AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 5655GE vs Intel Core i9-12900HK Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i9-12900HK has 14 cores and 20 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 5655GE has 6 cores and 12 threads.

Q: What are the boost clock speeds of each chip?

A: The Intel Core i9-12900HK boosts up to 5.00 GHz, while the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 5655GE boosts up to 4.40 GHz. The AMD part has a higher base clock at 3.40 GHz versus 2.50 GHz for the Intel.

Q: Which processor is faster in Cinebench R23 single-core?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 5655GE wins that test with a score of 2188, beating the Intel Core i9-12900HK's 1673, a delta of 23.5% in AMD's favor.

Q: How do the average benchmark scores compare?

A: The Intel Core i9-12900HK has an average benchmark score of 26469, compared to 25880 for the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 5655GE. Both sit at the 78th percentile among all CPUs in the database.

Q: Does the AMD chip support ECC memory?

A: Yes, the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 5655GE supports ECC memory. The Intel Core i9-12900HK does not.

Q: What are the process nodes for each?

A: The Intel Core i9-12900HK is built on a 10 nm process at Intel, while the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 5655GE is on a 7 nm process at TSMC.

The Verdict

The recorded data points to a clear split between these two processors. The Intel Core i9-12900HK wins 16 of the 17 head-to-head benchmark comparisons, including every multi-threaded workload and most single-threaded tests. Its 14 cores and 20 threads give it a structural advantage in parallel tasks, and the benchmark results confirm this: the Intel part leads by double digits in almost every category. The only loss comes in Cinebench R23 single-core, where the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 5655GE posts a 2188 score against 1673 for the Intel, a 23.5% margin.

The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 5655GE is a desktop part with a 65 TDP, 6 cores, and 12 threads, built on Zen 3 at 7 nm. It is not competitive in throughput-heavy tasks, but its single-core showing in the newer Cinebench R23 test suggests that lightly threaded workloads can favor it. That result, however, does not carry over to PassMark single-thread, where the Intel chip wins by 10.1% with 3567 versus 3240.

The choice depends on workload. For users whose tasks scale with core count, rendering, compression, encryption, physics simulation, or heavy multitasking, the Intel Core i9-12900HK is the stronger pick. For those running applications that rely on a single core and align with the Cinebench R23 single-core pattern, the AMD part offers a measurable edge. The Intel chip also benefits from an unlocked multiplier, which the AMD chip does not offer. The data does not support calling the AMD part a general-purpose winner; it wins one test, while the Intel part wins the other sixteen.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest Intel victory comes in PassMark physics, where the Core i9-12900HK scores 1673 versus 648 for the Ryzen 5 PRO 5655GE, a delta of 158.2%. That is the most lopsided result in the entire comparison. PassMark find prime numbers shows a 108.2% advantage for Intel, with scores of 102 and 49. Floating point math follows at 66.4% ahead, 63572 versus 38204. These three tests illustrate the gap in raw computational throughput between a 14-core, 20-thread mobile processor and a 6-core, 12-thread desktop chip.

Multi-threaded Cinebench results follow the same pattern. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, Intel leads 2786 to 1562, a 78.4% margin. Cinebench R20 multi-core shows a 37.6% advantage with 8958 versus 6511. Cinebench R23 multi-core narrows the gap to 18%, with scores of 18288 and 15504. The margin shrinks as the workload becomes more demanding, but Intel still holds a comfortable lead.

PassMark multithread gives Intel a 42.3% win, 25697 versus 18057. Random string sorting shows a 38.8% lead for Intel, 32983 versus 23769. Integer math is 32.5% ahead, 89527 versus 67582. Data compression favors Intel by 29.3%, 294908 versus 228037. Data encryption is 20.2% ahead, 17445 versus 14509. Extended instructions show an 11.9% lead, 17583 versus 15714.

Single-threaded results are closer but still favor Intel in most cases. Cinebench R15 single-core has Intel at 242 versus 220, a 10% lead. Cinebench R20 single-core gives Intel a 37.7% advantage, 1264 versus 918. PassMark single-thread has Intel ahead 3567 to 3240, a 10.1% margin. The one AMD win is Cinebench R23 single-core, where AMD scores 2188 against 1673 for Intel, a 23.5% difference in AMD's favor. That is the only benchmark in the entire comparison where AMD comes out ahead.

