AMD EPYC 4244P vs Intel Core i9-12900HX Comparison

The Intel Core i9-12900HX and the AMD EPYC 4244P are both active processors with identical 84th percentile scores among all CPUs, yet they approach performance from opposite directions. The Intel chip is a mobile powerhouse with 16 cores and 24 threads, while the AMD EPYC is a server and workstation part with 6 cores and 12 threads. The recorded data shows a clear split: the Intel part dominates multi-threaded and throughput-heavy workloads, while the AMD chip wins decisively in single-core and latency-sensitive tasks.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i9-12900HX is the clear winner for heavily parallel workloads. It takes 14 of the 17 head-to-head benchmark comparisons, with its largest victories coming in floating-point math (85.3% ahead), multi-core rendering in Cinebench R15 (53.2% ahead), and integer math (44.1% ahead). Data compression also favors Intel by 32.4%, and encryption follows at 25.8%. The pattern is consistent: the Intel chip’s core and thread advantage translates directly into higher throughput across PassMark and Cinebench multi-threaded suites.

The AMD EPYC 4244P wins where the workload depends on per-core efficiency. Its most striking victory is in Cinebench R23 single-core, where it beats the Intel part by 41.3%. It also wins in Cinebench R15 single-core by 15.2% and in the PassMark find prime numbers test by 29.4%. These results indicate that applications with light thread counts, or those that rely on a single dominant thread, will see better responsiveness and higher frame pacing on the AMD platform. The EPYC’s higher boost clock of 5.10 GHz compared to 5.00 GHz on the Intel part likely contributes to this advantage, though the underlying architecture also plays a role.

The two chips are nearly tied in a few areas. Cinebench R23 multi-core shows only a 0.3% difference, and PassMark single-thread is within 0.9%. The Intel part also edges out the AMD chip in PassMark physics by just 1.6%. These near-ties suggest that for certain workloads, the choice between the two will come down to platform rather than raw compute capability.

Architecture Differences

The Intel Core i9-12900HX uses the Alder Lake architecture on a 10 nm process from Intel, while the AMD EPYC 4244P uses Zen 4 on a 5 nm process from TSMC. The Intel die is 215 mm², while the AMD die is just 71 mm². The AMD chip integrates 6,570 million transistors on that smaller die, which points to a denser, more modern manufacturing process.

Core configuration differs substantially. The Intel part offers 16 cores and 24 threads, while the AMD part offers 6 cores and 12 threads. Cache hierarchies also differ: the Intel chip has 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 30 MB of shared L3. The AMD chip has 64 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 32 MB of shared L3. The larger per-core cache on the Intel side helps with its hybrid architecture, while the AMD chip’s larger L3 pool benefits its lower core count.

Memory support varies as well. The Intel part supports both DDR4 and DDR5, while the AMD part supports only DDR5. Both use a dual-channel memory bus, but the AMD EPYC lists a memory bandwidth of 83.2 GB/s, while the Intel part does not have a recorded bandwidth figure. Both support ECC memory. PCIe connectivity also differs: the Intel chip provides Gen 5 with 20 CPU lanes, while the AMD chip provides Gen 5 with 28 CPU lanes.

The Intel part includes UHD Graphics 770 integrated graphics, while the AMD EPYC includes Radeon Graphics. The Intel part has an unlocked multiplier, while the AMD part does not. The Intel chip is classified as a mobile part on the Intel BGA 1964 socket, whereas the AMD chip is a server and workstation part on the AMD Socket AM5. The Intel part’s launch MSRP is $606, while the AMD part’s launch MSRP is $229.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i9-12900HX has 16 cores and 24 threads, while the AMD EPYC 4244P has 6 cores and 12 threads.

Q: Which processor wins in single-core performance?

A: The AMD EPYC 4244P wins decisively in single-core tests. It leads by 41.3% in Cinebench R23 single-core and by 15.2% in Cinebench R15 single-core. PassMark single-thread is nearly tied, with the Intel part ahead by only 0.9%.

Q: How close are the two in multi-core performance?

