AMD Ryzen 5 7600X vs Intel Core i9-12900H Comparison

The Intel Core i9-12900H and AMD Ryzen 5 7600X occupy different corners of the processor market: the former is a mobile chip for laptops, the latter a desktop part for AM5 builds. The database records 21 head-to-head benchmark comparisons, with the Ryzen winning 15 and the Intel winning 6. Despite that, the Intel chip posts a higher average benchmark score (28003 vs 27636) and a slightly better percentile rank (80th vs 79th). This split between head-to-head wins and aggregate scores makes the comparison more nuanced than a simple winner.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i9-12900H has 14 cores and 20 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 5 7600X has 6 cores and 12 threads.

Q: Which CPU has the higher boost clock?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 7600X boosts to 5.30 GHz, compared to 5.00 GHz for the Intel Core i9-12900H.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 7600X supports ECC memory; the Intel Core i9-12900H does not.

Q: Which chip has the larger L3 cache?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 7600X has 32 MB of shared L3 cache, while the Intel Core i9-12900H has 24 MB.

Q: Which is a mobile processor?

A: The Intel Core i9-12900H is a mobile part (Intel BGA 1744 socket), while the AMD Ryzen 5 7600X is a desktop part (AMD Socket AM5).

Q: Which has a higher TDP?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 7600X has a 105 W TDP, versus 45 W for the Intel Core i9-12900H.

The Verdict

For a desktop build, the Ryzen 5 7600X is the clear pick. It wins 15 of 21 head-to-head tests, including every single-thread benchmark and most multi-thread workloads. The Intel Core i9-12900H is the only choice for a laptop, given its mobile socket and 45 W TDP. However, the i9-12900H does hold advantages in specific compute tasks: it leads by 33.2% in floating point math and by 10.7% in integer math, and it wins Cinebench R23 multi-core by 4.7%. The Ryzen counters with a 47.8% lead in prime number finding and a 22.1% lead in extended instructions. If you need a desktop CPU for general productivity, gaming, and single-thread performance, the Ryzen 5 7600X is the better choice. If you are constrained to a mobile platform, the i9-12900H is the one to get.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The biggest Intel wins come in math-heavy workloads. In PassMark floating point math, the i9-12900H scores 67940 against 51025, a 33.2% advantage. In integer math, it scores 93828 versus 84749, a 10.7% lead. Cinebench R23 multi-core also favors Intel: 15946.5 vs 15236, a 4.7% margin. Cinebench R15 multi-core is closer, 2576.5 vs 2517, a 2.4% edge. The i9 also takes 3DMark max threads (6927 vs 6845, 1.2%) and data encryption (18548 vs 18543, a 0% delta).

The Ryzen 5 7600X dominates single-thread and many multi-thread tests. Its largest win is PassMark find prime numbers: 205 vs 107, a 47.8% lead. Extended instructions go 24216 vs 18875, a 22.1% margin. Cinebench R15 single-core is 314 vs 266, a 15.3% advantage. 3DMark 8 threads shows 5715 vs 5074, an 11.2% lead. 3DMark 4 threads is 3796 vs 3398, a 10.5% edge. PassMark single-thread is 4135 vs 3717, a 10.1% lead. The Ryzen also wins 3DMark 16 threads (6879 vs 6457, 6.1%), 3DMark 2 threads (2028 vs 1891, 6.8%), 3DMark single-thread (1060 vs 999, 5.8%), Cinebench R23 single-core (1965 vs 1863.5, 5.2%), PassMark multithread (28390 vs 27340, 3.7%), PassMark physics (1824 vs 1753, 3.9%), PassMark random string sorting (37726 vs 35296, 6.4%), and PassMark data compression (317862 vs 316714, 0.4%).

Specification Differences

| Field | Intel Core i9-12900H | AMD Ryzen 5 7600X |

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

| Cores | 14 | 6 |

| Threads | 20 | 12 |

| Base clock | 2.50 GHz | 4.70 GHz |

| Boost clock | 5.00 GHz | 5.30 GHz |

| TDP | 45 W | 105 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1744 | AMD Socket AM5 |

| Architecture | Alder Lake | Zen 4 |

| Codename | Alder Lake-H | Raphael |

| Process node | 10 nm | 5 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | TSMC |

| Transistors | Not specified | 6,570 million |

| Die size | 217 mm² | 71 mm² |

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

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

| L3 cache | 24 MB (shared) | 32 MB (shared) |

| Memory support | DDR4, DDR5 | DDR5 |

| Memory bandwidth | Not specified | 83.2 GB/s |

| ECC memory | No | Yes |

| PCIe | Gen 4, 20 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 5, 24 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated graphics | Iris Xe 96EU | Radeon Graphics |

| Market segment | Mobile | Desktop |

| Release date | 2022-01-03 | 2022-09-26 |

| Launch MSRP | Not specified | $299 |

| Multiplier unlocked | No | Yes |

| Part number | SRLD4 | 100-000000593 |

Architecture Differences

The two chips come from different process nodes and foundries. Intel uses a 10 nm process at Intel, while AMD uses a 5 nm process at TSMC. The Intel die is 217 mm², the AMD die is 71 mm². The Intel part has 14 cores and 20 threads, the AMD has 6 cores and 12 threads. Cache layouts differ: Intel has 80 KB L1 and 1.25 MB L2 per core, with 24 MB shared L3; AMD has 64 KB L1 and 1 MB L2 per core, with 32 MB shared L3. The AMD chip supports ECC memory and has a memory bandwidth of 83.2 GB/s, while the Intel chip does not support ECC and its memory bandwidth is not recorded. PCIe support also differs: AMD offers Gen 5 with 24 lanes, Intel offers Gen 4 with 20 lanes. The AMD chip has an unlocked multiplier, the Intel does not. The integrated graphics are different: Intel uses Iris Xe 96EU, AMD uses Radeon Graphics. The AMD chip is a desktop part with a 105 W TDP, the Intel is a mobile part with a 45 W TDP.

Where Each One Wins

Based on the head-to-head results, the Intel Core i9-12900H is the better choice for workloads that stress floating point and integer math. It leads by 33.2% in floating point math and 10.7% in integer math. It also wins Cinebench R23 multi-core by 4.7%, making it a strong pick for multi-threaded rendering. The 3DMark max threads win (1.2%) and the data encryption tie (0% delta) round out its advantages. The AMD Ryzen 5 7600X is the better choice for single-thread performance, winning every single-thread test: Cinebench R15 single-core by 15.3%, PassMark single-thread by 10.1%, 3DMark single-thread by 5.8%, and Cinebench R23 single-core by 5.2%. It also wins most multi-thread tests, including 3DMark 2, 4, 8, and 16 threads, PassMark multithread, physics, random string sorting, data compression, extended instructions, and prime number finding. For gaming and general desktop productivity, the Ryzen 5 7600X is the stronger performer. For compute-heavy tasks like math and rendering, the i9-12900H holds its own despite being a mobile chip.