AMD EPYC 7262 vs Intel Core i5-12600HE Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data presents a clear and consistent picture: the AMD EPYC 7262 wins every single head-to-head comparison in the recorded Cinebench suite. Across all six tests, from Cinebench R15 to R23, the EPYC 7262 holds a lead over the Intel Core i5-12600HE. The deltas are narrow, ranging from 2.6% to 2.9%, but they are uniform. This is not a case where one chip excels in multi-threaded workloads while the other takes single-threaded tasks; the EPYC 7262 takes both categories.

The multi-core results show the EPYC 7262 ahead by 2.6% in Cinebench R15, R20, and R23. In single-core tests, the lead is slightly larger in R15 at 2.9%, then settles at 2.6% for R20 and R23. The Intel part never closes the gap in any recorded test. For a mobile-oriented processor with a 45 watt TDP, the Core i5-12600HE posts respectable scores, but it cannot overtake the server-class EPYC part in these specific workloads.

The average benchmark score reinforces this ordering. The EPYC 7262 records an average score of 5109, while the Core i5-12600HE sits at 4980. That difference places the EPYC 7262 at the 60th percentile among all CPUs in the database, with the Intel part one point behind at the 59th percentile. The percentile gap is small, matching the tight delta between their average scores.

Looking at the nearest rivals for each chip provides context for how these scores translate into competitive positioning. The EPYC 7262 sits essentially level with the Intel Core i9-7900X, which averages 5120, a delta of only -0.2%. It is also just ahead of the Intel Core i7-11850HE by 0.3% and the Intel Xeon W-2155 by 0.7%. The Core i5-12600HE, meanwhile, is nearly tied with the Intel Core i7-1375PRE at -0.1%, the Intel Xeon W-2150B at -0.2%, and the Intel Core i3-12300HE at -0.3%. Both chips occupy the same general performance tier, but the EPYC 7262 consistently finishes on top in direct comparisons.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The AMD EPYC 7262 is built on the Zen 2 architecture with the Rome codename, part of the EPYC 7002 series. It uses a 7 nm process node from TSMC, with a die size listed as 4x 74 mm² and a transistor count of 15,200 million. The Intel Core i5-12600HE uses the Alder Lake architecture, specifically Alder Lake-H, and is fabricated on Intel's 10 nm process with a die size of 217 mm². No transistor count is recorded for the Intel part.

Core configurations differ substantially. The EPYC 7262 has 8 cores and 16 threads. The Core i5-12600HE has 12 cores and 16 threads. Both parts present 16 threads to the operating system, but they reach that number differently. The Intel chip relies on a hybrid arrangement typical of Alder Lake, mixing performance and efficiency cores, though the database does not break down the core types. The EPYC part uses 8 full Zen 2 cores with simultaneous multithreading.

Cache hierarchies also diverge. The EPYC 7262 has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 32 MB of L3 per die, with a total L3 of 128 MB. The Core i5-12600HE has 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 18 MB of shared L3. The EPYC part's massive total L3 cache reflects its server pedigree, while the Intel part's smaller shared L3 is more typical of a mobile design.

Memory support separates the two clearly. The EPYC 7262 supports DDR4 memory with an eight-channel memory bus and a recorded memory bandwidth of 204.8 GB/s. It also supports ECC memory. The Core i5-12600HE supports both DDR4 and DDR5, but only with a dual-channel memory bus, and no memory bandwidth figure is recorded in the database. ECC memory is not supported on the Intel part.

PCIe connectivity also differs. The EPYC 7262 provides Gen 4 with 128 lanes (CPU only). The Core i5-12600HE provides Gen 4 with 20 lanes (CPU only). That is a massive difference in expansion capability, reflecting the server versus mobile market segments. The EPYC 7262 uses AMD Socket SP3, while the Intel part uses Intel BGA 1744, a soldered mobile socket. The EPYC 7262 has no integrated graphics; the Core i5-12600HE includes Iris Xe 80EU graphics.

Clock speeds tell a story of their own. The EPYC 7262 has a base clock of 3.20 GHz and a boost clock of 3.40 GHz. The Core i5-12600HE has a much lower base clock of 2.50 GHz but a significantly higher boost clock of 4.50 GHz. The Intel part's boost advantage does not translate into a win in any recorded benchmark, which raises questions about sustained performance and power delivery in the test environment.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The direct comparison data shows the EPYC 7262 winning all six recorded tests. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the EPYC 7262 scores 1780 against 1735 for the Core i5-12600HE, a 2.6% advantage. In Cinebench R15 single-core, the EPYC 7262 scores 251 against 244, a 2.9% lead. That is the largest delta in the entire head-to-head set.

Cinebench R20 follows the same pattern. The EPYC 7262 records 7418 in multi-core against 7231 for the Intel part, again a 2.6% difference. Single-core R20 shows 1047 against 1020, a 2.6% lead. The consistency of that 2.6% figure across multiple tests suggests a stable performance relationship between the two chips, likely tied to their respective power and thermal envelopes.

