Ryzen 9 5900HS vs Core i5-12600
Ryzen 9 5900HS
Core i5-12600
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 9 5900HS
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-12600
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Ryzen 9 5900HS | Core i5-12600 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($250) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Cezanne-HS (Zen 3) (2021) / 7 nm) | ✨ Modern (Alder Lake-S (2022) / Intel 7 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Ryzen 9 5900HS | Core i5-12600 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($250) |
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 5900HS and Core i5-12600
Ryzen 9 5900HS
The Ryzen 9 5900HS is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 12 January 2021 (4 years ago). It is based on the Cezanne-HS (Zen 3) (2021) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 4.6 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 7 nm process technology. Socket: FP6. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 21,214 points. Launch price was $299.
Core i5-12600
The Core i5-12600 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in Janeiro 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.3 GHz, with boost up to 4.8 GHz. L3 cache: 18 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: FP7/FP8. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: LPDDR5x, DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 21,383 points. Launch price was $299.
Processing Power
The Ryzen 9 5900HS packs 8 cores / 16 threads, while the Core i5-12600 offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the Ryzen 9 5900HS has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.6 GHz on the Ryzen 9 5900HS versus 4.8 GHz on the Core i5-12600 — a 4.3% clock advantage for the Core i5-12600 (base: 3 GHz vs 3.3 GHz). The Ryzen 9 5900HS uses the Cezanne-HS (Zen 3) (2021) architecture (7 nm), while the Core i5-12600 uses Alder Lake-S (2022) (Intel 7 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen 9 5900HS scores 21,214 against the Core i5-12600's 21,383 — a 0.8% lead for the Core i5-12600. L3 cache: 16 MB (total) on the Ryzen 9 5900HS vs 18 MB (total) on the Core i5-12600.
| Feature | Ryzen 9 5900HS | Core i5-12600 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 8 / 16+33% | 6 / 12 |
| Boost Clock | 4.6 GHz | 4.8 GHz+4% |
| Base Clock | 3 GHz | 3.3 GHz+10% |
| L3 Cache | 16 MB (total) | 18 MB (total)+13% |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB (per core) | 1.25 MB (per core)+150% |
| Process | 7 nm | Intel 7 nm |
| Architecture | Cezanne-HS (Zen 3) (2021) | Alder Lake-S (2022) |
| PassMark | 21,214 | 21,383 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 2,400 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 10,400 |
Memory & Platform
The Ryzen 9 5900HS uses the FP6 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i5-12600 uses FP7/FP8 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Ryzen 9 5900HS | Core i5-12600 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FP6 | FP7/FP8 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 5.0+67% |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR5-4800 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 128 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 20 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Ryzen 9 5900HS) / VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-12600). The Core i5-12600 includes integrated graphics (Intel UHD Graphics 770), while the Ryzen 9 5900HS requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-12600 targets Mainstream Desktop. Direct competitor: Core i5-12600 rivals Ryzen 5 5600.
| Feature | Ryzen 9 5900HS | Core i5-12600 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | Intel UHD Graphics 770 |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x, VT-d |
| Target Use | — | Mainstream Desktop |
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