Core i5-12490F vs Ryzen 7 7800X3D

Intel

Core i5-12490F

6 Cores12 Thrd65 WWMax: 4.6 GHz2022
Core family
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VS
AMD

Ryzen 7 7800X3D

8 Cores16 Thrd120 WWMax: 5 GHz2023
Ryzen family
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Core i5-12490F vs Ryzen 7 7800X3D Performance Spectrum

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 7800X3D 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 7800X3D: 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

  • Costs $199 less on MSRP ($250 MSRP vs $449 MSRP).
  • Draws 65W instead of 120W, a 55W reduction.
  • Includes a boxed cooler (Stock Cooler), unlike Ryzen 7 7800X3D.

Trade-offs

  • Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 7 7800X3D across 35 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (12,500 vs 18,500).
  • No integrated graphics, while Ryzen 7 7800X3D can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Ryzen 7 7800X3D

2023

Why buy it

  • Better for gaming: +61.4% higher average FPS across 35 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • 40% more PCIe lanes (28 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
  • Integrated graphics onboard with AMD Radeon Graphics (2-core), while Core i5-12490F needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

  • 79.6% HIGHER MSRP
    $449 MSRPvs$250 MSRP
  • 84.6% higher power demand at 120W vs 65W.
  • No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-12490F.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 7 7800X3D better than Core i5-12490F?
Yes. Ryzen 7 7800X3D is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 61.4% average FPS lead across 35 shared CPU game tests in our data, 48% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, 68.4% higher 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 7800X3D is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 61.4% more average FPS across 35 shared CPU game tests. It also has a clear cache advantage at 96 MB versus 20 MB.
Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?
For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Ryzen 7 7800X3D is the stronger fit. You are getting 48% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, backed by 8 cores and 16 threads. It also has the larger cache pool with 380% larger total L3 cache (96 MB vs 20 MB).
Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
Ryzen 7 7800X3D is still the faster CPU overall, but Core i5-12490F is easier to justify if budget matters more than peak performance. Ryzen 7 7800X3D comes in 79.6% more expensive on MSRP at $449 MSRP versus $250 MSRP, and it still gives you a 61.4% average FPS lead across 35 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core i5-12490F is also 6.7% better value on MSRP (81.5 vs 76.4 PassMark/$), which is why it can still make sense for tighter-budget builds on paper. That said, if you already own a compatible LGA1700 + DDR5 setup, Core i5-12490F can still make sense as a platform-matched option because it avoids a motherboard and RAM swap.
Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?
Ryzen 7 7800X3D makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2023 vs 2022), 3D V-Cache and a much larger 96 MB L3 cache instead of 20 MB, and more multi-core headroom with 8 cores / 16 threads instead of 6/12. That gives you a healthier platform runway for motherboard, RAM, and later CPU upgrades.

Core i5-12490F vs Ryzen 7 7800X3D Technical Specifications

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

Intel

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.

AMD

Ryzen 7 7800X3D

The Ryzen 7 7800X3D is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 4 January 2023 (2 years ago). It is based on the Raphael (Zen4) (2022−2023) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 4.4 GHz, with boost up to 5 GHz. L3 cache: 96 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 5 nm process technology. Socket: AM5. Thermal design power (TDP): 120 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-5200. Passmark benchmark score: 34,293 points. Launch price was $449.

Processing Power

The Core i5-12490F packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Ryzen 7 7800X3D offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Ryzen 7 7800X3D has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.6 GHz on the Core i5-12490F versus 5 GHz on the Ryzen 7 7800X3D — a 8.3% clock advantage for the Ryzen 7 7800X3D (base: 3 GHz vs 4.4 GHz). The Core i5-12490F uses the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture (10 nm), while the Ryzen 7 7800X3D uses Raphael (Zen4) (2022−2023) (5 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-12490F scores 20,366 against the Ryzen 7 7800X3D's 34,293 — a 51% lead for the Ryzen 7 7800X3D. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 12,500 vs 18,500 (38.7% advantage for the Ryzen 7 7800X3D). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,800 vs 2,700, a 40% lead for the Ryzen 7 7800X3D that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 8,800 vs 15,000 (52.1% advantage for the Ryzen 7 7800X3D). L3 cache: 20 MB (total) on the Core i5-12490F vs 96 MB (total) on the Ryzen 7 7800X3D.

FeatureCore i5-12490FRyzen 7 7800X3D
Cores / Threads
6 / 12
8 / 16+33%
Boost Clock
4.6 GHz
5 GHz+9%
Base Clock
3 GHz
4.4 GHz+47%
L3 Cache
20 MB (total)
96 MB (total)+380%
L2 Cache
1.25 MB (per core)+25%
1 MB (per core)
Process
10 nm
5 nm-50%
Architecture
Alder Lake-S (2022)
Raphael (Zen4) (2022−2023)
PassMark
20,366
34,293+68%
Cinebench R23 Multi
12,500
18,500+48%
Geekbench 6 Single
1,800
2,700+50%
Geekbench 6 Multi
8,800
15,000+70%
🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i5-12490F uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Ryzen 7 7800X3D uses AM5 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR5-4800 on the Core i5-12490F versus DDR5-5200 on the Ryzen 7 7800X3D — the Ryzen 7 7800X3D supports 8.3% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. Both support up to 128 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i5-12490F) vs 28 (Ryzen 7 7800X3D) — the Ryzen 7 7800X3D offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: B660,H610,H670,Z690,B760 (Core i5-12490F) and X670E,X670,B650E,B650,A620 (Ryzen 7 7800X3D).

FeatureCore i5-12490FRyzen 7 7800X3D
Socket
LGA1700
AM5
PCIe Generation
PCIe 5.0
PCIe 5.0
Max RAM Speed
DDR5-4800
DDR5-5200+8%
Max RAM Capacity
128 GB
128 GB
RAM Channels
2
2
ECC Support
No
Yes
PCIe Lanes
20
28+40%
🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Ryzen 7 7800X3D has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Only the Ryzen 7 7800X3D supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-12490F) vs AMD-V (Ryzen 7 7800X3D). The Ryzen 7 7800X3D includes integrated graphics (AMD Radeon Graphics (2-core)), while the Core i5-12490F requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-12490F targets Gaming Desktop, Ryzen 7 7800X3D targets Gaming. Direct competitor: Core i5-12490F rivals Ryzen 5 5600X; Ryzen 7 7800X3D rivals Intel Core i7-14700K.

FeatureCore i5-12490FRyzen 7 7800X3D
Integrated GPU
No
Yes
IGPU Model
None
AMD Radeon Graphics (2-core)
Unlocked
No
Yes
AVX-512
No
Yes
Virtualization
VT-x, VT-d, EPT
AMD-V
Target Use
Gaming Desktop
Gaming
💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the Core i5-12490F was priced at $250, while the Ryzen 7 7800X3D came in at $449. On launch pricing ($250 vs $449), Core i5-12490F was $199 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-12490F delivers 81.5 pts/$ vs 76.4 pts/$ for the Ryzen 7 7800X3D — making the Core i5-12490F the 6.4% better value option.

FeatureCore i5-12490FRyzen 7 7800X3D
MSRP
$250-44%
$449
Performance per Dollar
81.5+7%
76.4
Release Date
2022
2023

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