Core i7-12700K vs Ryzen 3 PRO 5475U

Intel

Core i7-12700K

12 Cores20 Thrd125 WWMax: 5 GHz2021

Popular choices:

VS
AMD

Ryzen 3 PRO 5475U

4 Cores8 Thrd15 WWMax: 4.1 GHz2022

Popular choices:

i7-12700K

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.

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: +64.6% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • +212.5% larger total L3 cache (25 MB vs 8 MB).
  • Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of FP6 and DDR4.
  • 100+% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
  • Integrated graphics onboard with Intel UHD Graphics 770, while Ryzen 3 PRO 5475U needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

  • Launch MSRP is still $409 MSRP, while Ryzen 3 PRO 5475U mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
  • 733.3% higher power demand at 125W vs 15W.

Ryzen 3 PRO 5475U

2022

Why buy it

  • Draws 15W instead of 125W, a 110W reduction.

Trade-offs

  • Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-12700K across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • Lower PassMark (11,059 vs 34,347).
  • Smaller total L3 cache (8 MB vs 25 MB).
  • Older platform position on FP6 with DDR4, while Core i7-12700K moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.
  • No integrated graphics, while Core i7-12700K can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i7-12700K better than Ryzen 3 PRO 5475U?
Yes. Core i7-12700K is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 64.6% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 210.6% better PassMark, and the stronger long-term platform, 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 64.6% 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 210.6% better PassMark, backed by 12 cores and 20 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 212.5% larger total L3 cache (25 MB vs 8 MB).
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 $409 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it gives you a 64.6% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (84.0 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), 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 i7-12700K is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a healthier platform with LGA1700 and DDR5 instead of FP6, 212.5% larger total L3 cache (25 MB vs 8 MB), and more multi-core headroom with 12 cores / 20 threads instead of 4/8. That extra compute headroom should age better as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

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.

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

PresetCore i7-12700KRyzen 3 PRO 5475U
1080p
low314 FPS170 FPS
medium295 FPS144 FPS
high246 FPS114 FPS
ultra193 FPS91 FPS
1440p
low269 FPS145 FPS
medium225 FPS121 FPS
high182 FPS95 FPS
ultra145 FPS75 FPS
4K
low170 FPS68 FPS
medium142 FPS60 FPS
high109 FPS47 FPS
ultra96 FPS37 FPS
Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

PresetCore i7-12700KRyzen 3 PRO 5475U
1080p
low630 FPS271 FPS
medium533 FPS235 FPS
high450 FPS215 FPS
ultra410 FPS185 FPS
1440p
low536 FPS235 FPS
medium475 FPS207 FPS
high403 FPS192 FPS
ultra349 FPS164 FPS
4K
low312 FPS183 FPS
medium280 FPS166 FPS
high266 FPS141 FPS
ultra234 FPS118 FPS
League of Legends

League of Legends

PresetCore i7-12700KRyzen 3 PRO 5475U
1080p
low797 FPS276 FPS
medium633 FPS276 FPS
high556 FPS276 FPS
ultra472 FPS276 FPS
1440p
low704 FPS276 FPS
medium565 FPS276 FPS
high490 FPS276 FPS
ultra422 FPS276 FPS
4K
low510 FPS276 FPS
medium425 FPS276 FPS
high381 FPS242 FPS
ultra321 FPS190 FPS
Valorant

Valorant

PresetCore i7-12700KRyzen 3 PRO 5475U
1080p
low859 FPS276 FPS
medium802 FPS276 FPS
high699 FPS276 FPS
ultra628 FPS276 FPS
1440p
low760 FPS276 FPS
medium678 FPS276 FPS
high590 FPS276 FPS
ultra519 FPS276 FPS
4K
low535 FPS276 FPS
medium488 FPS276 FPS
high437 FPS276 FPS
ultra384 FPS276 FPS

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i7-12700K and Ryzen 3 PRO 5475U

Intel

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.

AMD

Ryzen 3 PRO 5475U

The Ryzen 3 PRO 5475U is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 19 April 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Barcelo-U PRO (Zen 3) (2022) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.7 GHz, with boost up to 4.1 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm process technology. Socket: FP6. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 11,059 points. Launch price was $149.

Processing Power

The Core i7-12700K packs 12 cores / 20 threads, while the Ryzen 3 PRO 5475U offers 4 cores / 8 threads — the Core i7-12700K has 8 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5 GHz on the Core i7-12700K versus 4.1 GHz on the Ryzen 3 PRO 5475U — a 19.8% clock advantage for the Core i7-12700K (base: 3.6 GHz vs 2.7 GHz). The Core i7-12700K uses the Alder Lake, Golden Cove, Gracemont (2021) architecture (10 nm), while the Ryzen 3 PRO 5475U uses Barcelo-U PRO (Zen 3) (2022) (7 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-12700K scores 34,347 against the Ryzen 3 PRO 5475U's 11,059 — a 102.6% lead for the Core i7-12700K. L3 cache: 25 MB (total) on the Core i7-12700K vs 8 MB (total) on the Ryzen 3 PRO 5475U.

FeatureCore i7-12700KRyzen 3 PRO 5475U
Cores / Threads
12 / 20+200%
4 / 8
Boost Clock
5 GHz+22%
4.1 GHz
Base Clock
3.6 GHz+33%
2.7 GHz
L3 Cache
25 MB (total)+213%
8 MB (total)
L2 Cache
1.25 MB (per core)+150%
512K (per core)
Process
10 nm
7 nm-30%
Architecture
Alder Lake, Golden Cove, Gracemont (2021)
Barcelo-U PRO (Zen 3) (2022)
PassMark
34,347+211%
11,059
🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i7-12700K uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Ryzen 3 PRO 5475U uses FP6 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

FeatureCore i7-12700KRyzen 3 PRO 5475U
Socket
LGA1700
FP6
PCIe Generation
PCIe 5.0+25%
PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed
4800
Max RAM Capacity
128
RAM Channels
2
ECC Support
Yes
PCIe Lanes
20
🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d (Core i7-12700K) / not specified (Ryzen 3 PRO 5475U). The Core i7-12700K includes integrated graphics (Intel UHD Graphics 770), while the Ryzen 3 PRO 5475U requires a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: Core i7-12700K rivals Ryzen 7 5800X.

FeatureCore i7-12700KRyzen 3 PRO 5475U
Integrated GPU
Yes
IGPU Model
Intel UHD Graphics 770
Unlocked
Yes
AVX-512
No
Virtualization
VT-x, VT-d