AMD Ryzen 5 5600G vs Intel Core i5-12600T Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 5 5600G and Intel Core i5-12600T are both six-core, twelve-thread desktop processors, but they deliver their performance in very different ways. The data shows a near-split result: the AMD chip wins 9 of the 17 head-to-head benchmarks, while the Intel chip takes 8, making this a genuine toss-up that hinges on workload rather than an outright winner.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most dramatic separation appears in Cinebench R23, where the Intel Core i5-12600T dominates. In multi-core, the Intel chip scores 14822 against the AMD’s 10551, a 28.8% advantage. The single-core gap is even starker: Intel’s 2092 versus AMD’s 1409, a 32.6% lead. These are the largest deltas in either direction across the entire benchmark set, and they establish the Intel part as the clear choice for rendering and heavily threaded workloads that scale with core efficiency.

However, the AMD Ryzen 5 5600G strikes back hard in several other tests. The biggest single win for AMD comes in Passmark data encryption, where it scores 15247 versus Intel’s 10205 — a 49.4% margin. AMD also leads by 31.9% in extended instructions (17334 vs 13140) and 27.2% in data compression (249302 vs 195924). These are not marginal victories; they are substantial gaps that suggest the AMD silicon handles certain instruction-heavy and data-manipulation tasks far more efficiently.

The Cinebench R15 results flip the R23 narrative. In R15 multi-core, AMD wins 1724 to 1494, a 15.4% lead, and in single-core AMD takes 228 to 210, an 8.6% edge. This is a curious inversion: the older R15 benchmark favors AMD, while the newer R23 benchmark heavily favors Intel. Similarly, Geekbench multi-core goes to AMD (8428 vs 7374, a 14.3% lead), but Geekbench single-core goes to Intel (2048 vs 1801, a 12.1% gap). The pattern suggests Intel’s architectural advantages appear in modern, optimized workloads, while AMD’s raw throughput wins in others.

In Passmark integer math, AMD takes a 23.2% lead (67344 vs 54646), and in random string sorting AMD leads by 24.9% (25354 vs 20299). AMD also wins Passmark multithread (19717 vs 17446, 13% ahead). Intel counters with a 25% win in find prime numbers (76 vs 57), a 25.7% win in physics (1212 vs 900), a 10.6% win in floating point math (42295 vs 37830), and a 9.6% win in single-thread (3516 vs 3177). The wins are roughly balanced in count, but the magnitudes differ: AMD’s biggest wins are larger than Intel’s biggest wins, yet Intel’s Cinebench R23 margins are the most lopsided of any test.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from entirely different design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen 5 5600G uses the Zen 3 architecture on a 7 nm TSMC process, with a die size of 180 mm² and 10,700 million transistors. It features 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of L3 cache. The base clock is 3.90 GHz with a boost of 4.40 GHz, and it runs on the AMD Socket AM4 platform.

The Intel Core i5-12600T uses the Alder Lake architecture on a 10 nm Intel process, with a smaller die at 163 mm² (transistor count is not listed in the data). Its cache layout differs significantly: 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 18 MB of shared L3. The base clock is much lower at 2.10 GHz, but the boost clock is higher at 4.60 GHz. It uses the Intel Socket 1700 platform.

Memory support is a key differentiator. The AMD chip supports only DDR4 with dual-channel memory and a listed bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s. The Intel chip supports both DDR4 and DDR5 with dual-channel memory, though no bandwidth figure is provided. PCIe capabilities also diverge: AMD offers Gen 3 with 16 CPU lanes, while Intel offers Gen 5 with 20 CPU lanes. The integrated graphics differ as well — AMD uses Radeon Vega 7, while Intel uses UHD Graphics 770. The AMD chip has an unlocked multiplier; the Intel chip does not. The TDP ratings are also notable: AMD is rated at 65 watts, while Intel is rated at 35 watts.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 5 5600G wins decisively in data manipulation and security-related tasks. The 49.4% lead in data encryption and 27.2% lead in data compression make it the stronger pick for workloads involving file archiving, database operations, or encrypted communications. Its 31.9% advantage in extended instructions suggests better handling of SIMD-style instruction sets. The 23.2% lead in integer math and 24.9% lead in random string sorting reinforce this pattern: if the task involves moving, sorting, or transforming data, the AMD part tends to come out ahead. The Geekbench multi-core win (14.3%) and Passmark multithread win (13%) also indicate solid overall throughput in mixed workloads.

