Core i5-12600 vs Ryzen 5 PRO 7640U

Intel

Core i5-12600

6 Cores12 Thrd65 WWMax: 4.8 GHz2022
Core family
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VS
AMD

Ryzen 5 PRO 7640U

6 Cores12 Thrd6 WWMax: 4.9 GHz2023
Similar parts
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Core i5-12600 vs Ryzen 5 PRO 7640U 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 i5-12600 vs Ryzen 5 PRO 7640U 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 i5-12600 vs Ryzen 5 PRO 7640U: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

Core i5-12600

2022

Why buy it

  • +0.5% higher PassMark.
  • Includes a boxed cooler (Included), unlike Ryzen 5 PRO 7640U.

Trade-offs

  • Launch MSRP is still $233 MSRP, while Ryzen 5 PRO 7640U mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
  • 983.3% higher power demand at 65W vs 6W.

Ryzen 5 PRO 7640U

2023

Why buy it

  • Draws 6W instead of 65W, a 59W reduction.

Trade-offs

  • Lower PassMark (21,287 vs 21,383).
  • No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i5-12600.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 5 PRO 7640U better than Core i5-12600?
It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Ryzen 5 PRO 7640U is ahead with a 0.1% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Core i5-12600 pulls ahead with 0.5% better PassMark.
Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?
For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i5-12600 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.5% better PassMark, backed by 6 cores and 12 threads.
Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
Ryzen 5 PRO 7640U is the easy recommendation for a fresh desktop build. Ryzen 5 PRO 7640U comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $233 MSRP, and it still gives you a 0.1% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core i5-12600 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.
Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?
Ryzen 5 PRO 7640U makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2023 vs 2022). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Core i5-12600 vs Ryzen 5 PRO 7640U Technical Specifications

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

Intel

Core i5-12600

The Core i5-12600 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 3.3 GHz, with boost up to 4.8 GHz. L3 cache: 18 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: FP7/FP8. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: LPDDR5x, DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 21,383 points. Launch price was $299.

AMD

Ryzen 5 PRO 7640U

The Ryzen 5 PRO 7640U is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 23 May 2023 (2 years ago). It is based on the Phoenix (Zen4) (2023) 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. L2 cache: 6 MB. Built on 4 nm process technology. Socket: FP7/FP8. Thermal design power (TDP): 6 MB + 16 MB. Memory support: LPDDR5x-7500, DDR5-5600. Passmark benchmark score: 21,287 points. Launch price was $299.

Processing Power

Both the Core i5-12600 and Ryzen 5 PRO 7640U share an identical 6-core/12-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 4.8 GHz on the Core i5-12600 versus 4.9 GHz on the Ryzen 5 PRO 7640U — a 2.1% clock advantage for the Ryzen 5 PRO 7640U (base: 3.3 GHz vs 3.5 GHz). The Core i5-12600 uses the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Ryzen 5 PRO 7640U uses Phoenix (Zen4) (2023) (4 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-12600 scores 21,383 against the Ryzen 5 PRO 7640U's 21,287 — a 0.4% lead for the Core i5-12600. L3 cache: 18 MB (total) on the Core i5-12600 vs 16 MB on the Ryzen 5 PRO 7640U.

FeatureCore i5-12600Ryzen 5 PRO 7640U
Cores / Threads
6 / 12
6 / 12
Boost Clock
4.8 GHz
4.9 GHz+2%
Base Clock
3.3 GHz
3.5 GHz+6%
L3 Cache
18 MB (total)+13%
16 MB
L2 Cache
1.25 MB (per core)
6 MB+380%
Process
Intel 7 nm
4 nm-43%
Architecture
Alder Lake-S (2022)
Phoenix (Zen4) (2023)
PassMark
21,383
21,287
Geekbench 6 Single
2,400
Geekbench 6 Multi
10,400
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Memory & Platform

Both processors use the FP7/FP8 socket with PCIe 5.0. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR5-4800 on the Core i5-12600 versus 5600 on the Ryzen 5 PRO 7640U — the Ryzen 5 PRO 7640U supports 16.7% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Ryzen 5 PRO 7640U supports up to 256 GB of RAM compared to 128 GB 100% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 20 PCIe lanes.

FeatureCore i5-12600Ryzen 5 PRO 7640U
Socket
FP7/FP8
FP7/FP8
PCIe Generation
PCIe 5.0+25%
PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed
DDR5-4800
5600+17%
Max RAM Capacity
128 GB
256 GB+100%
RAM Channels
2
2
ECC Support
Yes
Yes
PCIe Lanes
20
20
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Advanced Features

Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-12600) vs true (Ryzen 5 PRO 7640U). Both include integrated graphics Intel UHD Graphics 770 (Core i5-12600) and Radeon 760M (Ryzen 5 PRO 7640U) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-12600 targets Mainstream Desktop. Direct competitor: Core i5-12600 rivals Ryzen 5 5600.

FeatureCore i5-12600Ryzen 5 PRO 7640U
Integrated GPU
Yes
Yes
IGPU Model
Intel UHD Graphics 770
Radeon 760M
Unlocked
No
AVX-512
No
Virtualization
VT-x, VT-d
true
Target Use
Mainstream Desktop