AMD Ryzen 5 4600HS vs Intel Core i3-12300T Comparison

The Intel Core i3-12300T and the AMD Ryzen 5 4600HS represent two very different approaches to a 35 W processor. The data shows that the AMD chip wins most traditional CPU rendering benchmarks, while the Intel chip dominates in Geekbench, revealing a significant split in workload optimization. Overall, the Ryzen 5 4600HS edges out the Core i3-12300T in average benchmark score, 3444 to 3525, a margin of roughly 2.3% that places them in nearly identical performance percentiles, 54th and 55th respectively. This is not a landslide victory for either side; it is a matter of choosing the right tool for the specific application.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 5 4600HS is the clear winner in multi-threaded rendering workloads, taking all three Cinebench multi-core tests. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 12171 against the Intel's 11118, an 8.7% advantage. This pattern repeats in Cinebench R20 and R15, where the AMD chip leads by 8.6% in both cases. For users running video encoding, 3D rendering, or any heavily threaded content creation task, the Ryzen 5 4600HS provides consistently superior performance according to the recorded data.

The Intel Core i3-12300T, conversely, wins decisively in the Geekbench suite. Its single-core score of 2123 crushes the AMD's 1293, a massive 64.2% lead, while its multi-core score of 6782 beats the AMD's 5135 by 32.1%. This suggests the Intel architecture is far more efficient in workloads that rely on lower thread counts, high instruction-level parallelism, and memory latency, such as many everyday desktop tasks, web browsing, and office productivity applications. The Intel chip also takes all four Cinebench single-core tests, albeit by a smaller margin, indicating that its per-core strength is a consistent theme.

Architecture Differences

The fundamental difference lies in the processor design. The Intel Core i3-12300T is built on the Alder Lake architecture using a 10 nm process by Intel, whereas the AMD Ryzen 5 4600HS uses the Zen 2 architecture on a 7 nm process from TSMC. This process advantage allows the AMD chip to pack 9,800 million transistors into a 156 mm² die, while the Intel chip has a slightly larger die at 163 mm². The Intel chip is a desktop part on the LGA 1700 socket, while the AMD is a mobile part on the FP6 socket.

Core counts differ significantly. The AMD has 6 cores and 12 threads, giving it a 50% core advantage over the Intel's 4 cores and 8 threads. However, the Intel chip compensates with a higher boost clock of 4.20 GHz compared to the AMD's 4.00 GHz, and a lower base clock of 2.30 GHz versus the AMD's 3.00 GHz. Cache hierarchies are also distinct. Intel allocates 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core and 12 MB of shared L3 cache, while AMD uses 512 KB of L2 per core and only 8 MB of shared L3. The Intel chip's larger L3 cache likely contributes to its Geekbench dominance, as it can hold more data closer to the cores. Memory support also differs, with the Intel chip supporting both DDR4 and DDR5, while the AMD is limited to DDR4. The integrated graphics differ as well, with Intel's UHD Graphics 730 facing AMD's Radeon RX Vega 6.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking result in the head-to-head comparison is the Geekbench single-core test. The Intel Core i3-12300T scores 2123, which is 64.2% higher than the Ryzen 5 4600HS's 1293. This is the largest performance delta in either direction and highlights a fundamental difference in how the two CPUs execute single-threaded code. The Geekbench multi-core test also goes to Intel, with a score of 6782 versus 5135, a 32.1% advantage. These wins are substantial and show that Intel's architecture excels in these specific, often memory-sensitive, tests.

In every Cinebench test, the AMD Ryzen 5 4600HS takes the lead. The Cinebench R23 multi-core score is 12171 for AMD versus 11118 for Intel, an 8.7% difference. In Cinebench R20 multi-core, the scores are 5111 and 4669, also an 8.6% gap. The single-core Cinebench results are closer but still favor AMD. For instance, in Cinebench R23 single-core, AMD scores 1718 against Intel's 1569, a 8.7% lead. The trend is consistent, with AMD winning all six Cinebench tests by margins between 8.6% and 9.2%. This shows that in the Cinebench rendering engine, the AMD chip's extra cores and threads provide a tangible, consistent advantage across all versions of the test.

