AMD Ryzen 5 5600XT vs Intel Core i5-12600H Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 5 5600XT and Intel Core i5-12600H are closely matched desktop and mobile processors, respectively, with average benchmark scores of 28940 and 28882. This places them within 0.2% of each other, and both occupy the 81st percentile of all CPUs. The head-to-head data reveals a fascinating split: Intel dominates in rendering and floating-point workloads, while AMD counters with decisive wins in encryption, extended instructions, and prime number calculations.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking pattern in the benchmark results is Intel’s consistent advantage across the Cinebench suite. The Core i5-12600H wins all six Cinebench tests, with a uniform delta of -6.7% against the Ryzen 5 5600XT in R15 multi-core (2023 vs 1887), R15 single-core (285 vs 266), R20 multi-core (8430 vs 7864), and R23 multi-core (20072 vs 18724). The R23 single-core result shows a 2643 score for the AMD part versus 2833 for Intel, also a 6.7% gap. The only slight variation is R20 single-core, where the delta is -6.6% (1189 vs 1110). This consistency suggests a fundamental architectural advantage for Intel in these workloads rather than a test-specific anomaly.

The floating-point math benchmark presents an even larger Intel victory. The i5-12600H scores 51264 versus 40537 for the Ryzen 5 5600XT, a margin of 20.9%. This is the single biggest Intel win in the entire comparison. However, AMD fights back with an equally decisive margin in extended instructions, scoring 17450 versus 14508, a 20.3% advantage. The prime number calculation benchmark is the most lopsided of all: AMD scores 143 against Intel’s 71, a 101.4% difference—more than double the performance. This indicates a profound difference in how each architecture handles integer-heavy, branch-predictor-dependent workloads.

The remaining PassMark tests are closer. AMD wins multithread (22283 vs 21128, +5.5%), physics (1322 vs 1262, +4.8%), data encryption (15944 vs 14799, +7.7%), and data compression (257118 vs 247404, +3.9%). Intel takes random string sorting (27653 vs 26693, -3.5%) and integer math, though the latter is essentially a tie at 71168 vs 71063 (-0.1%). In single-threaded performance, AMD edges ahead by a hair: 3469 vs 3453, a 0.5% delta. The overall win count is 9 for Intel and 8 for AMD, but the magnitude of AMD’s wins in prime numbers and extended instructions partially offsets Intel’s Cinebench sweep.

Architecture Differences

The two processors represent fundamentally different design philosophies. The Ryzen 5 5600XT is a desktop part built on TSMC’s 7 nm process, codenamed Vermeer and based on the Zen 3 architecture. It houses 6 cores and 12 threads, with a base clock of 3.70 GHz and a boost clock of 4.70 GHz. The die size is 74 mm², containing 4,150 million transistors. Intel’s i5-12600H, in contrast, is a mobile processor on Intel’s 10 nm node, using the Alder Lake-H architecture. It features 12 cores and 16 threads, reflecting a hybrid design that combines performance and efficiency cores, with a lower base clock of 2.70 GHz and a boost clock of 4.50 GHz. Its die is substantially larger at 217 mm², though transistor count is not listed.

Cache hierarchies differ markedly. AMD allocates 64 KB of L1 and 512 KB of L2 per core, with a large 32 MB shared L3 pool. Intel provides 80 KB of L1 and 1.25 MB of L2 per core, but only 18 MB of shared L3. This larger per-core L2 on Intel likely contributes to its strong single-threaded Cinebench scores, while AMD’s bigger L3 helps in shared-data workloads. Both support dual-channel memory, but AMD only supports DDR4 while Intel supports both DDR4 and DDR5. Memory bandwidth is listed at 51.2 GB/s for AMD; Intel’s figure is not provided. AMD also offers ECC memory support, a feature absent on the Intel part.

