AMD Ryzen 5 7545U vs Intel Core i9-12900HK Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data splits cleanly by workload type. The AMD Ryzen 5 7545U wins 5 of the 17 recorded head-to-head tests, and every one of those wins is in single-thread or lightweight threaded work. The Intel Core i9-12900HK wins 12 tests, and its victories cluster in heavily threaded, math-heavy, and data-processing workloads.

For single-core responsiveness, the Ryzen 5 7545U is the clear leader. Its Cinebench R23 single-core score of 2435 beats the Intel part by 45.5%, the largest margin in either direction across all recorded tests. PassMark single-thread testing confirms the pattern, with the AMD chip scoring 3673 versus 3567, a 3% advantage. Even in Cinebench R15 single-core, where the two are nearly tied, the AMD part edges ahead by 1.2% with 245 points against 242.

The Intel Core i9-12900HK dominates everywhere else. Its biggest wins come in floating-point math, where it scores 63572 against 36754, a 42.2% lead. Physics simulation favors Intel by 36.8% (1673 versus 1057), and Cinebench R15 multi-core shows a 37.6% gap (2786 versus 1739). Prime number finding, integer math, data compression, and encryption all fall to Intel by margins between 18.6% and 33.3%.

The middle ground is where the story gets interesting. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, Intel wins by only 5.7% (18288 versus 17253), despite having more than twice the cores. Random string sorting is closer still, with Intel ahead by just 8% (32983 versus 30358). These results suggest the Ryzen's efficiency per core narrows the gap in certain sustained workloads, even though the raw thread count favors Intel.

The overall average benchmark scores reflect this split: the Ryzen 5 7545U posts 26849 against the i9-12900HK's 26469, a negligible difference of about 1.4% in favor of AMD. Both chips sit within 0.3% of their nearest rivals in the database, with the AMD part ranking at the 79th percentile and Intel at the 78th.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen 5 7545U uses Zen 4 architecture on TSMC's 4 nm process, while the Intel Core i9-12900HK uses Alder Lake on Intel's 10 nm process. The die sizes reflect this: AMD's Phoenix2 chip measures 137 mm² with 20,900 million transistors, while Intel's Alder Lake-H die is 217 mm² with no transistor count recorded in the database.

Core configurations diverge sharply. The Ryzen 5 7545U has 6 cores and 12 threads, all using the same Zen 4 design. The i9-12900HK has 14 cores and 20 threads, which implies a hybrid arrangement of performance and efficiency cores typical of Alder Lake, though the database does not record the exact core mix. The Intel part also has an unlocked multiplier, whereas the AMD part is locked.

Cache hierarchies differ in both size and organization. The Ryzen 5 7545U carries 64 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3. The i9-12900HK has 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 24 MB of shared L3. Intel's larger L3 cache gives it a 50% capacity advantage in the shared tier.

Memory support is another differentiator. The Ryzen 5 7545U supports DDR5 only, with dual-channel memory and a recorded bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s. It also supports ECC memory. The i9-12900HK supports both DDR4 and DDR5, also dual-channel, but the database records no memory bandwidth figure and no ECC support. Intel's broader memory compatibility gives it more platform flexibility.

PCIe connectivity favors Intel with 20 Gen 4 lanes (CPU only) versus AMD's 14 Gen 4 lanes. Integrated graphics differ as well: AMD uses the Radeon 740M, while Intel uses Iris Xe with 96 execution units. Both are mobile-class parts, with the Ryzen rated at 28 W TDP and the Intel part at 45 W TDP, though the database records no direct power efficiency comparison beyond those figures.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest single-core victory belongs to AMD in Cinebench R23. The Ryzen 5 7545U scores 2435 against Intel's 1673, a 45.5% margin. This is the standout result of the entire comparison, showing that Zen 4's single-thread performance far outstrips Alder Lake's in this specific test. PassMark single-thread testing reinforces the trend but with a much smaller gap: 3673 versus 3567, a 3% lead for AMD. Cinebench R15 single-core is essentially a tie, with AMD ahead by 1.2% (245 versus 242).

The i9-12900HK's single-core results are inconsistent across test suites. It beats AMD in Cinebench R20 single-core by 19.1% (1264 versus 1022), yet loses badly in R23 single-core. This variance suggests the two architectures respond differently to workload scaling within each benchmark, rather than a simple single-thread performance ranking.

Multi-core results consistently favor Intel, but the margins shrink as the workload becomes more sustained. Cinebench R15 multi-core shows Intel ahead by 37.6% (2786 versus 1739). R20 multi-core narrows that to 19.1% (8958 versus 7246). R23 multi-core shows just a 5.7% gap (18288 versus 17253). The pattern suggests Intel's advantage shrinks as the benchmark duration increases, likely due to thermal and power constraints on the 45 W mobile part.

PassMark's math and data workloads heavily favor Intel. Floating-point math shows a 42.2% gap (63572 versus 36754). Integer math shows a 32.8% gap (89527 versus 60206). Prime number finding shows a 33.3% gap (102 versus 68). Data compression favors Intel by 19.2% (294908 versus 238345), and encryption by 18.6% (17445 versus 14202). Physics simulation goes to Intel by 36.8% (1673 versus 1057).

