Core i5-12500 vs Ryzen 5 8640HS
Core i5-12500
Ryzen 5 8640HS
Performance Spectrum - CPU
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.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-12500
Performance Per Dollar
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-12500 | Ryzen 5 8640HS |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($140) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Alder Lake-S (2022) / Intel 7 nm) | ✨ Modern (Hawk Point-HS (Zen 4) (2023−2024) / 4 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-12500 | Ryzen 5 8640HS |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($140) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
Performance Check
To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.
Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-12500 and Ryzen 5 8640HS
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 8640HS
The Ryzen 5 8640HS is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 6 December 2023 (1 year ago). It is based on the Hawk Point-HS (Zen 4) (2023−2024) 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: 19,851 points. Launch price was $299.
Processing Power
Both the Core i5-12500 and Ryzen 5 8640HS share an identical 6-core/12-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 4.6 GHz on the Core i5-12500 versus 4.9 GHz on the Ryzen 5 8640HS — a 6.3% clock advantage for the Ryzen 5 8640HS (base: 3 GHz vs 3.5 GHz). The Core i5-12500 uses the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Ryzen 5 8640HS uses Hawk Point-HS (Zen 4) (2023−2024) (4 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-12500 scores 19,739 against the Ryzen 5 8640HS's 19,851 — a 0.6% lead for the Ryzen 5 8640HS. L3 cache: 18 MB (total) on the Core i5-12500 vs 16 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 8640HS.
| Feature | Core i5-12500 | Ryzen 5 8640HS |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 18 MB (total)+13% | 16 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 1.25 MB (per core)+25% | 1 MB (per core) |
| Process | Intel 7 nm | 4 nm-43% |
| Architecture | Alder Lake-S (2022) | Hawk Point-HS (Zen 4) (2023−2024) |
| PassMark | 19,739 | 19,851 |
| 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 8640HS uses FP8 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i5-12500 | Ryzen 5 8640HS |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1700 | FP8 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 4.0+33% | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 128 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ✅ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 20 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-12500) / not specified (Ryzen 5 8640HS). The Core i5-12500 includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 770), while the Ryzen 5 8640HS requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-12500 targets Productivity. Direct competitor: Core i5-12500 rivals Ryzen 5 5500.
| Feature | Core i5-12500 | Ryzen 5 8640HS |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | — |
| IGPU Model | UHD Graphics 770 | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d | — |
| Target Use | Productivity | — |
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