AMD EPYC 7742 vs Intel Core i5-12450H Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a complete sweep for the AMD EPYC 7742 across every common benchmark in the comparison set. The Intel Core i5-12450H fails to win a single head-to-head test, with the EPYC 7742 taking all six available comparisons.

The largest margin comes in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where the EPYC 7742 scores 58,769 against the i5-12450H's 8,822.5. That is a delta of -85%, meaning the Intel part delivers only about 15% of the EPYC's multi-threaded output in this test. The gap is stark: the EPYC is roughly 5.7 times faster in raw multi-core rendering.

Cinebench R20 multi-core follows a similar pattern. The EPYC 7742 posts 24,682, while the i5-12450H manages 5,671, a -77% delta. The EPYC is about 4.4 times faster here. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the EPYC 7742 scores 5,923 versus 1,350 for the Intel chip, another -77.2% gap.

Single-core results are closer in relative terms but still favor AMD decisively. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the EPYC 7742 scores 8,296 against 1,661 for the i5-12450H, a -80% delta. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the EPYC 7742 posts 3,484 versus 800, also -77%. In Cinebench R15 single-core, the EPYC 7742 scores 836 versus 238, a -71.5% delta.

The head-to-head data includes no wins for the Intel part. The EPYC 7742 wins all six tests, with deltas ranging from -71.5% to -85%. The single-core advantage for the EPYC is notable because the i5-12450H has a higher boost clock (4.40 GHz versus 3.40 GHz), yet the EPYC still leads by a wide margin in every single-threaded test. The smallest gap appears in Cinebench R15 single-core at -71.5%, while the largest is in Cinebench R23 multi-core at -85%.

The average benchmark score for the i5-12450H is 17,239, placing it at the 71st percentile among all CPUs in the database. The EPYC 7742 has an average score of 16,998, which puts it at the 70th percentile. Despite losing every head-to-head test, the Intel part actually has a slightly higher average benchmark score and percentile ranking overall. This reflects the fact that the i5-12450H has a broader set of recorded benchmarks, including PassMark tests where it scores well in single-threaded and integer workloads, while the EPYC 7742 has only Cinebench results in its database entry.

Nearest rivals for the i5-12450H include the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 8300G (average score 17,278, delta -0.2%), the Intel Core i5-11400F (17,177, delta 0.4%), the AMD Ryzen 3 210 (17,321, delta -0.5%), and the AMD Ryzen 5 4500 (17,333, delta -0.5%). For the EPYC 7742, the nearest rivals are the Intel Core i7-1260P (17,007, delta -0.1%), the AMD Ryzen 5 3600 (17,035, delta -0.2%), the Intel Core i5-1240U (16,957, delta 0.2%), and the AMD EPYC 7702 (16,932, delta 0.4%).

These rival comparisons suggest that the EPYC 7742's average score is closely matched with a range of very different processors, including mobile and desktop parts. The i5-12450H sits in a similar cluster, with all four nearest rivals within 0.5% of its average score. The head-to-head benchmarks, however, tell a much more lopsided story than the aggregate averages.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins the most head-to-head benchmark comparisons?

A: The AMD EPYC 7742 wins all six head-to-head tests against the Intel Core i5-12450H. The Intel part records zero wins in the comparison set.

Q: What is the largest performance gap between the two processors?

A: The largest gap is in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where the EPYC 7742 scores 58,769 and the i5-12450H scores 8,822.5, a delta of -85%.

Q: Does the Intel Core i5-12450H have any advantage in single-core performance?

A: No. Despite having a higher boost clock of 4.40 GHz versus 3.40 GHz for the EPYC, the i5-12450H loses every single-core test. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the EPYC scores 8,296 versus 1,661, a -80% delta.

Q: How do the two processors compare in average benchmark score?

A: The i5-12450H has an average benchmark score of 17,239, while the EPYC 7742 has an average score of 16,998. The Intel part is slightly higher despite losing all head-to-head tests.

Q: What are the percentile rankings for each processor?

A: The i5-12450H sits at the 71st percentile among all CPUs, while the EPYC 7742 sits at the 70th percentile.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The AMD EPYC 7742 supports ECC memory, while the Intel Core i5-12450H does not.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The Intel Core i5-12450H uses the Alder Lake architecture, specifically the Alder Lake-H codename, built on a 10 nm process node at Intel's own foundry. The AMD EPYC 7742 uses the Zen 2 architecture under the Rome codename, fabricated on a 7 nm process at TSMC.

Core counts diverge sharply. The i5-12450H has 8 cores and 12 threads, while the EPYC 7742 has 64 cores and 128 threads. This explains the massive multi-core gaps in the Cinebench results. The i5-12450H is a mobile processor from Intel's Core 12th Gen series, while the EPYC 7742 is a server and workstation part from the EPYC 7002 series.

