AMD Athlon Silver 10 vs Intel Core i9-12900E Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark database reveals a fundamental performance asymmetry between the AMD Athlon Silver 10 and the Intel Core i9-12900E. These are not competing in the same performance class, and the recorded data confirms this from the first comparison.

The AMD Athlon Silver 10 posts an average benchmark score of 6849, while the Intel Core i9-12900E records an average of 6611. Despite the Intel part's higher core and thread count, the Athlon's average is slightly higher. However, this average masks the real story, because the two processors are tested on entirely different benchmark suites. The Athlon Silver 10 is measured on PassMark workloads, while the Core i9-12900E is measured on Cinebench and Geekbench workloads. Direct cross-suite comparisons are not possible from the database.

Looking at the Athlon Silver 10's PassMark results, the strongest showing comes in data compression, where it scores 42492. This is a dominant result for a 2-core, 2-thread processor. Data encryption returns 2125, extended instructions score 2747, and floating point math reaches 5936. The integer math score is 9354, and the multithread score is 3543. Single-thread performance is recorded at 2089. The find prime numbers score is only 13, and physics processing returns 210. Random string sorting completes at 4736.

The Intel Core i9-12900E, by contrast, is measured on Cinebench R15, R20, R23, and Geekbench. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score is 23529, which is a massive result. The single-core R23 score is 3321. In Cinebench R20, multi-core reaches 9882 and single-core 1394. The R15 multi-core score is 2371, with single-core at 334. Geekbench multi-core is 10280, and single-core is 1775.

The nearest rivals in the database provide context for each part. The Athlon Silver 10 sits at the 63rd percentile of all CPUs. Its closest rival is the AMD Athlon X4 970 with an identical average score of 6850 (0% delta). The Intel Core i3-1115G4 also matches at 6851 (0% delta). The Intel Xeon W-2195 trails at 6892 (-0.6%), and the Intel Xeon Gold 6154 is ahead at 6803 (+0.7%). These deltas are negligible, meaning the Athlon Silver 10 performs in a tight cluster with those four processors.

The Core i9-12900E sits at the 62nd percentile. Its closest rival is the Intel Pentium Gold G6405 at 6605 (+0.1%), and the Intel Core i9-10940X also at 6605 (+0.1%). The Intel Core i5-13500E trails at 6586 (+0.4%), and the Intel Core i5-13400E is ahead at 6638 (-0.4%). Again, all deltas are near zero, placing the 12900E in a very narrow performance band.

The data shows no head-to-head benchmark entries, and the win count is zero for both parts. This means the database does not contain a direct comparison test between these two specific processors. The analysis must therefore rely on the separate benchmark suites and the architectural facts recorded.

The Verdict

The recorded data points to a clear conclusion: the Intel Core i9-12900E is the far more capable processor for heavy multi-threaded workloads, while the AMD Athlon Silver 10 is a low-power, efficient part for light tasks. The choice depends entirely on the intended use case.

The Core i9-12900E has 16 cores and 24 threads, a 65 TDP, and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 23529 is exceptional and reflects a desktop-class processor built for sustained compute. The Athlon Silver 10 has 2 cores and 2 threads, a 15 TDP, and a boost clock of 3.50 GHz. Its PassMark multithread score of 3543 is modest.

For anyone needing multi-core rendering, compilation, or heavy parallel processing, the database clearly favors the Intel part. The 12900E's 30 MB of shared L3 cache and 1.25 MB L2 per core provide ample data locality for large working sets. The Athlon Silver 10's 2 MB shared L3 cache and 512 KB L2 per core are suited to small, bursty workloads.

For ultra-portable or battery-constrained systems, the Athlon Silver 10 is the sensible pick. Its 15 TDP is a fraction of the Intel part's 65 TDP, and its 6 nm TSMC process node indicates modern efficiency. The Intel part uses a 10 nm Intel process with a 215 mm² die, compared to the Athlon's 100 mm² die. The Athlon is also on the AMD Socket FT6, a mobile platform, while the Intel part is on Intel Socket 1700, a desktop platform.

The percentile rankings are nearly identical (63rd for AMD, 62nd for Intel), which suggests that within their respective benchmark pools, both parts are mid-pack performers. Neither is a top-tier chip, and the database places them in the same general percentile band despite the massive core-count difference.

The verdict is straightforward: the Core i9-12900E wins for compute-heavy desktop tasks, and the Athlon Silver 10 wins for efficiency-focused mobile use. There is no scenario in the data where the Athlon outperforms the Intel part in raw throughput.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between these two processors is substantial. The AMD Athlon Silver 10 uses the Zen 2 architecture, with the Mendocino codename. It is fabricated on a 6 nm process at TSMC, with a die size of 100 mm². The CPU features 2 cores and 2 threads, with no simultaneous multithreading. Base clock is 2.40 GHz, and boost reaches 3.50 GHz. The cache hierarchy is small: 64 KB L1 per core, 512 KB L2 per core, and 2 MB shared L3. Memory support is LPDDR5, dual-channel, with 88.0 GB/s bandwidth. ECC memory is not supported. PCIe connectivity is Gen 3 with 4 lanes from the CPU. The integrated graphics is a Radeon 610M. The part is marked for the mobile market segment.

