AMD EPYC 9454P vs Intel Core i5-12490F Comparison

The Intel Core i5-12490F and the AMD EPYC 9454P occupy opposite ends of the computing spectrum, and the benchmark data confirms a complete mismatch in their intended roles. The EPYC 9454P dominates every single shared benchmark, with the Core i5-12490F trailing by roughly 78.8% in each test. However, the i5-12490F is not without merit; its data shows it is a highly capable desktop processor, while the EPYC 9454P is a server-class behemoth. The recorded measurements indicate that the choice between them is not about which is faster, but which is appropriate for the workload.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD EPYC 9454P wins in every category that both processors were tested on. In the six head-to-head Cinebench tests, it takes a decisive victory in both multi-core and single-core workloads. The most significant margin is in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where the EPYC scores 81,492 against the i5-12490F's 17,284. This represents a 78.8% advantage, a gap that reflects the EPYC's 48 cores and 96 threads compared to the i5's 6 cores and 12 threads. The EPYC's single-core performance is also vastly superior, scoring 11,504 in Cinebench R23 single-core versus the i5's 2,440, a 78.8% lead. For any task that scales with cores, such as rendering, scientific computing, or heavy virtualization, the EPYC 9454P is the clear winner.

The Intel Core i5-12490F, while losing all head-to-head tests, shows its strengths in its own benchmark suite. Its Passmark single-thread score of 3,682 and 3DMark single-thread score of 946 indicate a strong showing for lightly-threaded applications like gaming and typical desktop use. The data shows it is a well-rounded part for a consumer desktop, with a 74th percentile ranking against all CPUs. Its wins are not against the EPYC, but in the context of its own performance profile, offering a balance of single-thread speed (boost clock of 4.60 GHz) and multi-thread capability for its core count. The EPYC's wins are absolute, but the i5's value is contextual.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on fundamentally different architectures for different markets. The Intel Core i5-12490F is based on Alder Lake-S, using a 10 nm process manufactured by Intel. It features 6 cores and 12 threads, a 65 W TDP, and supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory over a dual-channel bus. Its cache hierarchy includes 80 KB of L1 and 1.25 MB of L2 per core, with a shared 20 MB L3 cache. It uses the Intel Socket 1700 and offers PCIe Gen 5 with 20 lanes from the CPU. It does not support ECC memory.

The AMD EPYC 9454P is a Zen 4 (Genoa) part, built on a 5 nm process by TSMC. It is a massive server chip with 48 cores and 96 threads, a 290 W TDP, and a twelve-channel DDR5 memory bus with a recorded bandwidth of 460.8 GB/s. It has 64 KB of L1 and 1 MB of L2 per core, but a much larger shared L3 cache of 256 MB. It uses the AMD Socket SP5 and provides 128 PCIe Gen 5 lanes. It supports ECC memory, a critical feature for server reliability. The EPYC also has a listed transistor count of 52,560 million across 8 chiplets, each 72 mm², while the i5 has a die size of 163 mm².

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The AMD EPYC 9454P has 48 cores, while the Intel Core i5-12490F has 6 cores.

Q: What is the difference in multi-core performance?

A: In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the EPYC 9454P scores 81,492, which is 78.8% higher than the i5-12490F's score of 17,284.

Q: Does the Intel processor support ECC memory?

A: No, the Intel Core i5-12490F does not support ECC memory, while the AMD EPYC 9454P does.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth of the AMD EPYC 9454P?

A: The EPYC 9454P has a twelve-channel memory bus with a bandwidth of 460.8 GB/s, compared to the i5's dual-channel bus.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core i5-12490F has a higher boost clock of 4.60 GHz, while the AMD EPYC 9454P boosts to 3.80 GHz.

Q: What is the market segment for each?

A: The Intel Core i5-12490F is a desktop processor, while the AMD EPYC 9454P is designed for the server and workstation segment.

Specification Differences

The specification sheets reveal the stark contrast between these two parts. The Intel Core i5-12490F has 6 cores and 12 threads, a base clock of 3.00 GHz and a boost clock of 4.60 GHz, with a 65 W TDP. The AMD EPYC 9454P has 48 cores and 96 threads, a base clock of 2.75 GHz and a boost clock of 3.80 GHz, with a 290 W TDP. The process node differs significantly: Intel uses a 10 nm process, while AMD uses a 5 nm process from TSMC.

Memory support is another major differentiator. The i5-12490F supports DDR4 and DDR5 over a dual-channel bus, while the EPYC 9454P exclusively supports DDR5 over a twelve-channel bus. The cache structures are also distinct: the i5 has 80 KB of L1 and 1.25 MB of L2 per core, with a 20 MB shared L3, whereas the EPYC has 64 KB of L1 and 1 MB of L2 per core, with a 256 MB shared L3. The PCIe lanes also differ, with the i5 offering 20 Gen 5 lanes and the EPYC offering 128 Gen 5 lanes. The sockets are incompatible: Intel Socket 1700 for the i5, and AMD Socket SP5 for the EPYC. The EPYC also has a release date of 2022-11-09 and a launch MSRP of $4598.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results are unambiguous: the AMD EPYC 9454P wins all six tests. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the EPYC scores 8,214 versus the i5's 1,742, a delta of -78.8% for the Intel part. The single-core R15 test shows a similar story, with the EPYC at 1,159 and the i5 at 245. Moving to Cinebench R20, the EPYC's multi-core score of 34,226 dwarfs the i5's 7,259, and its single-core score of 4,831 beats the i5's 1,024. The largest absolute difference is in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where the EPYC scores 81,492 against the i5's 17,284.

Even in single-core tests, where the i5's higher boost clock might suggest an advantage, the EPYC wins decisively. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the EPYC scores 11,504, which is 78.8% higher than the i5's 2,440. This indicates the EPYC's Zen 4 architecture has a superior IPC (instructions per clock) that overcomes its lower clock speed. The data consistently shows the EPYC is faster in every measured metric, with the i5's performance being a fraction of the server chip's output. The 78.8% deficit in every test highlights the fundamental performance gap between a 6-core desktop chip and a 48-core server processor.

The Verdict

The data clearly indicates that the AMD EPYC 9454P is the superior processor in raw performance. It wins every benchmark in the head-to-head comparison, with a 78.8% lead in both single-core and multi-core tests. This is a direct result of its 48 cores, 96 threads, and larger 256 MB L3 cache, which provide immense parallel processing power. The EPYC is the only choice for server workloads, heavy multi-threaded rendering, or data center applications that require massive throughput and ECC memory support. Its twelve-channel memory bus and 128 PCIe lanes further cement its position as a server/workstation part.

The Intel Core i5-12490F, while losing all comparisons, serves a completely different purpose. Its data shows it is a solid desktop processor, with a 74th percentile ranking, a 4.60 GHz boost clock, and support for both DDR4 and DDR5 memory. For a consumer building a gaming PC or a general-purpose desktop, the i5 offers a balanced feature set with 6 cores and 12 threads, which is ample for most modern applications. The choice is straightforward: for a server or workstation, select the AMD EPYC 9454P; for a desktop, the Intel Core i5-12490F is the appropriate part. The benchmarks confirm they are not competitors, but rather tools for entirely different jobs.