AMD Ryzen 5 7533HS vs Intel Core i5-12500 Comparison

The Intel Core i5-12500 and AMD Ryzen 5 7533HS are both 6-core, 12-thread processors, but the benchmark data positions them in entirely different segments. The Intel Core i5-12500 wins all 17 head-to-head benchmark comparisons, often by substantial margins, making it the clear performance choice for desktop users. The AMD Ryzen 5 7533HS, with its 35 W TDP and mobile FP7 socket, is designed for laptops where efficiency and battery life take precedence over raw compute. The data shows the i5-12500 leads by 35.8% in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 35.8% in single-core, while also posting a 72.7% advantage in floating-point math. However, both CPUs share the same 73rd percentile ranking among all CPUs, indicating that while the Intel part is faster, the AMD chip competes in the same overall performance tier. The verdict is straightforward: the i5-12500 wins every measured workload, but the 7533HS exists in a different physical and power envelope that makes direct competition contextual.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: the Intel Core i5-12500 is the faster processor in every single benchmark recorded. With 17 wins and 0 losses in head-to-head comparisons, the i5-12500 outperforms the Ryzen 5 7533HS across rendering, encryption, compression, and mathematical workloads. The largest gap appears in floating-point math, where Intel leads by 72.7% (48004 vs 27800). Even the smallest margin, data encryption at 12.3% (12033 vs 10718), represents a clear victory. The i5-12500 also achieves a higher average benchmark score of 19668 compared to 19364 for the Ryzen, reinforcing its overall superiority in the data.

For desktop builders, the choice is simple: the i5-12500 delivers superior performance in a 65 W TDP package with LGA 1700 socket compatibility. It supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory and features PCIe Gen 5 with 20 lanes, offering modern connectivity. The Ryzen 5 7533HS, however, is a mobile part with a 35 W TDP, designed for laptops. Its lower power draw and integrated Radeon 660M graphics make it suitable for portable systems, but the benchmark data shows no workload where it beats the Intel chip. If the application demands maximum compute from these two options, the i5-12500 is the only choice. For laptop manufacturers, the 7533HS enables thinner designs, but users must accept a 35.8% deficit in Cinebench R23 multi-core performance (12342 vs 16759).

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has a higher single-core score in Cinebench R23?

A: The Intel Core i5-12500 leads with 2366 points, while the AMD Ryzen 5 7533HS scores 1742 points, giving Intel a 35.8% advantage.

Q: Are both processors in the same performance percentile?

A: Yes, both the Intel Core i5-12500 and AMD Ryzen 5 7533HS rank in the 73rd percentile of all CPUs, despite the Intel part's consistent benchmark wins.

Q: What is the difference in power consumption between the two?

A: The Intel Core i5-12500 has a TDP of 65 W, while the AMD Ryzen 5 7533HS has a TDP of 35 W, making the AMD chip more power-efficient on paper.

Q: Which CPU supports faster PCIe technology?

A: The Intel Core i5-12500 supports PCIe Gen 5 with 20 lanes, whereas the AMD Ryzen 5 7533HS supports PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes.

Q: How do the two compare in data compression workloads?

A: The Intel Core i5-12500 scores 238753 in Passmark data compression compared to 168692 for the Ryzen 5 7533HS, a 41.5% advantage for Intel.

Q: Do both CPUs have integrated graphics?

A: Yes, the Intel Core i5-12500 includes UHD Graphics 770, and the AMD Ryzen 5 7533HS includes Radeon 660M.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural generations and design philosophies. The Intel Core i5-12500 is based on the Alder Lake-S architecture, built on a 10 nm process at Intel's foundry. It uses the "Alder Lake-S" codename and represents Intel's 12th Gen Core series. The die size is 163 mm², and it features 80 KB of L1 cache per core and 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core. The shared L3 cache is 18 MB. This desktop-oriented design emphasizes raw performance with a 65 W TDP.

The AMD Ryzen 5 7533HS uses the Zen 3+ architecture with the codename Rembrandt-R, manufactured on a 6 nm process at TSMC. Its die size is larger at 208 mm², but it uses smaller caches per core: 64 KB L1 and 512 KB L2. The shared L3 cache is 16 MB. This mobile chip is built for efficiency with a 35 W TDP, reflecting AMD's strategy for laptop processors. The process node difference (6 nm vs 10 nm) suggests the AMD part should be more power-efficient, but the benchmark data shows it cannot match Intel's performance output.

