AMD EPYC 7252 vs Intel Core i5-12600HE Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data is unambiguous: the Intel Core i5-12600HE wins every single head-to-head test recorded in the database. Across all six Cinebench workloads, the Intel part leads by a consistent margin of 4.1% to 4.2%. There is no workload category, single-core or multi-core, where the AMD EPYC 7252 takes the lead, and the AMD processor records zero wins in the head-to-head comparison.

Starting with multi-core performance, the Intel Core i5-12600HE posts a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 17,217 against the EPYC 7252's 16,499, a 4.2% advantage. In Cinebench R20 multi-core, the gap is identical at 4.2%, with scores of 7,231 and 6,929 respectively. The Cinebench R15 multi-core result follows the same pattern: 1,735 for Intel versus 1,662 for AMD, again a 4.2% difference. These consistent deltas across three generations of the Cinebench suite indicate a stable performance relationship rather than a benchmark-specific anomaly.

Single-core performance tells the same story with slightly smaller margins. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the Intel part scores 2,430 versus 2,329 for AMD, a 4.2% edge. Cinebench R20 single-core shows 1,020 against 978, a 4.1% advantage for Intel. Cinebench R15 single-core completes the sweep: 244 for Intel versus 234 for AMD, a 4.1% difference. The single-core margins are marginally tighter than the multi-core margins, but the direction is consistent.

The average benchmark score in the database reinforces this outcome. The Intel Core i5-12600HE carries an average score of 4,980, while the AMD EPYC 7252 averages 4,772. That is a 4.4% advantage for Intel on the aggregate metric. The percentile rankings are identical at 59 for both processors, meaning both sit at the same position relative to all CPUs tracked in the database, but the raw scores favor Intel in every recorded test.

When placed against their nearest rivals, both processors occupy similar competitive tiers. The EPYC 7252's nearest rival is the Intel Xeon W-1290E with an average score of 4,775, a delta of -0.1%, placing the AMD part essentially on par with that Xeon. The Intel Core i5-12600HE's nearest rival is the Intel Core i7-1375PRE at 4,985, also a -0.1% delta, showing the 12600HE sits in the same performance neighborhood as a higher-tier mobile Core i7. The data shows a clean sweep, and the verdict from the head-to-head section is straightforward: the Intel Core i5-12600HE is the faster processor in every measured workload.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i5-12600HE wins outright in both single-core and multi-core performance across all six Cinebench tests. There are no benchmark categories where the AMD EPYC 7252 records a victory. The Intel processor's advantage in multi-core workloads ranges from 4.2% in R15, R20, and R23, while its single-core advantage sits at 4.1% in R15 and R20, and 4.2% in R23. This means the Intel part is the better choice for workloads that scale with thread count, such as rendering, video encoding, and compilation, as well as for lightly threaded tasks like legacy single-threaded applications or latency-sensitive interactive workloads.

The AMD EPYC 7252, despite losing every benchmark, still holds its own in the broader competitive context. Its average score of 4,772 places it within 0.1% of the Intel Xeon W-1290E and 0.1% of the Intel Core i5-1350P, and just 0.6% behind the Intel Xeon E-2386G. It is actually 0.7% ahead of the Intel Core i9-9900KS, a desktop flagship from a previous generation. So while the EPYC 7252 loses to the 12600HE, it is not a weak processor in absolute terms; it simply faces a faster opponent.

For use-case planning, the Intel Core i5-12600HE is the pick for any application where benchmark scores directly translate into throughput, whether that is multi-threaded productivity or single-thread responsiveness. The AMD EPYC 7252's role becomes more about platform characteristics than benchmark wins. It offers server-class features that the Intel mobile part lacks, but those features do not show up in Cinebench scores. The database records no workload where the EPYC 7252 outperforms the 12600HE, so any selection of the AMD part must rest on platform requirements rather than measured performance.

The Verdict

The data supports only one conclusion for raw performance: the Intel Core i5-12600HE is the faster CPU. It wins all six head-to-head Cinebench tests, holds a 4.4% higher average benchmark score, and matches the EPYC 7252's 59th percentile ranking. Anyone choosing a processor strictly on the basis of these recorded benchmarks should select the Intel Core i5-12600HE.

That said, the two processors target entirely different market segments, and the data shows the EPYC 7252 has a distinct identity. The AMD part is a server and workstation processor on the AMD Socket SP3 platform with eight-channel DDR4 memory support, ECC memory, and 128 PCIe Gen 4 lanes. The Intel part is a mobile processor on Intel BGA 1744 with dual-channel memory support, no ECC, and 20 PCIe Gen 4 lanes. The EPYC 7252 also includes integrated graphics as a null field, meaning it has none, while the Intel part includes Iris Xe 80EU integrated graphics. These platform differences are not reflected in Cinebench scores, but they matter for system design.

For a server or workstation workload that demands ECC memory, eight-channel bandwidth of 85.3 GB/s, and massive PCIe lane counts, the EPYC 7252 is the appropriate choice despite its lower benchmark scores. For a mobile or compact system where the integrated graphics, lower 45 W TDP, and higher boost clock of 4.50 GHz are advantageous, the Intel Core i5-12600HE is the better fit. The verdict depends on whether the priority is raw Cinebench performance or platform capability. On pure measured performance, Intel wins. On server-specific features, AMD wins. The benchmark database cannot adjudicate platform preference; it can only report that the Intel part is faster in every recorded test.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher multi-core performance in Cinebench R23?

