AMD Ryzen 5 240 vs Intel Core i7-12700 Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark record for this pairing is one-sided. Across all 15 head-to-head tests in the database, the Intel Core i7-12700 wins every single comparison. The AMD Ryzen 5 240 does not secure a win in any recorded test, whether the workload is single-threaded, multi-threaded, or specialized instruction-heavy. That means the use-case split is not about which processor wins a category, but rather about how large the Intel advantage is in each category.

For single-thread responsiveness, the Intel part holds a narrow but consistent lead. The Cinebench R15 single-core test shows a 0.7% margin, and the PassMark single-thread test shows 4.9%. These are small deltas, so in lightly threaded daily tasks the two parts should feel similar, though the recorded data still favors Intel. The Cinebench R23 single-core result widens the gap to 8%, indicating that under sustained single-core load the Intel architecture pulls further ahead.

The multi-threaded and throughput-oriented workloads are where the Intel Core i7-12700 creates separation. The Cinebench R23 multi-core score is 40.2% higher, and the Cinebench R15 multi-core score is 34.1% higher. The floating-point math test shows a 44.2% delta, the largest in the entire dataset. Integer math, data compression, and prime number finding all show Intel leads between 28.7% and 31.3%. These numbers point to a clear conclusion: for heavily parallel workloads, rendering, encoding, and number crunching, the Intel processor is the stronger choice by a substantial margin.

The Ryzen 5 240 is not without context, however. Its average benchmark score of 33542 places it at the 84th percentile of all CPUs in the database, and its nearest rivals include the Intel Core Ultra 7 255H at 33537, the AMD Ryzen 7 8840HS at 33667, and the AMD Ryzen 5 7645HX at 33668. The Ryzen 5 240 sits within 0.4% of those parts. The Intel Core i7-12700, meanwhile, records an average score of 32942, placing it at the 83rd percentile, with rivals like the AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D at 33079 and the AMD Ryzen 7 8700G at 33089. So while the Intel wins the direct comparison, both processors belong to the same overall performance tier in the database. The Ryzen 5 240 can be understood as a mobile-oriented chip that trades heavily parallel throughput for a lower 45 W TDP, while the Intel part is a desktop processor with a 65 W TDP and a much larger core count.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen 5 240 is built on Zen 4 architecture under the Hawk Point codename, produced on a 4 nm process at TSMC. It packs 25,000 million transistors into a 178 mm² die. The Intel Core i7-12700 uses Alder Lake architecture, specifically Alder Lake-S, manufactured on a 10 nm process at Intel, with a die size of 215 mm². The node advantage belongs to AMD, but that does not translate into a performance win in this comparison.

Core configuration is the most visible split. The Ryzen 5 240 offers 6 cores and 12 threads, while the Intel Core i7-12700 offers 12 cores and 20 threads. That difference in raw core count explains much of the multi-threaded gap. The Intel part also has a larger cache layout: 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 25 MB of shared L3. The AMD part has 64 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3. In every cache tier, the Intel processor has more capacity.

Clock behavior also differs. The AMD Ryzen 5 240 has a base clock of 4.30 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. The Intel Core i7-12700 has a much lower base clock of 2.10 GHz but a boost clock of 4.90 GHz. The high Intel base clock is lower because of the hybrid architecture and higher core count, but the boost ceiling is close to the AMD part. The AMD part can sustain higher clocks per core, yet it still loses single-thread tests by a small margin.

Platform support differs as well. The AMD processor uses the AMD Socket FP8, a mobile socket, and supports DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration, with a recorded memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s. The Intel part uses Intel Socket 1700, a desktop socket, and supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory in dual-channel mode. The Intel memory bandwidth is not recorded in the database. The AMD part provides PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes from the CPU, while the Intel part provides PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes from the CPU. Neither processor supports ECC memory, and neither has an unlocked multiplier.

Integrated graphics also differ. The AMD Ryzen 5 240 includes a Radeon 760M iGPU, while the Intel Core i7-12700 includes UHD Graphics 770. The market segments are not directly benchmarked in the head-to-head set, so no performance comparison can be made from the recorded data.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest recorded delta is in the PassMark floating-point math test, where the Intel Core i7-12700 scores 81191 against the AMD Ryzen 5 240's 45301, a 44.2% advantage. That test measures heavy floating-point throughput, and the Intel part simply overwhelms the AMD chip. The Cinebench R23 multi-core test shows the second largest gap: 21751 for Intel against 13013 for AMD, a 40.2% delta. Rendering workloads that scale across many threads strongly favor the Intel processor.

