Ryzen 7 260 vs Core i9-12900E
Ryzen 7 260
Core i9-12900E
Performance Spectrum - CPU
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.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Ryzen 7 260
Performance Per Dollar Core i9-12900E
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Ryzen 7 260 | Core i9-12900E |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($70) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($500) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Hawk Point (2024−2025) / 4 nm) | ✨ Modern (Alder Lake-S (2022) / 10 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Ryzen 7 260 | Core i9-12900E |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+619%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($70) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($500) |
Performance Check
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.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Ryzen 7 260 and Core i9-12900E
Ryzen 7 260
The Ryzen 7 260 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 6 January 2025 (less than a year ago). It is based on the Hawk Point (2024−2025) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3.8 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: FP8. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 28,339 points. Launch price was $299.
Core i9-12900E
The Core i9-12900E is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 4 January 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture. It features 16 cores and 24 threads. Base frequency is 2.3 GHz, with boost up to 5 GHz. L3 cache: 30 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on 10 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1700. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4, DDR5 Dual-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 28,170 points. Launch price was $299.
Processing Power
The Ryzen 7 260 packs 8 cores / 16 threads, while the Core i9-12900E offers 16 cores / 24 threads — the Core i9-12900E has 8 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5.1 GHz on the Ryzen 7 260 versus 5 GHz on the Core i9-12900E — a 2% clock advantage for the Ryzen 7 260 (base: 3.8 GHz vs 2.3 GHz). The Ryzen 7 260 uses the Hawk Point (2024−2025) architecture (4 nm), while the Core i9-12900E uses Alder Lake-S (2022) (10 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen 7 260 scores 28,339 against the Core i9-12900E's 28,170 — a 0.6% lead for the Ryzen 7 260. L3 cache: 16 MB (total) on the Ryzen 7 260 vs 30 MB (total) on the Core i9-12900E.
| Feature | Ryzen 7 260 | Core i9-12900E |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 8 / 16 | 16 / 24+100% |
| Boost Clock | 5.1 GHz+2% | 5 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.8 GHz+65% | 2.3 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 16 MB (total) | 30 MB (total)+88% |
| L2 Cache | 1 MB (per core) | 1.25 MB (per core)+25% |
| Process | 4 nm-60% | 10 nm |
| Architecture | Hawk Point (2024−2025) | Alder Lake-S (2022) |
| PassMark | 28,339 | 28,170 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | — | 13,420 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 13,107 |
Memory & Platform
The Ryzen 7 260 uses the FP8 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Core i9-12900E uses LGA1700 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR5-5600 memory speed. The Core i9-12900E supports up to 128 GB 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.
| Feature | Ryzen 7 260 | Core i9-12900E |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FP8 | LGA1700 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 4.0 | PCIe 5.0+25% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR5-5600 | DDR5-4800 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 64 GB | 128 GB+100% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | 20 | 20 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Both support AVX-512 instructions, benefiting scientific computing, AI inference, and encryption workloads. Virtualization support: AMD-V (Ryzen 7 260) vs VT-x, VT-d (Core i9-12900E). Both include integrated graphics — Radeon 780M (Ryzen 7 260) and UHD Graphics 770 (Core i9-12900E) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Ryzen 7 260 targets Mobile.
| Feature | Ryzen 7 260 | Core i9-12900E |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | Radeon 780M | UHD Graphics 770 |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | Yes | Yes |
| Virtualization | AMD-V | VT-x, VT-d |
| Target Use | Mobile | — |
Value Analysis
The Ryzen 7 260 launched at $199 MSRP, while the Core i9-12900E debuted at $500. At current prices ($70 vs $500), the Ryzen 7 260 is $430 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Ryzen 7 260 delivers 404.8 pts/$ vs 56.3 pts/$ for the Core i9-12900E — making the Ryzen 7 260 the 151.1% better value option.
| Feature | Ryzen 7 260 | Core i9-12900E |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $199-60% | $500 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $70-86% | $500 |
| Performance per Dollar | 404.8+619% | 56.3 |
| Release Date | 2025 | 2022 |
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