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: +14.7% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+56.3% larger total L3 cache (25 MB vs 16 MB).
✅42.9% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 14) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 84.0 vs 120.0 PassMark/$ ($409 MSRP vs $179 MSRP).
❌92.3% higher power demand at 125W vs 65W.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Ryzen 5 8500G.

Ryzen 5 8500G

2024

Why buy it

✅Costs $230 less on MSRP ($179 MSRP vs $409 MSRP).
✅Delivers 42.9% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 120.0 vs 84.0 PassMark/$ ($179 MSRP vs $409 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 125W, a 60W reduction.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Core i7-12700K.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-12700K across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (21,481 vs 34,347).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (16 MB vs 25 MB).

Core i7-12700K

2021

Ryzen 5 8500G

2024

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +14.7% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+56.3% larger total L3 cache (25 MB vs 16 MB).
✅42.9% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 14) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Why buy it

✅Costs $230 less on MSRP ($179 MSRP vs $409 MSRP).
✅Delivers 42.9% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 120.0 vs 84.0 PassMark/$ ($179 MSRP vs $409 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 125W, a 60W reduction.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Core i7-12700K.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 84.0 vs 120.0 PassMark/$ ($409 MSRP vs $179 MSRP).
❌92.3% higher power demand at 125W vs 65W.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Ryzen 5 8500G.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-12700K across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (21,481 vs 34,347).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (16 MB vs 25 MB).

Quick Answers

So, is Core i7-12700K better than Ryzen 5 8500G?

Yes. Core i7-12700K is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 14.7% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data and 59.9% 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 14.7% 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 59.9% 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 still the faster CPU overall, but Ryzen 5 8500G makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. Core i7-12700K is 128.5% more expensive on MSRP at $409 MSRP versus $179 MSRP, and it gives you a 14.7% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Ryzen 5 8500G is also 42.9% better value on MSRP (120.0 vs 84.0 PassMark/$), which is why it is easier to justify for price-conscious builds on paper. That said, if you already own a compatible AM5 + DDR5 setup, Ryzen 5 8500G 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?

Ryzen 5 8500G is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2024 vs 2021). 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 8500G Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i7-12700K	Ryzen 5 8500G
1080p
low	314 FPS	267 FPS
medium	295 FPS	238 FPS
high	246 FPS	203 FPS
ultra	193 FPS	173 FPS
1440p
low	269 FPS	231 FPS
medium	225 FPS	186 FPS
high	182 FPS	155 FPS
ultra	145 FPS	135 FPS
4K
low	170 FPS	159 FPS
medium	142 FPS	130 FPS
high	109 FPS	100 FPS
ultra	96 FPS	87 FPS

Open Core i7-12700K Open Ryzen 5 8500G

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i7-12700K	Ryzen 5 8500G
1080p
low	630 FPS	455 FPS
medium	533 FPS	371 FPS
high	450 FPS	321 FPS
ultra	410 FPS	279 FPS
1440p
low	536 FPS	394 FPS
medium	475 FPS	338 FPS
high	403 FPS	294 FPS
ultra	349 FPS	248 FPS
4K
low	312 FPS	287 FPS
medium	280 FPS	251 FPS
high	266 FPS	230 FPS
ultra	234 FPS	193 FPS

Open Core i7-12700K Open Ryzen 5 8500G

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i7-12700K	Ryzen 5 8500G
1080p
low	797 FPS	537 FPS
medium	633 FPS	537 FPS
high	556 FPS	537 FPS
ultra	472 FPS	537 FPS
1440p
low	704 FPS	537 FPS
medium	565 FPS	537 FPS
high	490 FPS	517 FPS
ultra	422 FPS	441 FPS
4K
low	510 FPS	497 FPS
medium	425 FPS	418 FPS
high	381 FPS	357 FPS
ultra	321 FPS	293 FPS