The Cinebench R15 multi-core test shows a 34.1% lead for Intel, with scores of 3151 against 2078. The PassMark integer math test shows a 31.3% delta, with Intel at 106554 and AMD at 73189. The PassMark physics test shows a 32% delta, Intel at 1558 and AMD at 1060. The PassMark find prime numbers test shows a 30.7% delta, Intel at 101 and AMD at 70. The PassMark data compression test shows a 28.7% delta, Intel at 375950 and AMD at 267963. The PassMark multi-thread test shows a 25.2% delta, Intel at 30273 and AMD at 22658.

The data encryption test shows a 21.3% delta, Intel at 20143 and AMD at 15849. The random string sorting test shows a 16.9% delta, Intel at 38970 and AMD at 32385. The extended instructions test shows a 16.5% delta, Intel at 24184 and AMD at 20201. The Cinebench R23 single-core test shows an 8% delta, Intel at 1894 and AMD at 1742. The PassMark single-thread test shows a 4.9% delta, Intel at 3864 and AMD at 3675. The Cinebench R15 single-core test shows the smallest delta, just 0.7%, with Intel at 272 and AMD at 270.

Every test in the database goes to Intel. The single-core margins are close enough that the AMD part remains competitive for basic responsiveness, but the multi-core and math-heavy tests reveal a wide gap that matches the core and thread count difference.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins more benchmark tests?

A: The Intel Core i7-12700 wins all 15 recorded head-to-head tests. The AMD Ryzen 5 240 records 0 wins in the comparison set.

Q: How large is the multi-core performance gap?

A: The Cinebench R23 multi-core test shows a 40.2% lead for Intel, and the Cinebench R15 multi-core test shows a 34.1% lead. The PassMark multi-thread test shows a 25.2% lead.

Q: Is the AMD Ryzen 5 240 competitive in single-thread performance?

A: It is close but still behind. The Cinebench R15 single-core test shows only a 0.7% Intel lead, while the PassMark single-thread test shows a 4.9% lead and the Cinebench R23 single-core test shows an 8% lead.

Q: What is the core and thread difference between the two?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 240 has 6 cores and 12 threads. The Intel Core i7-12700 has 12 cores and 20 threads.

Q: How do the two processors rank among all CPUs in the database?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 240 sits at the 84th percentile with an average score of 33542, while the Intel Core i7-12700 sits at the 83rd percentile with an average score of 32942.

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 240 has a boost clock of 5.00 GHz, while the Intel Core i7-12700 has a boost clock of 4.90 GHz. The AMD part also has a higher base clock at 4.30 GHz versus 2.10 GHz.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen 5 240 | Intel Core i7-12700 |

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

| Cores | 6 | 12 |

| Threads | 12 | 20 |

| Base clock | 4.30 GHz | 2.10 GHz |

| Boost clock | 5.00 GHz | 4.90 GHz |

| TDP | 45 W | 65 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket FP8 | Intel Socket 1700 |

| Architecture | Zen 4 | Alder Lake |

| Codename | Hawk Point | Alder Lake-S |

| Process node | 4 nm | 10 nm |

| Foundry | TSMC | Intel |

| Transistors | 25,000 million | Not recorded |

| Die size | 178 mm² | 215 mm² |

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

| L2 cache | 1 MB (per core) | 1.25 MB (per core) |

| L3 cache | 16 MB (shared) | 25 MB (shared) |

| Memory support | DDR5 | DDR4, DDR5 |

| Memory bus | Dual-channel | Dual-channel |

| Memory bandwidth | 89.6 GB/s | Not recorded |

| PCIe | Gen 4, 20 lanes (CPU only) | Gen 5, 16 lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated graphics | Radeon 760M | UHD Graphics 770 |

| Market segment | Mobile | Desktop |

| Part number | 100-000001727 | SRL4Q |

| Launch MSRP | Not recorded | $349 |