Cinebench R23, often considered the more demanding of the three, repeats the outcome. The EPYC 7262 scores 17662 in multi-core versus 17217 for the Core i5-12600HE, a 2.6% delta. Single-core R23 shows 2493 against 2430, also 2.6%. The Intel part's high boost clock of 4.50 GHz does not overcome the EPYC's lower but more consistent 3.40 GHz boost in these tests.

The narrow margins matter. A 2.6% difference in Cinebench R23 multi-core represents about 445 points. In real-world terms, that is not a transformative gap, but it is a measurable one. The EPYC 7262's wins are not flukes; they appear across every generation of Cinebench in the record. The closest the Intel part gets is in R15 single-core, where the 2.9% delta is actually the largest gap in the dataset, meaning the EPYC part's single-core advantage is slightly more pronounced in that older test.

The average benchmark scores align with these results. The EPYC 7262 averages 5109, and the Core i5-12600HE averages 4980, a difference of 129 points. That places the EPYC part slightly above its nearest rival, the Intel Core i9-7900X, while the Intel part sits just below several of its nearest rivals, including the Intel Core i3-12300HE and the Intel Xeon W-2150B.

The Verdict

The data points to a straightforward conclusion for these two specific SKUs. The AMD EPYC 7262 wins every recorded benchmark against the Intel Core i5-12600HE. If the selection criterion is raw Cinebench performance, the EPYC 7262 is the pick. The margins are small, but they are consistent across six tests, which suggests the EPYC part has a genuine, if modest, performance edge in these workloads.

The market segments, however, tell a different story about intended use. The EPYC 7262 is a server and workstation processor on AMD Socket SP3, with eight-channel DDR4 memory, 128 PCIe Gen 4 lanes, and 128 MB of total L3 cache. It has a TDP of 155 watts and a launch MSRP of $575. The Core i5-12600HE is a mobile processor on Intel BGA 1744, with dual-channel memory support for DDR4 and DDR5, 20 PCIe Gen 4 lanes, integrated Iris Xe graphics, and a 45 watt TDP. These are not interchangeable parts. The EPYC 7262 belongs in a server chassis; the Core i5-12600HE belongs in a laptop.

For a server or workstation build where the socket, memory bandwidth, and PCIe lanes are usable, the EPYC 7262 is the obvious choice from this data. It offers the higher multi-core and single-core scores, the larger cache, and the platform features expected of a server part. For a mobile system where power efficiency and integrated graphics matter, the Core i5-12600HE is the only realistic option, despite its slightly lower benchmark scores. The 45 watt TDP versus 155 watts is not merely a spec sheet difference; it defines the thermal and power constraints of the systems these chips serve.

The nearest rival data reinforces the EPYC 7262's standing. It trades blows with the Intel Core i9-7900X, a much older high-end desktop part, and edges out the Intel Xeon W-2155. The Core i5-12600HE, by contrast, sits in a cluster with other mobile and embedded parts like the Intel Core i7-1375PRE and the AMD Ryzen Embedded V3C48. Neither chip dominates its peer group, but the EPYC 7262 comes out ahead in the direct comparison.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The Intel Core i5-12600HE has 12 cores, while the AMD EPYC 7262 has 8 cores. Both have 16 threads.

Q: Who wins in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The AMD EPYC 7262 scores 17662, beating the Intel Core i5-12600HE's 17217, a 2.6% advantage.

Q: Does the Intel Core i5-12600HE support ECC memory?

A: No. The database records ECC memory support as true for the AMD EPYC 7262 and false for the Intel Core i5-12600HE.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference?

A: The AMD EPYC 7262 has a recorded memory bandwidth of 204.8 GB/s with an eight-channel DDR4 bus. No memory bandwidth figure is recorded for the Intel Core i5-12600HE, which uses a dual-channel bus.

Q: Which processor has integrated graphics?

A: The Intel Core i5-12600HE includes Iris Xe 80EU integrated graphics. The AMD EPYC 7262 has no integrated graphics.

Q: How do the average benchmark scores compare?

A: The AMD EPYC 7262 averages 5109, placing it at the 60th percentile. The Intel Core i5-12600HE averages 4980, at the 59th percentile.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD EPYC 7262 | Intel Core i5-12600HE |

| --- | --- | --- |

| Cores | 8 | 12 |

| Threads | 16 | 16 |

| Base Clock | 3.20 GHz | 2.50 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.40 GHz | 4.50 GHz |

| TDP | 155 W | 45 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket SP3 | Intel BGA 1744 |

| Architecture | Zen 2 | Alder Lake |

| Codename | Rome | Alder Lake-H |

| Process Node | 7 nm | 10 nm |

| Foundry | TSMC | Intel |

| Die Size | 4x 74 mm² | 217 mm² |

| Transistors | 15,200 million | Not recorded |

| L1 Cache | 64 KB (per core) | 80 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 512 KB (per core) | 1.25 MB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 32 MB (per die), 128 MB total | 18 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR4 | DDR4, DDR5 |

| Memory Bus | Eight-channel | Dual-channel |

| Memory Bandwidth | 204.8 GB/s | Not recorded |

| ECC Memory | Yes | No |

| PCIe | Gen 4, 128 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 4, 20 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | None | Iris Xe 80EU |

| Market Segment | Server/Workstation | Mobile |

| Launch MSRP | $575 | Not recorded |