Open Core i7-12700K Open Ryzen 5 8500G

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i7-12700K	Ryzen 5 8500G
1080p
low	859 FPS	537 FPS
medium	802 FPS	537 FPS
high	699 FPS	537 FPS
ultra	628 FPS	537 FPS
1440p
low	760 FPS	537 FPS
medium	678 FPS	537 FPS
high	590 FPS	537 FPS
ultra	519 FPS	537 FPS
4K
low	535 FPS	537 FPS
medium	488 FPS	519 FPS
high	437 FPS	462 FPS
ultra	384 FPS	393 FPS

Open Core i7-12700K Open Ryzen 5 8500G

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i7-12700K and Ryzen 5 8500G

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 8500G

The Ryzen 5 8500G is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 8 January 2024 (1 year ago). It is based on the Phoenix2 (2024) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 5 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 4 nm process technology. Socket: AM5. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 21,481 points. Launch price was $229.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i7-12700K packs 12 cores / 20 threads, while the Ryzen 5 8500G offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the Core i7-12700K has 6 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5 GHz on the Core i7-12700K versus 5 GHz on the Ryzen 5 8500G — identical boost frequencies (base: 3.6 GHz vs 3.5 GHz). The Core i7-12700K uses the Alder Lake, Golden Cove, Gracemont (2021) architecture (10 nm), while the Ryzen 5 8500G uses Phoenix2 (2024) (4 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-12700K scores 34,347 against the Ryzen 5 8500G's 21,481 — a 46.1% lead for the Core i7-12700K. L3 cache: 25 MB (total) on the Core i7-12700K vs 16 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 8500G.

Feature	Core i7-12700K	Ryzen 5 8500G
Cores / Threads	12 / 20+100%	6 / 12
Boost Clock	5 GHz	5 GHz
Base Clock	3.6 GHz+3%	3.5 GHz
L3 Cache	25 MB (total)+56%	16 MB (total)
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)+25%	1 MB (per core)
Process	10 nm	4 nm-60%
Architecture	Alder Lake, Golden Cove, Gracemont (2021)	Phoenix2 (2024)
PassMark	34,347+60%	21,481
Cinebench R23 Multi	—	9,310
Geekbench 6 Single	—	2,500
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	10,000

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i7-12700K uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Ryzen 5 8500G uses AM5 (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 Ryzen 5 8500G — the Core i7-12700K supports 199.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Ryzen 5 8500G supports up to 256 GB of RAM compared to 128 — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i7-12700K) vs 14 (Ryzen 5 8500G) — the Core i7-12700K offers 6 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Z690,B660 (Core i7-12700K) and A620,B650,B650E,X670,X670E,B840,B850,X870,X870E (Ryzen 5 8500G).

Feature	Core i7-12700K	Ryzen 5 8500G
Socket	LGA1700	AM5
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0+25%	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	4800+95900%	DDR5-5200
Max RAM Capacity	128	256 GB+209715100%
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	20+43%	14

🔧

Advanced Features

Both processors feature an unlocked multiplier for overclocking. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i7-12700K) vs AMD-V (Ryzen 5 8500G). Both include integrated graphics — Intel UHD Graphics 770 (Core i7-12700K) and Radeon 740M (Ryzen 5 8500G) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Ryzen 5 8500G targets General Use. Direct competitor: Core i7-12700K rivals Ryzen 7 5800X; Ryzen 5 8500G rivals Core i5-13400.

Feature	Core i7-12700K	Ryzen 5 8500G
Integrated GPU	Yes	Yes
IGPU Model	Intel UHD Graphics 770	Radeon 740M
Unlocked	Yes	Yes
AVX-512	No	—
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	AMD-V
Target Use	—	General Use

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i7-12700K launched at $409 MSRP, while the Ryzen 5 8500G debuted at $179. On MSRP ($409 vs $179), the Ryzen 5 8500G is $230 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i7-12700K delivers 84.0 pts/$ vs 120.0 pts/$ for the Ryzen 5 8500G — making the Ryzen 5 8500G the 35.3% better value option.