AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8500GE vs Intel Core i9-12900H Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8500GE and Intel Core i9-12900H are both mobile processors that land in the same performance tier, with average benchmark scores of 28054 and 28003 respectively. The 8500GE edges out the Intel part by a 0.2% margin in overall average score, placing both at the 80th percentile of all CPUs. Despite this near-identical overall standing, the two chips have dramatically different strengths, with the Intel winning 13 of the 17 direct benchmark comparisons while the AMD wins only 4. This split reveals that the "average" masks a fundamental divergence in workload behavior.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking result in the head-to-head data is the Cinebench R23 single-core test, where the Ryzen 5 PRO 8500GE scores 2597 against the Core i9-12900H's 1863.5, a 39.4% advantage for AMD. This is the largest delta in any benchmark between the two, and it shows that Zen 4's single-threaded efficiency is in a different class than Alder Lake's. The R23 multi-core result also favors AMD, with the 8500GE posting 18395 versus 15946.5 for the Intel, a 15.4% win. These two results suggest that in modern, lightly-threaded and properly scaled workloads, the AMD chip is the stronger performer.

However, the Intel Core i9-12900H dominates the older Cinebench versions and the Passmark suite. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, Intel wins with 2576.5 against 1854, a 28% margin. The R20 multi-core test shows a similar story: Intel scores 9501, AMD scores 7725, a difference of 18.7%. The R20 single-core test also goes to Intel at 1341 versus 1090, also an 18.7% gap. This pattern suggests that the Intel chip's performance is highly dependent on the benchmark version, with older tests favoring its hybrid architecture more heavily.

The Passmark results are where Intel builds its overall win count. In floating point math, Intel scores 67940 against AMD's 39233, a massive 42.3% lead. Integer math shows Intel ahead by 32.8% with 93828 versus 63045. Data compression goes Intel's way by 21.5% (316714 vs 248675), encryption by 23.6% (18548 vs 14163), and multithread by 21.4% (27340 vs 21502). The physics test shows a 29.4% Intel advantage, with scores of 1753 and 1237. Even random string sorting, a memory-latency-sensitive test, favors Intel by 11.5% (35296 vs 31240). The only Passmark test where AMD wins is single-thread, where the 8500GE's 3909 beats Intel's 3717 by 5.2%.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on fundamentally different designs. The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8500GE uses the Zen 4 architecture on a 4 nm TSMC process, with a die size of 137 mm² and 20,900 million transistors. It has 6 cores and 12 threads. The Intel Core i9-12900H uses Alder Lake on Intel's 10 nm process, with a larger 217 mm² die and no transistor count listed. It packs 14 cores and 20 threads, which explains its multi-threaded wins in older tests.

Cache configurations differ significantly. The AMD chip has 64 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3. The Intel chip has 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 24 MB of shared L3. Intel's larger cache pool gives it an edge in data-heavy workloads like compression and encryption, while AMD's smaller but more efficient cache design helps its single-core performance.

Memory support is another differentiator. The 8500GE supports only DDR5 with dual-channel memory and a bandwidth of 83.2 GB/s, plus ECC memory support. The 12900H supports both DDR4 and DDR5 in dual-channel, but no memory bandwidth figure is provided and it lacks ECC. In terms of PCIe, Intel offers 20 Gen 4 lanes from the CPU, while AMD provides 14 Gen 4 lanes. The integrated graphics also differ: AMD uses Radeon 740M, Intel uses Iris Xe 96EU. The AMD chip's TDP is 35 watts, while Intel's is 45 watts, and the AMD part uses socket AM5 versus Intel's BGA 1744.

The Verdict

The data presents a clear choice based on workload. For anyone running modern applications that scale well with single-thread performance, the Ryzen 5 PRO 8500GE is the better pick. Its 39.4% lead in Cinebench R23 single-core and 15.4% lead in R23 multi-core are decisive. This is also the chip for users who prioritize memory efficiency, with ECC support and DDR5-only operation, or who need a lower 35-watt TDP for thermally constrained systems.

