Ryzen 9 5900H vs Core i7-1260U
Ryzen 9 5900H
Core i7-1260U
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 i7-1260U
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Ryzen 9 5900H | Core i7-1260U |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Cezanne U (Zen 3) (2021−2022) / 7 nm) | ✨ Modern (Alder Lake-U (2022) / Intel 7 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Ryzen 9 5900H | Core i7-1260U |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
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 5900H and Core i7-1260U
Ryzen 9 5900H
The Ryzen 9 5900H is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 7 January 2021 (4 years ago). It is based on the Cezanne U (Zen 3) (2021−2022) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3.3 GHz, with boost up to 4.6 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB. L2 cache: 4 MB. Built on 7 nm process technology. Socket: FP6. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 13,510 points. Launch price was $149.
Core i7-1260U
The Core i7-1260U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 23 February 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Alder Lake-U (2022) architecture. It features 10 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 1.1 GHz, with boost up to 4.7 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1781. Thermal design power (TDP): 9.5 MB + 12 MB. Memory support: DDR4, DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 13,614 points. Launch price was $149.
Processing Power
The Ryzen 9 5900H packs 8 cores / 16 threads, while the Core i7-1260U offers 10 cores / 12 threads — the Core i7-1260U has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.6 GHz on the Ryzen 9 5900H versus 4.7 GHz on the Core i7-1260U — a 2.2% clock advantage for the Core i7-1260U (base: 3.3 GHz vs 1.1 GHz). The Ryzen 9 5900H uses the Cezanne U (Zen 3) (2021−2022) architecture (7 nm), while the Core i7-1260U uses Alder Lake-U (2022) (Intel 7 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen 9 5900H scores 13,510 against the Core i7-1260U's 13,614 — a 0.8% lead for the Core i7-1260U. L3 cache: 16 MB on the Ryzen 9 5900H vs 12 MB (total) on the Core i7-1260U.
| Feature | Ryzen 9 5900H | Core i7-1260U |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 8 / 16 | 10 / 12+25% |
| Boost Clock | 4.6 GHz | 4.7 GHz+2% |
| Base Clock | 3.3 GHz+200% | 1.1 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 16 MB+33% | 12 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 4 MB+220% | 1.25 MB (per core) |
| Process | 7 nm | Intel 7 nm |
| Architecture | Cezanne U (Zen 3) (2021−2022) | Alder Lake-U (2022) |
| PassMark | 13,510 | 13,614 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | — | 8,381 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 2,294 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 8,140 |
Memory & Platform
The Ryzen 9 5900H uses the FP6 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Core i7-1260U uses FCBGA1781 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Ryzen 9 5900H | Core i7-1260U |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FP6 | FCBGA1781 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 4.0 | PCIe 5.0+25% |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR5-4800 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 64 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 14 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Ryzen 9 5900H) / VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i7-1260U). The Core i7-1260U includes integrated graphics (Iris Xe Graphics (96 EU)), while the Ryzen 9 5900H requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i7-1260U targets Productivity. Direct competitor: Core i7-1260U rivals Core i7-1165G7.
| Feature | Ryzen 9 5900H | Core i7-1260U |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | Iris Xe Graphics (96 EU) |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x, VT-d, EPT |
| Target Use | — | Productivity |
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