Core i5-12600HE vs Ryzen 9 6900HS

Core i5-12600HE vs Ryzen 9 6900HS Performance Spectrum

Core i5-12600HE

12 / 16

22,827

0.0%

23,040

+0.9%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9945WX

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 i5-12600HE vs Ryzen 9 6900HS 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 i5-12600HE vs Ryzen 9 6900HS: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

Core i5-12600HE

2022

Why buy it

✅40% more PCIe lanes (28 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 9 6900HS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (22,827 vs 23,040).
❌28.6% higher power demand at 45W vs 35W.

Ryzen 9 6900HS

2022

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +5.2% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Draws 35W instead of 45W, a 10W reduction.

Trade-offs

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

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 9 6900HS better than Core i5-12600HE?

Yes. Ryzen 9 6900HS is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 5.2% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data and 0.9% better PassMark, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Ryzen 9 6900HS is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 5.2% 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, Ryzen 9 6900HS is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.9% better PassMark, backed by 8 cores and 16 threads.

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

Ryzen 9 6900HS still makes the most sense overall. Ryzen 9 6900HS comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 5.2% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data.

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

Ryzen 9 6900HS is the safer long-term CPU choice because it gives you more room to grow and a better platform outlook.

Core i5-12600HE vs Ryzen 9 6900HS Technical Specifications

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

Core i5-12600HE

The Core i5-12600HE 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 10 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1744. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR4, DDR5 Dual-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 22,827 points. Launch price was $299.

Ryzen 9 6900HS

The Ryzen 9 6900HS is manufactured by AMD. It was released in Janeiro 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Rembrandt-H (Zen 3+) (2022) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3.3 GHz, with boost up to 4.9 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB (total). L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 6 nm process technology. Socket: FP7. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 23,040 points. Launch price was $299.

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Processing Power

The Core i5-12600HE packs 12 cores / 16 threads, while the Ryzen 9 6900HS offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Core i5-12600HE has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.5 GHz on the Core i5-12600HE versus 4.9 GHz on the Ryzen 9 6900HS — a 8.5% clock advantage for the Ryzen 9 6900HS (base: 2.5 GHz vs 3.3 GHz). The Core i5-12600HE uses the Alder Lake-H (2022) architecture (10 nm), while the Ryzen 9 6900HS uses Rembrandt-H (Zen 3+) (2022) (6 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-12600HE scores 22,827 against the Ryzen 9 6900HS's 23,040 — a 0.9% lead for the Ryzen 9 6900HS. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 2,200 vs 1,854, a 17.1% lead for the Core i5-12600HE that directly translates to higher frame rates. L3 cache: 18 MB (total) on the Core i5-12600HE vs 16 MB (total) on the Ryzen 9 6900HS.

Feature	Core i5-12600HE	Ryzen 9 6900HS
Cores / Threads	12 / 16+50%	8 / 16
Boost Clock	4.5 GHz	4.9 GHz+9%
Base Clock	2.5 GHz	3.3 GHz+32%
L3 Cache	18 MB (total)+13%	16 MB (total)
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)	512K (per core)+40860%
Process	10 nm	6 nm-40%
Architecture	Alder Lake-H (2022)	Rembrandt-H (Zen 3+) (2022)
PassMark	22,827	23,040
Cinebench R23 Multi	—	13,445
Geekbench 6 Single	2,200+19%	1,854
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	8,732

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Memory & Platform

The Core i5-12600HE uses the FCBGA1744 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Ryzen 9 6900HS uses FP7 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches LPDDR5-5200 on the Core i5-12600HE versus DDR5-4800 on the Ryzen 9 6900HS — the Core i5-12600HE supports 8.3% 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. PCIe lanes: 28 (Core i5-12600HE) vs 20 (Ryzen 9 6900HS) — the Core i5-12600HE offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives.

Feature	Core i5-12600HE	Ryzen 9 6900HS
Socket	FCBGA1744	FP7
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 4.0+33%
Max RAM Speed	LPDDR5-5200+8%	DDR5-4800
Max RAM Capacity	64 GB	64 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	28+40%	20

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Ryzen 9 6900HS has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-12600HE) vs AMD-V (Ryzen 9 6900HS). Both include integrated graphics — Iris Xe Graphics 80EU (Core i5-12600HE) and Radeon 680M (Ryzen 9 6900HS) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-12600HE targets Embedded. Direct competitor: Core i5-12600HE rivals Ryzen Embedded V3000.