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

✅+5.3% higher PassMark.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (25 MB vs 32 MB).
❌Launch MSRP is still $409 MSRP, while Ryzen 7 8745HX mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌127.3% higher power demand at 125W vs 55W.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Ryzen 7 8745HX.

Ryzen 7 8745HX

2025

Why buy it

✅+28% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 25 MB).
✅Draws 55W instead of 125W, a 70W reduction.
✅40% more PCIe lanes (28 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Laptop Integrated), unlike Core i7-12700K.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (32,620 vs 34,347).

Core i7-12700K

2021

Ryzen 7 8745HX

2025

Why buy it

✅+5.3% higher PassMark.

Why buy it

✅+28% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 25 MB).
✅Draws 55W instead of 125W, a 70W reduction.
✅40% more PCIe lanes (28 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Laptop Integrated), unlike Core i7-12700K.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (25 MB vs 32 MB).
❌Launch MSRP is still $409 MSRP, while Ryzen 7 8745HX mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌127.3% higher power demand at 125W vs 55W.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Ryzen 7 8745HX.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (32,620 vs 34,347).

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 7 8745HX better than Core i7-12700K?

It depends on what matters more to you. For gaming, Ryzen 7 8745HX is ahead with a 2.9% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Core i7-12700K pulls ahead with 5.3% better PassMark. Ryzen 7 8745HX also has the bigger cache pool with 28% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 25 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 5.3% better PassMark, backed by 12 cores and 20 threads.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Ryzen 7 8745HX is still the faster CPU overall, but Core i7-12700K makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. Ryzen 7 8745HX is at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $409 MSRP, and it gives you a 2.9% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. The trade-off is that Core i7-12700K is still stronger for heavier multi-core work with 5.3% better PassMark. Core i7-12700K is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (84.0 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), which is why it is easier to justify for price-conscious builds on paper.

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

Ryzen 7 8745HX is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2025 vs 2021) and 28% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 25 MB). 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 8745HX Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i7-12700K	Ryzen 7 8745HX
1080p
low	314 FPS	254 FPS
medium	295 FPS	236 FPS
high	246 FPS	204 FPS
ultra	193 FPS	175 FPS
1440p
low	269 FPS	218 FPS
medium	225 FPS	183 FPS
high	182 FPS	152 FPS
ultra	145 FPS	133 FPS
4K
low	170 FPS	152 FPS
medium	142 FPS	127 FPS
high	109 FPS	99 FPS
ultra	96 FPS	86 FPS

Open Core i7-12700K Open Ryzen 7 8745HX

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i7-12700K	Ryzen 7 8745HX
1080p
low	630 FPS	620 FPS
medium	533 FPS	518 FPS
high	450 FPS	428 FPS
ultra	410 FPS	387 FPS
1440p
low	536 FPS	529 FPS
medium	475 FPS	463 FPS
high	403 FPS	388 FPS
ultra	349 FPS	332 FPS
4K
low	312 FPS	310 FPS
medium	280 FPS	277 FPS
high	266 FPS	261 FPS
ultra	234 FPS	229 FPS

Open Core i7-12700K Open Ryzen 7 8745HX

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i7-12700K	Ryzen 7 8745HX
1080p
low	797 FPS	816 FPS
medium	633 FPS	735 FPS
high	556 FPS	653 FPS
ultra	472 FPS	560 FPS
1440p
low	704 FPS	701 FPS
medium	565 FPS	564 FPS
high	490 FPS	490 FPS
ultra	422 FPS	415 FPS
4K
low	510 FPS	486 FPS
medium	425 FPS	405 FPS
high	381 FPS	364 FPS
ultra	321 FPS	304 FPS

Open Core i7-12700K Open Ryzen 7 8745HX

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i7-12700K	Ryzen 7 8745HX
1080p
low	859 FPS	816 FPS
medium	802 FPS	816 FPS
high	699 FPS	816 FPS
ultra	628 FPS	772 FPS
1440p
low	760 FPS	816 FPS
medium	678 FPS	755 FPS
high	590 FPS	663 FPS
ultra	519 FPS	579 FPS
4K
low	535 FPS	568 FPS
medium	488 FPS	509 FPS
high	437 FPS	459 FPS
ultra	384 FPS	399 FPS

Open Core i7-12700K Open Ryzen 7 8745HX

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i7-12700K and Ryzen 7 8745HX

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 8745HX

The Ryzen 7 8745HX is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 23 April 2025 (less than a year ago). It is based on the Dragon Range (2025) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 5.1 GHz. L3 cache: 32 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 5 nm process technology. Socket: FL1. Thermal design power (TDP): 55 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 32,620 points. Launch price was $499.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i7-12700K packs 12 cores / 20 threads, while the Ryzen 7 8745HX 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 8745HX — a 2% clock advantage for the Ryzen 7 8745HX (base: 3.6 GHz vs 3.6 GHz). The Core i7-12700K uses the Alder Lake, Golden Cove, Gracemont (2021) architecture (10 nm), while the Ryzen 7 8745HX uses Dragon Range (2025) (5 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-12700K scores 34,347 against the Ryzen 7 8745HX's 32,620 — a 5.2% lead for the Core i7-12700K. L3 cache: 25 MB (total) on the Core i7-12700K vs 32 MB (total) on the Ryzen 7 8745HX.

Feature	Core i7-12700K	Ryzen 7 8745HX
Cores / Threads	12 / 20+50%	8 / 16
Boost Clock	5 GHz	5.1 GHz+2%
Base Clock	3.6 GHz	3.6 GHz
L3 Cache	25 MB (total)	32 MB (total)+28%
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)+25%	1 MB (per core)
Process	10 nm	5 nm-50%
Architecture	Alder Lake, Golden Cove, Gracemont (2021)	Dragon Range (2025)
PassMark	34,347+5%	32,620
Cinebench R23 Multi	—	18,000
Geekbench 6 Single	—	2,700
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	13,500

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i7-12700K uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Ryzen 7 8745HX uses FL1 (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 8745HX — 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. PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i7-12700K) vs 28 (Ryzen 7 8745HX) — the Ryzen 7 8745HX offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Z690,B660 (Core i7-12700K) and FL1 (Ryzen 7 8745HX).

Feature	Core i7-12700K	Ryzen 7 8745HX
Socket	LGA1700	FL1
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0+25%	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	4800+95900%	DDR5-5200
Max RAM Capacity	128	64 GB+52428700%
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	Yes	No
PCIe Lanes	20	28+40%

🔧

Advanced Features

Both processors feature an unlocked multiplier for overclocking. Only the Ryzen 7 8745HX 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 8745HX). Both include integrated graphics — Intel UHD Graphics 770 (Core i7-12700K) and Radeon 610M (Ryzen 7 8745HX) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Ryzen 7 8745HX targets High-end Gaming Laptop. Direct competitor: Core i7-12700K rivals Ryzen 7 5800X; Ryzen 7 8745HX rivals Core i7-14700HX.

Feature	Core i7-12700K	Ryzen 7 8745HX
Integrated GPU	Yes	Yes
IGPU Model	Intel UHD Graphics 770	Radeon 610M
Unlocked	Yes	Yes
AVX-512	No	Yes
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	AMD-V
Target Use	—	High-end Gaming Laptop