	406 FPS	401 FPS
high	406 FPS	401 FPS
ultra	406 FPS	401 FPS
1440p
low	406 FPS	401 FPS
medium	406 FPS	401 FPS
high	406 FPS	401 FPS
ultra	367 FPS	368 FPS
4K
low	406 FPS	399 FPS
medium	356 FPS	337 FPS
high	315 FPS	290 FPS
ultra	257 FPS	230 FPS

Open Core i5-1240P Open Ryzen 5 4500

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-1240P	Ryzen 5 4500
1080p
low	406 FPS	401 FPS
medium	406 FPS	401 FPS
high	406 FPS	401 FPS
ultra	406 FPS	401 FPS
1440p
low	406 FPS	401 FPS
medium	406 FPS	401 FPS
high	406 FPS	401 FPS
ultra	406 FPS	401 FPS
4K
low	406 FPS	401 FPS
medium	406 FPS	401 FPS
high	375 FPS	373 FPS
ultra	328 FPS	311 FPS

Open Core i5-1240P Open Ryzen 5 4500

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-1240P and Ryzen 5 4500

Core i5-1240P

The Core i5-1240P is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 23 February 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Alder Lake-P (2022) architecture. It features 12 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 1.7 GHz, with boost up to 4.4 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1744. Thermal design power (TDP): 28 Watt. Memory support: DDR4, DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 16,224 points. Launch price was $299.

Ryzen 5 4500

The Ryzen 5 4500 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 4 April 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Renoir (2020−2023) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 4.1 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 7 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 16,049 points. Launch price was $129.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i5-1240P packs 12 cores / 16 threads, while the Ryzen 5 4500 offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the Core i5-1240P has 6 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.4 GHz on the Core i5-1240P versus 4.1 GHz on the Ryzen 5 4500 — a 7.1% clock advantage for the Core i5-1240P (base: 1.7 GHz vs 3.6 GHz). The Core i5-1240P uses the Alder Lake-P (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Ryzen 5 4500 uses Renoir (2020−2023) (7 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-1240P scores 16,224 against the Ryzen 5 4500's 16,049 — a 1.1% lead for the Core i5-1240P. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 11,268 vs 8,433 (28.8% advantage for the Core i5-1240P). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 2,102 vs 1,560, a 29.6% lead for the Core i5-1240P that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 7,577 vs 6,235 (19.4% advantage for the Core i5-1240P). L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Core i5-1240P vs 8 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 4500.

Feature	Core i5-1240P	Ryzen 5 4500
Cores / Threads	12 / 16+100%	6 / 12
Boost Clock	4.4 GHz+7%	4.1 GHz
Base Clock	1.7 GHz	3.6 GHz+112%
L3 Cache	12 MB (total)+50%	8 MB (total)
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)+150%	512 kB (per core)
Process	Intel 7 nm	7 nm
Architecture	Alder Lake-P (2022)	Renoir (2020−2023)
PassMark	16,224+1%	16,049
Cinebench R23 Multi	11,268+34%	8,433
Geekbench 6 Single	2,102+35%	1,560
Geekbench 6 Multi	7,577+22%	6,235

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i5-1240P uses the FCBGA1744 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Ryzen 5 4500 uses AM4 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200 on the Core i5-1240P versus DDR4-3200 on the Ryzen 5 4500 — the Core i5-1240P supports 22.2% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Ryzen 5 4500 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 i5-1240P) vs 16 (Ryzen 5 4500) — the Core i5-1240P offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Alder Lake-P (Core i5-1240P) and A320,B450,X570,B550 (Ryzen 5 4500).

Feature	Core i5-1240P	Ryzen 5 4500
Socket	FCBGA1744	AM4
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0+67%	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200+25%	DDR4-3200
Max RAM Capacity	64 GB	128 GB+100%
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	20+25%	16

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Ryzen 5 4500 has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-1240P) vs AMD-V (Ryzen 5 4500). The Core i5-1240P includes integrated graphics (Iris Xe Graphics), while the Ryzen 5 4500 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-1240P targets Budget, Ryzen 5 4500 targets Gaming. Direct competitor: Core i5-1240P rivals Ryzen 5 6600U; Ryzen 5 4500 rivals Core i5-10400F.

Feature	Core i5-1240P	Ryzen 5 4500
Integrated GPU	Yes	No
IGPU Model	Iris Xe Graphics	—
Unlocked	No	Yes
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	AMD-V
Target Use	Budget	Gaming

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i5-1240P launched at $309 MSRP, while the Ryzen 5 4500 debuted at $129. On MSRP ($309 vs $129), the Ryzen 5 4500 is $180 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-1240P delivers 52.5 pts/$ vs 124.4 pts/$ for the Ryzen 5 4500 — making the Ryzen 5 4500 the 81.3% better value option.