AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8645HS vs Intel Core i7-12650HX Comparison

The Intel Core i7-12650HX and AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8645HS are two mobile processors that target similar performance tiers but achieve their results through fundamentally different designs. The benchmark data reveals a clear split: AMD’s Ryzen 5 PRO 8645HS wins 13 of the 17 head-to-head tests, while Intel’s Core i7-12650HX takes 4. However, the margin of victory varies dramatically by workload, with Intel posting a 28.5% lead in floating-point math and AMD countering with a 25.2% lead in extended instructions. Both CPUs sit at the 82nd percentile among all tested processors, with average benchmark scores of 31290 for Intel and 30879 for AMD, placing them within 1.3% of each other overall.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8645HS dominates in rendering workloads and general productivity. In Cinebench tests, it wins every round: R15 multicore (1989 vs 1919, a 3.5% margin), R20 multicore (8291 vs 7998, 3.5%), and R23 multicore (19742 vs 19043, 3.5%). Single-core performance also favors AMD consistently, with a 3.6% edge in R15, R20, and R23 single-core tests. The Ryzen 5 PRO also takes PassMark’s multithread test (23569 vs 22573, 4.2% ahead) and physics test (1208 vs 1152, 4.6% ahead), indicating that its efficiency-oriented design translates into real-world multitasking advantages.

The Intel Core i7-12650HX wins in specific computational tasks that leverage its higher core count. It leads in PassMark floating-point math (58426 vs 45481, a substantial 28.5% advantage) and integer math (81810 vs 72740, 12.5% ahead). It also edges out AMD in data compression (266700 vs 265826, 0.3%) and prime number finding (74 vs 73, 1.4%). These wins suggest Intel’s hybrid architecture excels at raw arithmetic throughput, even when its overall multithreaded score trails.

For memory-sensitive operations, AMD holds a significant edge. The Ryzen 5 PRO 8645HS leads in random string sorting by 16.3% (35472 vs 29692) and data encryption by 11.9% (17387 vs 15325). Extended instructions see AMD ahead by 25.2% (21212 vs 15856), which points to better optimization for modern instruction sets. The pattern is clear: AMD wins in balanced, mixed workloads and single-threaded tasks, while Intel wins in narrow, compute-heavy mathematical operations.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different design philosophies. Intel’s Core i7-12650HX uses the Alder Lake architecture on a 10 nm process, built by Intel itself with a die size of 215 mm². It features 14 cores and 20 threads, combining performance and efficiency cores in a hybrid layout. The cache hierarchy includes 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 24 MB of shared L3 cache. It supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory over a dual-channel bus, and its PCIe implementation is Gen 5 with 20 lanes from the CPU. The integrated graphics are UHD Graphics 770.

AMD’s Ryzen 5 PRO 8645HS uses the Zen 4 architecture on a 4 nm process from TSMC, with a die size of 178 mm². It has 6 cores and 12 threads, all based on the same high-performance design. The transistor count is 25,000 million, which is not listed for Intel. Cache amounts are smaller per core: 64 KB of L1, 1 MB of L2, and 16 MB of shared L3. Memory support is limited to DDR5, but AMD lists a memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s, which Intel does not specify. The PCIe interface is Gen 4 with 20 lanes, and it includes Radeon 760M integrated graphics. AMD supports ECC memory, while Intel does not.

The release dates differ by nearly two years: Intel launched on May 9, 2022, while AMD arrived on April 15, 2024. Intel’s processor has an unlocked multiplier (55 W TDP), whereas AMD’s is locked (45 W TDP). Intel uses the BGA 1964 socket, and AMD uses Socket FP7. These architectural choices explain the benchmark splits: Intel’s extra cores (14 vs 6) boost arithmetic workloads, while AMD’s newer process and higher clocks (5.00 GHz boost vs 4.70 GHz) improve single-threaded and memory-sensitive tasks.

The Verdict

The data indicates that the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8645HS is the better all-round processor for most users. It wins the majority of benchmarks (13 out of 17), including all Cinebench tests, with margins ranging from 3.5% to 3.6%. Its single-thread lead (5.7% in PassMark single-thread, 3637 vs 3858) and multithread advantage (4.2% in PassMark multithread) make it the safer choice for mixed productivity, rendering, and everyday tasks. The 25.2% lead in extended instructions and 16.3% lead in random string sorting suggest it handles modern software more efficiently.

However, the Intel Core i7-12650HX remains relevant for specific workloads. Its 28.5% lead in floating-point math and 12.5% lead in integer math are decisive for scientific computing or financial modeling that relies on heavy arithmetic. The 0.3% win in data compression and 1.4% win in prime number finding are marginal, but they show Intel’s core-heavy design has niche strengths. For users whose primary applications are math-bound, Intel’s 14 cores provide tangible benefits.

