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: +32.2% higher average FPS across 2 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 9 6900HS mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌257.1% higher power demand at 125W vs 35W.

Ryzen 9 6900HS

2022

Why buy it

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

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-12700K across 2 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (23,040 vs 34,347).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (16 MB vs 25 MB).

Core i7-12700K

2021

Ryzen 9 6900HS

2022

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +32.2% higher average FPS across 2 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 9 6900HS 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 2 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (23,040 vs 34,347).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (16 MB vs 25 MB).

Quick Answers

So, is Core i7-12700K better than Ryzen 9 6900HS?

Yes. Core i7-12700K is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 32.2% average FPS lead across 2 shared CPU game tests in our data and 49.1% 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 32.2% more average FPS across 2 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 49.1% 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 $409 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it gives you a 32.2% average FPS lead across 2 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (84.0 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), 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 9 6900HS is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2022 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 9 6900HS Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i7-12700K	Ryzen 9 6900HS
1080p
low	314 FPS	251 FPS
medium	295 FPS	234 FPS
high	246 FPS	197 FPS
ultra	193 FPS	169 FPS
1440p
low	269 FPS	220 FPS
medium	225 FPS	186 FPS
high	182 FPS	152 FPS
ultra	145 FPS	133 FPS
4K
low	170 FPS	154 FPS
medium	142 FPS	131 FPS
high	109 FPS	101 FPS
ultra	96 FPS	89 FPS

Open Core i7-12700K Open Ryzen 9 6900HS

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i7-12700K	Ryzen 9 6900HS
1080p
low	630 FPS	441 FPS
medium	533 FPS	370 FPS
high	450 FPS	322 FPS
ultra	410 FPS	287 FPS
1440p
low	536 FPS	370 FPS
medium	475 FPS	323 FPS
high	403 FPS	288 FPS
ultra	349 FPS	247 FPS
4K
low	312 FPS	255 FPS
medium	280 FPS	229 FPS
high	266 FPS	215 FPS
ultra	234 FPS	186 FPS

Open Core i7-12700K Open Ryzen 9 6900HS

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i7-12700K	Ryzen 9 6900HS
1080p
low	797 FPS	576 FPS
medium	633 FPS	564 FPS
high	556 FPS	485 FPS
ultra	472 FPS	388 FPS
1440p
low	704 FPS	576 FPS
medium	565 FPS	510 FPS
high	490 FPS	437 FPS
ultra	422 FPS	355 FPS
4K
low	510 FPS	432 FPS
medium	425 FPS	368 FPS
high	381 FPS	323 FPS
ultra	321 FPS	262 FPS

Open Core i7-12700K Open Ryzen 9 6900HS

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i7-12700K	Ryzen 9 6900HS
1080p
low	859 FPS	576 FPS
medium	802 FPS	576 FPS
high	699 FPS	576 FPS
ultra	628 FPS	576 FPS
1440p
low	760 FPS	576 FPS
medium	678 FPS	576 FPS
high	590 FPS	576 FPS
ultra	519 FPS	513 FPS
4K
low	535 FPS	536 FPS
medium	488 FPS	489 FPS
high	437 FPS	438 FPS
ultra	384 FPS	379 FPS

Open Core i7-12700K Open Ryzen 9 6900HS

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i7-12700K and Ryzen 9 6900HS

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 9 6900HS

The Ryzen 9 6900HS is manufactured by AMD. It was released in Janeiro 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Rembrandt-H (Zen 3+) (2022) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3.3 GHz, with boost up to 4.9 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB (total). L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 6 nm process technology. Socket: FP7. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 23,040 points. Launch price was $299.

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Processing Power

The Core i7-12700K packs 12 cores / 20 threads, while the Ryzen 9 6900HS offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Core i7-12700K has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5 GHz on the Core i7-12700K versus 4.9 GHz on the Ryzen 9 6900HS — a 2% clock advantage for the Core i7-12700K (base: 3.6 GHz vs 3.3 GHz). The Core i7-12700K uses the Alder Lake, Golden Cove, Gracemont (2021) architecture (10 nm), while the Ryzen 9 6900HS uses Rembrandt-H (Zen 3+) (2022) (6 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-12700K scores 34,347 against the Ryzen 9 6900HS's 23,040 — a 39.4% lead for the Core i7-12700K. L3 cache: 25 MB (total) on the Core i7-12700K vs 16 MB (total) on the Ryzen 9 6900HS.

Feature	Core i7-12700K	Ryzen 9 6900HS
Cores / Threads	12 / 20+50%	8 / 16
Boost Clock	5 GHz+2%	4.9 GHz
Base Clock	3.6 GHz+9%	3.3 GHz
L3 Cache	25 MB (total)+56%	16 MB (total)
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)+150%	512K (per core)
Process	10 nm	6 nm-40%
Architecture	Alder Lake, Golden Cove, Gracemont (2021)	Rembrandt-H (Zen 3+) (2022)
PassMark	34,347+49%	23,040
Cinebench R23 Multi	—	13,445
Geekbench 6 Single	—	1,854
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	8,732

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Memory & Platform

The Core i7-12700K uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Ryzen 9 6900HS uses FP7 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches 4800 on the Core i7-12700K versus DDR5-4800 on the Ryzen 9 6900HS — 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 FP7 (Ryzen 9 6900HS).

Feature	Core i7-12700K	Ryzen 9 6900HS
Socket	LGA1700	FP7
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0+25%	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	4800+95900%	DDR5-4800
Max RAM Capacity	128	64 GB+52428700%
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	Yes	No
PCIe Lanes	20	20

🔧

Advanced Features

Both processors feature an unlocked multiplier for overclocking. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i7-12700K) vs AMD-V (Ryzen 9 6900HS). Both include integrated graphics — Intel UHD Graphics 770 (Core i7-12700K) and Radeon 680M (Ryzen 9 6900HS) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: Core i7-12700K rivals Ryzen 7 5800X.