A: The Intel Core i5-12600HE scores 17,217 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, while the AMD EPYC 7252 scores 16,499, giving Intel a 4.2% advantage.

Q: Is the AMD EPYC 7252 ahead of any of its nearest rivals?

A: Yes. The EPYC 7252 has an average score of 4,772, which is 0.7% higher than the Intel Core i9-9900KS at 4,738. It is 0.1% behind the Intel Xeon W-1290E and Intel Core i5-1350P, and 0.6% behind the Intel Xeon E-2386G.

Q: What is the single-core performance gap between the two processors?

A: The Intel Core i5-12600HE leads by 4.1% in Cinebench R15 and R20 single-core, and by 4.2% in Cinebench R23 single-core. The scores are 244 versus 234 in R15, 1,020 versus 978 in R20, and 2,430 versus 2,329 in R23.

Q: Do both processors have the same percentile ranking?

A: Yes, both the AMD EPYC 7252 and the Intel Core i5-12600HE are at the 59th percentile among all CPUs tracked in the database.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The AMD EPYC 7252 supports ECC memory, while the Intel Core i5-12600HE does not.

Q: What is the memory channel configuration for each processor?

A: The AMD EPYC 7252 uses eight-channel DDR4 memory with 85.3 GB/s bandwidth. The Intel Core i5-12600HE uses dual-channel DDR4 or DDR5 memory, with no bandwidth figure recorded in the database.

Architecture Differences

The AMD EPYC 7252 is built on the Zen 2 architecture and belongs to the EPYC 7002 series, with the codename Rome. It uses a 7 nm process from TSMC and contains 7,600 million transistors across a die size of 2x 74 mm². The processor has 8 cores and 16 threads, a base clock of 3.10 GHz, and a boost clock of 3.20 GHz. Its cache layout includes 64 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 32 MB of L3 per die, for a total of 64 MB of L3 cache. The socket is AMD Socket SP3, and the processor is classified as a Server/Workstation part.

The Intel Core i5-12600HE is built on the Alder Lake architecture and belongs to the Core 12th Gen series, with the codename Alder Lake-H. It uses a 10 nm process from Intel and has a die size of 217 mm². The processor has 12 cores and 16 threads, a base clock of 2.50 GHz, and a boost clock of 4.50 GHz. Its cache layout includes 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 18 MB of shared L3 cache. The socket is Intel BGA 1744, and the processor is classified as a Mobile part.

The core count difference is notable: the Intel part has 12 cores to the AMD part's 8, yet both present 16 threads. The AMD processor relies on higher base clock of 3.10 GHz versus 2.50 GHz, but the Intel processor has a much higher boost clock of 4.50 GHz versus 3.20 GHz. The cache hierarchy also differs substantially, with AMD offering far more total L3 at 64 MB versus Intel's 18 MB, but Intel offers larger per-core L1 and L2 caches. The process node difference is significant as well, with AMD on 7 nm and Intel on 10 nm.

The EPYC 7252 is a server part with no integrated graphics, while the Intel Core i5-12600HE includes Iris Xe 80EU integrated graphics. The AMD part supports ECC memory and uses an eight-channel memory bus with DDR4, while the Intel part supports DDR4 and DDR5 with a dual-channel bus and no ECC. PCIe connectivity differs sharply: the EPYC 7252 provides 128 PCIe Gen 4 lanes, while the Intel part provides 20 PCIe Gen 4 lanes. Both processors are production active, both have locked multipliers, and the AMD part was released in 2019 with a launch MSRP of $475, while the Intel part has no recorded release date or launch MSRP in the database.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every core specification recorded in the database. The AMD EPYC 7252 has 8 cores, while the Intel Core i5-12600HE has 12 cores. Both have 16 threads. The base clock is 3.10 GHz for AMD and 2.50 GHz for Intel. The boost clock is 3.20 GHz for AMD and 4.50 GHz for Intel. The TDP is 120 W for AMD and 45 W for Intel. The socket is AMD Socket SP3 for AMD and Intel BGA 1744 for Intel.

Cache configurations differ as well. The AMD part has 64 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 32 MB of L3 per die with a total of 64 MB L3. The Intel part has 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 18 MB of shared L3 with no total L3 recorded. Memory support differs: AMD uses DDR4 only with an eight-channel bus and 85.3 GB/s bandwidth, while Intel supports both DDR4 and DDR5 with a dual-channel bus and no bandwidth figure recorded. ECC memory support is present on AMD but absent on Intel.

PCIe connectivity is another major difference. The AMD EPYC 7252 provides 128 PCIe Gen 4 lanes, while the Intel Core i5-12600HE provides 20 PCIe Gen 4 lanes. Integrated graphics are absent on the AMD part and present as Iris Xe 80EU on the Intel part. The process node is 7 nm for AMD and 10 nm for Intel. The AMD die size is listed as 2x 74 mm², while the Intel die size is 217 mm². The AMD part has a transistor count of 7,600 million, while the Intel part has no recorded transistor count. The market segment is Server/Workstation for AMD and Mobile for Intel. The AMD part has a release date of 2019 and a launch MSRP of $475, while the Intel part has no release date or MSRP recorded. The part numbers differ: 100-000000080 for AMD and SRLE5 for Intel. Both processors have locked multipliers and are production active.