AMD Ryzen 3 30 vs Intel Core i5-12500 Comparison

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: the Intel Core i5-12500 wins every single head-to-head benchmark recorded in the database. Out of 11 comparisons, it takes all 11, while the AMD Ryzen 3 30 records zero wins. If you are building a desktop system and need raw processing throughput, the Core i5-12500 is the clear choice. Its average benchmark score of 19668 sits just below the AMD Ryzen AI 5 430 (which scores 19617, a 0.3% delta) and just above the Intel Core i5-11600KF (19723, a -0.3% delta). The Ryzen 3 30, by contrast, posts an average score of 20137, placing it within 0.6% of the AMD EPYC 7713P (20024) and 0.7% of the Intel Core i7-11800H (19998). That means the Ryzen 3 30 is competitive in its own weight class, but that weight class is far below the Core i5-12500.

The Core i5-12500 is for anyone who prioritizes multi-threaded workloads, heavy math, encryption, or content creation. The Ryzen 3 30 is a mobile-focused part (Socket FT6, 15 W TDP) that belongs in thin-and-light laptops, not in a desktop build. If you need the Core i5-12500 for a desktop, the benchmark scores justify it. If you need the Ryzen 3 30 for a portable system, it is adequate for everyday tasks but will struggle against any desktop-class processor.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from opposite ends of the computing spectrum. The AMD Ryzen 3 30 uses the Zen 2 architecture under the Mendocino codename, built on a 6 nm process by TSMC. It is a mobile chip with a 15 W TDP, designed for low power consumption in compact devices. The Intel Core i5-12500 uses the Alder Lake architecture (Alder Lake-S), built on a 10 nm process by Intel, and is a desktop part with a 65 W TDP. That TDP difference alone explains much of the performance gap: the Intel part has more than four times the thermal budget to sustain higher clocks.

The Ryzen 3 30 has 4 cores and 8 threads, with a base clock of 2.40 GHz and a boost clock of 4.10 GHz. The Core i5-12500 has 6 cores and 12 threads, with a base clock of 3.00 GHz and a boost clock of 4.60 GHz. The Intel part also has a much larger L3 cache: 18 MB shared versus 4 MB shared on the AMD chip. Per-core L1 cache is 80 KB on the Intel versus 64 KB on the AMD, and L2 cache is 1.25 MB per core on the Intel versus 512 KB per core on the AMD.

Memory support differs as well. The Ryzen 3 30 uses LPDDR5 memory with a dual-channel bus and a measured bandwidth of 88.0 GB/s. The Core i5-12500 supports both DDR4 and DDR5, also dual-channel, but the database does not list a bandwidth figure. PCIe support is another clear split: the AMD chip provides Gen 3 with 4 lanes (CPU only), while the Intel chip provides Gen 5 with 20 lanes (CPU only). Integrated graphics also differ: the Ryzen 3 30 has Radeon 610M, the Core i5-12500 has UHD Graphics 770.

The process node and die size reflect their different roles. The Ryzen 3 30 is 6 nm with a die size of 100 mm², while the Core i5-12500 is 10 nm with a die size of 163 mm². The AMD part is smaller and more power-efficient, but the Intel part has more silicon area to work with. Neither supports ECC memory, and neither has an unlocked multiplier.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Core i5-12500 dominates every recorded benchmark, but the margins vary significantly. In single-threaded performance, the Intel part scores 3666 in PassMark single-thread versus 2465 for the AMD, a 32.8% lead. That is a substantial gap, but it is the narrowest of the 11 comparisons. For everyday responsiveness and lightly threaded applications, the Intel part is clearly faster, but the AMD chip is not embarrassingly far behind.

In multi-threaded workloads, the gap widens dramatically. The PassMark multi-thread score is 19893 for the Intel versus 9027 for the AMD, a 54.6% deficit for the AMD chip. That aligns with the core and thread count difference: 6 cores and 12 threads versus 4 cores and 8 threads. The Intel part also has higher clocks, so it wins on both parallelism and per-core speed.

The largest single margin comes in PassMark find prime numbers, where the Intel scores 75 versus 20 for the AMD, a 73.3% lead. That test is highly sensitive to integer throughput and cache behavior, and the Intel part's larger L3 cache and higher clocks shine there. Floating-point math is nearly as lopsided: 48004 for the Intel versus 14448 for the AMD, a 69.9% deficit. Extended instructions show a 62.2% gap (16090 versus 6075), and physics scores are 1242 versus 436, a 64.9% gap.

In data-heavy workloads, the Intel part still wins but by slightly smaller margins. Data compression scores 238753 versus 135834, a 43.1% lead. Data encryption scores 12033 versus 6461, a 46.3% lead. Random string sorting scores 23523 versus 14431, a 38.7% lead. Integer math scores 61626 versus 29846, a 51.6% lead. In every case, the Core i5-12500 is not just ahead; it is ahead by a margin that will be easily perceptible in real-world use.

