AMD EPYC 4244P vs Intel Core i5-12600HX Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The head-to-head data paints a surprisingly one-sided picture. The AMD EPYC 4244P wins 15 of the 17 recorded benchmark comparisons, while the Intel Core i5-12600HX takes only 2. But the distribution of those wins matters more than the raw count.

The EPYC 4244P dominates every Cinebench iteration, both single-core and multi-core. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 23089 against the Intel part's 20714, a consistent 11.5% advantage. That same 11.5% delta repeats across R15, R20, and R23, suggesting a structural advantage rather than a workload-specific quirk. Single-core performance tells the same story: 328 vs 294 in R15, 1368 vs 1228 in R20, 3259 vs 2924 in R23. The AMD processor is uniformly faster in rendering workloads.

The Passmark suite reveals where each chip's personality emerges. The EPYC 4244P crushes the Intel part in prime number finding (187 vs 83, a 125.3% delta), extended instructions (22149 vs 17328, a 27.8% delta), and physics calculations (1981 vs 1504, a 31.7% delta). These are compute-heavy, latency-sensitive tasks where the AMD architecture's higher clock speeds and Zen 4 design shine. Data compression and encryption also favor AMD, but by narrower margins: 3.5% for compression, 4.1% for encryption.

The Intel Core i5-12600HX fights back in two specific arenas. Floating point math is its clear victory: 58378 vs 45546, a 22% advantage for Intel. This is not a marginal win; it is the largest margin in either direction across the entire benchmark set. The second Intel win is integer math, but it is razor-thin: 79339 vs 78709, only 0.8% ahead. That result is effectively a tie, and given the margin of error in such tests, it suggests parity rather than superiority.

Multithreaded Passmark scores favor AMD at 26797 vs 24681, an 8.6% edge. Random string sorting also goes to AMD at 38048 vs 33110, a 14.9% gap. The overall pattern is clear: the EPYC 4244P wins the majority of workloads by meaningful margins, while the Intel part's victories are either overwhelming in one specific domain (floating point) or statistically negligible (integer math).

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The AMD EPYC 4244P uses Zen 4 architecture on a 5 nm TSMC process, while the Intel Core i5-12600HX uses Alder Lake on Intel's 10 nm node. The die sizes tell the story: AMD's chip measures 71 mm² with 6,570 million transistors, while Intel's is 215 mm². That is a 3x difference in die area, yet AMD packs comparable performance into a much smaller physical footprint.

Core counts diverge sharply. The EPYC 4244P has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the Intel part has 12 cores and 16 threads. The Intel chip's hybrid architecture likely explains the thread count: Alder Lake-HX combines performance cores with efficiency cores, which is why 12 physical cores yield only 16 threads instead of 24. The AMD chip uses symmetrical cores, so 6 cores produce exactly 12 threads. Despite having half the core count, the EPYC 4244P still wins most multi-threaded benchmarks, which speaks to its per-core efficiency.

Clock speeds also differ. The AMD processor runs at 3.80 GHz base and 5.10 GHz boost, while Intel's runs at 2.50 GHz base and 4.60 GHz boost. The EPYC's 0.5 GHz boost advantage directly explains its single-core wins. Cache hierarchies are distinct as well: AMD allocates 64 KB L1 and 1 MB L2 per core, with 32 MB shared L3. Intel provides 80 KB L1 and 1.25 MB L2 per core, but only 18 MB shared L3. The larger L3 cache on AMD likely helps in workloads that benefit from shared data across cores.

Memory support differs notably. The EPYC 4244P supports DDR5 only, while the Intel chip supports both DDR4 and DDR5. Both use dual-channel memory buses, but AMD's recorded memory bandwidth is 83.2 GB/s. Both support ECC memory, which is unusual for the mobile Intel part. PCIe connectivity also diverges: AMD offers Gen 5 with 28 lanes, Intel offers Gen 5 with 20 lanes. The AMD part has more expansion headroom.

The sockets and market segments reveal their intended uses. The EPYC 4244P uses AMD Socket AM5 and is classified as Server/Workstation. The Intel part uses BGA 1964 and is classified as Mobile. This is a desktop server processor against a laptop processor, and the benchmark data reflects that positioning. The EPYC 4244P launched in May 2024 with a launch MSRP of $229. The Intel chip launched in May 2022 with a launch MSRP of $284. The AMD part is newer and carries a lower launch MSRP.

The Verdict

The data supports a clear split based on workload type. For rendering, scientific computing, encryption, compression, and physics simulations, the AMD EPYC 4244P is the superior choice. It wins every Cinebench test by 11.5% or more, wins Passmark multithread by 8.6%, and dominates extended instructions by 27.8%. Its 84th percentile ranking among all CPUs, compared to Intel's 83rd, confirms that it sits slightly higher in the overall performance distribution.

The Intel Core i5-12600HX is the pick only for floating-point-heavy workloads. Its 22% advantage in Passmark floating point math is substantial and suggests that applications relying on FPU throughput, such as certain scientific simulations or graphics-related computations, would run faster on the Intel chip. Its integer math result is statistically tied with AMD, so it offers no real advantage there.