The Intel Core i5-12600T wins where modern, heavily optimized code is involved. The Cinebench R23 results are the clearest signal: a 28.8% multi-core lead and a 32.6% single-core lead indicate that the Alder Lake architecture shines in current-generation rendering engines and single-threaded applications that leverage high boost clocks. The 4.60 GHz boost clock versus AMD’s 4.40 GHz likely contributes here. Intel also wins in floating point math (10.6%) and physics (25.7%), which points to advantages in simulation and scientific computing. The Passmark single-thread win (9.6%) and Geekbench single-core win (12.1%) both confirm that Intel’s per-core performance is superior in contemporary benchmarks.

Looking at the overall average benchmark scores, the two are nearly identical: AMD averages 21088, while Intel averages 20917. Both rank at the 74th percentile of all CPUs. AMD’s nearest rivals include the Intel Core i3-1220P (0.1% difference) and the AMD Ryzen 5 7530U (0.2% difference), while Intel’s nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 4655GE (0.1% difference) and the Intel Core Ultra 7 268V (0.1% difference). This places both firmly in the same performance tier.

The Verdict

Choose the AMD Ryzen 5 5600G if your work involves encryption, compression, data sorting, or integer-heavy calculations. The data shows it is dramatically faster in these areas, with leads ranging from 13% to 49.4% over the Intel part. It also offers an unlocked multiplier for overclocking and a higher 65-watt TDP, which suggests more headroom for sustained performance. The 51.2 GB/s memory bandwidth is a listed advantage, and the AMD platform uses the mature AM4 socket.

Choose the Intel Core i5-12600T if you prioritize modern rendering performance and single-thread speed. Cinebench R23 shows a 28.8% multi-core and 32.6% single-core advantage, which is decisive for content creation using current software. The lower 35-watt TDP makes it more power-efficient on paper, and the support for both DDR4 and DDR5 gives memory flexibility. The PCIe Gen 5 support with 20 lanes is a forward-looking advantage for future expansion. The fact that it is not multiplier-unlocked is a limitation, but its higher boost clock partially compensates.

For a general-purpose desktop where you do a bit of everything, the scores suggest either processor will perform similarly — the average benchmark scores are within 1% of each other. The deciding factor should be which set of specific workloads matters most to you.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The Intel Core i5-12600T wins significantly, scoring 14822 versus the AMD Ryzen 5 5600G’s 10551, a 28.8% advantage.

Q: How much faster is the AMD Ryzen 5 5600G in data encryption?

A: AMD leads by 49.4%, scoring 15247 in Passmark data encryption compared to Intel’s 10205.

Q: Do both processors have the same number of cores and threads?

A: Yes, both have 6 cores and 12 threads, according to the specifications.

Q: What is the difference in single-core performance?

A: Intel wins in most single-core tests: 2092 vs 1409 in Cinebench R23 single-core (32.6% lead), 2048 vs 1801 in Geekbench single-core (12.1% lead), and 3516 vs 3177 in Passmark single-thread (9.6% lead). AMD wins only in Cinebench R15 single-core, 228 vs 210 (8.6% lead).

Q: Which processor supports DDR5 memory?

A: Only the Intel Core i5-12600T supports DDR5, along with DDR4. The AMD Ryzen 5 5600G supports only DDR4.

Q: What is the TDP rating for each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 5600G is rated at 65 watts, while the Intel Core i5-12600T is rated at 35 watts.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen 5 5600G | Intel Core i5-12600T |

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

| Base Clock | 3.90 GHz | 2.10 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.40 GHz | 4.60 GHz |

| TDP | 65 W | 35 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket AM4 | Intel Socket 1700 |

| Architecture | Zen 3 | Alder Lake |

| Process Node | 7 nm (TSMC) | 10 nm (Intel) |

| Die Size | 180 mm² | 163 mm² |

| Transistors | 10,700 million | Not listed |

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

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

| L3 Cache | 16 MB | 18 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR4 | DDR4, DDR5 |

| Memory Bandwidth | 51.2 GB/s | Not listed |

| PCIe | Gen 3, 16 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 5, 20 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | Radeon Vega 7 | UHD Graphics 770 |

| Multiplier Unlocked | Yes | No |

| Launch MSRP | $259 | $223 |