Core i5-12600HX vs Ryzen 9 6900HX

Intel

Core i5-12600HX

12 Cores16 Thrd55 WWMax: 4.6 GHz2022
Core family
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VS
AMD

Ryzen 9 6900HX

8 Cores16 Thrd45 WWMax: 4.9 GHz2022
Ryzen family
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Core i5-12600HX vs Ryzen 9 6900HX 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 i5-12600HX vs Ryzen 9 6900HX 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 i5-12600HX vs Ryzen 9 6900HX: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

Core i5-12600HX

2022

Why buy it

  • +0.6% higher PassMark.
  • 100+% more PCIe lanes (48 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
  • Integrated graphics onboard with UHD Graphics 770, while Ryzen 9 6900HX needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

  • Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 9 6900HX across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • 22.2% higher power demand at 55W vs 45W.

Ryzen 9 6900HX

2022

Why buy it

  • Better for gaming: +3.3% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • Draws 45W instead of 55W, a 10W reduction.

Trade-offs

  • Lower PassMark (24,248 vs 24,396).
  • No integrated graphics, while Core i5-12600HX can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i5-12600HX better than Ryzen 9 6900HX?
It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Ryzen 9 6900HX is ahead with a 3.3% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Core i5-12600HX pulls ahead with 0.6% better PassMark.
Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?
For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i5-12600HX is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.6% better PassMark, backed by 12 cores and 16 threads.
Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
Core i5-12600HX still makes the most sense overall. Core i5-12600HX comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you 0.6% better PassMark.
Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?
Core i5-12600HX 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 i5-12600HX vs Ryzen 9 6900HX Technical Specifications

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

Intel

Core i5-12600HX

The Core i5-12600HX is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 10 May 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Alder Lake-HX (2022) architecture. It features 12 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 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: FCBGA1964. Thermal design power (TDP): 55 Watt. Memory support: DDR4, DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 24,396 points. Launch price was $299.

AMD

Ryzen 9 6900HX

The Ryzen 9 6900HX 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): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 24,248 points. Launch price was $299.

Processing Power

The Core i5-12600HX packs 12 cores / 16 threads, while the Ryzen 9 6900HX offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Core i5-12600HX has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.6 GHz on the Core i5-12600HX versus 4.9 GHz on the Ryzen 9 6900HX — a 6.3% clock advantage for the Ryzen 9 6900HX (base: 2.5 GHz vs 3.3 GHz). The Core i5-12600HX uses the Alder Lake-HX (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Ryzen 9 6900HX uses Rembrandt-H (Zen 3+) (2022) (6 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-12600HX scores 24,396 against the Ryzen 9 6900HX's 24,248 — a 0.6% lead for the Core i5-12600HX. L3 cache: 18 MB (total) on the Core i5-12600HX vs 16 MB (total) on the Ryzen 9 6900HX.

FeatureCore i5-12600HXRyzen 9 6900HX
Cores / Threads
12 / 16+50%
8 / 16
Boost Clock
4.6 GHz
4.9 GHz+7%
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
Intel 7 nm
6 nm-14%
Architecture
Alder Lake-HX (2022)
Rembrandt-H (Zen 3+) (2022)
PassMark
24,396
24,248
Geekbench 6 Single
2,434
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Memory & Platform

The Core i5-12600HX uses the FCBGA1964 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Ryzen 9 6900HX uses FP7 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

FeatureCore i5-12600HXRyzen 9 6900HX
Socket
FCBGA1964
FP7
PCIe Generation
PCIe 5.0+25%
PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed
DDR5-4800
Max RAM Capacity
128 GB
RAM Channels
2
ECC Support
Yes
PCIe Lanes
48
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Advanced Features

Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-12600HX) / not specified (Ryzen 9 6900HX). The Core i5-12600HX includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 770), while the Ryzen 9 6900HX requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-12600HX targets Workstation Laptop. Direct competitor: Core i5-12600HX rivals Ryzen 7 6800H.

FeatureCore i5-12600HXRyzen 9 6900HX
Integrated GPU
Yes
IGPU Model
UHD Graphics 770
Unlocked
Yes
AVX-512
No
Virtualization
VT-x, VT-d, EPT
Target Use
Workstation Laptop