AMD Ryzen 3 210 vs Intel Core i5-12450H Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data presents a clear split between the AMD Ryzen 3 210 and Intel Core i5-12450H, with each claiming distinct victories across different workloads. The Intel chip wins 13 of the 17 head-to-head comparisons, but the AMD processor secures some of the most decisive single-thread and scaling results.

The most striking divergence appears in Cinebench. The Intel Core i5-12450H dominates the older R15 and R20 tests, posting a 16.4% advantage in R15 multi-core (1350 vs 1128) and a 17.1% edge in R20 multi-core (5671 vs 4703). Single-core results follow the same pattern: Intel leads by 33.2% in R15 single-core (238 vs 159) and by 17% in R20 single-core (800 vs 664). Yet in the newer Cinebench R23 multi-core test, the Ryzen 3 210 flips the script with a massive 26.9% victory (11198 vs 8822.5). This inversion suggests the AMD chip's performance scales differently under prolonged or more demanding multi-threaded loads, while Intel's advantage narrows to just 4.8% in R23 single-core (1661 vs 1581).

PassMark results reinforce Intel's overall lead in raw computational throughput. The i5-12450H crushes the Ryzen in floating-point math with a 41.7% margin (40568 vs 23649) and integer math by 30.8% (54782 vs 37933). Data compression favors Intel at 22.1% (195132 vs 152017), encryption at 20.5% (10832 vs 8607), and multi-threaded performance at 16.5% (16265 vs 13585). Even in physics, a test often sensitive to clock speeds, Intel holds a 7% edge (883 vs 821).

The AMD Ryzen 3 210's wins are fewer but notable. It takes PassMark single-thread by 12.6% (3724 vs 3306) and find prime numbers by 6.5% (49 vs 46). The extended instructions test shows only a 4.4% gap in Intel's favor (11992 vs 11464), and random string sorting is close at 6.6% for Intel (20838 vs 19454). The 3DMark results, available only for Intel, show scaling from 912 single-thread to 5020 at max threads, but no direct comparison exists for the AMD part.

Average scores place both CPUs within a whisper of each other. The Ryzen 3 210 averages 17321, while the i5-12450H averages 17239 — a 0.5% gap. Both sit at the 71st percentile of all CPUs, and their nearest rivals include each other, alongside the AMD Ryzen 5 4500 and Ryzen 3 PRO 8300G. This near-parity in overall score masks the workload-specific swings that define this matchup.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i5-12450H is the clear choice for compute-heavy, multi-threaded tasks that leverage its 8 cores and 12 threads. The PassMark multi-thread score of 16265 versus 13585 for the Ryzen 3 210, combined with a 30.8% lead in integer math and a 41.7% lead in floating-point math, makes it the better fit for video encoding, 3D rendering, data processing, and any workload that can saturate multiple cores. The 22.1% advantage in data compression and 20.5% edge in encryption further cement its position for file archiving and security-related tasks.

The AMD Ryzen 3 210 wins in lighter, latency-sensitive workloads where single-core performance matters most. Its 12.6% PassMark single-thread advantage (3724 vs 3306) suggests snappier response in everyday applications, browser-based tasks, and lightly threaded productivity software. The 6.5% win in prime number finding hints at strength in integer-heavy single-threaded workloads. The R23 multi-core win (26.9%) is harder to categorize — it may favor the AMD chip in sustained multi-threaded render loops that fit within its cache hierarchy or power envelope.

For mixed-use laptops, the data points to Intel for heavier parallel tasks and AMD for single-thread responsiveness. The Cinebench R23 result complicates the narrative, however, as it shows the Ryzen 3 210 outperforming the Intel chip by nearly 27% in a modern multi-core benchmark, even though Intel wins the older R15 and R20 multi-core tests. Users should weigh which benchmark generation best reflects their actual workload.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen 3 210 uses the Zen 4 architecture on a 4 nm TSMC process with 20,900 million transistors on a 137 mm² die. The Intel Core i5-12450H uses Alder Lake on Intel's 10 nm process with a larger 217 mm² die and no disclosed transistor count. The process node advantage for AMD is significant, translating to a 28W TDP versus Intel's 45W TDP.

