AMD EPYC 9454 vs Intel Core i5-12490F Comparison

# AMD EPYC 9454 vs Intel Core i5-12490F: A Data-Driven Breakdown

The AMD EPYC 9454 is a 48-core, 96-thread Zen 4 (Genoa) server processor built for the SP5 socket. The Intel Core i5-12490F is a 6-core, 12-thread Alder Lake-S desktop chip on LGA1700. The database records a decisive head-to-head sweep: the EPYC wins all six matched benchmarks, with every multi-core result landing roughly 324% ahead of the i5, and single-core results about 325% ahead. That gap is so wide it is not a contest; it is a category difference.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data covers six Cinebench runs, and the pattern is consistent across all of them. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the EPYC scores 7396 against 1742 for the i5, a 324.6% advantage. Single-core R15 tells the same story: 1044 versus 245, a 326.1% win. Moving to R20, the EPYC posts 30817 against 7259, again 324.5% ahead. The R20 single-core run shows 4350 versus 1024, a 324.8% gap. Cinebench R23 multi-core is 73375 for the EPYC versus 17284, a 324.5% lead, and the R23 single-core score is 10358 versus 2440, 324.5% higher.

These are not close wins. The smallest delta in the entire set is still 324.6%, and the pattern holds at every thread count. In every workload, from single-threaded to fully multi-core, the EPYC's raw compute throughput is roughly four times that of the i5. The i5-12490F never closes the gap, even in the single-core tests where its higher per-core clock would normally help.

Architecture Differences

The AMD EPYC 9454 uses the Zen 4 architecture on a 5 nm TSMC process. It packs 48 cores and 96 threads, with a base clock of 2.75 GHz and a boost of 3.80 GHz. Its cache layout is deep: 64 KB L1 per core, 1 MB L2 per core, and a shared 256 MB L3. It supports DDR5 memory across a twelve-channel memory bus, with ECC enabled and a 460.8 GB/s memory bandwidth. The PCIe implementation is Gen 5 with 128 lanes (CPU only). It is a server/workstation part, launched November 9, 2022, with a launch MSRP of $5225.

The Intel Core i5-12490F uses the Alder Lake architecture on Intel's 10 nm process. It has 6 cores and 12 threads, a 3.00 GHz base and 4.60 GHz boost. The L1 cache is 80 KB per core, L2 is 1.25 MB per core, and L3 is 20 MB shared. Memory support covers DDR4 and DDR5 over a dual-channel bus. PCIe is Gen 5 with 20 lanes (CPU only). It has no integrated graphics, and its market segment is desktop.

The two chips are not trying to do the same job. The EPYC is a many-core data center monster; the i5 is a consumer desktop part. That explains the staggering benchmark gaps, but it also means the EPYC is the only one of the two that can sustain heavily threaded server workloads.

FAQ

Q: Which chip wins in multi-threaded workloads?

A: The AMD EPYC 9454 wins every recorded multi-thread test. The data shows a 324.5% lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core, and similar margins in R15 and R20. The 48-core, 96-thread design simply has more parallel execution units to throw at threaded tasks.

Q: Is the i5-12490F better in single-thread workloads?

A: No, not according to the database. The EPYC's single-core Cinebench R23 score is 10315, against the i5's 2440: a 324.5% lead for AMD. Even at the same clock speed, the Zen 4 core executes more instructions per cycle in these tests.

Q: What about memory support?

A: The EPYC 9454 supports DDR5 across a twelve-channel memory bus with ECC, and it has 256 MB of L3 cache. The i5-12490F supports DDR4 and DDR5 over a dual-channel bus, with 20 MB of L3. The EPYC's bandwidth (460.8 GB/s) dwarfs the i5's, which the database records as, but you should not expect the i5 to run memory-heavy server loads.

Q: Is the i5-12490F a "multiplier unlocked" chip?

A: No. The database lists multiplier unlocked as false for the i5-12490F. The EPYC 9454 is also not multiplier-unlocked.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous. The AMD EPYC 9454 beats the Intel Core i5-12490F in every recorded benchmark run, and by enormous margins. If your workload is heavily parallel, server-class tasks, or anything that scales with core count, the EPYC 9454 is the clear choice. It also brings ECC memory, twelve-channel memory bandwidth, 128 PCIe Gen5 lanes, and the full server platform feature set.

The i5-12490F is the right pick only if you are building a mainstream desktop, do not need the multi-core scaling, and are constrained to the LGA1700 platform. The data does not show any benchmark category where the i5 wins, so any choice has to be made on platform and workload grounds, not on performance. For any task in the recorded benchmark set, the EPYC 9454 is the stronger silicon.

Specification Differences

| Field | AMD EPYC 9454 | Intel Core i5-12490F |

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

| Cores / Threads | 48 / 96 | 6 / 12 |

| Base / Boost Clock | 2.75 GHz / 3.80 GHz | 3.00 GHz / 4.60 GHz |

| Process Node | 5 nm (TSMC) | 10 nm (Intel) |

| L1 / L2 / L3 Cache | 64 KB per core / 1 MB per core / 256 MB shared | 80 KB per core / 1.25 MB per core / 20 MB shared |

| Memory Support | DDR5 | DDR4, DDR5 |

| Memory Bus | Twelve-channel | Dual-channel |

| PCIe | Gen 5, 128 lanes (CPU only) | Gen 5, 20 lanes (CPU only) |

| Market Segment | Server/Workstation | Desktop |

| Launch MSRP | $5225 | None listed |

Where Each One Wins

The AMD EPYC 9454 wins in any scenario where multi-threaded performance is the priority, or where the platform needs server features: ECC memory, twelve-channel memory bandwidth, the full 128-lane Gen5 PCIe fabric, or the 256 MB shared L3. It is also the only chip here with a 96-thread count capable of massive virtualization.

The Intel Core i5-12490F is the only one of the two that fits a desktop motherboard on LGA1700. It is the choice for a gaming or productivity desktop where the software is lightly threaded and the motherboard budget is consumer-grade. Its 4.60 GHz boost helps in lightly threaded workloads, but the benchmark data shows the EPYC's cores still outperform it in this database's single-thread tests.

If your build is a workstation or server, or you routinely run heavily parallel workloads such as rendering, compiling, or VMs, the EPYC 9454 is the only rational choice. Its nearest rivals in the database, like the Intel Core Ultra 7 155U, sit within 0.5% of its average score, but none of them beat it in the head-to-head runs. For desktop gaming with modest thread counts, the i5-12490F remains a capable, lower-power alternative, but on raw recorded performance, the AMD EPYC 9454 leaves no room for debate.