AMD Ryzen 5 5600X vs Intel Core i5-12500H Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data splits this pairing into two very distinct profiles. The Intel Core i5-12500H wins 13 of the 21 recorded head-to-head tests, while the AMD Ryzen 5 5600X takes 8. The margins tell the real story.

The most dramatic win for Intel comes in Cinebench R23 single-core, where the i5-12500H scores 2801 against the 5600X's 1541, a staggering 81.8% advantage. That is not a small lead; it is a generational gap in a single-threaded workload. The R23 multi-core result is similarly one-sided, with Intel at 19840 versus AMD's 11838, a 67.6% delta. These two Cinebench results dominate the narrative, but they are not isolated.

Intel also wins heavily in floating-point math. The PassMark floating point test shows 52227 for the i5-12500H versus 39487 for the 5600X, a 32.3% margin. In the 3DMark max-threads test, Intel leads 6043 to 5588, an 8.1% win. The 3DMark 16-thread test goes Intel's way too, 5954 versus 5582, a 6.7% edge. Single-thread tests are close but consistently favor Intel: 3DMark single-thread is 924 versus 917 (0.8%), Cinebench R15 single-core is 282 versus 254 (11%), and PassMark single-thread is 3418 versus 3364 (1.6%).

AMD's wins are equally clear in their own domains. The Ryzen 5 5600X dominates in low-thread-count 3DMark tests: 4-thread is 3363 versus 3139 (a 6.7% win for AMD), and 8-thread is 4811 versus 4394 (an 8.7% win). The 2-thread test is nearly tied, AMD at 1793 versus Intel's 1773, a 1.1% margin. In PassMark physics, AMD wins big at 1316 versus 1018, a 22.6% lead. Prime number finding is also heavily AMD-favored: 134 versus 57, a 57.5% margin. Extended instructions go to AMD, 16991 versus 14965, an 11.9% win. Data encryption favors AMD at 15685 versus 14749, a 6% edge. PassMark multithread is AMD's at 21858 versus 20625, a 5.6% win.

Some tests are nearly dead even. PassMark data compression is 253431 for Intel versus 252306 for AMD, a 0.4% difference. Integer math is 71714 versus 71161, only 0.8% apart. Random string sorting goes to Intel, 28099 versus 26256, a 7% win. The average benchmark scores reflect the overall picture: Intel's average is 22625, AMD's is 21771, a 3.9% gap in Intel's favor. Both sit at the 76th and 75th percentiles of all CPUs respectively, which puts them in the same performance tier despite the workload-specific swings.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has the higher single-core performance in Cinebench R23?

A: The Intel Core i5-12500H scores 2801 versus AMD's 1541, giving Intel an 81.8% advantage in that specific test.

Q: Is the AMD Ryzen 5 5600X better at any multi-threaded workload?

A: Yes. In PassMark multithread, AMD scores 21858 versus Intel's 20625, a 5.6% win. The 3DMark 8-thread test also favors AMD at 4811 versus 4394, an 8.7% margin.

Q: How do the two compare in floating-point math performance?

A: Intel leads significantly. The i5-12500H scores 52227 in PassMark floating-point math, while the 5600X scores 39487, a 32.3% advantage for Intel.

Q: What about the integrated graphics?

A: The Intel Core i5-12500H includes Iris Xe 80EU integrated graphics. The AMD Ryzen 5 5600X has no integrated graphics, so it requires a discrete GPU for any display output.

Q: Which CPU has a higher 3DMark max-threads score?

A: Intel wins 3DMark max-threads with 6043 versus AMD's 5588, an 8.1% lead. This suggests Intel handles very high thread counts better in that workload.

Q: Are these CPUs in the same performance percentile overall?

A: Yes, nearly identical. The Intel i5-12500H is at the 76th percentile of all CPUs, while the AMD Ryzen 5 5600X is at the 75th percentile. Their average benchmark scores differ by only 854 points (22625 versus 21771).

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The Intel Core i5-12500H uses the Alder Lake architecture, specifically the Alder Lake-H mobile variant, built on Intel's 10 nm process at Intel's own foundry. It packs 12 cores and 16 threads, which means it uses a hybrid arrangement of performance and efficiency cores, a hallmark of the 12th Gen Core series. The die size is 217 mm², and the L3 cache is 18 MB shared.

The AMD Ryzen 5 5600X uses the Zen 3 architecture, codenamed Vermeer, built on TSMC's 7 nm process. It has 6 cores and 12 threads, all of them full-size performance cores with no efficiency-core split. The transistor count is listed at 4,150 million, and the die size is much smaller at 74 mm². The L3 cache is 32 MB, which is nearly double Intel's shared L3.

Memory support is another clear split. Intel supports both DDR4 and DDR5, while AMD is limited to DDR4. Both use dual-channel memory buses. Intel has no listed memory bandwidth figure, while AMD lists 51.2 GB/s. Intel's L1 cache is 80 KB per core and L2 is 1.25 MB per core; AMD's L1 is 64 KB per core and L2 is 512 KB per core. Intel's smaller L3 but larger per-core L2 suggests a different cache hierarchy strategy.

