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

✅+8.5% higher PassMark.
✅+56.3% larger total L3 cache (25 MB vs 16 MB).

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 84.0 vs 96.2 PassMark/$ ($409 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).
❌92.3% higher power demand at 125W vs 65W.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Ryzen 7 8700G.

Ryzen 7 8700G

2024

Why buy it

✅Costs $80 less on MSRP ($329 MSRP vs $409 MSRP).
✅Delivers 14.6% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 96.2 vs 84.0 PassMark/$ ($329 MSRP vs $409 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 125W, a 60W reduction.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Wraith Spire), unlike Core i7-12700K.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (31,649 vs 34,347).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (16 MB vs 25 MB).

Core i7-12700K

2021

Ryzen 7 8700G

2024

Why buy it

✅+8.5% higher PassMark.
✅+56.3% larger total L3 cache (25 MB vs 16 MB).

Why buy it

✅Costs $80 less on MSRP ($329 MSRP vs $409 MSRP).
✅Delivers 14.6% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 96.2 vs 84.0 PassMark/$ ($329 MSRP vs $409 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 125W, a 60W reduction.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Wraith Spire), unlike Core i7-12700K.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 84.0 vs 96.2 PassMark/$ ($409 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).
❌92.3% higher power demand at 125W vs 65W.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Ryzen 7 8700G.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (31,649 vs 34,347).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (16 MB vs 25 MB).

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 7 8700G better than Core i7-12700K?

It depends on what matters more to you. For gaming, Ryzen 7 8700G is ahead with a 0.5% average FPS lead across 2 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Core i7-12700K pulls ahead with 8.5% better PassMark. Core i7-12700K also has the bigger cache pool with 56.3% larger total L3 cache (25 MB vs 16 MB).

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 8.5% 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?

Ryzen 7 8700G is the smarter buy today. Ryzen 7 8700G is $80 cheaper on MSRP at $329 MSRP versus $409 MSRP, and it gives you a 0.5% average FPS lead across 2 shared CPU game tests in our data. The trade-off is that Core i7-12700K is still stronger for heavier multi-core work with 8.5% better PassMark. It is also 14.6% better value on MSRP (96.2 vs 84.0 PassMark/$), 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 LGA1700 + DDR5 setup, Core i7-12700K can still make sense as a platform-matched option because it avoids a motherboard and RAM swap, but on MSRP alone you would want to find it meaningfully cheaper in real-world listings before that path becomes easy to justify.

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

Ryzen 7 8700G 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 7 8700G Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i7-12700K	Ryzen 7 8700G
1080p
low	314 FPS	267 FPS
medium	295 FPS	240 FPS
high	246 FPS	202 FPS
ultra	193 FPS	174 FPS
1440p
low	269 FPS	236 FPS
medium	225 FPS	192 FPS
high	182 FPS	157 FPS
ultra	145 FPS	137 FPS
4K
low	170 FPS	163 FPS
medium	142 FPS	135 FPS
high	109 FPS	104 FPS
ultra	96 FPS	91 FPS

Open Core i7-12700K Open Ryzen 7 8700G

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i7-12700K	Ryzen 7 8700G
1080p
low	630 FPS	483 FPS
medium	533 FPS	398 FPS
high	450 FPS	343 FPS
ultra	410 FPS	305 FPS
1440p
low	536 FPS	423 FPS
medium	475 FPS	367 FPS
high	403 FPS	317 FPS
ultra	349 FPS	269 FPS
4K
low	312 FPS	280 FPS
medium	280 FPS	254 FPS
high	266 FPS	240 FPS
ultra	234 FPS	206 FPS

Open Core i7-12700K Open Ryzen 7 8700G

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i7-12700K	Ryzen 7 8700G
1080p
low	797 FPS	791 FPS
medium	633 FPS	791 FPS
high	556 FPS	690 FPS
ultra	472 FPS	581 FPS
1440p
low	704 FPS	730 FPS
medium	565 FPS	609 FPS
high	490 FPS	516 FPS
ultra	422 FPS	435 FPS
4K
low	510 FPS	506 FPS
medium	425 FPS	441 FPS
high	381 FPS	392 FPS
ultra	321 FPS	329 FPS

