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.

Head-to-Head Verdict, Benchmarks, Value & Long-Term Outlook

This comparison brings together gaming FPS, productivity performance, platform differences, power efficiency, pricing context, and upgrade path so you can see which CPU actually makes more sense.

Core i7-12700K

2021

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +9.5% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅66.7% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 12) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $409 MSRP, while Core i9-13905H mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌177.8% higher power demand at 125W vs 45W.

Core i9-13905H

2023

Why buy it

✅Draws 45W instead of 125W, a 80W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-12700K across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (29,807 vs 34,347).

Core i7-12700K

2021

Core i9-13905H

2023

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +9.5% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅66.7% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 12) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Why buy it

✅Draws 45W instead of 125W, a 80W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $409 MSRP, while Core i9-13905H mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌177.8% higher power demand at 125W vs 45W.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-12700K across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (29,807 vs 34,347).

Quick Answers

So, is Core i7-12700K better than Core i9-13905H?

Yes. Core i7-12700K is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 9.5% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data and 15.2% better PassMark, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core i7-12700K is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 9.5% 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, Core i7-12700K is the better fit. You are getting 15.2% better PassMark, backed by 12 cores and 20 threads.

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

Core i7-12700K is the smarter buy today. Core i7-12700K is at an unclear MSRP at $409 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it gives you a 9.5% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (84.0 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so the better CPU is not just faster, it is also the cleaner value play on paper.

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

Core i9-13905H is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2023 vs 2021). That makes it the safer long-term pick.

Games Benchmarks

Paired with RTX 4090

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.

Core i7-12700K Benchmark Check

Core i9-13905H Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i7-12700K	Core i9-13905H
1080p
low	314 FPS	262 FPS
medium	295 FPS	253 FPS
high	246 FPS	210 FPS
ultra	193 FPS	180 FPS
1440p
low	269 FPS	223 FPS
medium	225 FPS	192 FPS
high	182 FPS	154 FPS
ultra	145 FPS	135 FPS
4K
low	170 FPS	154 FPS
medium	142 FPS	132 FPS
high	109 FPS	101 FPS
ultra	96 FPS	90 FPS

Open Core i7-12700K Open Core i9-13905H

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i7-12700K	Core i9-13905H
1080p
low	630 FPS	636 FPS
medium	533 FPS	543 FPS
high	450 FPS	458 FPS
ultra	410 FPS	417 FPS
1440p
low	536 FPS	554 FPS
medium	475 FPS	492 FPS
high	403 FPS	416 FPS
ultra	349 FPS	357 FPS
4K
low	312 FPS	325 FPS
medium	280 FPS	296 FPS
high	266 FPS	279 FPS
ultra	234 FPS	246 FPS

Open Core i7-12700K Open Core i9-13905H

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i7-12700K	Core i9-13905H
1080p
low	797 FPS	648 FPS
medium	633 FPS	530 FPS
high	556 FPS	467 FPS
ultra	472 FPS	405 FPS
1440p
low	704 FPS	591 FPS
medium	565 FPS	491 FPS
high	490 FPS	427 FPS
ultra	422 FPS	370 FPS
4K
low	510 FPS	434 FPS
medium	425 FPS	374 FPS
high	381 FPS	339 FPS
ultra	321 FPS	290 FPS

Open Core i7-12700K Open Core i9-13905H

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i7-12700K	Core i9-13905H
1080p
low	859 FPS	745 FPS
medium	802 FPS	745 FPS
high	699 FPS	745 FPS
ultra	628 FPS	672 FPS
1440p
low	760 FPS	745 FPS
medium	678 FPS	723 FPS
high	590 FPS	626 FPS
ultra	519 FPS	552 FPS
4K
low	535 FPS	555 FPS
medium	488 FPS	504 FPS
high	437 FPS	451 FPS
ultra	384 FPS	394 FPS

Open Core i7-12700K Open Core i9-13905H

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i7-12700K and Core i9-13905H

Core i7-12700K

The Core i7-12700K 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 12 cores and 20 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 5 GHz. L3 cache: 25 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on 10 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1700. Thermal design power (TDP): 125 Watt. Memory support: DDR4, DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 34,347 points. Launch price was $409.

Core i9-13905H

The Core i9-13905H is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 4 January 2023 (2 years ago). It is based on the Raptor Lake-H (2023−2024) architecture. It features 14 cores and 20 threads. Base frequency is 2.6 GHz, with boost up to 5.4 GHz. L3 cache: 24 MB (total). L2 cache: 2 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1792. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-5200, DDR4-3200, LPDDR4x-4267. Passmark benchmark score: 29,807 points. Launch price was $697.

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Processing Power

The Core i7-12700K packs 12 cores / 20 threads, while the Core i9-13905H offers 14 cores / 20 threads — the Core i9-13905H has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5 GHz on the Core i7-12700K versus 5.4 GHz on the Core i9-13905H — a 7.7% clock advantage for the Core i9-13905H (base: 3.6 GHz vs 2.6 GHz). The Core i7-12700K uses the Alder Lake, Golden Cove, Gracemont (2021) architecture (10 nm), while the Core i9-13905H uses Raptor Lake-H (2023−2024) (Intel 7 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-12700K scores 34,347 against the Core i9-13905H's 29,807 — a 14.2% lead for the Core i7-12700K. L3 cache: 25 MB (total) on the Core i7-12700K vs 24 MB (total) on the Core i9-13905H.

Feature	Core i7-12700K	Core i9-13905H
Cores / Threads	12 / 20	14 / 20+17%
Boost Clock	5 GHz	5.4 GHz+8%
Base Clock	3.6 GHz+38%	2.6 GHz
L3 Cache	25 MB (total)+4%	24 MB (total)
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)	2 MB (per core)+60%
Process	10 nm	Intel 7 nm-30%
Architecture	Alder Lake, Golden Cove, Gracemont (2021)	Raptor Lake-H (2023−2024)
PassMark	34,347+15%	29,807
Cinebench R23 Multi	—	19,384
Geekbench 6 Single	—	2,300
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	14,000

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Memory & Platform

The Core i7-12700K uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Core i9-13905H uses FCBGA1792 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches 4800 on the Core i7-12700K versus DDR5-5200 on the Core i9-13905H — the Core i7-12700K supports 199.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Core i7-12700K supports up to 128 of RAM compared to 64 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i7-12700K) vs 12 (Core i9-13905H) — the Core i7-12700K offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Z690,B660 (Core i7-12700K) and WM790,HM770 (Core i9-13905H).

Feature	Core i7-12700K	Core i9-13905H
Socket	LGA1700	FCBGA1792
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0+25%	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	4800+95900%	DDR5-5200
Max RAM Capacity	128	64 GB+52428700%
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	Yes	No
PCIe Lanes	20+67%	12

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Core i7-12700K has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Both support VT-x, VT-d virtualization. Both include integrated graphics — Intel UHD Graphics 770 (Core i7-12700K) and Iris Xe 96EU (Core i9-13905H) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i9-13905H targets Workstation. Direct competitor: Core i7-12700K rivals Ryzen 7 5800X; Core i9-13905H rivals Ryzen 9 7940HS.