Core i5-12490F vs Ryzen 7 7735U

Core i5-12490F vs Ryzen 7 7735U Performance Spectrum

Core i5-12490F

6 / 12

20,366

0.0%

20,524

+0.8%

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 7 7735U 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 7 7735U: 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

✅+25% larger total L3 cache (20 MB vs 16 MB).
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Stock Cooler), unlike Ryzen 7 7735U.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 7 7735U across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (20,366 vs 20,524).
❌Launch MSRP is still $250 MSRP, while Ryzen 7 7735U mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌132.1% higher power demand at 65W vs 28W.

Ryzen 7 7735U

2023

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +4.1% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Draws 28W instead of 65W, a 37W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (16 MB vs 20 MB).
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-12490F.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 7 7735U better than Core i5-12490F?

Yes. Ryzen 7 7735U is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 4.1% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 0.8% 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, Ryzen 7 7735U is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 4.1% 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, Ryzen 7 7735U is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.8% better PassMark, backed by 8 cores and 16 threads.

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

Ryzen 7 7735U is still the faster CPU overall, but Core i5-12490F is easier to justify if budget matters more than peak performance. Ryzen 7 7735U comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $250 MSRP, and it still gives you a 4.1% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core i5-12490F is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (81.5 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), 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 7 7735U makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2023 vs 2022) and more multi-core headroom with 8 cores / 16 threads instead of 6/12. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Core i5-12490F vs Ryzen 7 7735U 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 7 7735U

The Ryzen 7 7735U is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 4 January 2023 (2 years ago). It is based on the Rembrandt-U Refresh (2023) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 2.7 GHz, with boost up to 4.75 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB (total). L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 6 nm process technology. Socket: FP7. Thermal design power (TDP): 28 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 20,524 points. Launch price was $299.

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Processing Power

The Core i5-12490F packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Ryzen 7 7735U offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Ryzen 7 7735U has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.6 GHz on the Core i5-12490F versus 4.75 GHz on the Ryzen 7 7735U — a 3.2% clock advantage for the Ryzen 7 7735U (base: 3 GHz vs 2.7 GHz). The Core i5-12490F uses the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture (10 nm), while the Ryzen 7 7735U uses Rembrandt-U Refresh (2023) (6 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-12490F scores 20,366 against the Ryzen 7 7735U's 20,524 — a 0.8% lead for the Ryzen 7 7735U. L3 cache: 20 MB (total) on the Core i5-12490F vs 16 MB (total) on the Ryzen 7 7735U.

Feature	Core i5-12490F	Ryzen 7 7735U
Cores / Threads	6 / 12	8 / 16+33%
Boost Clock	4.6 GHz	4.75 GHz+3%
Base Clock	3 GHz+11%	2.7 GHz
L3 Cache	20 MB (total)+25%	16 MB (total)
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)	512K (per core)+40860%
Process	10 nm	6 nm-40%
Architecture	Alder Lake-S (2022)	Rembrandt-U Refresh (2023)
PassMark	20,366	20,524
Cinebench R23 Multi	12,500	—
Geekbench 6 Single	1,800	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	8,800	—

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Memory & Platform

The Core i5-12490F uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Ryzen 7 7735U uses FP7 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Core i5-12490F	Ryzen 7 7735U
Socket	LGA1700	FP7
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0+25%	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-4800	—
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	—
RAM Channels	2	—
ECC Support	No	—
PCIe Lanes	20	—

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Advanced Features

Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-12490F) / not specified (Ryzen 7 7735U). Primary use case: Core i5-12490F targets Gaming Desktop. Direct competitor: Core i5-12490F rivals Ryzen 5 5600X.