Cache hierarchies differ substantially. The i5-12450H has 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core, and 12 MB of shared L3 cache. The EPYC 7742 has 96 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and a much larger 256 MB of shared L3 cache. The EPYC's L3 cache is over 21 times larger than the Intel part's L3.

The process node difference is notable: 10 nm for Intel versus 7 nm for TSMC. The EPYC 7742 also has a listed transistor count of 3,800 million and a die size of 74 mm², while the i5-12450H has no transistor count listed but a die size of 217 mm². The Intel die is nearly three times larger in area despite having far fewer cores.

The EPYC 7742 supports ECC memory, which the i5-12450H does not. The Intel part includes integrated UHD Graphics, while the EPYC 7742 has no integrated graphics. The EPYC also has a much wider memory bus at eight channels versus dual-channel for the Intel part, and a listed memory bandwidth of 204.8 GB/s, a figure the Intel entry does not provide. Both support PCIe Gen 4, though the i5-12450H specifies 20 lanes from the CPU.

The production status for both is listed as Active. The EPYC 7742 has a release date of 2019-08-06, while the i5-12450H has no release date in the database. Neither processor has a launch MSRP recorded.

Specification Differences

The core and thread counts differ dramatically: the i5-12450H has 8 cores and 12 threads, while the EPYC 7742 has 64 cores and 128 threads. Base clocks are 2000.00 MHz for the Intel part and 2.25 GHz for the AMD part. Boost clocks are 4.40 GHz for the Intel part and 3.40 GHz for the AMD part.

Thermal design power differs by a factor of five: the i5-12450H has a TDP of 45 watts, while the EPYC 7742 has a TDP of 225 watts. Sockets are incompatible: Intel BGA 1744 for the mobile chip, AMD Socket SP3 for the server chip.

The process node differs (10 nm Intel versus 7 nm TSMC), as does the foundry (Intel versus TSMC). The EPYC 7742 lists 3,800 million transistors; the i5-12450H has no transistor count. Die size is 217 mm² for the Intel part versus 74 mm² for the EPYC.

Cache configurations differ across all levels. L1 is 80 KB per core for Intel versus 96 KB per core for AMD. L2 is 1.25 MB per core for Intel versus 512 KB per core for AMD. L3 is 12 MB shared for Intel versus 256 MB shared for AMD.

Memory support differs: the i5-12450H supports DDR4 and DDR5 with a dual-channel bus, while the EPYC 7742 supports DDR4 with an eight-channel bus and a listed bandwidth of 204.8 GB/s. ECC memory is supported only on the EPYC. The Intel part has integrated UHD Graphics; the EPYC has none. The market segments are Mobile for Intel and Server/Workstation for AMD. The part numbers are SRLCX for Intel and 100-000000053 for AMD.

The Verdict

The data points to two completely different classes of processor. The AMD EPYC 7742 dominates every head-to-head benchmark, with deltas ranging from -71.5% to -85%. In multi-threaded workloads, the EPYC is between roughly 4.4 and 5.7 times faster depending on the Cinebench test. Even in single-threaded tests, where the Intel part's higher boost clock might suggest an advantage, the EPYC leads by at least 71.5%.

The Intel Core i5-12450H is a mobile processor with integrated graphics, a 45 watt TDP, and support for DDR4 and DDR5 memory. It is designed for laptops and portable systems. The EPYC 7742 is a server and workstation part with a 225 watt TDP, 64 cores, 128 threads, eight-channel DDR4 memory, ECC support, and a massive 256 MB L3 cache.

The average benchmark scores complicate the picture slightly. The i5-12450H has an average score of 17,239 versus 16,998 for the EPYC 7742, placing the Intel part at the 71st percentile and the AMD part at the 70th. This is because the Intel chip has a wider range of recorded tests, including PassMark workloads where it posts competitive results against its nearest rivals. The EPYC's database entry includes only Cinebench tests, which are heavily weighted toward the multi-threaded performance where it excels.

For buyers choosing between these two, the decision comes down to workload and platform. If the task requires massive parallel throughput, server-grade memory bandwidth, ECC reliability, and 64 physical cores, the EPYC 7742 is the clear choice from the recorded data. It wins every head-to-head test and offers the kind of multi-core scaling that no mobile processor can approach.

If the task is mobile computing, integrated graphics, lower power draw, and a compact socket, the i5-12450H is the only viable option of the two. It is not competitive with the EPYC in any head-to-head benchmark, but it occupies a different market segment entirely. The EPYC cannot be used in a laptop, and the i5-12450H cannot be used in a server socket.

The verdict from the data is unambiguous: the EPYC 7742 is the far more powerful processor in absolute terms, winning all six head-to-head comparisons. The i5-12450H remains a relevant mobile part with a slightly higher average benchmark score and percentile ranking, but it is not a competitor to the EPYC in any measured workload. Choose the EPYC for raw compute, the i5-12450H for mobile deployments.