The overall average scores are nearly identical (31290 vs 30879, a 1.3% gap), and both processors sit at the 82nd percentile. This means neither is a clear winner on paper. AMD’s broader benchmark dominance and newer architecture (4 nm vs 10 nm, released 2024 vs 2022) make it the recommended pick for general users and professionals who need consistent performance across varied tasks. Intel’s chip is a specialized tool for arithmetic-heavy workloads, where its 28.5% floating-point edge cannot be ignored.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in Cinebench R23 multicore?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8645HS leads with a score of 19742, compared to Intel’s 19043, a 3.5% advantage.

Q: Does the Intel Core i7-12650HX win any benchmark by a large margin?

A: Yes, Intel wins PassMark floating-point math by 28.5% (58426 vs 45481) and integer math by 12.5% (81810 vs 72740).

Q: What is the difference in core and thread counts?

A: Intel has 14 cores and 20 threads, while AMD has 6 cores and 12 threads.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8645HS supports ECC memory, while the Intel Core i7-12650HX does not.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: Intel’s average is 31290, and AMD’s is 30879, a difference of about 1.3% in Intel’s favor.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: AMD’s boost clock is 5.00 GHz, while Intel’s is 4.70 GHz.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking result is in PassMark floating-point math, where Intel’s Core i7-12650HX scores 58426 versus AMD’s 45481, a 28.5% lead. This is the largest margin in either direction and highlights Intel’s raw arithmetic capability. Similarly, Intel wins integer math by 12.5% (81810 vs 72740), confirming that its 14 cores deliver substantial throughput in number-crunching tasks. In data compression, Intel wins narrowly by 0.3% (266700 vs 265826), and in prime number finding by 1.4% (74 vs 73), showing that these workloads barely differentiate the two.

AMD’s wins are more numerous but generally smaller in percentage terms. The largest AMD victory is in extended instructions, where it scores 21212 versus Intel’s 15856, a 25.2% gap. Random string sorting sees AMD ahead by 16.3% (35472 vs 29692), and data encryption by 11.9% (17387 vs 15325). In single-threaded tests, AMD leads by 5.7% in PassMark single-thread (3858 vs 3637) and by 3.6% in all Cinebench single-core tests (R15: 280 vs 270, R20: 1170 vs 1128, R23: 2787 vs 2688). The Cinebench multicore tests also favor AMD by 3.5% each (R15: 1989 vs 1919, R20: 8291 vs 7998, R23: 19742 vs 19043). PassMark multithread goes to AMD by 4.2% (23569 vs 22573), and physics by 4.6% (1208 vs 1152).

These results show a consistent pattern: AMD’s newer Zen 4 architecture delivers better single-thread and memory-related performance, while Intel’s older Alder Lake design excels at pure math. The overall average scores are close (31290 vs 30879), and the rival lists confirm both are mid-pack performers—Intel’s nearest rivals include the Intel Core 9 273PTE (0.5% ahead) and Core Ultra 3 205 (0.6% behind), while AMD’s include the Ryzen 7 8700F (0.4% ahead) and Ryzen 9 8945HS (0.6% behind). Neither processor dominates its tier, but the benchmark wins clearly favor AMD for general use.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every core specification. Intel uses 14 cores and 20 threads, while AMD uses 6 cores and 12 threads. Base clocks are 2000 MHz for Intel and 4300 MHz for AMD, with boost clocks of 4.70 GHz and 5.00 GHz respectively. TDP is 55 W for Intel and 45 W for AMD. The process node is 10 nm (Intel) versus 4 nm (TSMC for AMD), and die sizes are 215 mm² versus 178 mm². AMD lists 25,000 million transistors, while Intel does not specify a count.

Cache configurations differ: Intel has 80 KB L1 per core, 1.25 MB L2 per core, and 24 MB shared L3; AMD has 64 KB L1 per core, 1 MB L2 per core, and 16 MB shared L3. Memory support is DDR4 and DDR5 for Intel, but only DDR5 for AMD; AMD lists 89.6 GB/s bandwidth, while Intel does not. ECC memory is supported only by AMD. PCIe is Gen 5 with 20 lanes for Intel, versus Gen 4 with 20 lanes for AMD. Integrated graphics are UHD Graphics 770 for Intel and Radeon 760M for AMD. Sockets are Intel BGA 1964 and AMD Socket FP7. Intel has an unlocked multiplier; AMD is locked. Release dates are May 9, 2022, and April 15, 2024.