Core i5-12450H vs Core i7-10700

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.

Core i5-12450H vs Core i7-10700 FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with GeForce RTX 5090 to isolate CPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

Core i5-12450H vs Core i7-10700: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

Core i5-12450H

2022

Why buy it

✅+0.4% higher PassMark.
✅Draws 45W instead of 65W, a 20W reduction.
✅Newer platform on FCBGA1744 with DDR5 support instead of LGA1200 and DDR4.
✅75% more PCIe lanes (28 vs 16) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-10700 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 16 MB).
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i7-10700.

Core i7-10700

2020

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +16.4% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+33.3% larger total L3 cache (16 MB vs 12 MB).
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Core i5-12450H.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (16,067 vs 16,133).
❌Launch MSRP is still $365 MSRP, while Core i5-12450H mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌44.4% higher power demand at 65W vs 45W.
❌Older platform position on LGA1200 with DDR4, while Core i5-12450H moves to FCBGA1744 and DDR5.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i5-12450H better than Core i7-10700?

It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Core i7-10700 is ahead with a 16.4% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Core i5-12450H pulls ahead with 0.4% better PassMark. Core i7-10700 also has the bigger cache pool with 33.3% larger total L3 cache (16 MB vs 12 MB).

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i5-12450H is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.4% better PassMark, backed by 8 cores and 12 threads.

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

Core i5-12450H is still the faster CPU overall, but Core i7-10700 is easier to justify if budget matters more than peak performance. Core i5-12450H comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $365 MSRP, and it still gives you 0.4% better PassMark. The compromise is that Core i7-10700 is still the better pure gaming CPU with a 16.4% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core i7-10700 is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (44.0 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), which is why it can still make sense for tighter-budget builds on paper.

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

Core i5-12450H makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2022 vs 2020), a healthier platform with FCBGA1744 and DDR5 instead of LGA1200, and more multi-core headroom with 8 cores / 12 threads instead of 8/16. That gives you a healthier platform runway for motherboard, RAM, and later CPU upgrades.

Core i5-12450H vs Core i7-10700 Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

Core i5-12450H

The Core i5-12450H is manufactured by Intel. It was released in Janeiro 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Alder Lake-H (2022) architecture. It features 8 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 2 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): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR4, DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 16,133 points. Launch price was $299.

Core i7-10700

The Core i7-10700 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 30 April 2020 (5 years ago). It is based on the Comet Lake (2020−2025) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 2.9 GHz, with boost up to 4.8 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1200. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 16,067 points. Launch price was $340.

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Processing Power

The Core i5-12450H packs 8 cores / 12 threads, matching the Core i7-10700's 8 cores. Boost clocks reach 4.4 GHz on the Core i5-12450H versus 4.8 GHz on the Core i7-10700 — a 8.7% clock advantage for the Core i7-10700 (base: 2 GHz vs 2.9 GHz). The Core i5-12450H uses the Alder Lake-H (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Core i7-10700 uses Comet Lake (2020−2025) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-12450H scores 16,133 against the Core i7-10700's 16,067 — a 0.4% lead for the Core i5-12450H. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 2,100 vs 1,597, a 27.2% lead for the Core i5-12450H that directly translates to higher frame rates. L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Core i5-12450H vs 16 MB (total) on the Core i7-10700.

Feature	Core i5-12450H	Core i7-10700
Cores / Threads	8 / 12	8 / 16
Boost Clock	4.4 GHz	4.8 GHz+9%
Base Clock	2 GHz	2.9 GHz+45%
L3 Cache	12 MB (total)	16 MB (total)+33%
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)	256K (per core)+20380%
Process	Intel 7 nm-50%	14 nm
Architecture	Alder Lake-H (2022)	Comet Lake (2020−2025)
PassMark	16,133	16,067
Cinebench R23 Multi	—	12,250
Geekbench 6 Single	2,100+31%	1,597
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	7,926

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Memory & Platform

The Core i5-12450H uses the FCBGA1744 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Core i7-10700 uses LGA1200 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches LPDDR5-5200 on the Core i5-12450H versus DDR4-2933 on the Core i7-10700 — the Core i5-12450H supports 77.3% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Core i7-10700 supports up to 128 GB of RAM compared to 64 GB — 100% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 28 (Core i5-12450H) vs 16 (Core i7-10700) — the Core i5-12450H offers 12 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: HM670,WM690 (Core i5-12450H) and B460,H470,Z490,B560,Z590 (Core i7-10700).

Feature	Core i5-12450H	Core i7-10700
Socket	FCBGA1744	LGA1200
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0+67%	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	LPDDR5-5200+77%	DDR4-2933
Max RAM Capacity	64 GB	128 GB+100%
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	28+75%	16

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Advanced Features

Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-12450H) vs VT-x, VT-d (Core i7-10700). Both include integrated graphics — UHD Graphics for 12th Gen (Core i5-12450H) and UHD 630 (Core i7-10700) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-12450H targets Performance Laptop, Core i7-10700 targets Gaming. Direct competitor: Core i5-12450H rivals Ryzen 5 6600H; Core i7-10700 rivals Ryzen 7 3700X.

Feature	Core i5-12450H	Core i7-10700
Integrated GPU	Yes	Yes
IGPU Model	UHD Graphics for 12th Gen	UHD 630
Unlocked	No	No
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d, EPT	VT-x, VT-d
Target Use	Performance Laptop	Gaming