AMD EPYC 9474F vs Intel Core i5-12450HX Comparison

The Intel Core i5-12450HX and AMD EPYC 9474F sit at opposite ends of the computing spectrum. The i5 is a mobile processor from Intel's 12th Gen Alder Lake family, while the EPYC is a server-class chip from AMD's Zen 4 Genoa line. Benchmark data from the database shows a decisive performance gap: the EPYC wins all six head-to-head Cinebench tests, with the i5 trailing by 82.7% in most and 86.9% in Cinebench R23 multicore. However, the two chips serve entirely different markets, and the i5's strengths lie in its mobile form factor, integrated graphics, and lower power envelope.

The Verdict

For anyone building a server or workstation, the AMD EPYC 9474F is the clear choice. It offers 48 cores and 96 threads, 256 MB of L3 cache, twelve-channel DDR5 memory with 460.8 GB/s bandwidth, and ECC support. Its Cinebench scores are multiples of the Intel part: 8,748 vs 1,512 in R15 multicore, 36,451 vs 6,304 in R20 multicore, and 86,790 vs 11,390 in R23 multicore. The i5, on the other hand, is a mobile chip with 8 cores and 12 threads, a 55 TDP, and integrated UHD Graphics 710. It is designed for laptops and compact systems. The data shows that the EPYC is the performance leader by a wide margin, but the i5 has its own place. The i5 also has an unlocked multiplier, while the EPYC is locked. For mobile users who need a capable processor with integrated graphics, the i5 is the appropriate pick. For heavy compute, the EPYC is unmatched in this comparison.

Both processors sit at the 77th percentile in the database's overall ranking, though the EPYC's average benchmark score of 25,103 edges out the i5's 24,576. The i5's average score places it within 0.1% of the Intel Core i5-11600 and 0.5% of the AMD EPYC 9654P, while the EPYC's average is within 0.2% of the AMD Ryzen 7 7735HS. These proximity figures underscore that the EPYC, despite its massive core count, competes in a similar average-score band as the i5 when considering the full benchmark suite, but the head-to-head Cinebench results reveal the EPYC's dominance in rendering workloads.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The AMD EPYC 9474F has 48 cores and 96 threads, while the Intel Core i5-12450HX has 8 cores and 12 threads.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The AMD EPYC 9474F supports ECC memory, while the Intel Core i5-12450HX does not.

Q: Which processor has integrated graphics?

A: The Intel Core i5-12450HX includes UHD Graphics 710, while the AMD EPYC 9474F has no integrated graphics.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core i5-12450HX boosts to 4.40 GHz, while the AMD EPYC 9474F boosts to 4.10 GHz.

Q: Which processor has a larger L3 cache?

A: The AMD EPYC 9474F has 256 MB of shared L3 cache, compared to 12 MB on the Intel Core i5-12450HX.

Q: Which processor has a higher memory bandwidth?

A: The AMD EPYC 9474F has a memory bandwidth of 460.8 GB/s, while the Intel Core i5-12450HX does not have a listed bandwidth figure.