Core configurations differ sharply. The Ryzen 3 210 has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the i5-12450H has 8 cores and 12 threads. The Intel chip's hybrid architecture likely explains its thread count advantage — the data shows 8 cores but only 12 threads, indicating a mix of performance and efficiency cores. AMD's chip is uniformly threaded at 4 cores with simultaneous multithreading.

Cache hierarchies also diverge. The Ryzen 3 210 offers 64 KB L1 and 1 MB L2 per core, with 8 MB shared L3. The i5-12450H provides 80 KB L1 and 1.25 MB L2 per core, with 12 MB shared L3. Intel's larger per-core caches and 50% more L3 capacity may contribute to its leads in data compression and encryption tests.

Clock speeds tell a nuanced story. The AMD chip boosts to 4.70 GHz from a 3.00 GHz base, while the Intel part reaches 4.40 GHz from a 2.00 GHz base. Despite Intel's lower boost clock, it wins most single-thread benchmarks except PassMark single-thread, suggesting architectural efficiency differences matter more than peak frequency. Memory support differs as well: AMD supports only DDR5 with 89.6 GB/s bandwidth, while Intel supports both DDR4 and DDR5 with no bandwidth figure listed. Both use dual-channel memory and lack ECC support. PCIe lanes favor Intel at 20 Gen 4 lanes versus AMD's 14 Gen 4 lanes. Integrated graphics are Radeon 740M for AMD and UHD Graphics for Intel. Both are mobile chips, with AMD using Socket FP7 and Intel using BGA 1744.

The Verdict

The data supports a split decision. For users prioritizing multi-threaded throughput, the Intel Core i5-12450H wins on the strength of its PassMark results: 16.5% faster multi-thread, 30.8% faster integer math, and 41.7% faster floating-point math. Its 8-core/12-thread configuration and larger 12 MB L3 cache give it a structural advantage for parallel workloads. The 22.1% lead in data compression and 20.5% lead in encryption make it the safer pick for content creation, data analysis, and heavy multitasking.

For users who value single-thread performance and power efficiency, the AMD Ryzen 3 210 makes a compelling case. Its 12.6% PassMark single-thread advantage and 6.5% win in prime number finding indicate faster response in lightly threaded applications. The 28W TDP versus Intel's 45W TDP suggests longer battery life and cooler operation in thin-and-light laptops. The R23 multi-core victory (26.9%) adds a wrinkle, suggesting the AMD chip can hold its own in certain modern render workloads despite having half the cores.

The overall scores are nearly identical — 17321 for AMD versus 17239 for Intel, a 0.5% difference — and both CPUs sit at the 71st percentile. The choice comes down to workload profile. The Intel i5-12450H is the data-backed pick for parallel compute; the Ryzen 3 210 is the data-backed pick for single-thread responsiveness and efficiency. Neither chip dominates outright, and both place within 0.5% of the AMD Ryzen 5 4500 and Ryzen 3 PRO 8300G in average score.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 210 averages 17321, while the Intel Core i5-12450H averages 17239 — a 0.5% difference in favor of AMD.

Q: How do the two compare in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 210 wins by 26.9%, scoring 11198 versus 8822.5 for the Intel Core i5-12450H.

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i5-12450H has 8 cores and 12 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 3 210 has 4 cores and 8 threads.

Q: What is the single-thread performance difference in PassMark?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 210 leads by 12.6%, scoring 3724 versus 3306 for the Intel Core i5-12450H.

Q: Which CPU supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory?

A: The Intel Core i5-12450H supports both DDR4 and DDR5, while the AMD Ryzen 3 210 supports only DDR5.

Q: How large is the gap in floating-point math performance?

A: The Intel Core i5-12450H leads by 41.7%, scoring 40568 versus 23649 for the AMD Ryzen 3 210 in PassMark floating-point math.