AMD Ryzen 5 8640HS vs Intel Core i7-12700H Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i7-12700H and AMD Ryzen 5 8640HS occupy different positions in the mobile processor landscape, and the recorded benchmark data draws a clear line between them. Out of the 15 head-to-head tests in the database, the Intel part takes 12 wins while the AMD chip claims 3, but that raw tally hides a more nuanced story about workload suitability.

The Intel Core i7-12700H is decisively a multi-threaded workhorse. Its biggest advantages appear in floating-point math, where it scores 65,075 against the AMD’s 39,725 for a 63.8% lead, and in physics simulation, where it posts 1,512 versus 970 for a 55.9% advantage. These are large margins that indicate a processor built to chew through parallel workloads. The Cinebench R23 multi-core result reinforces this: Intel scores 16,307.5 against AMD’s 11,486, a 42% gap. Cinebench R15 multi-core shows a similar story at 41.2% ahead, with scores of 2,604.6 and 1,845 respectively.

The Intel chip also dominates in integer-heavy and data-processing tasks. Integer math shows 90,106 versus 68,173 for a 32.2% lead. Data compression favors Intel at 300,594 versus 226,544, a 32.7% gap. Data encryption follows the same pattern: 17,575 versus 13,551 for a 29.7% edge. Even prime number finding, a test sensitive to memory and core scaling, goes Intel’s way at 94 versus 70, a 34.3% delta. Random string sorting also lands in Intel’s column, 33,449 versus 27,316 for a 22.5% advantage. Extended instruction performance is closer but still Intel-favored, 17,886 versus 15,855 for a 12.8% lead.

The AMD Ryzen 5 8640HS wins in single-threaded tests, though by narrow margins. In PassMark single-thread, AMD posts 3,584 versus Intel’s 3,535, a 1.4% edge. Cinebench R15 single-core shows AMD at 268 versus Intel’s 256, a 4.5% lead. These are the only two traditional single-thread wins for AMD in the head-to-head list. However, in Cinebench R23 single-core, Intel actually takes the win at 1,782 versus 1,711, a 4.1% advantage. This mixed picture suggests the AMD chip has slightly better legacy single-core performance, but the newer Intel architecture holds its own in the more modern R23 test.

The overall benchmark averages reflect this split. The Intel Core i7-12700H has an average benchmark score of 26,717 and sits at the 79th percentile among all CPUs. The AMD Ryzen 5 8640HS averages 26,106 and ranks at the 78th percentile. The Intel part’s nearest rivals include the AMD EPYC 9554 (delta -0.1%), AMD Ryzen 5 5500GT (delta -0.1%), and Intel Core i9-11900K (delta +0.3%). The AMD chip’s nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 5 8540U (delta -0.3%), Intel Core i7-14701TE (delta +0.4%), and Intel Core i9-11900KF (delta -0.4%). Both processors sit in a tight performance band around the 26,000 mark, which means the practical difference in overall capability is small, even though specific workloads diverge sharply.

The Verdict

The database points to a straightforward conclusion: choose the Intel Core i7-12700H for heavily threaded productivity and compute tasks, and choose the AMD Ryzen 5 8640HS for lighter workloads where single-thread speed and efficiency matter more.

For users running rendering workloads, scientific simulations, code compilation, or any task that scales across cores, the Intel part is the clear pick. The 42% lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core and the 63.8% advantage in floating-point math are not trivial. The Intel chip’s 14 cores and 20 threads against AMD’s 6 cores and 12 threads explain much of this gap, but the data shows the performance delta is consistent across a wide range of multi-threaded tests. The Intel part also leads in PassMark multithread at 25,615 versus 19,889, a 28.8% edge.

For users who prioritize responsive single-threaded performance in older applications, or who want a lower power envelope, the AMD Ryzen 5 8640HS makes sense. Its 28W TDP is significantly lower than Intel’s 45W, and it still manages to beat Intel in PassMark single-thread and Cinebench R15 single-core. The AMD chip also has a higher boost clock at 4.90 GHz versus 4.70 GHz, which likely contributes to those wins. The trade-off is clear: you sacrifice substantial multi-threaded performance for better single-thread legacy performance and lower power draw.

There is no universal winner here. The Intel Core i7-12700H is the faster processor in aggregate, as shown by its higher average benchmark score and higher percentile ranking. But the AMD Ryzen 5 8640HS is not far behind overall, and its single-thread wins plus lower TDP make it a viable choice for specific use cases. The data suggests that anyone who needs maximum throughput should not look at the AMD part, while anyone who values efficiency and light-thread responsiveness should not overlook it.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest single margin in the head-to-head set belongs to the Intel Core i7-12700H in PassMark floating-point math. The Intel score of 65,075 dwarfs the AMD score of 39,725, a 63.8% delta. This is a massive gap that indicates a fundamental difference in how the two processors handle floating-point workloads. The Intel chip’s hybrid architecture with 14 cores appears to give it a substantial advantage in this area.