Specification Differences

The Intel Core i9-12900HK is a mobile processor with 14 cores and 20 threads, a base clock of 2.50 GHz, and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. Its TDP is 45 watts. It uses the Intel BGA 1744 socket and supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration. The integrated graphics are Iris Xe 96EU. The multiplier is unlocked, and the part number is SRLD3.

The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 5655GE is a desktop processor with 6 cores and 12 threads, a base clock of 3.40 GHz, and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz. Its TDP is 65 watts. It uses the AMD Socket AM4 and supports DDR4 memory in a dual-channel configuration, with a memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s. ECC memory is supported. The integrated graphics are Radeon Vega 7. The multiplier is locked, and the part number is 100-000001514.

The Intel chip has a larger L3 cache at 24 MB shared, versus 16 MB for the AMD chip. Per-core L1 and L2 caches also differ: Intel has 80 KB L1 and 1.25 MB L2 per core, while AMD has 64 KB L1 and 512 KB L2 per core. The Intel part supports PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes from the CPU, while the AMD part supports PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU. The AMD chip has a larger die at 180 mm² versus 217 mm² for Intel, and it packs 10,700 million transistors. The Intel die size is listed but transistor count is not recorded in the database.

Architecture Differences

The Intel Core i9-12900HK is built on Alder Lake, specifically the Alder Lake-H generation, using a 10 nm process at Intel. The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 5655GE uses Zen 3 architecture, codenamed Cezanne, on a 7 nm process at TSMC. These are fundamentally different design approaches. Alder Lake is a hybrid architecture that pairs performance and efficiency cores, which explains the high core and thread count in a mobile package. Zen 3 is a more traditional monolithic design with fewer cores but a higher base clock.

The cache layouts reflect these architectural choices. Intel allocates 80 KB of L1 and 1.25 MB of L2 per core, with 24 MB of shared L3. AMD allocates 64 KB of L1 and 512 KB of L2 per core, with 16 MB of L3. The larger per-core caches on the Intel side contribute to its strong showing in integer math and data compression tests.

Memory support also differs. The Intel chip supports both DDR4 and DDR5, giving platform flexibility. The AMD chip supports DDR4 only, though it does support ECC memory, which the Intel chip does not. The Intel chip has PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes, while the AMD chip has PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes, which matters for expansion and storage bandwidth in a desktop build.

The AMD chip is a 65 watt desktop part, while the Intel chip is a 45 watt mobile part. That difference in TDP is notable because the Intel chip achieves higher multi-threaded scores despite a lower thermal envelope. The AMD chip compensates with a higher base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz, but the Intel chip boosts to 5.00 GHz.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i9-12900HK wins in every multi-threaded workload recorded in the head-to-head data. Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 multi-core all go to Intel, with deltas ranging from 18% to 78.4%. PassMark multithread, floating point math, integer math, data compression, data encryption, extended instructions, physics, prime number finding, and random string sorting all favor Intel by margins from 11.9% to 158.2%. This is the processor for rendering, compilation, batch processing, or any workload that can use more than a dozen threads.

The Intel chip also wins most single-threaded tests. Cinebench R15 single-core, Cinebench R20 single-core, and PassMark single-thread all go to Intel, with deltas of 10%, 37.7%, and 10.1% respectively. The only single-threaded loss is Cinebench R23 single-core, where the AMD chip wins by 23.5%. That single result is the sole bright spot for AMD in this comparison.

The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 5655GE wins exactly one head-to-head benchmark: Cinebench R23 single-core. That result suggests it has a place in workflows where the newest Cinebench single-thread test correlates with real-world performance. The AMD chip also offers ECC memory support and a lower transistor count at 10,700 million, which may appeal to certain desktop integrators. Its 7 nm process at TSMC gives it a smaller die at 180 mm².

For users deciding between the two, the data is unambiguous on volume of wins: Intel takes 16 of 17 tests. The AMD chip is a desktop part with a higher base clock and ECC support, but it cannot match the Intel chip's core count or boost clock. The Intel Core i9-12900HK is the choice for anyone prioritizing throughput, while the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 5655GE is only preferable in the narrow case of single-threaded Cinebench R23-style workloads.