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: +92.9% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+212.5% larger total L3 cache (25 MB vs 8 MB).
✅25% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 16) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $409 MSRP, while Ryzen Z2 Go mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌6150% higher power demand at 125W vs 2W.

Ryzen Z2 Go

2025

Why buy it

✅Draws 2W instead of 125W, a 123W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-12700K across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (12,188 vs 34,347).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (8 MB vs 25 MB).

Core i7-12700K

2021

Ryzen Z2 Go

2025

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +92.9% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+212.5% larger total L3 cache (25 MB vs 8 MB).
✅25% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 16) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Why buy it

✅Draws 2W instead of 125W, a 123W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $409 MSRP, while Ryzen Z2 Go mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌6150% higher power demand at 125W vs 2W.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-12700K across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (12,188 vs 34,347).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (8 MB vs 25 MB).

Quick Answers

So, is Core i7-12700K better than Ryzen Z2 Go?

Yes. Core i7-12700K is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 92.9% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data and 181.8% 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 92.9% more average FPS across 4 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 181.8% better PassMark, backed by 12 cores and 20 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 212.5% larger total L3 cache (25 MB vs 8 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 $409 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it gives you a 92.9% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (84.0 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), 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 Z2 Go is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2025 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 Z2 Go Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i7-12700K	Ryzen Z2 Go
1080p
low	314 FPS	176 FPS
medium	295 FPS	139 FPS
high	246 FPS	112 FPS
ultra	193 FPS	89 FPS
1440p
low	269 FPS	145 FPS
medium	225 FPS	113 FPS
high	182 FPS	91 FPS
ultra	145 FPS	73 FPS
4K
low	170 FPS	77 FPS
medium	142 FPS	65 FPS
high	109 FPS	52 FPS
ultra	96 FPS	40 FPS

Open Core i7-12700K Open Ryzen Z2 Go

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i7-12700K	Ryzen Z2 Go
1080p
low	630 FPS	286 FPS
medium	533 FPS	241 FPS
high	450 FPS	216 FPS
ultra	410 FPS	184 FPS
1440p
low	536 FPS	249 FPS
medium	475 FPS	213 FPS
high	403 FPS	194 FPS
ultra	349 FPS	163 FPS
4K
low	312 FPS	195 FPS
medium	280 FPS	172 FPS
high	266 FPS	143 FPS
ultra	234 FPS	119 FPS

Open Core i7-12700K Open Ryzen Z2 Go

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i7-12700K	Ryzen Z2 Go
1080p
low	797 FPS	305 FPS
medium	633 FPS	305 FPS
high	556 FPS	305 FPS
ultra	472 FPS	305 FPS
1440p
low	704 FPS	305 FPS
medium	565 FPS	305 FPS
high	490 FPS	305 FPS
ultra	422 FPS	305 FPS
4K
low	510 FPS	305 FPS
medium	425 FPS	305 FPS
high	381 FPS	277 FPS
ultra	321 FPS	220 FPS

Open Core i7-12700K Open Ryzen Z2 Go

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i7-12700K	Ryzen Z2 Go
1080p
low	859 FPS	305 FPS
medium	802 FPS	305 FPS
high	699 FPS	305 FPS
ultra	628 FPS	305 FPS
1440p
low	760 FPS	305 FPS
medium	678 FPS	305 FPS
high	590 FPS	305 FPS
ultra	519 FPS	305 FPS
4K
low	535 FPS	305 FPS
medium	488 FPS	305 FPS
high	437 FPS	305 FPS
ultra	384 FPS	305 FPS

Open Core i7-12700K Open Ryzen Z2 Go

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i7-12700K and Ryzen Z2 Go

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 Z2 Go

The Ryzen Z2 Go is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 6 January 2025 (less than a year ago). It is based on the Rembrandt R (2025) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 4.3 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB. L2 cache: 2 MB. Built on 6 nm process technology. Thermal design power (TDP): 2 MB + 8 MB. Passmark benchmark score: 12,188 points. Launch price was $149.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i7-12700K packs 12 cores / 20 threads, while the Ryzen Z2 Go offers 4 cores / 8 threads — the Core i7-12700K has 8 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5 GHz on the Core i7-12700K versus 4.3 GHz on the Ryzen Z2 Go — a 15.1% clock advantage for the Core i7-12700K (base: 3.6 GHz vs 3 GHz). The Core i7-12700K uses the Alder Lake, Golden Cove, Gracemont (2021) architecture (10 nm), while the Ryzen Z2 Go uses Rembrandt R (2025) (6 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-12700K scores 34,347 against the Ryzen Z2 Go's 12,188 — a 95.2% lead for the Core i7-12700K. L3 cache: 25 MB (total) on the Core i7-12700K vs 8 MB on the Ryzen Z2 Go.

Feature	Core i7-12700K	Ryzen Z2 Go
Cores / Threads	12 / 20+200%	4 / 8
Boost Clock	5 GHz+16%	4.3 GHz
Base Clock	3.6 GHz+20%	3 GHz
L3 Cache	25 MB (total)+213%	8 MB
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)	2 MB+60%
Process	10 nm	6 nm-40%
Architecture	Alder Lake, Golden Cove, Gracemont (2021)	Rembrandt R (2025)
PassMark	34,347+182%	12,188
Cinebench R23 Multi	—	5,802
Geekbench 6 Single	—	1,842
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	6,073

🧠

Memory & Platform

Maximum memory speed reaches 4800 on the Core i7-12700K versus LPDDR5-6400 on the Ryzen Z2 Go — 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 16 (Ryzen Z2 Go) — the Core i7-12700K offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Z690,B660 (Core i7-12700K) and Rembrandt-R (Ryzen Z2 Go).

Feature	Core i7-12700K	Ryzen Z2 Go
Socket	LGA1700	—
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+25%	16

🔧

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 SVM (Ryzen Z2 Go). Both include integrated graphics — Intel UHD Graphics 770 (Core i7-12700K) and Radeon 680M (Ryzen Z2 Go) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Ryzen Z2 Go targets Budget. Direct competitor: Core i7-12700K rivals Ryzen 7 5800X; Ryzen Z2 Go rivals Core Ultra 5 135U.