The memory support differs significantly. The Intel chip supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, while the AMD chip supports only DDR5. Both use dual-channel memory buses, but the AMD part lists a memory bandwidth of 76.8 GB/s, a figure not provided for the Intel chip. The integrated graphics also differ: Intel uses UHD Graphics 770, while AMD uses Radeon 660M. Neither processor supports ECC memory, and both have locked multipliers.

Specification Differences

The two CPUs share core and thread counts (6 cores, 12 threads) and are both actively in production, but nearly every other specification differs. The base clock is higher on the AMD chip at 3.30 GHz compared to 3.00 GHz on Intel, but the boost clock favors Intel at 4.60 GHz versus 4.40 GHz on AMD. The TDP is a major differentiator: Intel draws 65 W, while AMD draws only 35 W. The sockets are incompatible: Intel uses Socket 1700, while AMD uses Socket FP7.

Memory support is split, with Intel offering DDR4 and DDR5, while AMD only supports DDR5. The PCIe generation differs, with Intel on Gen 5 and AMD on Gen 4, both with 20 CPU lanes. The integrated graphics are different models, and the market segments are opposite: Intel is a desktop part, AMD is a mobile part. The release dates also differ, with Intel launching on 2022-01-03 and AMD on 2024-08-31. The launch MSRP for the Intel chip is $212; no MSRP is listed for the AMD chip. The process node, foundry, die size, and cache sizes all differ as detailed in the architecture section.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data shows a consistent and overwhelming victory for the Intel Core i5-12500. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, Intel scores 16759 against AMD's 12342, a 35.8% difference. The single-core test shows a similar gap: 2366 vs 1742, also 35.8%. The pattern repeats across all Cinebench versions. In Cinebench R20, the multi-core scores are 7038 vs 5183 (35.8% advantage), and single-core is 993 vs 731 (35.8%). Cinebench R15 shows 1689 vs 1243 for multi-core (35.9%) and 238 vs 175 for single-core (36%).

The Passmark suite reveals even larger disparities in some tests. The biggest win for Intel is in floating-point math, where it scores 48004 versus 27800, a 72.7% advantage. Find prime numbers shows a 56.3% lead (75 vs 48), and physics shows a 51.3% lead (1242 vs 821). Extended instructions favor Intel by 43.4% (16090 vs 11219). Data compression shows a 41.5% gap (238753 vs 168692). Multithread performance is 37% higher on Intel (19893 vs 14520). Single-thread tests show a 33.8% lead (3666 vs 2740). Random string sorting favors Intel by 33.1% (23523 vs 17669). Integer math shows a 21.3% advantage (61626 vs 50800). The smallest margin is in data encryption, where Intel leads by 12.3% (12033 vs 10718).

These results indicate that the Intel chip's higher boost clock and larger L3 cache contribute to its dominance. The AMD chip's higher base clock does not translate into benchmark wins. The data shows no test where the Ryzen 5 7533HS comes out ahead, making the Intel i5-12500 the definitive winner in this comparison.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i5-12500 wins in every measured category, so the use-case split is defined by where the AMD Ryzen 5 7533HS can still be considered viable. The Intel chip is the clear winner for desktop workloads: rendering in Cinebench, mathematical computations, data compression, and encryption all favor Intel by double-digit percentages. For users building a desktop system with Socket 1700, the i5-12500 offers superior performance in a 65 W envelope, with the flexibility of DDR4 or DDR5 memory and PCIe Gen 5 support. Its 73rd percentile ranking and average score of 19668 place it above its closest rivals, including the AMD Ryzen 5 5500 (19593, 0.4% delta) and Intel Core i5-11600KF (19723, -0.3% delta).

The AMD Ryzen 5 7533HS does not win any benchmark, but its advantages lie outside raw compute. Its 35 W TDP makes it suitable for thin-and-light laptops where thermal and power budgets are tight. The 6 nm TSMC process node suggests better efficiency per watt compared to Intel's 10 nm process, though the data does not include power efficiency measurements. The integrated Radeon 660M provides graphics capability for mobile systems, and the FP7 socket is designed for laptop integration. For mobile users who prioritize battery life and portability over the 35.8% multi-core deficit in Cinebench R23, the 7533HS remains a functional option. However, for any workload that depends on CPU compute, the Intel Core i5-12500 is the superior part. The data shows no scenario where choosing the AMD chip over the Intel chip improves performance.