AMD Ryzen 5 8600G vs Intel Core i5-12450HX Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data is unambiguous: the AMD Ryzen 5 8600G wins every single head-to-head benchmark in the database. Across 17 recorded comparisons, the Intel Core i5-12450HX does not take a single victory. The margins vary from modest to massive, but the direction is consistent throughout.

The largest gap appears in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where the Ryzen 5 8600G scores 21,503 against the Intel part's 11,390. That is a 47% deficit for the i5-12450HX, a substantial margin in a heavily threaded workload. The gap is not just about multi-core either. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the AMD part scores 3,035 versus 2,119, a 30.2% advantage. That same 30.2% delta repeats across Cinebench R15 and R20 in both single-core and multi-core tests, indicating a consistent per-clock and per-thread efficiency edge for the Zen 4 architecture.

In PassMark tests, the AMD processor leads across every category. The smallest margin is in floating point math, where the Ryzen 5 8600G scores 47,919 against 43,126, a 10% win. The largest PassMark gap is in extended instructions, where the AMD part scores 22,610 versus 13,832, a 38.8% advantage. Prime number finding shows a 43.7% lead (96 versus 54), and random string sorting shows a 33.5% lead (35,067 versus 23,306).

The data compression test shows the AMD part at 293,306 versus 219,707, a 25.1% win. Data encryption shows 17,181 versus 12,110, a 29.5% lead. Integer math shows 77,042 versus 57,189, a 25.8% advantage. The multithread PassMark score is 25,294 versus 18,274, a 27.8% lead, and the physics test shows 1,450 versus 1,086, another 25.1% win. Even in single-thread PassMark, where the gap is smallest in percentage terms, the AMD part still leads by 13.9%, scoring 3,878 versus 3,340.

The database also places both CPUs in a similar overall percentile range. The i5-12450HX sits at the 77th percentile among all CPUs, while the Ryzen 5 8600G sits at the 76th percentile. Their average benchmark scores are close: 24,576 for the Intel part and 24,089 for the AMD part. That near-parity in aggregate scores, despite the AMD processor winning every direct comparison, reflects the different benchmark sets each chip was tested with. The Intel part has no 3DMark records in the database, while the Ryzen 5 8600G has six such entries, which pull its average in a different direction.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in multi-core workloads?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 8600G wins every multi-core test. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 21,503 versus 11,390, a 47% lead. In Cinebench R20 multi-core, it scores 9,031 versus 6,304, a 30.2% lead. PassMark multithread shows 25,294 versus 18,274, a 27.8% advantage.

Q: Is the Intel chip competitive in single-core performance?

A: No, the data shows the AMD part ahead in every single-core test as well. Cinebench R23 single-core is 3,035 versus 2,119, a 30.2% lead. PassMark single-thread is 3,878 versus 3,340, a 13.9% advantage. The Intel part never wins any single-threaded comparison.

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

A: The Intel Core i5-12450HX is nearly tied with the Intel Core i5-11600, with a delta of just 0.1%. It is also within 0.5% of the AMD EPYC 9654P and within 0.6% of the AMD Ryzen 7 5700X3D. The AMD Ryzen 5 8600G sits 0.4% behind the AMD Ryzen 5 7540U and 0.4% ahead of the AMD Ryzen 7 8840U, with a 1% gap to the Intel Core i7-1360P.

Q: Does the Intel chip have any benchmark category where it is close to the AMD chip?

A: The closest margin is in PassMark floating point math, where the AMD part leads by only 10% (47,919 versus 43,126). The next closest is PassMark single-thread, at 13.9%. All other categories show gaps of at least 25%.

Q: Which chip has the higher boost clock?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 8600G has a boost clock of 5.00 GHz, while the Intel Core i5-12450HX boosts to 4.40 GHz. The AMD part also has a higher base clock at 4.30 GHz versus 2.40 GHz.

Q: Are both processors unlocked for overclocking?

A: Yes, the database lists both the Intel Core i5-12450HX and the AMD Ryzen 5 8600G as having an unlocked multiplier.

The Verdict

The benchmark data points to a clear conclusion: the AMD Ryzen 5 8600G is the faster processor in every recorded comparison. There is no workload category in this database where the Intel Core i5-12450HX pulls ahead. If raw performance is the only criterion, the AMD part wins outright.

The Intel part's only consolation is that its aggregate average benchmark score (24,576) is slightly higher than the AMD part's (24,089), but that is an artifact of the different test suites each chip was subjected to, not a reflection of head-to-head capability. The AMD processor also holds a similar percentile ranking (76th versus 77th), meaning both chips land in the same general performance tier relative to the entire CPU landscape.

