Core i5-12500E vs Ryzen 5 8640U
Core i5-12500E
Ryzen 5 8640U
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 i5-12500E
Performance Per Dollar
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-12500E | Ryzen 5 8640U |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($200) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Alder Lake-S (2022) / 10 nm) | ✨ Modern (Hawk Point-U (Zen 4) (2023−2025) / 4 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-12500E | Ryzen 5 8640U |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($200) | ✅ 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 i5-12500E and Ryzen 5 8640U
Core i5-12500E
The Core i5-12500E is manufactured by Intel. It was released in Janeiro 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 2.9 GHz, with boost up to 4.5 GHz. L3 cache: 18 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: 20,411 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.
Processing Power
Both the Core i5-12500E and Ryzen 5 8640U share an identical 6-core/12-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 4.5 GHz on the Core i5-12500E versus 4.9 GHz on the Ryzen 5 8640U — a 8.5% clock advantage for the Ryzen 5 8640U (base: 2.9 GHz vs 3.5 GHz). The Core i5-12500E 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 i5-12500E scores 20,411 against the Ryzen 5 8640U's 20,274 — a 0.7% lead for the Core i5-12500E. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 12,528 vs 10,675 (16% advantage for the Core i5-12500E). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 2,168 vs 2,519, a 15% lead for the Ryzen 5 8640U that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 8,615 vs 10,308 (17.9% advantage for the Ryzen 5 8640U). L3 cache: 18 MB (total) on the Core i5-12500E vs 16 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 8640U.
| Feature | Core i5-12500E | Ryzen 5 8640U |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 6 / 12 | 6 / 12 |
| Boost Clock | 4.5 GHz | 4.9 GHz+9% |
| Base Clock | 2.9 GHz | 3.5 GHz+21% |
| L3 Cache | 18 MB (total)+13% | 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 | 20,411 | 20,274 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | 12,528+17% | 10,675 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 2,168 | 2,519+16% |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 8,615 | 10,308+20% |
Memory & Platform
The Core i5-12500E uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Ryzen 5 8640U uses FP8 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR5-4800 memory speed. The Ryzen 5 8640U supports up to 256 GB of RAM compared to 128 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 20 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: 600-series,W680 (Core i5-12500E) and SoC (Ryzen 5 8640U).
| Feature | Core i5-12500E | Ryzen 5 8640U |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1700 | FP8 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 5.0+25% | PCIe 4.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR5-4800 | LPDDR5x-7500 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 128 GB | 256 GB+100% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ✅ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | 20 | 20 |
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 (Core i5-12500E) vs AMD-V (SVM) (Ryzen 5 8640U). Both include integrated graphics — UHD Graphics 770 (Core i5-12500E) and Radeon 760M (Ryzen 5 8640U) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-12500E targets Workstation, Ryzen 5 8640U targets Productivity. Direct competitor: Core i5-12500E rivals EPYC 7413; Ryzen 5 8640U rivals Core i5-1335U.
| Feature | Core i5-12500E | Ryzen 5 8640U |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | UHD Graphics 770 | Radeon 760M |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | Yes |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d | AMD-V (SVM) |
| Target Use | Workstation | Productivity |
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