Both use PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes from the CPU. The most obvious functional difference is integrated graphics: Intel includes Iris Xe 80EU, while AMD has no integrated graphics at all. The AMD chip is socketed (AM4) and has an unlocked multiplier, whereas the Intel part is soldered (BGA 1744) and locked. The Ryzen 5 5600XT has a 65 W TDP versus 45 W for the i5-12600H, reflecting the desktop versus mobile positioning.

Where Each One Wins

The Ryzen 5 5600XT is the clear choice for security and cryptography-related tasks. Its 7.7% lead in data encryption and 20.3% lead in extended instructions (which often include AES and similar operations) suggest that the Zen 3 architecture has more efficient cryptographic execution units. The 101.4% advantage in prime number finding is indicative of superior integer and branch prediction performance, which is also relevant for certain scientific computing and simulation workloads. AMD also wins in general multithreaded PassMark (5.5%) and physics calculations (4.8%), making it a strong performer for CPU-based physics simulations in engineering or research contexts.

Intel’s i5-12600H excels in rendering and floating-point-heavy tasks. The 20.9% lead in floating-point math is substantial, and the Cinebench suite—which is heavily used for 3D rendering benchmarks—shows Intel ahead by 6.7% across the board. This makes the Intel part more suitable for 3D artists, video editors, and anyone running CPU-based render engines. Its 12-core, 16-thread configuration, despite a lower boost clock, clearly scales better in these parallel rendering workloads. Intel also wins in random string sorting (3.5%), which is relevant for database and sorting algorithms, and takes integer math by a negligible 0.1%.

For single-threaded responsiveness, the two are effectively tied, with AMD holding a 0.5% edge. The choice between them depends heavily on the specific application mix. Gamers and desktop users might prefer the AMD part for its socketed design and unlocked multiplier, allowing overclocking, though the data shows no gaming-specific benchmarks. Mobile users would naturally gravitate toward Intel for its integrated graphics and lower TDP, even though the AMD part’s higher TDP and lack of iGPU disqualify it from most laptop applications.

Specification Differences

The table below highlights only the fields where the two processors differ per the data. Both share PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes and a dual-channel memory bus, so those are excluded.

| Specification | AMD Ryzen 5 5600XT | Intel Core i5-12600H |

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

| Series | 5000 series | Core 12th Gen |

| Cores | 6 | 12 |

| Threads | 12 | 16 |

| Base Clock | 3.70 GHz | 2.70 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.70 GHz | 4.50 GHz |

| TDP | 65 W | 45 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket AM4 | Intel BGA 1744 |

| Architecture | Zen 3 | Alder Lake |

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

| Transistors | 4,150 million | Not listed |

| Die Size | 74 mm² | 217 mm² |

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

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

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

| Memory Support | DDR4 | DDR4, DDR5 |

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

| ECC Memory | Yes | No |

| Integrated Graphics | N/A | Iris Xe 80EU |

| Market Segment | Desktop | Mobile |

| Multiplier Unlocked | Yes | No |

| Part Number | 100-000001585 | SRLCZ |

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 5600XT boosts to 4.70 GHz, while the Intel Core i5-12600H boosts to 4.50 GHz.

Q: How much faster is the Intel part in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The i5-12600H scores 20072 versus 18724 for the Ryzen 5 5600XT, giving Intel a 6.7% advantage.

Q: Does the AMD processor support ECC memory?

A: Yes, the Ryzen 5 5600XT supports ECC memory; the Intel Core i5-12600H does not.

Q: What is the largest benchmark margin between the two?

A: The largest margin is in PassMark find prime numbers, where AMD scores 143 versus Intel’s 71, a 101.4% difference.

Q: Which processor includes integrated graphics?

A: Only the Intel Core i5-12600H features integrated graphics (Iris Xe 80EU); the AMD Ryzen 5 5600XT has none.

Q: Are these processors in the same market segment?

A: No. The Ryzen 5 5600XT is a desktop part with a 65 W TDP, while the i5-12600H is a mobile part with a 45 W TDP.