AMD Ryzen 5 7400 vs Intel Core i9-12950HX Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data presents an unambiguous result: the Intel Core i9-12950HX wins every single head-to-head comparison against the AMD Ryzen 5 7400. Out of 11 benchmark tests, Intel claims 11 victories, with AMD failing to secure a single win. This is not a close contest by any metric.

The largest gap appears in floating-point math, where Intel scores 80,402 against AMD’s 40,784. That is a 97.1% advantage — nearly double the throughput. This is a massive delta for any hardware comparison, and it signals that the Intel part has a decisive edge in workloads that rely heavily on FPU execution. Similarly, the physics test shows Intel at 2,084 versus AMD’s 1,150, a 81.2% lead. Physics simulations often scale with core count and memory bandwidth, so this result aligns with Intel’s broader hardware configuration.

Prime number finding is another rout. Intel scores 135 versus AMD’s 79, a 70.9% difference. This workload is highly sensitive to integer performance and cache hierarchy, and Intel’s advantage here is substantial. Integer math follows a similar pattern: 109,586 for Intel versus 64,733 for AMD, a 69.3% lead. These two results together suggest that Intel’s integer execution pipeline is significantly more robust in this comparison.

The multithreaded benchmark shows Intel at 31,673 versus AMD’s 21,712, a 45.9% lead. This is a broader test that combines many sub-workloads, and the margin is still substantial. Data compression and encryption also favor Intel heavily: 367,930 versus 261,749 (40.6% lead) and 21,395 versus 14,865 (43.9% lead), respectively. These tasks are often memory-bound, and Intel’s larger cache and dual-channel memory support appear to help.

Even in single-threaded performance, where AMD’s Zen 4 architecture is typically competitive, Intel wins. The single-thread test shows 3,778 for Intel versus 3,248 for AMD, a 16.3% lead. This is notable because single-thread scores are less dependent on core counts and more on per-core efficiency and clock speed. Intel’s boost clock of 5.00 GHz likely plays a role here, but the data does not break down the exact cause.

The narrower margins appear in extended instructions (11.2% lead for Intel) and random string sorting (32.5% lead for Intel). Even in these more niche tests, Intel maintains a clear edge. There is no test in the dataset where AMD comes within single digits of Intel’s score. The smallest delta is the 11.2% in extended instructions, which still represents a comfortable win.

Overall, the data shows Intel outperforming AMD in every category, with deltas ranging from 11.2% to 97.1%. The average benchmark score for Intel is 42,487, while AMD sits at 42,055 — a 1% difference in Intel’s favor, according to the nearestRivals data. This aggregate figure is much closer than the individual tests suggest, but the individual test distribution is what matters for workload-specific analysis.

The Verdict

The verdict from the data is straightforward: the Intel Core i9-12950HX is the superior processor in this matchup. It wins all 11 benchmarks, and its smallest margin of victory is 11.2% in extended instructions. There is no category where AMD is competitive, let alone ahead.

For users who prioritize raw throughput — whether that is floating-point math, integer operations, or multithreaded performance — Intel is the clear choice. The 97.1% lead in floating-point math is particularly striking; anyone running scientific simulations, financial modeling, or 3D rendering would see a dramatic difference. The 81.2% lead in physics benchmarks reinforces this, as physics engines are common in both professional simulation and gaming.

The Intel part also holds a 16.3% single-thread advantage, which matters for legacy software and lightly-threaded applications. Many older games and office applications still rely on single-core performance, and Intel’s lead here means it would not sacrifice responsiveness in those scenarios.

That said, the AMD Ryzen 5 7400 is not without merit, but the data does not support choosing it over Intel for performance reasons. Its average benchmark score of 42,055 is within 1% of Intel’s 42,487, per the nearestRivals data, but that aggregate masks the fact that it loses every individual test. The Intel part’s score of 42,487 places it 1% above the AMD part, and Intel also sits 0.4% above the Intel Core i9-12900K and 0.8% above the Core i9-12900KF. AMD’s closest rival comparison shows it 0.2% above the Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS and 0.3% above the Core i7-14700T, which puts it in a similar performance tier overall.

The data does not show any scenario where AMD wins. If the choice is purely based on benchmark performance, Intel is the answer. The only reason to pick AMD would be if other factors — such as platform features or ecosystem — outweigh the performance deficit, but those are not quantified in this dataset.

Where Each One Wins

Based on the benchmark results, the Intel Core i9-12950HX wins in every measurable category. There are no tests where the AMD Ryzen 5 7400 comes out ahead, so the use-case split is entirely in Intel’s favor.

For floating-point-heavy workloads — such as scientific computing, engineering simulations, and financial analytics — Intel’s 97.1% lead means it is effectively in a different performance class. The physics test, with its 81.2% margin, reinforces this for any application that uses rigid-body or particle simulation. Similarly, integer math tasks like cryptography, compression, and database operations favor Intel by 69.3% and 40.6% respectively.