The Core i9-12900H is the pick for raw multi-threaded compute in legacy benchmarks and Passmark-style workloads. Its 14 cores and 20 threads give it a massive advantage in floating point math (42.3%), integer math (32.8%), and physics (29.4%). If the software being used is older, or if the workload is dominated by data compression, encryption, or heavily parallel integer operations, the Intel chip wins by wide margins. The 12900H also offers more PCIe lanes (20 versus 14) and support for DDR4 memory, making it more flexible for existing systems.

Strictly from the data, the 8500GE wins on efficiency and modern single-threaded performance, while the 12900H wins on sheer core count and legacy multi-threaded throughput. Neither chip is objectively better overall, as their average scores are separated by just 0.2%.

Specification Differences

| Feature | AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8500GE | Intel Core i9-12900H |

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

| Cores | 6 | 14 |

| Threads | 12 | 20 |

| Base Clock | 3.40 GHz | 2.50 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 5.00 GHz | 5.00 GHz |

| TDP | 35 W | 45 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket AM5 | Intel BGA 1744 |

| Architecture | Zen 4 | Alder Lake |

| Process Node | 4 nm | 10 nm |

| Die Size | 137 mm² | 217 mm² |

| L1 Cache | 64 KB (per core) | 80 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 1 MB (per core) | 1.25 MB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 16 MB (shared) | 24 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR5 | DDR4, DDR5 |

| Memory Bandwidth | 83.2 GB/s | Not specified |

| ECC Memory | Yes | No |

| PCIe | Gen 4, 14 Lanes | Gen 4, 20 Lanes |

| Integrated Graphics | Radeon 740M | Iris Xe 96EU |

| Release Date | 2024-04-15 | 2022-01-03 |

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has the higher single-thread score in Cinebench R23?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8500GE scores 2597, which is 39.4% higher than the Intel Core i9-12900H's 1863.5.

Q: How much faster is the Intel chip in Passmark floating point math?

A: The Intel Core i9-12900H scores 67940 compared to the AMD's 39233, giving Intel a 42.3% lead in that test.

Q: Does the AMD chip support ECC memory?

A: Yes, the Ryzen 5 PRO 8500GE supports ECC memory, while the Intel Core i9-12900H does not.

Q: What is the difference in core count between the two?

A: The Intel Core i9-12900H has 14 cores and 20 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8500GE has 6 cores and 12 threads.

Q: Which processor has a lower TDP?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8500GE has a TDP of 35 W, which is lower than the Intel Core i9-12900H's 45 W.

Q: Do both CPUs support DDR5 memory?

A: Yes, both support DDR5. The Intel chip also supports DDR4, while the AMD chip supports only DDR5.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8500GE wins in Cinebench R23 multi-core and single-core, plus Passmark single-thread. This makes it the right choice for modern productivity apps, web browsing, office work, and any software that benefits from high IPC and low latency. Its 35 W TDP also makes it suitable for thin-and-light laptops where thermal headroom is limited. The ECC memory support is a specific advantage for users who need data integrity in critical workloads.

The Intel Core i9-12900H wins in every other benchmark: all Passmark multi-threaded tests, Cinebench R15 and R20 in both single and multi-core, and all data-heavy tasks. This makes it the better option for video encoding, 3D rendering in older engines, scientific computing with heavy floating-point math, and any workload that can use 14 cores effectively. The 20 PCIe lanes and DDR4 compatibility also give it an edge in systems with older memory or more expansion devices.

The data shows that the Intel chip is the brute-force performer, winning 13 of 17 comparisons, but its advantages are concentrated in legacy and parallel workloads. The AMD chip wins where it counts for modern single-threaded responsiveness, and its higher R23 multi-core score suggests better scaling in current rendering applications. The choice comes down to whether the workload is modern and latency-sensitive or legacy and throughput-bound.