AMD Ryzen 5 7235HS vs Intel Core i7-1260P Comparison

The Intel Core i7-1260P and AMD Ryzen 5 7235HS are both active mobile processors aimed at thin-and-light laptops, yet benchmark data shows two very different performance profiles. The Intel part, a 12-core Alder Lake-P design, dominates the majority of head-to-head tests, while the AMD chip, a 4-core Zen 3+ part, pulls ahead in a few specific sustained-load scenarios. The data reveals a clear split: Intel for raw multi-threaded throughput and single-core responsiveness, AMD for certain long-duration rendering workloads.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Intel Core i7-1260P wins 15 of the 17 head-to-head benchmark comparisons, often by substantial margins. The largest victory comes in Passmark's find prime numbers test, where Intel scores 63 against AMD's 31 — a 103.2% advantage. This is followed closely by Passmark physics, where Intel's 1092 dwarfs AMD's 574 (90.2% delta). Floating-point math also heavily favors Intel: 42417 vs 23091, a 83.7% lead.

The Intel chip's multi-threaded advantage is consistent across Cinebench and Passmark. In Cinebench R15 multicore, Intel scores 1626 versus AMD's 1050, a 54.9% edge. The gap narrows in Cinebench R20 multicore (5874 vs 4375, 34.3%) but remains decisive in Passmark multithread (16775 vs 12243, 37%). Integer math shows a 55.1% lead (62316 vs 40174), and random string sorting is 34.6% faster (20586 vs 15294).

Single-core performance also belongs to Intel. Cinebench R15 singlecore shows a 64.2% delta (243 vs 148), while Cinebench R20 singlecore is 34.4% ahead (829 vs 617). Passmark single thread is closer but still favors Intel: 3250 vs 2873, a 13.1% margin. Cinebench R23 singlecore gives Intel an 18.2% win (1737.5 vs 1470).

The AMD Ryzen 5 7235HS claims only two wins, but one is significant. In Cinebench R23 multicore, AMD scores 10418 versus Intel's 9711, a -6.8% delta in AMD's favor. This is the heaviest multi-threaded workload in the test set, and AMD's 4-core, 8-thread design with a 45W TDP manages to outlast Intel's 12-core hybrid arrangement. AMD also wins Passmark extended instructions, scoring 10887 versus 10493, a modest 3.6% edge.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i7-1260P is the clear choice for workloads that scale with thread count and clock speed. Its 12 cores and 16 threads deliver 37% higher Passmark multithread scores and 55.1% better integer math performance. For productivity tasks like data compression (20.2% ahead), data encryption (24.2% ahead), and random string sorting (34.6% ahead), Intel's hybrid architecture provides a decisive edge. The physics test result (90.2% ahead) suggests strong geometry and simulation throughput, while the 13.1% single-thread advantage makes it better for lightly-threaded applications and general responsiveness.

The AMD Ryzen 5 7235HS wins in two specific niches. The Cinebench R23 multicore result (10418 vs 9711) indicates that for sustained, heavily multi-threaded rendering tasks, AMD's Zen 3+ cores can hold their own and even surpass Intel. This is likely due to the higher 45W TDP allowing longer boost operation. The Passmark extended instructions win (10887 vs 10493) points to AMD having a slight advantage in workloads that leverage advanced instruction sets like AVX-512 or similar, though the margin is slim at 3.6%.

For users prioritizing battery life and efficiency in everyday tasks, Intel's 28W TDP is notably lower than AMD's 45W, suggesting the i7-1260P may be better suited for ultraportables. However, the data shows AMD's higher TDP pays off in sustained rendering, where the Ryzen 5 7235HS outperforms the Intel chip by 6.8% in the most demanding Cinebench test.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The Intel Core i7-1260P uses Alder Lake-P architecture with a hybrid core layout, manufactured on Intel's 10nm process with a 217 mm² die size. It features 12 cores (with 16 threads), including performance and efficiency core clusters. The cache hierarchy includes 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and a shared 18 MB L3 cache. This larger cache pool, combined with the core count, explains its dominance in memory-latency-sensitive and heavily parallel workloads.

