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

The Intel Core i7-12700H and AMD Ryzen 5 8640U are both mobile processors, but they target very different priorities. The data shows a clear split: the Intel part is a high-power performer built for sustained heavy workloads, while the AMD chip is a lower-power option that trades throughput for efficiency. Benchmark results indicate that the i7-12700H wins every single head-to-head comparison in the data set, but the magnitude of those wins varies dramatically by workload, which tells the real story.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking results come from multi-core tests, where the Intel Core i7-12700H’s 14 cores and 20 threads simply overwhelm the Ryzen 5 8640U’s 6 cores and 12 threads. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Intel chip scores 16307.5 against 10433 for the AMD part, a 56.3% advantage. The older Cinebench R15 multi-core test shows nearly the same gap, with the i7-12700H at 2604.6 versus 1663 for the Ryzen 5 8640U, a 56.6% delta. These are enormous margins, and they confirm that the Intel processor is in a different class for rendering or any fully threaded workload.

The floating-point math test is even more lopsided. The Intel chip records 65075 in Passmark floating-point math, while the AMD part manages only 40330, giving the i7-12700H a 61.4% lead. Integer math is also strongly in Intel’s favor, with 90106 versus 68051, a 32.4% difference. Physics simulation follows the same pattern: Intel scores 1512, AMD scores 1033, a 46.4% gap. The pattern is consistent—whenever the workload scales with core count, the i7-12700H is decisively ahead.

Not every result is a blowout, however. The single-threaded tests are essentially tied. In Cinebench R15 single-core, both chips score exactly 256, and in Passmark single-thread, the Intel part scores 3535 against 3534 for the AMD part, a difference of 0%. This is notable because the Ryzen 5 8640U has a higher boost clock of 4.90 GHz compared to the Intel’s 4.70 GHz, yet it cannot convert that clock advantage into a win. The i7-12700H also edges ahead in Cinebench R23 single-core, scoring 1782 versus 1651, a 7.9% lead.

The mid-range tests show a narrower but still Intel-favoring spread. In Passmark data compression, the i7-12700H scores 300594 against 230080, a 30.6% lead. Data encryption shows a 25.4% gap (17575 versus 14013), and extended instructions are closer at 8.4% (17886 versus 16500). Random string sorting is a 19.2% win for Intel (33449 versus 28066). Even the prime number test, which often favors lower-latency designs, goes to Intel by 36.2% (94 versus 69).

The overall average benchmark score reflects this dominance. The i7-12700H has an average score of 26717, placing it in the 79th percentile of all CPUs, while the Ryzen 5 8640U averages 26462, in the 78th percentile. The Intel part’s nearest rival is the AMD EPYC 9554, which scores 26743, just 0.1% higher. The AMD part’s nearest rival is the Intel Core i9-12900HK, which matches it exactly at 26469. Despite the small difference in average scores, the distribution of wins is entirely one-sided: the i7-12700H wins 15 of the 15 head-to-head benchmarks.

Where Each One Wins

The data is unambiguous on the headline: the Intel Core i7-12700H wins every benchmark in the comparison. That does not mean the Ryzen 5 8640U has no role, but its strengths are not visible in raw performance scores. The i7-12700H is the clear choice for any workload that uses multiple cores heavily. Cinebench R23 multi-core, floating-point math, integer math, and physics simulation all show the Intel part leading by 30% to over 60%. If the task is video rendering, 3D modeling, or scientific computation, the i7-12700H is the only sensible pick from this data.

The Ryzen 5 8640U’s only competitive area is single-threaded performance, where it ties the Intel chip in two tests and loses by 7.9% in a third. That means for lightly threaded tasks like web browsing, office applications, or basic coding, the two processors will feel nearly identical. The AMD part’s advantage, however, is not measured in the benchmarks. It has a 28W TDP compared to the Intel’s 45W TDP, and it is built on a 4nm process from TSMC versus Intel’s 10nm process. That combination suggests it will run cooler and draw less power, which matters in thin-and-light laptops where sustained performance is limited by the chassis.

Users who prioritize battery life and portability will find the Ryzen 5 8640U far more appropriate, even though the benchmark data shows it losing every test. The i7-12700H is for users who need maximum throughput and are willing to accept a thicker, heavier laptop with a more demanding cooling solution. The data does not quantify efficiency, but the TDP figures and process node differences point strongly in one direction.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The Intel Core i7-12700H uses the Alder Lake architecture, specifically the Alder Lake-H variant, and is built on Intel’s 10nm process. It packs 14 cores and 20 threads, with a base clock of 2.30 GHz and a boost clock of 4.70 GHz. The cache hierarchy is generous: 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 24 MB of shared L3 cache. The die size is 217 mm², and it uses the Intel BGA 1744 socket.

