Core i5-12500H vs Ryzen 7 6800U

Core i5-12500H vs Ryzen 7 6800U Performance Spectrum

Core i5-12500H

12 / 16

20,462

0.0%

20,619

+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 i5-12500H vs Ryzen 7 6800U 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 i5-12500H vs Ryzen 7 6800U: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

Core i5-12500H

2022

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +4.5% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Trade-offs

❌200% higher power demand at 45W vs 15W.

Ryzen 7 6800U

2022

Why buy it

✅Draws 15W instead of 45W, a 30W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-12500H across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Geekbench multi-core (7,397 vs 9,900).
❌Launch MSRP is still $360 MSRP, while Core i5-12500H mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i5-12500H better than Ryzen 7 6800U?

Yes. Core i5-12500H is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 4.5% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 33.8% better Geekbench multi-core, 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 i5-12500H is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 4.5% 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 i5-12500H is the stronger fit. You are getting 33.8% better Geekbench multi-core, backed by 12 cores and 16 threads.

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

Core i5-12500H is the easy recommendation for a fresh desktop build. Core i5-12500H comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $360 MSRP, and it still gives you a 4.5% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Ryzen 7 6800U only looks good on raw value math because it is a cheap legacy laptop chip, not because it is a real desktop gaming recommendation. It simply does not keep up in modern games, especially when the gap is already 4.5% in the shared gaming data.

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

Core i5-12500H makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting more multi-core headroom with 12 cores / 16 threads instead of 8/16. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Core i5-12500H vs Ryzen 7 6800U Technical Specifications

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

Core i5-12500H

The Core i5-12500H is manufactured by Intel. It was released in Janeiro 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Alder Lake-H (2022) architecture. It features 12 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 4.5 GHz. L3 cache: 18 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1744. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR4, DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 20,462 points. Launch price was $299.

Ryzen 7 6800U

The Ryzen 7 6800U is manufactured by AMD. It was released in Janeiro 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Rembrandt-U (Zen 3+) (2022) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 2.7 GHz, with boost up to 4.7 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB (total). L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 6 nm process technology. Socket: FP7. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 20,619 points. Launch price was $299.

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Processing Power

The Core i5-12500H packs 12 cores / 16 threads, while the Ryzen 7 6800U offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Core i5-12500H has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.5 GHz on the Core i5-12500H versus 4.7 GHz on the Ryzen 7 6800U — a 4.3% clock advantage for the Ryzen 7 6800U (base: 2.5 GHz vs 2.7 GHz). The Core i5-12500H uses the Alder Lake-H (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Ryzen 7 6800U uses Rembrandt-U (Zen 3+) (2022) (6 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-12500H scores 20,462 against the Ryzen 7 6800U's 20,619 — a 0.8% lead for the Ryzen 7 6800U. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 2,260 vs 1,713, a 27.5% lead for the Core i5-12500H that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 9,900 vs 7,397 (28.9% advantage for the Core i5-12500H). L3 cache: 18 MB (total) on the Core i5-12500H vs 16 MB (total) on the Ryzen 7 6800U.

Feature	Core i5-12500H	Ryzen 7 6800U
Cores / Threads	12 / 16+50%	8 / 16
Boost Clock	4.5 GHz	4.7 GHz+4%
Base Clock	2.5 GHz	2.7 GHz+8%
L3 Cache	18 MB (total)+13%	16 MB (total)
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)	512K (per core)+40860%
Process	Intel 7 nm	6 nm-14%
Architecture	Alder Lake-H (2022)	Rembrandt-U (Zen 3+) (2022)
PassMark	20,462	20,619
Cinebench R23 Multi	—	11,741
Geekbench 6 Single	2,260+32%	1,713
Geekbench 6 Multi	9,900+34%	7,397

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Memory & Platform

The Core i5-12500H uses the FCBGA1744 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Ryzen 7 6800U uses FP7 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR5-4800 on the Core i5-12500H versus LPDDR5-6400 on the Ryzen 7 6800U — the Ryzen 7 6800U supports 33.3% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. Both support up to 64 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 20 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: Adler Lake-H PCH (Core i5-12500H) and SoC (Ryzen 7 6800U).

Feature	Core i5-12500H	Ryzen 7 6800U
Socket	FCBGA1744	FP7
PCIe Generation	PCIe 4.0	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-4800	LPDDR5-6400+33%
Max RAM Capacity	64 GB	64 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	Yes
PCIe Lanes	20	20

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Advanced Features

Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-12500H) vs AMD-V (SVM) (Ryzen 7 6800U). Both include integrated graphics — Intel Iris Xe Graphics 80EU (Core i5-12500H) and Radeon 680M (Ryzen 7 6800U) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-12500H targets Performance Laptop, Ryzen 7 6800U targets Productivity. Direct competitor: Ryzen 7 6800U rivals Core i7-1255U.

Feature	Core i5-12500H	Ryzen 7 6800U
Integrated GPU	Yes	Yes
IGPU Model	Intel Iris Xe Graphics 80EU	Radeon 680M
Unlocked	No	No
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	AMD-V (SVM)
Target Use	Performance Laptop	Productivity