The AMD Ryzen 5 7235HS is built on Zen 3+ (Rembrandt-R) architecture, fabricated by TSMC on a 6nm process with a 210 mm² die. It has only 4 cores and 8 threads, with a simpler cache design: 64 KB L1 per core, 512 KB L2 per core, and 8 MB shared L3. Despite having fewer cores and less cache, AMD's design achieves higher base and boost clocks (3.20 GHz base, 4.20 GHz boost) compared to Intel's 2.10 GHz base and 4.70 GHz boost. The higher base clock helps in single-threaded responsiveness, though Intel's boost clock is still higher.

Memory support differs significantly. Intel supports both DDR4 and DDR5 in dual-channel mode, while AMD supports only DDR5. AMD specifies a memory bandwidth of 76.8 GB/s, whereas Intel does not list a bandwidth figure. Both support PCIe Gen 4 with 20 CPU lanes, and neither has an unlocked multiplier. Integrated graphics also differ: Intel uses Iris Xe 96EU, while AMD has Radeon 660M. AMD supports ECC memory; Intel does not. The AMD chip's 45W TDP is 17W higher than Intel's 28W, which is a key factor in its sustained-load wins.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in single-core performance?

A: The Intel Core i7-1260P wins all single-core benchmarks. Cinebench R15 singlecore shows a 64.2% lead (243 vs 148), Cinebench R20 singlecore is 34.4% ahead (829 vs 617), Cinebench R23 singlecore is 18.2% ahead (1737.5 vs 1470), and Passmark single thread gives Intel a 13.1% advantage (3250 vs 2873).

Q: Does the AMD Ryzen 5 7235HS ever beat the Intel chip?

A: Yes, in two tests. Cinebench R23 multicore shows AMD ahead with 10418 vs 9711 (-6.8% delta), and Passmark extended instructions gives AMD a 3.6% win (10887 vs 10493).

Q: How do the core counts affect performance?

A: Intel has 12 cores and 16 threads, while AMD has 4 cores and 8 threads. This explains Intel's 37% lead in Passmark multithread (16775 vs 12243) and 54.9% edge in Cinebench R15 multicore (1626 vs 1050). However, AMD's 4 cores with higher base clock (3.20 GHz vs 2.10 GHz) still manage to win Cinebench R23 multicore.

Q: What are the TDP differences and what do they mean?

A: Intel is rated at 28W TDP, while AMD is rated at 45W TDP. The 17W difference likely explains AMD's win in the sustained multi-threaded Cinebench R23 test, as higher power draw allows longer boost operation under load.

Q: Which processor has better memory support?

A: Intel supports both DDR4 and DDR5, while AMD supports only DDR5. AMD specifies 76.8 GB/s memory bandwidth, and supports ECC memory, which Intel does not. Both use dual-channel memory buses.

Q: What is the production status of these chips?

A: Both are listed as Active production. Intel was released on 2022-02-22, while AMD's release date is not provided. Neither has a launch MSRP listed.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i7-1260P | AMD Ryzen 5 7235HS |

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

| Cores | 12 | 4 |

| Threads | 16 | 8 |

| Base Clock | 2.10 GHz | 3.20 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.70 GHz | 4.20 GHz |

| TDP | 28W | 45W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1744 | AMD Socket FP7 |

| Architecture | Alder Lake | Zen 3+ |

| Codename | Alder Lake-P | Rembrandt-R |

| Process Node | 10 nm | 6 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | TSMC |

| Die Size | 217 mm² | 210 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) | 8 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR4, DDR5 | DDR5 |

| Memory Bandwidth | Not listed | 76.8 GB/s |

| ECC Memory | No | Yes |

| Integrated Graphics | Iris Xe 96EU | Radeon 660M |

| Part Number | SRLD6 | 100-000001507 |