For single-threaded tasks — including many legacy applications, some game engines, and general desktop responsiveness — Intel holds a 16.3% advantage. This is not as dramatic as the multi-threaded margins, but it is still a clear win. The data does not indicate that AMD is competitive even in this narrower scenario.

The only area where AMD comes close is extended instructions, where Intel’s lead shrinks to 11.2%. This test covers SIMD and specialized instruction sets, and while Intel still wins, the margin is the smallest in the dataset. Users who rely heavily on AVX or similar extensions would still prefer Intel, but the gap is less pronounced.

In summary, there is no use case where the data suggests picking the AMD Ryzen 5 7400 over the Intel Core i9-12950HX. Every workload category, from single-threaded to heavily parallel, is won by Intel with margins ranging from double-digit to nearly double.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i9-12950HX has an average benchmark score of 42,487, while the AMD Ryzen 5 7400 scores 42,055. This puts Intel 1% ahead, according to the nearestRivals deltaPct.

Q: How large is Intel’s lead in the floating-point math test?

A: Intel scores 80,402 versus AMD’s 40,784 in floating-point math, which is a 97.1% difference. This is the largest margin in any of the head-to-head benchmarks.

Q: Does the AMD Ryzen 5 7400 win any benchmark?

A: No. The head-to-head data shows Intel winning all 11 tests. The AMD part does not secure a single victory in any of the listed benchmarks.

Q: What is the smallest performance gap between the two processors?

A: The smallest gap is in the extended instructions test, where Intel leads by 11.2% (22,163 versus 19,924). Even this narrowest margin still favors Intel.

Q: How do these processors compare in single-threaded performance?

A: Intel leads in the single-thread test with 3,778 points versus AMD’s 3,248, a 16.3% advantage. This holds true in both the `passmark_single_thread` and `passmark_singlethread` entries, which report identical scores.

Q: What is the difference in core counts between the two processors?

A: The Intel Core i9-12950HX has 16 cores and 24 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 5 7400 has 6 cores and 12 threads. This is a significant structural difference that likely contributes to Intel’s multithreaded wins.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The Intel Core i9-12950HX is built on Intel’s Alder Lake architecture, using a 10 nm process node fabricated by Intel. It has 16 cores and 24 threads, with a base clock of 2.30 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. The die size is 215 mm², and it carries a 30 MB shared L3 cache, with 80 KB of L1 cache per core and 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core. It supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration, and it includes integrated UHD Graphics 770. The part number is SRLGG, and it uses an Intel BGA 1964 socket, indicating a mobile-focused design.

The AMD Ryzen 5 7400, in contrast, is a desktop processor based on the Zen 4 architecture, codenamed Raphael. It is manufactured by TSMC on a 5 nm process node, with 6 cores and 12 threads. The base clock is 3.30 GHz, and the boost clock is 4.30 GHz. It has 6,570 million transistors on a 71 mm² die, which is significantly smaller than Intel’s die. Cache configuration includes 64 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3. It supports DDR5 memory only, with a dual-channel bus and a listed memory bandwidth of 83.2 GB/s. The integrated graphics are Radeon Graphics, and it uses the AMD Socket AM5. The multiplier is unlocked, allowing overclocking, and the part number is 100-000001900.

The process node difference is notable: Intel uses 10 nm, while AMD uses 5 nm from TSMC. This gives AMD a transistor density advantage, which is reflected in the smaller die size and higher transistor count. However, the benchmark data shows Intel outperforming AMD despite the older process node. The core count disparity — 16 versus 6 — is likely the dominant factor in multithreaded workloads, while Intel’s higher boost clock of 5.00 GHz versus 4.30 GHz may contribute to the single-threaded lead.

Memory support differs as well. Intel supports both DDR4 and DDR5, while AMD only supports DDR5. Both use dual-channel memory buses, but AMD’s listed memory bandwidth of 83.2 GB/s is explicitly provided in the data, whereas Intel’s bandwidth is not specified. Both processors support ECC memory, and both have PCIe Gen 5 support, though Intel offers 20 lanes while AMD offers 24 lanes.

The market segments differ: Intel is a mobile processor, while AMD is a desktop processor. This affects socket types — Intel uses BGA 1964, which is typically soldered, while AMD uses AM5, which is socketed and allows for easier upgrades. The release dates also differ, with Intel launching on 2022-05-09 and AMD on 2025-09-15. Intel has a launch MSRP of $590, while AMD’s launch MSRP is not provided in the data.

The architecture differences explain some of the benchmark outcomes. Intel’s larger core count and higher boost clock directly support its multithreaded and single-threaded wins. AMD’s smaller die and newer process node do not translate into performance advantages in this dataset. The data shows that architectural efficiency, as measured by these benchmarks, favors Intel’s Alder Lake design over AMD’s Raphael.