Core i5-12450H vs Ryzen 5 4500

Core i5-12450H vs Ryzen 5 4500 Performance Spectrum

Core i5-12450H

8 / 12

16,133

+0.5%

16,049

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper 9960X

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.

Core i5-12450H vs Ryzen 5 4500 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 Ryzen 5 4500: 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

✅Better for gaming: +9.0% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+50% larger total L3 cache (12 MB vs 8 MB).
✅Draws 45W instead of 65W, a 20W reduction.
✅Newer platform on FCBGA1744 with DDR5 support instead of AM4 and DDR4.
✅75% more PCIe lanes (28 vs 16) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Ryzen 5 4500.

Ryzen 5 4500

2022

Why buy it

✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Core i5-12450H.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-12450H across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (16,049 vs 16,133).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (8 MB vs 12 MB).
❌Launch MSRP is still $129 MSRP, while Core i5-12450H mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌44.4% higher power demand at 65W vs 45W.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i5-12450H better than Ryzen 5 4500?

Yes. Core i5-12450H is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 9.0% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 0.5% better PassMark, and the stronger long-term platform, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core i5-12450H is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 9.0% 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 i5-12450H is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.5% better PassMark, backed by 8 cores and 12 threads. It also has 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 i5-12450H is still the faster CPU overall, but Ryzen 5 4500 is easier to justify if budget matters more than peak performance. Core i5-12450H comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $129 MSRP, and it still gives you a 9.0% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Ryzen 5 4500 is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (124.4 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), 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 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 8 cores / 12 threads instead of 6/12. That gives you a healthier platform runway for motherboard, RAM, and later CPU upgrades.

Core i5-12450H vs Ryzen 5 4500 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.

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.

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Processing Power

The Core i5-12450H packs 8 cores / 12 threads, while the Ryzen 5 4500 offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the Core i5-12450H has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.4 GHz on the Core i5-12450H versus 4.1 GHz on the Ryzen 5 4500 — a 7.1% clock advantage for the Core i5-12450H (base: 2 GHz vs 3.6 GHz). The Core i5-12450H uses the Alder Lake-H (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Ryzen 5 4500 uses Renoir (2020−2023) (7 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-12450H scores 16,133 against the Ryzen 5 4500's 16,049 — a 0.5% lead for the Core i5-12450H. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 2,100 vs 1,560, a 29.5% lead for the Core i5-12450H that directly translates to higher frame rates. L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Core i5-12450H vs 8 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 4500.

Feature	Core i5-12450H	Ryzen 5 4500
Cores / Threads	8 / 12+33%	6 / 12
Boost Clock	4.4 GHz+7%	4.1 GHz
Base Clock	2 GHz	3.6 GHz+80%
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-H (2022)	Renoir (2020−2023)
PassMark	16,133	16,049
Cinebench R23 Multi	—	8,433
Geekbench 6 Single	2,100+35%	1,560
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	6,235

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Memory & Platform

The Core i5-12450H 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 LPDDR5-5200 on the Core i5-12450H versus DDR4-3200 on the Ryzen 5 4500 — the Core i5-12450H supports 62.5% 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 — 100% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 28 (Core i5-12450H) vs 16 (Ryzen 5 4500) — the Core i5-12450H offers 12 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: HM670,WM690 (Core i5-12450H) and A320,B450,X570,B550 (Ryzen 5 4500).

Feature	Core i5-12450H	Ryzen 5 4500
Socket	FCBGA1744	AM4
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0+67%	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	LPDDR5-5200+63%	DDR4-3200
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

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, EPT (Core i5-12450H) vs AMD-V (Ryzen 5 4500). The Core i5-12450H includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics for 12th Gen), while the Ryzen 5 4500 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-12450H targets Performance Laptop, Ryzen 5 4500 targets Gaming. Direct competitor: Core i5-12450H rivals Ryzen 5 6600H; Ryzen 5 4500 rivals Core i5-10400F.