Core i5-12490F vs Ryzen 5 8640U

CPU

GPU

Core i5-12490F

6 Cores12 Thrd65 WWMax: 4.6 GHz2022

Core family

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Ryzen 5 8640U

6 Cores12 Thrd28 WWMax: 4.9 GHz2023

Ryzen family

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Core i5-12490F vs Ryzen 5 8640U Performance Spectrum

Core i5-12490F

6 / 12

20,366

+0.5%

20,274

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper 3960X

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5975WX

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 i5-12490F vs Ryzen 5 8640U 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 i5-12490F vs Ryzen 5 8640U: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

Core i5-12490F

2022

Why buy it

✅+17.1% higher Cinebench R23 multi-core.
✅+25% larger total L3 cache (20 MB vs 16 MB).
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Stock Cooler), unlike Ryzen 5 8640U.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 5 8640U across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Launch MSRP is still $250 MSRP, while Ryzen 5 8640U mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌132.1% higher power demand at 65W vs 28W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Ryzen 5 8640U can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Ryzen 5 8640U

2023

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +13.6% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Draws 28W instead of 65W, a 37W reduction.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Radeon 760M, while Core i5-12490F needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (10,675 vs 12,500).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (16 MB vs 20 MB).
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-12490F.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 5 8640U better than Core i5-12490F?

It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Ryzen 5 8640U is ahead with a 13.6% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Core i5-12490F pulls ahead with 17.1% better Cinebench R23 multi-core. Core i5-12490F also has the bigger cache pool with 25% larger total L3 cache (20 MB vs 16 MB).

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i5-12490F is the stronger fit. You are getting 17.1% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, backed by 6 cores and 12 threads. It also has the larger cache pool with 25% larger total L3 cache (20 MB vs 16 MB).

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

Ryzen 5 8640U is still the faster CPU overall, but Core i5-12490F is easier to justify if budget matters more than peak performance. Ryzen 5 8640U comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $250 MSRP, and it still gives you a 13.6% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. The compromise is that Core i5-12490F is still stronger for heavier multi-core work with 17.1% better Cinebench R23 multi-core. Core i5-12490F is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (81.5 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), which is why it can still make sense for tighter-budget builds on paper.

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

Ryzen 5 8640U makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2023 vs 2022). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Core i5-12490F vs Ryzen 5 8640U Technical Specifications

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

Core i5-12490F

The Core i5-12490F is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 4.6 GHz. L3 cache: 20 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on 10 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1700. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4, DDR5 Dual-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 20,366 points. Launch price was $299.

Ryzen 5 8640U

The Ryzen 5 8640U is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 6 December 2023 (1 year ago). It is based on the Hawk Point-U (Zen 4) (2023−2025) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 4.9 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 4 nm process technology. Socket: FP8. Thermal design power (TDP): 28 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 20,274 points. Launch price was $299.

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Processing Power

Both the Core i5-12490F and Ryzen 5 8640U share an identical 6-core/12-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 4.6 GHz on the Core i5-12490F versus 4.9 GHz on the Ryzen 5 8640U — a 6.3% clock advantage for the Ryzen 5 8640U (base: 3 GHz vs 3.5 GHz). The Core i5-12490F uses the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture (10 nm), while the Ryzen 5 8640U uses Hawk Point-U (Zen 4) (2023−2025) (4 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-12490F scores 20,366 against the Ryzen 5 8640U's 20,274 — a 0.5% lead for the Core i5-12490F. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 12,500 vs 10,675 (15.7% advantage for the Core i5-12490F). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,800 vs 2,519, a 33.3% lead for the Ryzen 5 8640U that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 8,800 vs 10,308 (15.8% advantage for the Ryzen 5 8640U). L3 cache: 20 MB (total) on the Core i5-12490F vs 16 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 8640U.

Feature	Core i5-12490F	Ryzen 5 8640U
Cores / Threads	6 / 12	6 / 12
Boost Clock	4.6 GHz	4.9 GHz+7%
Base Clock	3 GHz	3.5 GHz+17%
L3 Cache	20 MB (total)+25%	16 MB (total)
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)+25%	1 MB (per core)
Process	10 nm	4 nm-60%
Architecture	Alder Lake-S (2022)	Hawk Point-U (Zen 4) (2023−2025)
PassMark	20,366	20,274
Cinebench R23 Multi	12,500+17%	10,675
Geekbench 6 Single	1,800	2,519+40%
Geekbench 6 Multi	8,800	10,308+17%

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Memory & Platform

The Core i5-12490F uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Ryzen 5 8640U uses FP8 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR5-4800 on the Core i5-12490F versus LPDDR5x-7500 on the Ryzen 5 8640U — the Ryzen 5 8640U supports 56.3% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Ryzen 5 8640U supports up to 256 GB of RAM compared to 128 GB — 100% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 20 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: B660,H610,H670,Z690,B760 (Core i5-12490F) and SoC (Ryzen 5 8640U).

Feature	Core i5-12490F	Ryzen 5 8640U
Socket	LGA1700	FP8
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0+25%	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-4800	LPDDR5x-7500+56%
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	256 GB+100%
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	Yes
PCIe Lanes	20	20

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Advanced Features

Neither processor supports overclocking. Only the Ryzen 5 8640U supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-12490F) vs AMD-V (SVM) (Ryzen 5 8640U). The Ryzen 5 8640U includes integrated graphics (Radeon 760M), while the Core i5-12490F requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-12490F targets Gaming Desktop, Ryzen 5 8640U targets Productivity. Direct competitor: Core i5-12490F rivals Ryzen 5 5600X; Ryzen 5 8640U rivals Core i5-1335U.