The Intel Core i9-12900E uses the Alder Lake architecture, with the Alder Lake-S codename. It is fabricated on a 10 nm process at Intel, with a die size of 215 mm². The CPU has 16 cores and 24 threads, which implies a hybrid configuration of performance and efficiency cores, though the database does not break down the core types. Base clock is 2.30 GHz, and boost reaches 5.00 GHz. The cache hierarchy is much larger: 80 KB L1 per core, 1.25 MB L2 per core, and 30 MB shared L3. Memory support includes both DDR4 and DDR5, dual-channel. The memory bandwidth is not recorded in the database. ECC memory is not supported. PCIe connectivity is Gen 5 with 20 lanes from the CPU. The integrated graphics is UHD Graphics 770. The part is marked for the desktop market segment.

The process node difference is notable: 6 nm versus 10 nm. The Athlon is built by TSMC, the Intel part by Intel's own fabs. The die size difference (100 mm² vs 215 mm²) reflects the Intel part's much larger core count and cache. The Athlon's memory bandwidth of 88.0 GB/s is a recorded figure, but the Intel part's bandwidth is not available in the database, so no direct comparison can be made.

The cache difference is the most striking architectural gap. The Intel part has 15 times the shared L3 cache (30 MB vs 2 MB) and more than double the L2 per core (1.25 MB vs 512 KB). This explains why the Intel part can sustain large multi-threaded workloads without thrashing. The Athlon's small caches are appropriate for its low-power, low-thread-count design.

The multiplier on the Intel part is unlocked, meaning it supports overclocking. The Athlon's multiplier is locked. The Intel part has a launch MSRP of $494, which can be stated once as the recorded launch price. The Athlon has no recorded launch price in the database.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i9-12900E has 16 cores and 24 threads. The AMD Athlon Silver 10 has 2 cores and 2 threads.

Q: What are the boost clock speeds?

A: The AMD Athlon Silver 10 boosts to 3.50 GHz. The Intel Core i9-12900E boosts to 5.00 GHz.

Q: Which processor has a smaller manufacturing process?

A: The AMD Athlon Silver 10 is fabricated on a 6 nm process at TSMC. The Intel Core i9-12900E is fabricated on a 10 nm process at Intel.

Q: What is the TDP of each processor?

A: The AMD Athlon Silver 10 has a TDP of 15. The Intel Core i9-12900E has a TDP of 65.

Q: Which processor supports DDR5 memory?

A: The Intel Core i9-12900E supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory. The AMD Athlon Silver 10 supports LPDDR5 memory only.

Q: Which processor has a larger L3 cache?

A: The Intel Core i9-12900E has 30 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD Athlon Silver 10 has 2 MB of shared L3 cache.

Where Each One Wins

Based strictly on the recorded data, the two processors win in entirely different domains.

The Intel Core i9-12900E wins in any scenario involving heavy multi-threaded compute. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 23529 is the strongest recorded result on this page. The 16 cores and 24 threads, combined with 30 MB L3 cache, make it the clear choice for rendering, encoding, simulation, and any workload that scales across cores. The Geekbench multi-core score of 10280 reinforces this. The single-core scores are also strong: 3321 in Cinebench R23 and 1775 in Geekbench. The 5.00 GHz boost clock and unlocked multiplier allow for further performance tuning, though the database does not record overclocked results. The desktop socket (Intel Socket 1700) and PCIe Gen 5 with 20 lanes indicate a platform designed for high-throughput peripherals.

The AMD Athlon Silver 10 wins in efficiency and low-power scenarios. Its 15 TDP is dramatically lower than the Intel part's 65 TDP. The 6 nm process node and 100 mm² die size suggest a design optimized for small form factors and battery life. The mobile socket (AMD Socket FT6) and LPDDR5 memory support point to ultraportable laptops and compact devices. The PassMark data compression score of 42492 is surprisingly strong, indicating that the part handles compression workloads well relative to its core count. The single-thread score of 2089 is respectable for a 2-core part. The integrated Radeon 610M graphics provides basic display output without a discrete GPU. The locked multiplier means no overclocking, but that is not a concern for a low-power mobile processor.

The database does not record any head-to-head benchmark entries, so no direct comparison test exists. The win count is zero for both parts. The percentile ranks are close (63rd for AMD, 62nd for Intel), meaning both sit in the middle of their respective benchmark pools.

In practical terms, the Intel Core i9-12900E is the winner for desktop workstations, content creation, and any CPU-bound professional workload. The AMD Athlon Silver 10 is the winner for thin-and-light laptops, fanless designs, and tasks like web browsing, document editing, and light compression work. The data shows no overlap: the Intel part dominates in raw throughput, and the AMD part dominates in power efficiency. Neither processor is a replacement for the other.