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: +32.8% higher average FPS across 45 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+56.3% larger total L3 cache (25 MB vs 16 MB).
✅Delivers 10.4% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 84.0 vs 76.0 PassMark/$ ($409 MSRP vs $259 MSRP).
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of AM4 and DDR4.

Trade-offs

❌
57.9% HIGHER MSRP
$409 MSRPvs$259 MSRP
❌92.3% higher power demand at 125W vs 65W.

Ryzen 5 5600G

2021

Why buy it

✅Costs $150 less on MSRP ($259 MSRP vs $409 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 125W, a 60W reduction.
✅20% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-12700K across 45 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (19,696 vs 34,347).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (16 MB vs 25 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 76.0 vs 84.0 PassMark/$ ($259 MSRP vs $409 MSRP).
❌Older platform position on AM4 with DDR4, while Core i7-12700K moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.

Core i7-12700K

2021

Ryzen 5 5600G

2021

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +32.8% higher average FPS across 45 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+56.3% larger total L3 cache (25 MB vs 16 MB).
✅Delivers 10.4% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 84.0 vs 76.0 PassMark/$ ($409 MSRP vs $259 MSRP).
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of AM4 and DDR4.

Why buy it

✅Costs $150 less on MSRP ($259 MSRP vs $409 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 125W, a 60W reduction.
✅20% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌
57.9% HIGHER MSRP
$409 MSRPvs$259 MSRP
❌92.3% higher power demand at 125W vs 65W.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-12700K across 45 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (19,696 vs 34,347).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (16 MB vs 25 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 76.0 vs 84.0 PassMark/$ ($259 MSRP vs $409 MSRP).
❌Older platform position on AM4 with DDR4, while Core i7-12700K moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i7-12700K better than Ryzen 5 5600G?

Yes. Core i7-12700K is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 32.8% average FPS lead across 45 shared CPU game tests in our data, 74.4% 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 32.8% more average FPS across 45 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 74.4% better PassMark, backed by 12 cores and 20 threads. It also carries 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?

Core i7-12700K is the smarter buy today. Core i7-12700K is 57.9% more expensive on MSRP at $409 MSRP versus $259 MSRP, and it gives you a 32.8% average FPS lead across 45 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 10.4% better value on MSRP (84.0 vs 76.0 PassMark/$), so the better CPU is not just faster, it is also the cleaner value play on paper. That said, if you already own a compatible AM4 + DDR4 setup, Ryzen 5 5600G can still make sense as a platform-matched option because it avoids a motherboard and RAM swap.

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 AM4, 56.3% larger total L3 cache (25 MB vs 16 MB), and more multi-core headroom with 12 cores / 20 threads instead of 6/12. That should give you a better long-term upgrade path for motherboard, RAM, and future CPU swaps.

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

Ryzen 5 5600G Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i7-12700K	Ryzen 5 5600G
1080p
low	314 FPS	204 FPS
medium	295 FPS	174 FPS
high	246 FPS	137 FPS
ultra	193 FPS	106 FPS
1440p
low	269 FPS	174 FPS
medium	225 FPS	145 FPS
high	182 FPS	114 FPS
ultra	145 FPS	88 FPS
4K
low	170 FPS	83 FPS
medium	142 FPS	75 FPS
high	109 FPS	59 FPS
ultra	96 FPS	46 FPS

Open Core i7-12700K Open Ryzen 5 5600G

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i7-12700K	Ryzen 5 5600G
1080p
low	630 FPS	367 FPS
medium	533 FPS	302 FPS
high	450 FPS	271 FPS
ultra	410 FPS	235 FPS
1440p
low	536 FPS	325 FPS
medium	475 FPS	272 FPS
high	403 FPS	249 FPS
ultra	349 FPS	211 FPS
4K
low	312 FPS	248 FPS
medium	280 FPS	211 FPS
high	266 FPS	194 FPS
ultra	234 FPS	155 FPS

Open Core i7-12700K Open Ryzen 5 5600G

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i7-12700K	Ryzen 5 5600G
1080p
low	797 FPS	492 FPS
medium	633 FPS	477 FPS
high	556 FPS	440 FPS
ultra	472 FPS	390 FPS
1440p
low	704 FPS	492 FPS
medium	565 FPS	416 FPS
high	490 FPS	374 FPS
ultra	422 FPS	327 FPS
4K
low	510 FPS	356 FPS
medium	425 FPS	302 FPS
high	381 FPS	263 FPS
ultra	321 FPS	209 FPS

