Core i9-12900H vs Ryzen 9 PRO 7940HS

Core i9-12900H vs Ryzen 9 PRO 7940HS Performance Spectrum

Core i9-12900H

14 / 20

27,079

0.0%

27,318

+0.9%

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9965WX

About PassMark

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.

Core i9-12900H vs Ryzen 9 PRO 7940HS FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with GeForce RTX 5090 to isolate CPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

Core i9-12900H vs Ryzen 9 PRO 7940HS: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

Core i9-12900H

2022

Why buy it

✅+3.1% higher Cinebench R23 multi-core.
✅+50% larger total L3 cache (24 MB vs 16 MB).

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 9 PRO 7940HS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Launch MSRP is still $617 MSRP, while Ryzen 9 PRO 7940HS mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌462.5% higher power demand at 45W vs 8W.

Ryzen 9 PRO 7940HS

2023

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +7.5% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Draws 8W instead of 45W, a 37W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (16,000 vs 16,500).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (16 MB vs 24 MB).

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 9 PRO 7940HS better than Core i9-12900H?

It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Ryzen 9 PRO 7940HS is ahead with a 7.5% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Core i9-12900H pulls ahead with 3.1% better Cinebench R23 multi-core. Core i9-12900H also has the bigger cache pool with 50% larger total L3 cache (24 MB vs 16 MB).

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i9-12900H is the stronger fit. You are getting 3.1% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, backed by 14 cores and 20 threads. It also has the larger cache pool with 50% larger total L3 cache (24 MB vs 16 MB).

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

Ryzen 9 PRO 7940HS is the easy recommendation for a fresh desktop build. Ryzen 9 PRO 7940HS comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $617 MSRP, and it still gives you a 7.5% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core i9-12900H only looks good on raw value math because it is a cheap legacy laptop chip, not because it is a real desktop gaming recommendation. It simply does not keep up in modern games, especially when the gap is already 7.5% in the shared gaming data.

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

Ryzen 9 PRO 7940HS makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2023 vs 2022). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Core i9-12900H vs Ryzen 9 PRO 7940HS Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

Core i9-12900H

The Core i9-12900H is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 4 January 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Alder Lake-H (2022) architecture. It features 14 cores and 20 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 5 GHz. L3 cache: 24 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1744. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR4, DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 27,079 points. Launch price was $299.

Ryzen 9 PRO 7940HS

The Ryzen 9 PRO 7940HS is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 13 June 2023 (2 years ago). It is based on the Phoenix-HS (Zen 4) (2023) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 4 GHz, with boost up to 5.2 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB. L2 cache: 8 MB. Built on 4 nm process technology. Socket: FP7/FP8. Thermal design power (TDP): 8 MB + 16 MB. Passmark benchmark score: 27,318 points. Launch price was $299.

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Processing Power

The Core i9-12900H packs 14 cores / 20 threads, while the Ryzen 9 PRO 7940HS offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Core i9-12900H has 6 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5 GHz on the Core i9-12900H versus 5.2 GHz on the Ryzen 9 PRO 7940HS — a 3.9% clock advantage for the Ryzen 9 PRO 7940HS (base: 2.5 GHz vs 4 GHz). The Core i9-12900H uses the Alder Lake-H (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Ryzen 9 PRO 7940HS uses Phoenix-HS (Zen 4) (2023) (4 nm). In PassMark, the Core i9-12900H scores 27,079 against the Ryzen 9 PRO 7940HS's 27,318 — a 0.9% lead for the Ryzen 9 PRO 7940HS. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 16,500 vs 16,000 (3.1% advantage for the Core i9-12900H). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 2,400 vs 2,605, a 8.2% lead for the Ryzen 9 PRO 7940HS that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 12,900 vs 10,348 (22% advantage for the Core i9-12900H). L3 cache: 24 MB (total) on the Core i9-12900H vs 16 MB on the Ryzen 9 PRO 7940HS.

Feature	Core i9-12900H	Ryzen 9 PRO 7940HS
Cores / Threads	14 / 20+75%	8 / 16
Boost Clock	5 GHz	5.2 GHz+4%
Base Clock	2.5 GHz	4 GHz+60%
L3 Cache	24 MB (total)+50%	16 MB
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)	8 MB+540%
Process	Intel 7 nm	4 nm-43%
Architecture	Alder Lake-H (2022)	Phoenix-HS (Zen 4) (2023)
PassMark	27,079	27,318
Cinebench R23 Multi	16,500+3%	16,000
Geekbench 6 Single	2,400	2,605+9%
Geekbench 6 Multi	12,900+25%	10,348

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Memory & Platform

The Core i9-12900H uses the FCBGA1744 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Ryzen 9 PRO 7940HS uses FP7/FP8 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR5-4800 on the Core i9-12900H versus DDR5-5600 on the Ryzen 9 PRO 7940HS — the Ryzen 9 PRO 7940HS supports 16.7% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. Both support up to 64 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 20 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: Intel 600 Series (Mobile) (Core i9-12900H) and SoC (Ryzen 9 PRO 7940HS).

Feature	Core i9-12900H	Ryzen 9 PRO 7940HS
Socket	FCBGA1744	FP7/FP8
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0+25%	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-4800	DDR5-5600+17%
Max RAM Capacity	64 GB	64 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	Yes
PCIe Lanes	20	20

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Advanced Features

Only the Ryzen 9 PRO 7940HS supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Both support Yes virtualization. Both include integrated graphics — Iris Xe Graphics 96EU (Core i9-12900H) and Radeon 780M (Ryzen 9 PRO 7940HS) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i9-12900H targets Mobile.