Integrated graphics: Intel includes Iris Xe 80EU, AMD has none. ECC memory support is present on AMD but absent on Intel. The AMD chip is socket AM4, while Intel uses BGA 1744, which means the Intel part is soldered to the board (mobile) and the AMD part is a socketed desktop CPU. Intel's PCIe is Gen 4 with 20 lanes (CPU only), and AMD matches that exactly. The process node difference is notable: 10 nm Intel versus 7 nm TSMC, which helps explain the die size gap.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i5-12500H | AMD Ryzen 5 5600X |

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

| Cores | 12 | 6 |

| Threads | 16 | 12 |

| Base clock | 2.50 GHz | 3.70 GHz |

| Boost clock | 4.50 GHz | 4.60 GHz |

| TDP | 45 W | 65 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1744 | AMD Socket AM4 |

| Architecture | Alder Lake | Zen 3 |

| Process node | 10 nm | 7 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | TSMC |

| Die size | 217 mm² | 74 mm² |

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

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

| L3 cache | 18 MB (shared) | 32 MB |

| Memory support | DDR4, DDR5 | DDR4 |

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

| ECC memory | No | Yes |

| Integrated graphics | Iris Xe 80EU | None |

| Market segment | Mobile | Desktop |

| Multiplier unlocked | No | Yes |

| Release date | Not listed | 2020-11-04 |

| Launch MSRP | Not listed | $299 |

The core and thread counts are the biggest spec-level difference: Intel has double the cores and four more threads. But AMD clocks higher in both base (3.70 GHz versus 2.50 GHz) and boost (4.60 GHz versus 4.50 GHz). The TDP gap is also meaningful: Intel is rated at 45 W, AMD at 65 W, which reflects the mobile versus desktop positioning. AMD has a much larger L3 cache at 32 MB versus 18 MB, and its smaller die size is a direct result of the 7 nm process. Intel's larger die is partly due to the integrated graphics and the 10 nm node.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear split by workload type. The Intel Core i5-12500H is the choice for anyone prioritizing single-threaded responsiveness and high-thread-count rendering. Its Cinebench R23 single-core score is 81.8% higher than AMD's, and its R23 multi-core score is 67.6% higher. In floating-point math, Intel holds a 32.3% lead. The 3DMark max-threads and 16-thread tests also favor Intel by 8.1% and 6.7% respectively. If the workload is Cinebench rendering, heavy floating-point math, or thread-saturated 3DMark runs, the i5-12500H wins decisively.

The AMD Ryzen 5 5600X is the better choice for lower-thread-count workloads and specific math operations. It wins the 3DMark 4-thread and 8-thread tests by 6.7% and 8.7%, and it takes the 2-thread test by 1.1%. In PassMark physics, AMD leads by 22.6%. Prime number calculation is dramatically AMD-favored at 57.5%. Extended instructions and data encryption also go AMD's way by 11.9% and 6% respectively. The PassMark multithread test is AMD's at 5.6% over Intel.

The overall average benchmark score favors Intel, 22625 versus 21771, and Intel wins more head-to-head tests (13 versus 8). But the percentile ranking is nearly identical (76th versus 75th), which means these are peers in the broader CPU landscape. The verdict depends entirely on the application mix. For a laptop user doing creative work with heavy multi-threaded rendering and wanting integrated graphics for basic display, the i5-12500H is the stronger part. For a desktop builder with a discrete GPU who runs physics simulations, encryption tasks, or lightly threaded games, the 5600X offers specific wins. Neither is universally superior, but the data shows Intel has the larger and more consistent advantages where it wins.

Where Each One Wins

Intel Core i5-12500H wins in:

• Cinebench R23 multi-core (67.6% ahead)
• Cinebench R23 single-core (81.8% ahead)
• Cinebench R15 single-core (11% ahead)
• 3DMark max-threads (8.1% ahead)
• 3DMark 16-threads (6.7% ahead)
• PassMark floating-point math (32.3% ahead)
• PassMark integer math (0.8% ahead)
• PassMark random string sorting (7% ahead)
• PassMark single-thread (1.6% ahead)
• PassMark data compression (0.4% ahead)
• 3DMark single-thread (0.8% ahead)
• Cinebench R15 multi-core (1.6% ahead)

AMD Ryzen 5 5600X wins in:

• 3DMark 8-threads (8.7% ahead)
• 3DMark 4-threads (6.7% ahead)
• 3DMark 2-threads (1.1% ahead)
• PassMark physics (22.6% ahead)
• PassMark find prime numbers (57.5% ahead)
• PassMark extended instructions (11.9% ahead)
• PassMark data encryption (6% ahead)
• PassMark multithread (5.6% ahead)

The use-case split is straightforward. If the task involves heavy rendering, high thread-count synthetic loads, or single-threaded responsiveness in short bursts, the Intel part is the clear winner. If the task involves physics simulation, prime-number generation, encryption workloads, or anything that scales poorly beyond 8 threads, the AMD part holds the edge. The 3DMark results are particularly telling: AMD wins from 2 to 8 threads, but Intel takes over at 16 threads and max threads. That suggests AMD's per-core efficiency is better at moderate thread counts, while Intel's hybrid design with more total cores wins once the workload can use everything. For a mobile part, the i5-12500H delivers these results at a 45 W TDP, while the desktop 5600X needs 65 W, which is a notable efficiency win for Intel in the rendering workloads.