Open Core i7-12700K Open Ryzen 7 8700G

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i7-12700K	Ryzen 7 8700G
1080p
low	859 FPS	791 FPS
medium	802 FPS	791 FPS
high	699 FPS	791 FPS
ultra	628 FPS	756 FPS
1440p
low	760 FPS	791 FPS
medium	678 FPS	764 FPS
high	590 FPS	661 FPS
ultra	519 FPS	574 FPS
4K
low	535 FPS	579 FPS
medium	488 FPS	514 FPS
high	437 FPS	459 FPS
ultra	384 FPS	395 FPS

Open Core i7-12700K Open Ryzen 7 8700G

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i7-12700K and Ryzen 7 8700G

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 8700G

The Ryzen 7 8700G is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 8 January 2024 (1 year ago). It is based on the Phoenix (2023−2024) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 4.2 GHz, with boost up to 5.1 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: 31,649 points. Launch price was $329.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i7-12700K packs 12 cores / 20 threads, while the Ryzen 7 8700G offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Core i7-12700K has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5 GHz on the Core i7-12700K versus 5.1 GHz on the Ryzen 7 8700G — a 2% clock advantage for the Ryzen 7 8700G (base: 3.6 GHz vs 4.2 GHz). The Core i7-12700K uses the Alder Lake, Golden Cove, Gracemont (2021) architecture (10 nm), while the Ryzen 7 8700G uses Phoenix (2023−2024) (4 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-12700K scores 34,347 against the Ryzen 7 8700G's 31,649 — a 8.2% lead for the Core i7-12700K. L3 cache: 25 MB (total) on the Core i7-12700K vs 16 MB (total) on the Ryzen 7 8700G.

Feature	Core i7-12700K	Ryzen 7 8700G
Cores / Threads	12 / 20+50%	8 / 16
Boost Clock	5 GHz	5.1 GHz+2%
Base Clock	3.6 GHz	4.2 GHz+17%
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)	Phoenix (2023−2024)
PassMark	34,347+9%	31,649
Cinebench R23 Multi	—	18,000
Geekbench 6 Single	—	2,720
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	14,326

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i7-12700K uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Ryzen 7 8700G 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 7 8700G — the Core i7-12700K supports 199.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Ryzen 7 8700G 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. Both provide 20 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: Z690,B660 (Core i7-12700K) and X670,B650,A620 (Ryzen 7 8700G).

Feature	Core i7-12700K	Ryzen 7 8700G
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	No
PCIe Lanes	20	20

🔧

Advanced Features

Both processors feature an unlocked multiplier for overclocking. Only the Ryzen 7 8700G supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i7-12700K) vs AMD-V (Ryzen 7 8700G). Both include integrated graphics — Intel UHD Graphics 770 (Core i7-12700K) and Radeon 780M (Ryzen 7 8700G) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Ryzen 7 8700G targets High-end Desktop APU. Direct competitor: Core i7-12700K rivals Ryzen 7 5800X; Ryzen 7 8700G rivals Core i7-13700.

Feature	Core i7-12700K	Ryzen 7 8700G
Integrated GPU	Yes	Yes
IGPU Model	Intel UHD Graphics 770	Radeon 780M
Unlocked	Yes	Yes
AVX-512	No	Yes
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	AMD-V
Target Use	—	High-end Desktop APU

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i7-12700K launched at $409 MSRP, while the Ryzen 7 8700G debuted at $329. On MSRP ($409 vs $329), the Ryzen 7 8700G is $80 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i7-12700K delivers 84.0 pts/$ vs 96.2 pts/$ for the Ryzen 7 8700G — making the Ryzen 7 8700G the 13.6% better value option.