For a user comparing these two specific chips, the data suggests picking the Ryzen 5 8600G for any workload where the recorded benchmarks matter. The 47% lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core is particularly decisive for rendering or compilation tasks. The 30.2% lead in single-core Cinebench tests indicates better responsiveness in lightly threaded applications. The consistent 25% to 38% leads across PassMark categories reinforce the point.

The Intel part does have advantages outside the benchmark data. It is a mobile processor on Intel BGA 1964, while the AMD part is a desktop chip on AMD Socket AM5. The Intel chip supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, while the AMD chip supports DDR5 only. The Intel part has more cores (8 versus 6) but the same thread count (12), indicating a hybrid arrangement. These are meaningful distinctions for platform planning, but they do not change the performance outcome in the recorded tests.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key specifications. The Intel Core i5-12450HX has 8 cores and 12 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 5 8600G has 6 cores and 12 threads. The AMD part has a higher base clock at 4.30 GHz versus 2.40 GHz, and a higher boost clock at 5.00 GHz versus 4.40 GHz. Thermal design power differs as well: the Intel part is rated at 55 W, the AMD part at 65 W.

Memory support diverges. The Intel chip accepts both DDR4 and DDR5, while the AMD chip supports DDR5 only. Both use dual-channel memory buses, but the AMD part has a recorded memory bandwidth of 83.2 GB/s, while the Intel part has no bandwidth figure in the database. PCIe generations differ: the Intel part supports Gen 5 with 20 CPU lanes, the AMD part supports Gen 4 with 20 CPU lanes.

The integrated graphics are different. The Intel chip carries UHD Graphics 710, while the AMD chip has Radeon 760M. The Intel part is a mobile segment product, while the AMD part is a desktop segment product. The Intel chip uses socket Intel BGA 1964, the AMD chip uses AMD Socket AM5. The Intel part has a launch MSRP of $284, and the AMD part has a launch MSRP of $229. Both have unlocked multipliers.

Architecture Differences

The Intel Core i5-12450HX is built on Alder Lake architecture with the Alder Lake-HX codename, using a 10 nm process from Intel's own foundry. The die size is 215 mm². The AMD Ryzen 5 8600G uses Zen 4 architecture with the Phoenix codename, built on a 4 nm process at TSMC. The AMD die is 178 mm² and contains 25,000 million transistors. The Intel part has no transistor count recorded.

Cache configurations differ substantially. The Intel part has 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core, and 12 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD part has 64 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3 cache. That gives the AMD chip a larger last-level cache despite having fewer cores.

The Intel part uses a hybrid architecture typical of Alder Lake, combining performance and efficiency cores, which explains its 8-core, 12-thread configuration. The AMD part uses a conventional 6-core, 12-thread design. Both are active production parts. The Intel chip was released on 2022-05-09, while the AMD chip followed on 2024-01-07. Neither supports ECC memory.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 5 8600G wins every benchmark category in the database. In Cinebench workloads, it dominates both multi-core and single-core tests. The 47% lead in R23 multi-core and the 30.2% lead in R15, R20, and R23 single-core all point to a processor that is simply faster per clock and per thread. For users running rendering, video encoding, or any CPU-bound productivity task, the AMD part is the clear choice based on this data.

In PassMark workloads, the AMD part wins by margins ranging from 10% (floating point) to 43.7% (prime numbers). The 38.8% lead in extended instructions suggests an advantage in SIMD-heavy code. The 33.5% lead in random string sorting indicates faster memory access patterns. The 29.5% lead in encryption points to better cryptographic throughput. For scientific computing, data processing, or security-related workloads, the AMD chip is ahead.

The Intel Core i5-12450HX has no recorded wins. Its advantages are structural rather than performance-based. It offers two more cores, which could matter in highly parallel workloads that scale beyond 6 cores, but the recorded multi-core benchmarks do not reflect any such benefit. It supports DDR4 memory, which could make platform builds cheaper, and it has PCIe Gen 5 support, which is a forward-looking feature. Its mobile form factor and lower TDP of 55 W make it suitable for laptops, while the AMD part's 65 W TDP and desktop socket target a different use case.

For a laptop buyer, the Intel part is the only option that fits a mobile socket. For a desktop builder, the AMD part delivers superior performance in every tested category. The data does not present a scenario where the Intel chip wins on merit; it wins only on platform compatibility and legacy memory support. Users who already own an AM5 platform or are building a new desktop should choose the Ryzen 5 8600G without hesitation. Users constrained to a mobile platform with an Intel BGA 1964 socket will take the i5-12450HX, but they should expect lower benchmark scores across the board.