AMD Ryzen 5 7640HS vs Intel Core i7-12650HX Comparison

The Verdict

The benchmark database presents a clear split between these two mobile processors. The Intel Core i7-12650HX wins the heavy multi-core and floating-point workloads, while the AMD Ryzen 5 7640HS takes the majority of the everyday and specialized tests. Out of 15 head-to-head benchmark comparisons, the AMD chip secures 10 wins, while the Intel chip takes 5. The Intel part holds the higher overall average benchmark score at 31290, placing it in the 82nd percentile of all CPUs, versus the AMD's 30390 average and 81st percentile. For users running Cinebench R23 multi-core renders, the Intel part is the clear choice, as it leads by 51.7%. For those who need extended instruction throughput, the AMD part is decisively better, leading by 22.9% in that specific PassMark test. The data suggests the Intel chip is optimized for sustained parallel compute with its larger core count, while the AMD chip excels in efficiency-oriented tasks and single-thread responsiveness, with a notably higher boost clock.

Architecture Differences

The fundamental design philosophies diverge sharply. The Intel Core i7-12650HX is built on the Alder Lake architecture, using a 10 nm process at Intel's own foundry. It is a 14-core, 20-thread processor, a hybrid design that combines performance and efficiency cores. Its die size is 215 mm². The AMD Ryzen 5 7640HS uses the Zen 4 architecture, codenamed Phoenix, fabricated on a 4 nm node by TSMC. It is a 6-core, 12-thread processor with a die size of 178 mm² and contains 25,000 million transistors.

Cache configurations also differ. The Intel chip provides 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 24 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD chip offers 64 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3. Memory support is another differentiator: the Intel part supports both DDR4 and DDR5, while the AMD part supports only DDR5. Both use dual-channel memory buses. The AMD chip has a specified memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s, while the Intel part does not have a recorded bandwidth figure in the database. PCIe support differs as well: the Intel chip uses Gen 5 with 20 CPU lanes, while the AMD chip uses Gen 4 with 20 CPU lanes. Integrated graphics also differ, with the Intel featuring UHD Graphics 770 and the AMD featuring Radeon 760M. The Intel part has an unlocked multiplier, while the AMD part does not.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking disparity appears in Cinebench R23. The Intel Core i7-12650HX scores 19043 in multi-core versus the AMD's 12554, a 51.7% lead. In single-core R23, the Intel part scores 2688 versus 1715.5, a 56.7% advantage. These are the two largest wins in the entire comparison, and they show the Intel part's dominance in sustained CPU rendering workloads.

The AMD chip counters in Cinebench R15 multi-core, scoring 1978 versus Intel's 1919, a 3% edge. In R15 single-core, the Intel part barely edges ahead at 270 versus 269.5, a 0.2% margin that is essentially a tie.

In PassMark tests, the AMD chip wins data compression (269524 versus 266700, a 1% edge), data encryption (15867 versus 15325, a 3.4% edge), and extended instructions (20556 versus 15856, a 22.9% lead). The AMD part also wins find prime numbers (77 versus 74, a 3.9% edge), multithread (22979 versus 22573, a 1.8% edge), physics (1155 versus 1152, a 0.3% edge), and random string sorting (31654 versus 29692, a 6.2% edge). The AMD chip wins single-thread PassMark at 3654 versus 3637, a 0.5% margin.

The Intel chip takes the remaining PassMark wins with larger margins: floating point math at 58426 versus 45220, a 29.2% lead, and integer math at 81810 versus 73284, an 11.6% lead.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ on several key specification fields. The Intel Core i7-12650HX has 14 cores and 20 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 5 7640HS has 6 cores and 12 threads. Base clocks differ significantly: the Intel runs at 2000.00 MHz, the AMD at 4300 MHz. Boost clocks also differ: the Intel reaches 4.70 GHz, the AMD reaches 5.00 GHz. The TDP is 55 W for the Intel part and 35 W for the AMD part. The Intel uses socket Intel BGA 1964, while the AMD uses AMD Socket FP8. The process nodes differ: 10 nm for Intel versus 4 nm for AMD. The Intel part's cache is larger overall, with 24 MB shared L3 versus 16 MB shared L3. The AMD part supports ECC memory, while the Intel part does not. The Intel part supports Gen 5 PCIe, the AMD supports Gen 4. The Intel part has an unlocked multiplier; the AMD does not. The Intel part carries a release date of 2022-05-09, while the AMD has no recorded release date in the database.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher multi-core Cinebench R23 score?

A: The Intel Core i7-12650HX scores 19043, which is 51.7% higher than the AMD Ryzen 5 7640HS at 12554.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 7640HS has a boost clock of 5.00 GHz, while the Intel Core i7-12650HX reaches 4.70 GHz.

Q: How many cores and threads does each processor have?

A: The Intel Core i7-12650HX has 14 cores and 20 threads. The AMD Ryzen 5 7640HS has 6 cores and 12 threads.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 7640HS supports ECC memory. The Intel Core i7-12650HX does not.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two?

A: The Intel Core i7-12650HX has a TDP of 55 W, while the AMD Ryzen 5 7640HS has a TDP of 35 W.

Q: Which processor has a higher PassMark single-thread score?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 7640HS scores 3654, which is 0.5% higher than the Intel Core i7-12650HX at 3637.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i7-12650HX is the pick for multi-core rendering and compute-heavy tasks. Its 51.7% lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 56.7% lead in R23 single-core make it the superior choice for 3D rendering, video encoding, and any workload that scales with core count. It also wins floating point math by 29.2% and integer math by 11.6%, suggesting strong arithmetic throughput for scientific and engineering applications. The unlocked multiplier adds flexibility for overclocking, though the higher 55 W TDP means it will draw more power under load.

The AMD Ryzen 5 7640HS is the better choice for efficiency-sensitive scenarios and specialized instruction workloads. Its 22.9% lead in extended instructions indicates stronger support for newer instruction sets, which can benefit cryptography and certain data-processing tasks. It wins data compression, data encryption, random string sorting, and find prime numbers, making it well-suited for database operations and general system responsiveness. The lower 35 W TDP, combined with a 5.00 GHz boost clock, suggests it can deliver strong single-thread performance while consuming less power. Its 6.2% lead in random string sorting and 3.4% lead in data encryption point to advantages in server-style workloads, and the ECC memory support adds reliability for data-critical environments.

The overall win count favors the AMD chip at 10 wins versus 5 for Intel, but the magnitude of Intel's wins in Cinebench R23 is substantial. Users who need maximum multi-threaded rendering should choose Intel. Users who prioritize a balanced mix of encryption, compression, and extended instruction throughput, along with lower power draw, should choose AMD. The database shows the Intel part has a slightly higher average benchmark score at 31290, but the AMD part is only 2.9% behind at 30390. The Intel part sits at the 82nd percentile, the AMD at the 81st, indicating they are nearly equivalent in overall positioning among all CPUs.