Open Core i7-12700K Open Ryzen 5 5600G

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i7-12700K	Ryzen 5 5600G
1080p
low	859 FPS	492 FPS
medium	802 FPS	492 FPS
high	699 FPS	492 FPS
ultra	628 FPS	492 FPS
1440p
low	760 FPS	492 FPS
medium	678 FPS	492 FPS
high	590 FPS	492 FPS
ultra	519 FPS	492 FPS
4K
low	535 FPS	492 FPS
medium	488 FPS	492 FPS
high	437 FPS	478 FPS
ultra	384 FPS	412 FPS

Open Core i7-12700K Open Ryzen 5 5600G

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i7-12700K and Ryzen 5 5600G

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.

Ryzen 5 5600G

The Ryzen 5 5600G is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 13 April 2021 (4 years ago). It is based on the Cezanne (2021−2025) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.9 GHz, with boost up to 4.4 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 7 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 19,696 points. Launch price was $259.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i7-12700K packs 12 cores / 20 threads, while the Ryzen 5 5600G offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the Core i7-12700K has 6 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5 GHz on the Core i7-12700K versus 4.4 GHz on the Ryzen 5 5600G — a 12.8% clock advantage for the Core i7-12700K (base: 3.6 GHz vs 3.9 GHz). The Core i7-12700K uses the Alder Lake, Golden Cove, Gracemont (2021) architecture (10 nm), while the Ryzen 5 5600G uses Cezanne (2021−2025) (7 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-12700K scores 34,347 against the Ryzen 5 5600G's 19,696 — a 54.2% lead for the Core i7-12700K. L3 cache: 25 MB (total) on the Core i7-12700K vs 16 MB on the Ryzen 5 5600G.

Feature	Core i7-12700K	Ryzen 5 5600G
Cores / Threads	12 / 20+100%	6 / 12
Boost Clock	5 GHz+14%	4.4 GHz
Base Clock	3.6 GHz	3.9 GHz+8%
L3 Cache	25 MB (total)+56%	16 MB
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)+150%	512 kB (per core)
Process	10 nm	7 nm-30%
Architecture	Alder Lake, Golden Cove, Gracemont (2021)	Cezanne (2021−2025)
PassMark	34,347+74%	19,696

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i7-12700K uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Ryzen 5 5600G uses AM4 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches 4800 on the Core i7-12700K versus DDR4-3200 on the Ryzen 5 5600G — the Core i7-12700K supports 199.7% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. Both support up to 128 of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i7-12700K) vs 24 (Ryzen 5 5600G) — the Ryzen 5 5600G offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Z690,B660 (Core i7-12700K) and AMD 400 series,AMD 500 series (Ryzen 5 5600G).

Feature	Core i7-12700K	Ryzen 5 5600G
Socket	LGA1700	AM4
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0+67%	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	4800+119900%	DDR4-3200
Max RAM Capacity	128	128 GB+104857500%
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	Yes	No
PCIe Lanes	20	24+20%

🔧

Advanced Features

Both processors feature an unlocked multiplier for overclocking. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i7-12700K) vs AMD-V (Ryzen 5 5600G). Both include integrated graphics — Intel UHD Graphics 770 (Core i7-12700K) and Radeon Graphics (Vega 7) (Ryzen 5 5600G) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Ryzen 5 5600G targets Desktop. Direct competitor: Core i7-12700K rivals Ryzen 7 5800X.

Feature	Core i7-12700K	Ryzen 5 5600G
Integrated GPU	Yes	Yes
IGPU Model	Intel UHD Graphics 770	Radeon Graphics (Vega 7)
Unlocked	Yes	Yes
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	AMD-V
Target Use	—	Desktop

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i7-12700K launched at $409 MSRP, while the Ryzen 5 5600G debuted at $259. On MSRP ($409 vs $259), the Ryzen 5 5600G is $150 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i7-12700K delivers 84.0 pts/$ vs 76.0 pts/$ for the Ryzen 5 5600G — making the Core i7-12700K the 9.9% better value option.