Core i5-12600K vs Ryzen 7 7840H
Core i5-12600K
Ryzen 7 7840H
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 i5-12600K
Performance Per Dollar
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-12600K | Ryzen 7 7840H |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($185) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Alder Lake, Golden Cove, Gracemont (2021) / Intel 7 nm) | ✨ Modern (Phoenix (2023−2024) / 4 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-12600K | Ryzen 7 7840H |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($185) | ✅ 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 i5-12600K and Ryzen 7 7840H
Core i5-12600K
The Core i5-12600K is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 4 November 2021 (4 years ago). It is based on the Alder Lake, Golden Cove, Gracemont (2021) architecture. It features 10 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3.7 GHz, with boost up to 4.9 GHz. L3 cache: 20 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1700. Thermal design power (TDP): 125 Watt. Memory support: DDR4, DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 27,586 points. Launch price was $289.
Ryzen 7 7840H
The Ryzen 7 7840H is manufactured by AMD. It was released in Janeiro 2023 (2 years ago). It is based on the Phoenix (2023−2024) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3.8 GHz, with boost up to 5.1 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 4 nm process technology. Socket: FP8. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-5600. Passmark benchmark score: 27,832 points. Launch price was $299.
Processing Power
The Core i5-12600K packs 10 cores / 16 threads, while the Ryzen 7 7840H offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Core i5-12600K has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.9 GHz on the Core i5-12600K versus 5.1 GHz on the Ryzen 7 7840H — a 4% clock advantage for the Ryzen 7 7840H (base: 3.7 GHz vs 3.8 GHz). The Core i5-12600K uses the Alder Lake, Golden Cove, Gracemont (2021) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Ryzen 7 7840H uses Phoenix (2023−2024) (4 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-12600K scores 27,586 against the Ryzen 7 7840H's 27,832 — a 0.9% lead for the Ryzen 7 7840H. L3 cache: 20 MB (total) on the Core i5-12600K vs 16 MB (total) on the Ryzen 7 7840H.
| Feature | Core i5-12600K | Ryzen 7 7840H |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 10 / 16+25% | 8 / 16 |
| Boost Clock | 4.9 GHz | 5.1 GHz+4% |
| Base Clock | 3.7 GHz | 3.8 GHz+3% |
| L3 Cache | 20 MB (total)+25% | 16 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 1.25 MB (per core)+25% | 1 MB (per core) |
| Process | Intel 7 nm | 4 nm-43% |
| Architecture | Alder Lake, Golden Cove, Gracemont (2021) | Phoenix (2023−2024) |
| PassMark | 27,586 | 27,832 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | 17,500 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 2,472 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 11,863 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i5-12600K uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Ryzen 7 7840H uses FP8 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i5-12600K | Ryzen 7 7840H |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1700 | FP8 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 5.0+25% | PCIe 4.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | 4800 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 128 | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ✅ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 20 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-12600K) / not specified (Ryzen 7 7840H). The Core i5-12600K includes integrated graphics (Intel UHD Graphics 770), while the Ryzen 7 7840H requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-12600K targets Gaming. Direct competitor: Core i5-12600K rivals Ryzen 5 5600X.
| Feature | Core i5-12600K | Ryzen 7 7840H |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | — |
| IGPU Model | Intel UHD Graphics 770 | — |
| Unlocked | Yes | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d | — |
| Target Use | Gaming | — |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
You May Also Compare
Similar CPU comparisons based on Core i5-12600K and Ryzen 7 7840H
