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: +30.9% higher average FPS across 40 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+56.3% larger total L3 cache (25 MB vs 16 MB).

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $409 MSRP, while Ryzen 7 7735HS mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌257.1% higher power demand at 125W vs 35W.

Ryzen 7 7735HS

2023

Why buy it

✅Draws 35W instead of 125W, a 90W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-12700K across 40 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (22,897 vs 34,347).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (16 MB vs 25 MB).

Core i7-12700K

2021

Ryzen 7 7735HS

2023

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +30.9% higher average FPS across 40 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+56.3% larger total L3 cache (25 MB vs 16 MB).

Why buy it

✅Draws 35W instead of 125W, a 90W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $409 MSRP, while Ryzen 7 7735HS mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌257.1% higher power demand at 125W vs 35W.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-12700K across 40 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (22,897 vs 34,347).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (16 MB vs 25 MB).

Quick Answers

So, is Core i7-12700K better than Ryzen 7 7735HS?

Yes. Core i7-12700K is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 30.9% average FPS lead across 40 shared CPU game tests in our data and 50% 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 30.9% more average FPS across 40 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 50% 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 at an unclear MSRP at $409 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it gives you a 30.9% average FPS lead across 40 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (84.0 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), 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?

Ryzen 7 7735HS 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

Ryzen 7 7735HS Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i7-12700K	Ryzen 7 7735HS
1080p
low	314 FPS	246 FPS
medium	295 FPS	230 FPS
high	246 FPS	192 FPS
ultra	193 FPS	165 FPS
1440p
low	269 FPS	217 FPS
medium	225 FPS	184 FPS
high	182 FPS	149 FPS
ultra	145 FPS	131 FPS
4K
low	170 FPS	152 FPS
medium	142 FPS	129 FPS
high	109 FPS	99 FPS
ultra	96 FPS	87 FPS

Open Core i7-12700K Open Ryzen 7 7735HS

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i7-12700K	Ryzen 7 7735HS
1080p
low	630 FPS	464 FPS
medium	533 FPS	392 FPS
high	450 FPS	339 FPS
ultra	410 FPS	296 FPS
1440p
low	536 FPS	397 FPS
medium	475 FPS	347 FPS
high	403 FPS	306 FPS
ultra	349 FPS	258 FPS
4K
low	312 FPS	274 FPS
medium	280 FPS	246 FPS
high	266 FPS	229 FPS
ultra	234 FPS	195 FPS

Open Core i7-12700K Open Ryzen 7 7735HS

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i7-12700K	Ryzen 7 7735HS
1080p
low	797 FPS	572 FPS
medium	633 FPS	572 FPS
high	556 FPS	494 FPS
ultra	472 FPS	403 FPS
1440p
low	704 FPS	572 FPS
medium	565 FPS	520 FPS
high	490 FPS	443 FPS
ultra	422 FPS	365 FPS
4K
low	510 FPS	452 FPS
medium	425 FPS	380 FPS
high	381 FPS	333 FPS
ultra	321 FPS	272 FPS

Open Core i7-12700K Open Ryzen 7 7735HS

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i7-12700K	Ryzen 7 7735HS
1080p
low	859 FPS	572 FPS
medium	802 FPS	572 FPS
high	699 FPS	572 FPS
ultra	628 FPS	572 FPS
1440p
low	760 FPS	572 FPS
medium	678 FPS	572 FPS
high	590 FPS	572 FPS
ultra	519 FPS	510 FPS
4K
low	535 FPS	533 FPS
medium	488 FPS	487 FPS
high	437 FPS	434 FPS
ultra	384 FPS	376 FPS

Open Core i7-12700K Open Ryzen 7 7735HS

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i7-12700K and Ryzen 7 7735HS

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 7 7735HS

The Ryzen 7 7735HS is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 1 April 2023 (2 years ago). It is based on the Rembrandt-HS Refresh (2023) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 4.75 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 6 nm process technology. Socket: FP7. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 22,897 points. Launch price was $299.

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Processing Power

The Core i7-12700K packs 12 cores / 20 threads, while the Ryzen 7 7735HS offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Core i7-12700K has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5 GHz on the Core i7-12700K versus 4.75 GHz on the Ryzen 7 7735HS — a 5.1% clock advantage for the Core i7-12700K (base: 3.6 GHz vs 3.2 GHz). The Core i7-12700K uses the Alder Lake, Golden Cove, Gracemont (2021) architecture (10 nm), while the Ryzen 7 7735HS uses Rembrandt-HS Refresh (2023) (6 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-12700K scores 34,347 against the Ryzen 7 7735HS's 22,897 — a 40% lead for the Core i7-12700K. L3 cache: 25 MB (total) on the Core i7-12700K vs 16 MB (total) on the Ryzen 7 7735HS.

Feature	Core i7-12700K	Ryzen 7 7735HS
Cores / Threads	12 / 20+50%	8 / 16
Boost Clock	5 GHz+5%	4.75 GHz
Base Clock	3.6 GHz+12%	3.2 GHz
L3 Cache	25 MB (total)+56%	16 MB (total)
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)+150%	512 kB (per core)
Process	10 nm	6 nm-40%
Architecture	Alder Lake, Golden Cove, Gracemont (2021)	Rembrandt-HS Refresh (2023)
PassMark	34,347+50%	22,897
Cinebench R23 Multi	—	13,500
Geekbench 6 Single	—	1,900
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	8,800

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i7-12700K uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Ryzen 7 7735HS uses FP7 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches 4800 on the Core i7-12700K versus LPDDR5-6400 on the Ryzen 7 7735HS — 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. Both provide 20 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: Z690,B660 (Core i7-12700K) and SoC (Ryzen 7 7735HS).

Feature	Core i7-12700K	Ryzen 7 7735HS
Socket	LGA1700	FP7
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0+25%	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	4800+95900%	LPDDR5-6400
Max RAM Capacity	128	64 GB+52428700%
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	20	20

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Core i7-12700K has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i7-12700K) vs AMD-V (Ryzen 7 7735HS). Both include integrated graphics — Intel UHD Graphics 770 (Core i7-12700K) and Radeon 680M (Ryzen 7 7735HS) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Ryzen 7 7735HS targets High Performance Laptop. Direct competitor: Core i7-12700K rivals Ryzen 7 5800X.

Feature	Core i7-12700K	Ryzen 7 7735HS
Integrated GPU	Yes	Yes
IGPU Model	Intel UHD Graphics 770	Radeon 680M
Unlocked	Yes	No
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	AMD-V
Target Use	—	High Performance Laptop