A: The Intel part leads in most multi-core tests, but Cinebench R23 multi-core is nearly a tie at 0.3% in favor of Intel. In Cinebench R20 multi-core, Intel leads by 21.3%, and in Cinebench R15 multi-core, Intel leads by 53.2%.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: Yes, both the Intel Core i9-12900HX and the AMD EPYC 4244P support ECC memory.

Q: What memory types are supported?

A: The Intel part supports both DDR4 and DDR5, while the AMD part supports only DDR5. Both use a dual-channel memory bus.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The AMD EPYC 4244P has a boost clock of 5.10 GHz, while the Intel Core i9-12900HX has a boost clock of 5.00 GHz.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every fundamental specification. The Intel Core i9-12900HX has 16 cores and 24 threads, while the AMD EPYC 4244P has 6 cores and 12 threads. Base clocks are 2.30 GHz for Intel and 3.80 GHz for AMD. Boost clocks are 5.00 GHz for Intel and 5.10 GHz for AMD. TDP is 55 W for Intel and 65 W for AMD.

Process technology separates them clearly: Intel uses a 10 nm node from its own foundry, while AMD uses a 5 nm node from TSMC. The Intel die is 215 mm², while the AMD die is 71 mm². The AMD chip contains 6,570 million transistors; the Intel chip has no recorded transistor count.

Cache layouts differ per core and in total. Intel uses 80 KB L1 per core and 1.25 MB L2 per core, with 30 MB of shared L3. AMD uses 64 KB L1 per core and 1 MB L2 per core, with 32 MB of shared L3.

Memory support shows Intel supporting both DDR4 and DDR5, while AMD supports only DDR5. The AMD part lists a memory bandwidth of 83.2 GB/s; the Intel part has no recorded bandwidth figure. PCIe lanes also differ: Intel provides Gen 5 with 20 lanes, AMD provides Gen 5 with 28 lanes.

Integrated graphics differ, with Intel offering UHD Graphics 770 and AMD offering Radeon Graphics. The Intel part has an unlocked multiplier, while the AMD part is locked. The Intel chip uses the Intel BGA 1964 socket and is a mobile part, while the AMD chip uses the AMD Socket AM5 and is a server or workstation part. The Intel part launched on 2022-05-09, while the AMD part launched on 2024-05-20. Intel’s launch MSRP is $606, AMD’s is $229.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The biggest Intel win comes in PassMark floating-point math, where it scores 84,410 against AMD’s 45,546, a 85.3% advantage. This is the largest delta in the entire comparison. Integer math follows a similar pattern: Intel scores 113,416 versus 78,709, a 44.1% lead. These two results show the Intel chip’s raw compute throughput at its best.

Cinebench R15 multi-core is another major Intel victory. Intel scores 3,566 against AMD’s 2,327, a 53.2% lead. Cinebench R20 multi-core is also strongly in Intel’s favor: 11,764 versus 9,697, a 21.3% lead. PassMark multithread shows Intel ahead by 23.7% with a score of 33,158 versus 26,797.

Data compression and encryption both favor Intel substantially. Compression scores are 400,636 for Intel and 302,606 for AMD, a 32.4% lead. Encryption scores are 22,932 versus 18,232, a 25.8% lead. Extended instructions go to Intel by 9.8%, and random string sorting goes to Intel by 15.3%.

The AMD EPYC 4244P takes its biggest win in Cinebench R23 single-core, scoring 3,259 against Intel’s 1,912.5, a 41.3% lead. Cinebench R15 single-core also goes to AMD: 328 versus 278, a 15.2% lead. The PassMark find prime numbers test goes to AMD by 29.4%, with scores of 187 versus 132.

The nearest rivals in the database help contextualize these results. The Intel part’s closest competitor is the Intel Core i7-13800H with an average score of 34,988 and a 0% delta, followed by the Intel Core 7 253PTE at 34,962 with a 0.1% delta. The AMD EPYC 4244P’s closest rival is the AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 at 34,222 with a 0% delta. Both chips sit at the 84th percentile, meaning they outperform the majority of recorded CPUs in the database despite their very different architectures.