Core i5-12500 vs Ryzen 5 5600G

CPU

GPU

Core i5-12500

6 Cores12 Thrd65 WWMax: 4.6 GHz2022

Core family

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Ryzen 5 5600G

6 Cores12 Thrd65 WWMax: 4.4 GHz2021

Ryzen family

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Core i5-12500 vs Ryzen 5 5600G Performance Spectrum

Core i5-12500

6 / 12

19,739

+0.2%

19,696

0.0%

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 i5-12500 vs Ryzen 5 5600G 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 i5-12500 vs Ryzen 5 5600G: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

Core i5-12500

2022

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +11.4% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $47 less on MSRP ($212 MSRP vs $259 MSRP).
✅Delivers 22.4% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 93.1 vs 76.0 PassMark/$ ($212 MSRP vs $259 MSRP).
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of AM4 and DDR4.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Ryzen 5 5600G.

Trade-offs

❌Fewer obvious downsides in this matchup outside of normal market pricing swings.

Ryzen 5 5600G

2021

Why buy it

✅20% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-12500 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (19,696 vs 19,739).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 76.0 vs 93.1 PassMark/$ ($259 MSRP vs $212 MSRP).
❌Older platform position on AM4 with DDR4, while Core i5-12500 moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-12500.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i5-12500 better than Ryzen 5 5600G?

Yes. Core i5-12500 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 11.4% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 0.2% 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 i5-12500 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 11.4% 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 i5-12500 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.2% better PassMark, backed by 6 cores and 12 threads.

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

Core i5-12500 is the better buy right now. Core i5-12500 comes in $47 cheaper on MSRP at $212 MSRP versus $259 MSRP, and it still gives you a 11.4% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 22.4% better value on MSRP (93.1 vs 76.0 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper. That said, if you already own a compatible AM4 + DDR4 setup, Ryzen 5 5600G can still make sense as a platform-matched option because it avoids a motherboard and RAM swap, but on MSRP alone you would want to find it meaningfully cheaper in real-world listings before that path becomes easy to justify.

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

Core i5-12500 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2022 vs 2021), a healthier platform with LGA1700 and DDR5 instead of AM4, and more multi-core headroom with 6 cores / 12 threads instead of 6/12. That gives you a healthier platform runway for motherboard, RAM, and later CPU upgrades.

Core i5-12500 vs Ryzen 5 5600G Technical Specifications

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

Core i5-12500

The Core i5-12500 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 4 January 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: 18 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1700. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 19,739 points. Launch price was $299.

Ryzen 5 5600G

The Ryzen 5 5600G is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 13 April 2021 (4 years ago). It is based on the Cezanne (2021−2025) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.9 GHz, with boost up to 4.4 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 7 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 19,696 points. Launch price was $259.

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Processing Power

Both the Core i5-12500 and Ryzen 5 5600G share an identical 6-core/12-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 4.6 GHz on the Core i5-12500 versus 4.4 GHz on the Ryzen 5 5600G — a 4.4% clock advantage for the Core i5-12500 (base: 3 GHz vs 3.9 GHz). The Core i5-12500 uses the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Ryzen 5 5600G uses Cezanne (2021−2025) (7 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-12500 scores 19,739 against the Ryzen 5 5600G's 19,696 — a 0.2% lead for the Core i5-12500. L3 cache: 18 MB (total) on the Core i5-12500 vs 16 MB on the Ryzen 5 5600G.

Feature	Core i5-12500	Ryzen 5 5600G
Cores / Threads	6 / 12	6 / 12
Boost Clock	4.6 GHz+5%	4.4 GHz
Base Clock	3 GHz	3.9 GHz+30%
L3 Cache	18 MB (total)+13%	16 MB
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)+150%	512 kB (per core)
Process	Intel 7 nm	7 nm
Architecture	Alder Lake-S (2022)	Cezanne (2021−2025)
PassMark	19,739	19,696
Cinebench R23 Multi	12,978	—
Geekbench 6 Single	2,319	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	9,003	—

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i5-12500 uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Ryzen 5 5600G uses AM4 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200 on the Core i5-12500 versus DDR4-3200 on the Ryzen 5 5600G — the Core i5-12500 supports 50% 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 i5-12500) vs 24 (Ryzen 5 5600G) — the Ryzen 5 5600G offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: H610,B660,H670,Z690,B760,H770,Z790 (Core i5-12500) and AMD 400 series,AMD 500 series (Ryzen 5 5600G).

Feature	Core i5-12500	Ryzen 5 5600G
Socket	LGA1700	AM4
PCIe Generation	PCIe 4.0+33%	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200+50%	DDR4-3200
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	128 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	Yes	No
PCIe Lanes	20	24+20%

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Ryzen 5 5600G has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-12500) vs AMD-V (Ryzen 5 5600G). Both include integrated graphics — UHD Graphics 770 (Core i5-12500) and Radeon Graphics (Vega 7) (Ryzen 5 5600G) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-12500 targets Productivity, Ryzen 5 5600G targets Desktop. Direct competitor: Core i5-12500 rivals Ryzen 5 5500.

Feature	Core i5-12500	Ryzen 5 5600G
Integrated GPU	Yes	Yes
IGPU Model	UHD Graphics 770	Radeon Graphics (Vega 7)
Unlocked	No	Yes
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	AMD-V
Target Use	Productivity	Desktop

💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the Core i5-12500 was priced at $212, while the Ryzen 5 5600G came in at $259. On launch pricing ($212 vs $259), Core i5-12500 was $47 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-12500 delivers 93.1 pts/$ vs 76.0 pts/$ for the Ryzen 5 5600G — making the Core i5-12500 the 20.2% better value option.

Feature	Core i5-12500	Ryzen 5 5600G
MSRP	$212-18%	$259
Performance per Dollar	93.1+22%	76.0
Release Date	2022	2021

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