The AMD Ryzen 5 8640U uses the Zen 4 architecture under the codename Hawk Point and is manufactured on TSMC’s 4nm process. It has 6 cores and 12 threads, with a base clock of 3.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.90 GHz. The cache is smaller: 64 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3 cache. The die size is 178 mm², and it uses the AMD Socket FP8. AMD lists a transistor count of 25,000 million, while Intel does not provide a figure in the data.

Memory support differs as well. The Intel chip supports both DDR4 and DDR5 in a dual-channel configuration, while the AMD part supports only DDR5, also dual-channel. The AMD chip has a listed memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s, while Intel does not provide that figure. Both use the same PCIe implementation: Gen 4 with 20 lanes (CPU only). Integrated graphics differ, with Intel using Iris Xe 96EU and AMD using Radeon 760M. Neither supports ECC memory, and neither has an unlocked multiplier.

The TDP gap is significant: 45W for the Intel part versus 28W for the AMD part. This is the clearest architectural divergence. Intel uses its larger core count and cache to win on throughput, while AMD uses a smaller, denser process to achieve a lower power envelope. The release date for the Ryzen 5 8640U is listed as December 5, 2023, while no release date is provided for the Intel part.

FAQ

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

A: The Intel Core i7-12700H wins all multi-core tests by large margins. It leads by 56.6% in Cinebench R15 multi-core, 56.3% in Cinebench R23 multi-core, and 61.4% in Passmark floating-point math. The 14-core, 20-thread design is decisively ahead of the 6-core, 12-thread Ryzen 5 8640U.

Q: Is the Ryzen 5 8640U competitive in single-threaded performance?

A: The two chips are essentially tied. In Cinebench R15 single-core, both score 256, and in Passmark single-thread, the Intel scores 3535 versus 3534 for AMD, a 0% delta. The Intel part does win Cinebench R23 single-core by 7.9%, but the single-thread gap is negligible in practice.

Q: What are the TDP ratings for these processors?

A: The Intel Core i7-12700H has a TDP of 45W, while the AMD Ryzen 5 8640U has a TDP of 28W. This 17W difference is the primary reason the AMD part is better suited for thin-and-light laptops.

Q: Which architecture is newer?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 8640U uses Zen 4 architecture on a 4nm process from TSMC. The Intel Core i7-12700H uses Alder Lake on a 10nm process from Intel. The AMD part also lists a release date of December 5, 2023, while no release date is provided for the Intel part.

Q: Do these processors support the same memory types?

A: No. The Intel chip supports both DDR4 and DDR5, while the AMD chip supports only DDR5. Both are dual-channel. The AMD part has a listed memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s, while Intel does not provide that figure.

Q: How do the integrated graphics compare?

A: The Intel Core i7-12700H uses Iris Xe 96EU, while the AMD Ryzen 5 8640U uses Radeon 760M. The benchmark data does not include graphics tests, so no performance comparison is possible from this data.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: the Intel Core i7-12700H is the faster processor in every measured benchmark. It wins all 15 head-to-head tests, with margins ranging from a 0% tie in single-threaded tests to a 61.4% blowout in floating-point math. Any user who prioritizes raw performance, especially in multi-threaded applications, should choose the Intel part without hesitation. Its 14 cores and 24 MB of L3 cache deliver results that the Ryzen 5 8640U cannot match.

The AMD Ryzen 5 8640U is not without merit, but its advantages are not in the benchmark scores. Its lower TDP of 28W versus 45W, smaller 178 mm² die on a 4nm process, and support for only DDR5 suggest a design focused on efficiency rather than absolute speed. For users who value battery life, low heat output, and portability, the Ryzen 5 8640U is the more logical choice. The single-threaded scores are effectively tied, so everyday productivity tasks will feel similar.

The pick comes down to usage. If the laptop is for content creation, software compilation, or any workload that scales across cores, the i7-12700H is the clear winner. If the laptop is for light office work, web browsing, and long battery life, the Ryzen 5 8640U is the better fit, despite losing every benchmark. The data cannot quantify power consumption or thermal behavior, but the TDP and process node differences make the AMD part the obvious efficiency pick.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i7-12700H | AMD Ryzen 5 8640U |

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

| Cores | 14 | 6 |

| Threads | 20 | 12 |

| Base Clock | 2.30 GHz | 3.50 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.70 GHz | 4.90 GHz |

| TDP | 45W | 28W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1744 | AMD Socket FP8 |

| Architecture | Alder Lake | Zen 4 |

| Codename | Alder Lake-H | Hawk Point |

| Process Node | 10 nm | 4 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | TSMC |

| Transistors | Not specified | 25,000 million |

| Die Size | 217 mm² | 178 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) | 16 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR4, DDR5 | DDR5 |

| Memory Bandwidth | Not specified | 89.6 GB/s |

| Integrated Graphics | Iris Xe 96EU | Radeon 760M |

| Release Date | Not specified | 2023-12-05 |