The average benchmark score supports the AMD chip. The Ryzen 5 4600HS has an average score of 3444, while the Core i3-12300T has an average of 3525. The Intel chip's massive Geekbench wins are enough to push its average slightly higher, but the AMD chip's consistent wins in the Cinebench suite keep it competitive. The nearest rivals for the Intel chip include the Intel Core i3-12300, which scores 3532, and the AMD Ryzen 5 5600HS, which scores 3447, showing that these two processors are in a tight performance cluster.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher single-core score in Geekbench?

A: The Intel Core i3-12300T has a significantly higher Geekbench single-core score of 2123 compared to the AMD Ryzen 5 4600HS's 1293, a 64.2% advantage.

Q: How do the two chips compare in multi-threaded Cinebench R23 performance?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 4600HS scores 12171 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, which is 8.7% higher than the Intel Core i3-12300T's score of 11118.

Q: What is the core and thread configuration of each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 4600HS has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the Intel Core i3-12300T has 4 cores and 8 threads.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock speed?

A: The Intel Core i3-12300T has a boost clock of 4.20 GHz, which is higher than the AMD Ryzen 5 4600HS's boost clock of 4.00 GHz.

Q: What is the average benchmark score for each CPU?

A: The Intel Core i3-12300T has an average benchmark score of 3525, while the AMD Ryzen 5 4600HS has an average score of 3444.

Q: Which processor uses a 7 nm manufacturing process?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 4600HS is manufactured on a 7 nm process by TSMC, while the Intel Core i3-12300T uses a 10 nm process from Intel.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in almost every major specification category. The Intel Core i3-12300T is a desktop processor with 4 cores and 8 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 5 4600HS is a mobile processor with 6 cores and 12 threads. The base clocks are 2.30 GHz for Intel and 3.00 GHz for AMD, while the boost clocks are 4.20 GHz for Intel and 4.00 GHz for AMD. The process node is 10 nm for Intel and 7 nm for AMD. The Intel chip uses the LGA 1700 socket, whereas the AMD chip uses the FP6 socket.

Cache configurations differ. The Intel chip has 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 12 MB of shared L3. The AMD chip has 64 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 8 MB of shared L3. Memory support also diverges: Intel supports both DDR4 and DDR5, while AMD supports only DDR4. The PCIe interface is different, with Intel offering Gen 5 with 20 lanes and AMD offering Gen 3. The integrated graphics are UHD Graphics 730 for Intel and Radeon RX Vega 6 for AMD. The Intel chip has a die size of 163 mm², while the AMD chip has a die size of 156 mm² and a transistor count of 9,800 million. The Intel chip has a launch MSRP of $97. The AMD chip was released on 2020-01-05, while the Intel chip's release date is not listed in the database.

The Verdict

The data suggests that the Intel Core i3-12300T is the better choice for users whose primary workloads are similar to the Geekbench test suite, which often reflects general desktop responsiveness and application performance. Its 64.2% lead in single-core and 32.1% lead in multi-core Geekbench scores are overwhelming. This makes it a strong candidate for a snappy desktop system where tasks are often short and latency-sensitive.

The AMD Ryzen 5 4600HS is the better pick for sustained, heavily threaded workloads. Its consistent 8.6% to 8.7% advantage in all Cinebench tests, from R15 to R23, shows that it is more capable in rendering and content creation. The extra two cores and four threads provide a real benefit in these scenarios. For a mobile user doing video editing or 3D rendering on the go, the Ryzen 5 4600HS is the superior processor according to the benchmark results.

In summary, the Intel chip wins on raw per-core power and specific memory-sensitive benchmarks, while the AMD chip wins on overall multi-threaded rendering throughput. The choice comes down to the user's dominant application type. If the workload is similar to Cinebench, the AMD chip is the answer. If the workload is more general-purpose and similar to Geekbench, the Intel chip provides a better experience. Both are closely matched in the overall percentile standings, but they achieve that status through very different performance profiles.