The extended instructions test is the one math-adjacent workload where AMD wins, scoring 17865 against 17583, a 1.6% margin. Random string sorting is close as well, with Intel ahead by only 8% (32983 versus 30358). These results indicate AMD's architecture handles certain instruction patterns more efficiently, even when the raw compute throughput favors Intel.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has better single-core performance?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 7545U wins the majority of single-thread tests. It leads by 45.5% in Cinebench R23 single-core (2435 versus 1673) and by 3% in PassMark single-thread (3673 versus 3567). The Intel part wins Cinebench R20 single-core by 19.1%, but that is the exception rather than the rule.

Q: How large is the multi-core gap between these two?

A: Intel wins every recorded multi-core test, but the margin varies widely. Cinebench R15 multi-core shows a 37.6% gap, R20 shows 19.1%, and R23 shows only 5.7%. PassMark multithread shows a 21% gap (25697 versus 20298).

Q: Which processor is better for math-heavy workloads?

A: The Intel Core i9-12900HK dominates. Floating-point math shows a 42.2% advantage (63572 versus 36754), integer math shows 32.8% (89527 versus 60206), and prime number finding shows 33.3% (102 versus 68). The only exception is extended instructions, where AMD leads by 1.6%.

Q: Do these processors support the same memory types?

A: No. The AMD Ryzen 5 7545U supports DDR5 only, with ECC support and a recorded bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s. The Intel Core i9-12900HK supports both DDR4 and DDR5, but has no ECC support and no recorded bandwidth figure.

Q: How do these chips compare to their nearest rivals in the database?

A: The Ryzen 5 7545U has an average benchmark score of 26849, with its closest rival being the Intel Core i7-1370P at 26900 (0.2% behind). The i9-12900HK averages 26469, tied with the Intel Core i7-1280P and within 0.3% of the AMD Ryzen 5 8640U.

Q: Which processor has more PCIe lanes?

A: The Intel Core i9-12900HK has 20 Gen 4 lanes (CPU only), while the AMD Ryzen 5 7545U has 14 Gen 4 lanes (CPU only). This gives Intel more headroom for storage and peripheral expansion.

The Verdict

The benchmark data supports a clear division of labor. For single-threaded responsiveness, the AMD Ryzen 5 7545U is the better choice. Its 45.5% lead in Cinebench R23 single-core is decisive, and its consistent wins in PassMark single-thread testing (3% ahead) confirm that the Zen 4 architecture delivers superior per-core performance in most light workloads. Users running office tasks, web browsing, or lightly threaded applications will see the advantage on the AMD side.

For heavily threaded or math-intensive workloads, the Intel Core i9-12900HK is the stronger pick. Its 14 cores and 20 threads translate into real wins across Cinebench multi-core, PassMark multithread, floating-point math, integer math, and data compression. The 42.2% lead in floating-point math and the 36.8% lead in physics simulation are substantial, making Intel the clear choice for rendering, simulation, or data processing tasks.

The overall average benchmark scores are nearly identical, with AMD at 26849 and Intel at 26469. The Ryzen 5 7545U also holds a slightly better percentile ranking at 79 versus Intel's 78. But averages hide the workload-specific reality: these are not interchangeable processors. The AMD part wins where efficiency and single-thread speed matter, while the Intel part wins where raw thread throughput and math capability matter.

The 28 W TDP of the AMD part versus 45 W for Intel suggests the Ryzen may sustain its performance better in thermally constrained thin-and-light laptops, though the database records no direct power efficiency measurements. The Ryzen's smaller die (137 mm² versus 217 mm²) and newer 4 nm process also point to efficiency advantages. The Intel part's unlocked multiplier and broader memory support (DDR4 and DDR5) offer flexibility that the locked AMD part cannot match.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen 5 7545U | Intel Core i9-12900HK |

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

| Cores | 6 | 14 |

| Threads | 12 | 20 |

| Base clock | 3.20 GHz | 2.50 GHz |

| Boost clock | 4.90 GHz | 5.00 GHz |

| TDP | 28 W | 45 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket FP7 | Intel BGA 1744 |

| Architecture | Zen 4 | Alder Lake |

| Process node | 4 nm (TSMC) | 10 nm (Intel) |

| Die size | 137 mm² | 217 mm² |

| Transistors | 20,900 million | Not recorded |

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

| L2 cache | 1 MB per core | 1.25 MB per core |

| L3 cache | 16 MB shared | 24 MB shared |

| Memory support | DDR5 | DDR4, DDR5 |

| Memory bandwidth | 89.6 GB/s | Not recorded |

| ECC memory | Yes | No |

| PCIe lanes | Gen 4, 14 (CPU only) | Gen 4, 20 (CPU only) |

| Integrated graphics | Radeon 740M | Iris Xe 96EU |

| Unlocked multiplier | No | Yes |

| Release date | 2023-11-01 | 2022-01-03 |