Architecture Differences

Architecturally, the two processors are generations apart. The Intel Core i5-12450HX is built on Intel's 10 nm process and uses the Alder Lake-HX architecture. It has 8 cores and 12 threads, with a base clock of 2.40 GHz and a boost of 4.40 GHz. Its cache hierarchy includes 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 12 MB of shared L3. The die size is 215 mm². The AMD EPYC 9474F, in contrast, is a Zen 4 (Genoa) part fabricated on TSMC's 5 nm process. It packs 48 cores and 96 threads, with a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost of 4.10 GHz. Its L1 is 64 KB per core, L2 is 1 MB per core, and L3 is 256 MB shared. The EPYC uses a chiplet design with 8 dies, each 72 mm², and has 52,560 million transistors. The Intel part does not list a transistor count. The EPYC also supports twelve-channel DDR5 memory with a bandwidth of 460.8 GB/s, while the i5 supports dual-channel DDR4 and DDR5. ECC memory is supported on the EPYC but not on the i5. The EPYC provides 128 PCIe Gen 5 lanes, while the i5 offers 20 lanes. The i5 includes integrated UHD Graphics 710; the EPYC has none. The i5 is a mobile part with a TDP of 55, while the EPYC is a server/workstation part with a TDP of 360. The i5 has an unlocked multiplier; the EPYC is locked.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every specification. The EPYC has 48 cores and 96 threads versus 8 cores and 12 threads. Base clocks are 3.60 GHz versus 2.40 GHz, though the i5 boosts higher at 4.40 GHz versus 4.10 GHz. TDP is 360 versus 55. The EPYC uses AMD Socket SP5, the i5 uses Intel BGA 1964. The EPYC is Zen 4 on 5 nm from TSMC, the i5 is Alder Lake on 10 nm from Intel. Transistors: 52,560 million for the EPYC, not listed for the i5. Die size: 8x 72 mm² for the EPYC, 215 mm² for the i5. L1: 64 KB per core vs 80 KB per core. L2: 1 MB per core vs 1.25 MB per core. L3: 256 MB shared vs 12 MB shared. Memory: DDR5 only, twelve-channel, 460.8 GB/s vs DDR4/DDR5, dual-channel, no bandwidth listed. ECC: yes vs no. PCIe: 128 lanes vs 20 lanes. Integrated graphics: none vs UHD Graphics 710. Market segment: Server/Workstation vs Mobile. Release date: 2022-11-09 vs 2022-05-09. Launch MSRP: $6780 vs $284. Multiplier: locked vs unlocked.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head benchmark results are one-sided. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the EPYC scores 8,748 against the i5's 1,512, a delta of -82.7% (meaning the i5 trails by 82.7%). The single-core R15 test shows the same delta: 1,234 vs 213. R20 multicore: 36,451 vs 6,304, again -82.7%. R20 single-core: 5,145 vs 889. R23 multicore: 86,790 vs 11,390, a delta of -86.9%. R23 single-core: 12,252 vs 2,119, -82.7%. The EPYC wins all six tests. The i5 does have its own benchmark results in the database, including PassMark scores for data compression (219,707), encryption (12,110), extended instructions (13,832), prime numbers (54), floating point math (43,126), integer math (57,189), multithread (18,274), physics (1,086), random string sorting (23,306), and single thread (3,340). These are not directly compared to the EPYC, which lacks those specific tests. The average benchmark score for the i5 is 24,576, while the EPYC averages 25,103, a difference of 527 points. Both sit at the 77th percentile of all CPUs in the database.

The Cinebench deltas are consistent across single and multi-core tests, indicating that the EPYC's advantage is not merely a matter of core count but also of per-core efficiency. The i5's higher boost clock (4.40 GHz vs 4.10 GHz) does not translate into a win in any Cinebench test, as the EPYC's Zen 4 architecture and larger cache (256 MB vs 12 MB) deliver superior throughput. The EPYC's twelve-channel memory interface and 460.8 GB/s bandwidth further support its multi-threaded dominance. For workloads that rely on single-thread performance, the EPYC still leads by 82.7% in R15, R20, and R23 single-core tests, a surprising result given the i5's higher boost frequency. This suggests that the EPYC's IPC advantage and memory subsystem outweigh the clock speed difference.

The i5's PassMark results, while not compared head-to-head, show a capable mobile processor. Its data compression score of 219,707 and integer math score of 57,189 indicate solid general-purpose performance. However, the EPYC's Cinebench scores are in a different class, with R23 multicore reaching 86,790, a figure that dwarfs the i5's 11,390. The database's nearest-rival data for the i5 includes the AMD Ryzen 7 5700X3D (average 24,709, delta -0.5%) and the AMD Ryzen 5 7600X3D (24,728, -0.6%), showing that the i5 sits in a competitive mid-range mobile segment. The EPYC's nearest rivals are all mobile or desktop parts, such as the AMD Ryzen 7 7735HS (25,147, -0.2%) and the AMD Ryzen 5 8400F (25,005, 0.4%), which underscores that the EPYC's average score is comparable to high-end consumer chips despite its server positioning.

In summary, the data paints a clear picture: the AMD EPYC 9474F is the overwhelming performance winner in every measured Cinebench test, with deltas of -82.7% or -86.9% against the Intel Core i5-12450HX. The i5, however, is a mobile processor with integrated graphics, a lower TDP, and an unlocked multiplier, making it suitable for laptops and compact systems. The EPYC is a server/workstation part with ECC support, massive memory bandwidth, and 128 PCIe lanes, designed for heavy compute. The choice between them depends entirely on the target platform and workload, not on raw benchmark scores alone.