Ryzen 9 4900H vs Core i5-12400
Ryzen 9 4900H
Core i5-12400
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
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-12400
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Ryzen 9 4900H | Core i5-12400 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | Balanced gaming performance | Balanced gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($195) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Renoir-H (Zen 2) (2020) / 7 nm) | ✨ Modern (Alder Lake-S (2022) / Intel 7 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Ryzen 9 4900H | Core i5-12400 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($195) |
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 9 4900H and Core i5-12400
Ryzen 9 4900H
The Ryzen 9 4900H is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 16 March 2020 (5 years ago). It is based on the Renoir-H (Zen 2) (2020) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3.3 GHz, with boost up to 4.4 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 7 nm process technology. Socket: FP6. Thermal design power (TDP): 54 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 18,887 points. Launch price was $299.
Core i5-12400
The Core i5-12400 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 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 4.4 GHz. L3 cache: 18 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1700. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 18,794 points. Launch price was $299.
Processing Power
The Ryzen 9 4900H packs 8 cores / 16 threads, while the Core i5-12400 offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the Ryzen 9 4900H has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.4 GHz on the Ryzen 9 4900H versus 4.4 GHz on the Core i5-12400 — identical boost frequencies (base: 3.3 GHz vs 2.5 GHz). The Ryzen 9 4900H uses the Renoir-H (Zen 2) (2020) architecture (7 nm), while the Core i5-12400 uses Alder Lake-S (2022) (Intel 7 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen 9 4900H scores 18,887 against the Core i5-12400's 18,794 — a 0.5% lead for the Ryzen 9 4900H. L3 cache: 8 MB (total) on the Ryzen 9 4900H vs 18 MB (total) on the Core i5-12400.
| Feature | Ryzen 9 4900H | Core i5-12400 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 8 / 16+33% | 6 / 12 |
| Boost Clock | 4.4 GHz | 4.4 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.3 GHz+32% | 2.5 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 8 MB (total) | 18 MB (total)+125% |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB (per core) | 1.25 MB (per core)+150% |
| Process | 7 nm | Intel 7 nm |
| Architecture | Renoir-H (Zen 2) (2020) | Alder Lake-S (2022) |
| PassMark | 18,887 | 18,794 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | — | 12,400 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 2,381 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 10,632 |
Memory & Platform
The Ryzen 9 4900H uses the FP6 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i5-12400 uses LGA1700 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Ryzen 9 4900H | Core i5-12400 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FP6 | LGA1700 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 5.0+67% |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 128 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 20 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Ryzen 9 4900H) / VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-12400). The Core i5-12400 includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 730), while the Ryzen 9 4900H requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-12400 targets Gaming Performance/Value. Direct competitor: Core i5-12400 rivals Ryzen 5 5600.
| Feature | Ryzen 9 4900H | Core i5-12400 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | UHD Graphics 730 |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x, VT-d, EPT |
| Target Use | — | Gaming Performance/Value |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
You May Also Compare
Similar CPU comparisons based on Ryzen 9 4900H and Core i5-12400
