Core i7-12700 vs Ryzen 9 7940HS

CPU

GPU

Core i7-12700

12 Cores20 Thrd65 WWMax: 4.9 GHz2022

Core family

·······

Buy on Amazon

Ryzen 9 7940HS

8 Cores16 Thrd35 WWMax: 5.2 GHz2023

Ryzen family

·······

Buy on Amazon

Core i7-12700 vs Ryzen 9 7940HS Performance Spectrum

Core i7-12700

12 / 20

30,055

+0.2%

29,986

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5995WX

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 i7-12700 vs Ryzen 9 7940HS 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 i7-12700 vs Ryzen 9 7940HS: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

Core i7-12700

2022

Why buy it

✅+23.6% higher Cinebench R23 multi-core.
✅+56.3% larger total L3 cache (25 MB vs 16 MB).

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 9 7940HS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Launch MSRP is still $250 MSRP, while Ryzen 9 7940HS mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌85.7% higher power demand at 65W vs 35W.

Ryzen 9 7940HS

2023

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +25.4% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Draws 35W instead of 65W, a 30W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (17,443 vs 21,568).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (16 MB vs 25 MB).

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 9 7940HS better than Core i7-12700?

It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Ryzen 9 7940HS is ahead with a 25.4% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Core i7-12700 pulls ahead with 23.6% better Cinebench R23 multi-core. Core i7-12700 also has the bigger cache pool with 56.3% larger total L3 cache (25 MB vs 16 MB).

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i7-12700 is the stronger fit. You are getting 23.6% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, backed by 12 cores and 20 threads. It also has the larger cache pool with 56.3% larger total L3 cache (25 MB vs 16 MB).

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

Ryzen 9 7940HS is still the faster CPU overall, but Core i7-12700 is easier to justify if budget matters more than peak performance. Ryzen 9 7940HS comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $250 MSRP, and it still gives you a 25.4% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. The compromise is that Core i7-12700 is still stronger for heavier multi-core work with 23.6% better Cinebench R23 multi-core. Core i7-12700 is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (120.2 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), which is why it can still make sense for tighter-budget builds on paper.

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

Ryzen 9 7940HS 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 i7-12700 vs Ryzen 9 7940HS Technical Specifications

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

Core i7-12700

The Core i7-12700 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 12 cores and 20 threads. Base frequency is 2.1 GHz, with boost up to 4.9 GHz. L3 cache: 25 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1700. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 30,055 points. Launch price was $349.

Ryzen 9 7940HS

The Ryzen 9 7940HS is manufactured by AMD. It was released in Janeiro 2023 (2 years ago). It is based on the Phoenix-HS (Zen 4) (2023) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 4 GHz, with boost up to 5.2 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. Passmark benchmark score: 29,986 points. Launch price was $299.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i7-12700 packs 12 cores / 20 threads, while the Ryzen 9 7940HS offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Core i7-12700 has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.9 GHz on the Core i7-12700 versus 5.2 GHz on the Ryzen 9 7940HS — a 5.9% clock advantage for the Ryzen 9 7940HS (base: 2.1 GHz vs 4 GHz). The Core i7-12700 uses the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Ryzen 9 7940HS uses Phoenix-HS (Zen 4) (2023) (4 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-12700 scores 30,055 against the Ryzen 9 7940HS's 29,986 — a 0.2% lead for the Core i7-12700. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 21,568 vs 17,443 (21.1% advantage for the Core i7-12700). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 2,497 vs 2,646, a 5.8% lead for the Ryzen 9 7940HS that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 12,448 vs 11,591 (7.1% advantage for the Core i7-12700). L3 cache: 25 MB (total) on the Core i7-12700 vs 16 MB (total) on the Ryzen 9 7940HS.

Feature	Core i7-12700	Ryzen 9 7940HS
Cores / Threads	12 / 20+50%	8 / 16
Boost Clock	4.9 GHz	5.2 GHz+6%
Base Clock	2.1 GHz	4 GHz+90%
L3 Cache	25 MB (total)+56%	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-S (2022)	Phoenix-HS (Zen 4) (2023)
PassMark	30,055	29,986
Cinebench R23 Multi	21,568+24%	17,443
Geekbench 6 Single	2,497	2,646+6%
Geekbench 6 Multi	12,448+7%	11,591

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i7-12700 uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Ryzen 9 7940HS uses FP8 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR5-4800 / DDR4-3200 on the Core i7-12700 versus DDR5-5600 on the Ryzen 9 7940HS — the Ryzen 9 7940HS supports 16.7% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Ryzen 9 7940HS 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. Chipset compatibility: H610,B660,H670,Z690,B760,Z790 (Core i7-12700) and FP8,FP7 (Ryzen 9 7940HS).

Feature	Core i7-12700	Ryzen 9 7940HS
Socket	LGA1700	FP8
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0+25%	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-4800 / DDR4-3200	DDR5-5600+17%
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	256 GB+100%
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	20	20

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Ryzen 9 7940HS has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Only the Ryzen 9 7940HS supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: VT-x / VT-d / EPT (Core i7-12700) vs AMD-V (Ryzen 9 7940HS). Both include integrated graphics — Intel UHD Graphics 770 (Core i7-12700) and Radeon 780M (Ryzen 9 7940HS) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i7-12700 targets Gaming, Ryzen 9 7940HS targets Thin-and-light Performance. Direct competitor: Core i7-12700 rivals Ryzen 7 5700X; Ryzen 9 7940HS rivals Core i9-13900H.

Feature	Core i7-12700	Ryzen 9 7940HS
Integrated GPU	Yes	Yes
IGPU Model	Intel UHD Graphics 770	Radeon 780M
Unlocked	No	Yes
AVX-512	No	Yes
Virtualization	VT-x / VT-d / EPT	AMD-V
Target Use	Gaming	Thin-and-light Performance