For buyers on the AM5 platform, the EPYC 4244P offers a compelling option for a low-power server or workstation build. Its 65 W TDP, ECC memory support, and 28 PCIe Gen 5 lanes make it suitable for storage-heavy or memory-reliant workloads. The Intel chip, with its 55 W TDP and 12 cores, might appeal to users needing more physical cores for parallel tasks that scale well across cores, though the benchmark data shows the AMD part winning most multi-threaded tests anyway.

The production status of both is Active, so neither is a dead end. But the EPYC 4244P is the newer release (May 2024 vs May 2022) and the benchmark evidence suggests it is the better all-around performer. The Intel part has its niche in floating point, but anywhere else, the AMD chip wins.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins more benchmarks overall?

A: The AMD EPYC 4244P wins 15 of 17 recorded head-to-head benchmarks. The Intel Core i5-12600HX wins only 2.

Q: How much faster is the AMD EPYC 4244P in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The EPYC 4244P scores 23089, while the Intel Core i5-12600HX scores 20714. That is an 11.5% advantage for AMD.

Q: Is there any workload where the Intel Core i5-12600HX clearly wins?

A: Yes, floating point math. The Intel chip scores 58378 versus AMD's 45546, a 22% margin in Intel's favor. It also edges out AMD in integer math, but only by 0.8%.

Q: How do their core counts and clock speeds compare?

A: The EPYC 4244P has 6 cores and 12 threads with a 3.80 GHz base and 5.10 GHz boost. The Intel chip has 12 cores and 16 threads with a 2.50 GHz base and 4.60 GHz boost.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: Yes, both the AMD EPYC 4244P and the Intel Core i5-12600HX support ECC memory.

Q: What are the process nodes for each chip?

A: The AMD EPYC 4244P uses a 5 nm process from TSMC. The Intel Core i5-12600HX uses Intel's 10 nm process.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The biggest win for the AMD EPYC 4244P is in Passmark's find prime numbers test. The AMD chip scores 187 against Intel's 83, a 125.3% advantage. This is an extreme outlier, but it reflects the AMD architecture's strength in integer-heavy, latency-sensitive loops. The second largest AMD win is in physics calculations: 1981 vs 1504, a 31.7% gap. Extended instructions follow at 27.8% (22149 vs 17328). Random string sorting shows a 14.9% edge (38048 vs 33110). These are all substantial, double-digit margins.

The Cinebench results are remarkably consistent. Every single test, from R15 to R23, shows an 11.4% to 11.6% advantage for AMD. This uniformity suggests that the EPYC 4244P's higher boost clock (5.10 GHz vs 4.60 GHz) and superior per-core IPC give it a steady edge in both single-threaded and multi-threaded rendering workloads. The R23 multi-core score of 23089 vs 20714 is particularly telling because it is a heavily multi-threaded workload, yet the 6-core AMD chip beats the 12-core Intel chip.

Passmark multithread favors AMD at 26797 vs 24681, an 8.6% win. Data compression and encryption are closer: 3.5% and 4.1% respectively. Single-thread Passmark scores are nearly identical: 3710 vs 3623, a 2.4% edge for AMD. These narrower margins show that in everyday single-threaded tasks, the two chips are comparable.

The Intel Core i5-12600HX's floating point win is the single largest margin in either direction. At 58378 vs 45546, Intel is 22% ahead. This is a decisive victory in a specific domain, and it suggests that the Alder Lake architecture has a significant advantage in FPU throughput. The integer math result, however, is essentially a tie: 79339 vs 78709, a 0.8% difference that falls within normal test variation.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every major specification category. The EPYC 4244P uses AMD Socket AM5, while the Intel chip uses BGA 1964. The AMD part is on a 5 nm TSMC process; Intel is on 10 nm. Die sizes contrast sharply: 71 mm² for AMD versus 215 mm² for Intel. Transistor counts are 6,570 million for AMD, while Intel's is not recorded.

Cache layouts differ per core and in shared L3. AMD provides 64 KB L1 and 1 MB L2 per core with 32 MB shared L3. Intel provides 80 KB L1 and 1.25 MB L2 per core with only 18 MB shared L3. Memory support diverges: AMD supports DDR5 only, Intel supports both DDR4 and DDR5. AMD records a memory bandwidth of 83.2 GB/s; Intel does not record a bandwidth figure.

PCIe lanes differ: AMD offers Gen 5 with 28 lanes, Intel offers Gen 5 with 20 lanes. Integrated graphics vary: AMD includes Radeon Graphics, Intel includes UHD Graphics 770. The AMD chip is locked (multiplier not unlocked), while the Intel chip has an unlocked multiplier. Market segments differ: AMD is Server/Workstation, Intel is Mobile. TDP ratings are 65 W for AMD and 55 W for Intel.

Release dates and launch MSRPs also differ. The EPYC 4244P launched on May 20, 2024 with a launch MSRP of $229. The Intel Core i5-12600HX launched on May 9, 2022 with a launch MSRP of $284. Part numbers are 100-000001480 for AMD and SRLGJ for Intel. Both are listed as Active in production.