Physics simulation shows the second-biggest gap, with Intel at 1,512 versus AMD at 970, a 55.9% lead. This test typically depends on both core count and memory bandwidth, and Intel’s 24 MB of shared L3 cache versus AMD’s 16 MB likely plays a role. The Cinebench R23 multi-core test shows a 42% delta, with Intel at 16,307.5 and AMD at 11,486. Cinebench R15 multi-core is nearly identical at 41.2%, with scores of 2,604.6 and 1,845. These two tests together confirm that the Intel chip’s multi-core advantage is consistent across generations of the Cinebench benchmark.

Data compression shows Intel ahead by 32.7%, scoring 300,594 versus 226,544. Integer math follows at 32.2%, with Intel at 90,106 and AMD at 68,173. Prime number finding shows a 34.3% gap, Intel at 94 versus AMD at 70. Data encryption comes in at 29.7%, Intel at 17,575 versus AMD at 13,551. PassMark multithread shows a 28.8% edge for Intel, 25,615 versus 19,889. Random string sorting gives Intel a 22.5% lead, 33,449 versus 27,316. Extended instructions show a closer 12.8% gap, Intel at 17,886 versus AMD at 15,855.

On the AMD side, the wins are narrower. Cinebench R15 single-core gives AMD a 4.5% edge, 268 versus 256. PassMark single-thread shows AMD ahead by 1.4%, 3,584 versus 3,535. The PassMark singlethread test duplicates the same result at 1.4%. These are the only head-to-head wins for AMD, and both are single-thread tests. Notably, Intel wins Cinebench R23 single-core by 4.1%, 1,782 versus 1,711, so AMD’s single-thread advantage does not extend to that newer benchmark.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins more head-to-head benchmarks?

A: The Intel Core i7-12700H wins 12 of the 15 head-to-head tests, while the AMD Ryzen 5 8640HS wins 3.

Q: What is the biggest performance gap between the two?

A: The largest delta is in PassMark floating-point math, where the Intel Core i7-12700H leads by 63.8% with a score of 65,075 versus 39,725.

Q: Does the AMD Ryzen 5 8640HS win any tests?

A: Yes, it wins Cinebench R15 single-core (268 versus 256, a 4.5% lead) and PassMark single-thread (3,584 versus 3,535, a 1.4% lead).

Q: How do the two compare in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The Intel Core i7-12700H scores 16,307.5 against the AMD Ryzen 5 8640HS’s 11,486, a 42% advantage for Intel.

Q: What are the core and thread counts for each?

A: The Intel Core i7-12700H has 14 cores and 20 threads. The AMD Ryzen 5 8640HS has 6 cores and 12 threads.

Q: How do their overall benchmark averages compare?

A: The Intel Core i7-12700H has an average benchmark score of 26,717 and sits at the 79th percentile. The AMD Ryzen 5 8640HS averages 26,106 and sits at the 78th percentile.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The Intel Core i7-12700H is built on Alder Lake-H architecture, which uses a hybrid core layout. It has 14 cores and 20 threads, with a base clock of 2.30 GHz and a boost clock of 4.70 GHz. The processor is manufactured on Intel’s 10 nm process with a die size of 217 mm². It supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration, and its cache hierarchy includes 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 24 MB of shared L3. The integrated graphics are Iris Xe with 96 execution units.

The AMD Ryzen 5 8640HS is based on Zen 4 architecture under the Hawk Point codename. It has 6 cores and 12 threads, with a base clock of 3.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.90 GHz. AMD uses TSMC’s 4 nm process, and the die size is 178 mm². The chip integrates 25,000 million transistors. Memory support is limited to DDR5 in a dual-channel configuration, with a memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s. The cache layout is 64 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3. Integrated graphics come in the form of Radeon 760M.

The most obvious architectural difference is core count. The Intel chip has more than double the cores and nearly double the threads, which directly explains its multi-threaded dominance. The AMD chip compensates with a higher base clock (3.50 GHz versus 2.30 GHz) and a higher boost clock (4.90 GHz versus 4.70 GHz), which supports its single-thread wins. The process node difference is also notable: AMD’s 4 nm TSMC process is smaller than Intel’s 10 nm, and AMD’s transistor count of 25,000 million is a specific figure not matched by Intel in the database.

Cache sizes differ significantly. Intel has a larger L3 cache at 24 MB shared, while AMD has 16 MB shared. Intel also has larger per-core L1 and L2 caches at 80 KB and 1.25 MB respectively, versus AMD’s 64 KB and 1 MB. The memory bandwidth figure of 89.6 GB/s is recorded only for the AMD chip, while Intel’s memory bandwidth is not listed. Both processors use Gen 4 PCIe with 20 lanes for the CPU, and neither supports ECC memory.

The TDP difference is substantial: the Intel part is rated at 45W while the AMD part is rated at 28W. This makes the AMD chip more suited to thinner, cooler-running laptops, while the Intel chip likely requires a more robust cooling solution. Both processors are classified as mobile parts and remain in active production. The AMD Ryzen 5 8640HS has a recorded release date of December 5, 2023, while the Intel part has no release date in the database. Neither processor has a recorded launch MSRP, so any pricing discussion is absent from this analysis.