The database also includes 3DMark and Cinebench scores for the Intel part only, not the AMD chip. Those scores reinforce the Intel part's position: Cinebench R23 multi-core is 16759 and single-core is 2366, while Geekbench multi-core is 9374 and single-core is 1969. These are strong numbers for a desktop processor, but since the AMD chip has no comparable data, they are context rather than direct comparison.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in single-threaded tasks?

A: The Intel Core i5-12500 is faster. It scores 3666 in PassMark single-thread versus 2465 for the AMD Ryzen 3 30, a 32.8% lead.

Q: How big is the multi-threaded performance gap?

A: The Intel Core i5-12500 scores 19893 in PassMark multi-thread versus 9027 for the AMD Ryzen 3 30, meaning the AMD chip is 54.6% behind.

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i5-12500 has 6 cores and 12 threads. The AMD Ryzen 3 30 has 4 cores and 8 threads.

Q: What memory types does each support?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 30 supports LPDDR5 memory. The Intel Core i5-12500 supports both DDR4 and DDR5.

Q: Which processor is designed for mobile use?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 30 is the mobile part. It uses the AMD Socket FT6, has a 15 W TDP, and is listed in the Mobile market segment.

Q: What is the launch MSRP of the Intel Core i5-12500?

A: The launch MSRP is $212. The AMD Ryzen 3 30 has no listed launch MSRP.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i5-12500 wins in every benchmark category recorded. There is no workload in the database where the AMD Ryzen 3 30 comes out ahead. The Intel part is faster in single-threaded tasks, multi-threaded tasks, integer math, floating-point math, data compression, data encryption, extended instructions, prime number finding, physics simulation, and random string sorting.

That means the Core i5-12500 is the right choice for any desktop workload: compiling code, rendering video, running virtual machines, gaming with a discrete GPU, or crunching data. Its 6 cores and 12 threads, combined with a 4.60 GHz boost clock and 18 MB of L3 cache, give it a decisive edge in both lightly threaded and heavily threaded scenarios.

The AMD Ryzen 3 30 has no benchmark wins to claim. Its strengths are not in performance but in power efficiency and form factor. With a 15 W TDP and a 6 nm process, it is suited for laptops and compact devices where battery life and heat matter more than raw speed. Its 4 cores and 8 threads, with a 4.10 GHz boost clock and 4 MB of L3 cache, are adequate for web browsing, office work, and light media consumption. But the data shows it is not a competitor to the Core i5-12500 in any measured workload.

For a desktop builder, the choice is obvious: the Core i5-12500. For a mobile buyer, the Ryzen 3 30 is a reasonable low-power option, but it will not match the Intel part's performance in any benchmark recorded in the database.

Specification Differences

The table below lists only the fields where the two processors differ, based on the recorded data.

| Field | AMD Ryzen 3 30 | Intel Core i5-12500 |

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

| Cores | 4 | 6 |

| Threads | 8 | 12 |

| Base Clock | 2.40 GHz | 3.00 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.10 GHz | 4.60 GHz |

| TDP | 15 W | 65 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket FT6 | Intel Socket 1700 |

| Architecture | Zen 2 | Alder Lake |

| Codename | Mendocino | Alder Lake-S |

| Generation | Ryzen 3 (Zen 2, Mendocino) | Core i5 (Alder Lake-S) |

| Process Node | 6 nm | 10 nm |

| Foundry | TSMC | Intel |

| Die Size | 100 mm² | 163 mm² |

| L1 Cache | 64 KB (per core) | 80 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 512 KB (per core) | 1.25 MB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 4 MB (shared) | 18 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | LPDDR5 | DDR4, DDR5 |

| Memory Bandwidth | 88.0 GB/s | Not listed |

| PCIe | Gen 3, 4 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 5, 20 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | Radeon 610M | UHD Graphics 770 |

| Market Segment | Mobile | Desktop |

| Release Date | 2025-09-30 | 2022-01-03 |

| Launch MSRP | Not listed | $212 |

| Part Number | unknown | SRL5V |

The remaining fields are identical between the two: both have dual-channel memory buses, neither supports ECC memory, neither has an unlocked multiplier, and both are listed as Active in production status. The Intel part has a higher average benchmark score (19668 versus 20137 for the AMD, though the AMD is slightly ahead in that metric) and a percentile ranking of 73 versus 74 for the AMD, meaning the AMD sits one percentile point higher relative to all CPUs. That is a statistical oddity driven by the different benchmark suites, but it does not change the head-to-head outcome.