AMD Ryzen 7 250 vs Intel Core i9-12900T Comparison

The Intel Core i9-12900T and AMD Ryzen 7 250 represent two very different approaches to modern processing, one a low-power desktop flagship from Intel's 12th generation and the other a mobile-focused, high-efficiency part from AMD. The recorded benchmark data shows a clear and consistent performance hierarchy that favors the Intel part across nearly every metric, despite the AMD chip being built on a more advanced process node.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The data from the database shows the Intel Core i9-12900T winning 14 out of 15 head-to-head benchmark comparisons against the AMD Ryzen 7 250. The only exception is the PassMark extended instructions test, where the AMD chip takes a 7.2% lead, scoring 21613 against Intel's 20054.

The most dramatic difference appears in the Cinebench tests. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Intel chip scores 24528 versus the AMD's 14676, a 67.1% advantage. The single-core result is even more lopsided: the i9-12900T scores 3462 compared to 1715 for the Ryzen 7 250, representing a 101.9% improvement, meaning the Intel chip is more than twice as fast in this specific test. Cinebench R15 results follow the same trend, with the Intel chip leading by 7.4% in multi-core (2472 vs 2302) and by 29.4% in single-core (348 vs 269).

PassMark results largely reinforce the Intel dominance. In floating point math, the i9-12900T scores 75741, which is 42.1% ahead of the Ryzen's 53285. The physics test shows a 57.9% gap (1811 vs 1147), and the prime numbers test shows a 58.9% gap (116 vs 73). Integer math also favors Intel by 18.2% (108211 vs 91565). The multithreaded PassMark score gives Intel a 18% lead (29601 vs 25089), and data compression is 14.7% faster (345021 vs 300708). Data encryption shows a 17.5% advantage (20750 vs 17661), and random string sorting is 10.9% better (39771 vs 35861).

The closest margin across the entire comparison is in the PassMark single-threaded test, where the Intel chip scores 3810 and the AMD chip scores 3678, a modest 3.6% lead. This indicates that in lightweight, single-threaded workloads, the two processors are much closer in actual performance than the Cinebench scores might suggest.

Averaging all benchmark scores in the database, the AMD Ryzen 7 250 actually holds a higher overall average score of 38221, compared to the Intel Core i9-12900T's 37112. This is a curious inversion relative to the head-to-head results, driven by the fact that the AMD part participates in fewer recorded tests. The AMD chip also claims a slightly higher percentile ranking versus all CPUs at 86%, compared to 85% for the Intel part.

Architecture Differences

The two chips come from different design philosophies. The Intel Core i9-12900T is built on Alder Lake architecture, which is Intel's hybrid design that combines performance and efficiency cores within a single package. It is manufactured on a 10 nm process at Intel's own foundries, with a die size of 215 mm². The AMD Ryzen 7 250, by contrast, uses the Zen 4 architecture under the Hawk Point codename, fabricated by TSMC on a 4 nm process, with a die size of 178 mm² and 25,000 million transistors.

Core counts differ substantially. The Intel chip features 16 cores and 24 threads, while the AMD chip provides 8 cores and 16 threads. Cache hierarchies also diverge: Intel provides 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 30 MB of shared L3 cache. AMD provides 64 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3.

Clock speeds tell a different story. The AMD Ryzen 7 250 has a base clock of 3.30 GHz and a boost clock of 5.10 GHz, both higher than Intel's 1.40 GHz base and 4.90 GHz boost. Yet the benchmark results show that the Intel chip's higher core count and hybrid architecture deliver far superior multi-threaded performance.

Memory support is another differentiator. Intel supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, while AMD supports only DDR5. Both feature dual-channel memory buses, but the AMD chip has a recorded memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s, while no bandwidth figure is recorded for the Intel part. Neither chip supports ECC memory. The Intel chip uses PCIe Gen 5 with 20 lanes (CPU only), while the AMD chip uses PCIe Gen 4 with the same lane count.

The integrated graphics also differ. Intel includes UHD Graphics 770, while AMD includes the Radeon 780M. The Intel chip is a desktop part on Socket 1700, while the AMD chip is a mobile part on Socket FP8. The Intel chip has an unlocked multiplier, whereas the AMD chip is locked. The Intel part carries a launch MSRP of $489.

The Verdict

For users prioritizing raw multi-threaded productivity, the Intel Core i9-12900T is the clear choice based on the recorded data. Its 67.1% lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 42.1% lead in floating point math demonstrate a substantial performance advantage in heavily threaded workloads. The 101.9% advantage in Cinebench R23 single-core is also remarkable, though the PassMark single-thread result suggests that advantage narrows considerably in other single-threaded tests.

The AMD Ryzen 7 250 is not without merit. Its higher average benchmark score of 38221, its 86th percentile standing, and its leadership in extended instructions (7.2% ahead) show that it competes well in certain specialized workloads. Its higher base and boost clocks (3.30 GHz and 5.10 GHz versus 1.40 GHz and 4.90 GHz) and its more advanced 4 nm process node also point to better efficiency, though the database does not record power consumption figures for comparison.

The Intel chip is the stronger performer in nearly every head-to-head test, and users who need maximum compute throughput should select it. The AMD chip is the more modern design with a smaller footprint and higher clock speeds, and users who prioritize those characteristics, or who need a mobile platform, should consider it. The data shows a decisive performance winner in the Intel part, but the AMD chip holds its own in specific areas and offers a more efficient manufacturing process.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across many specification fields. The Intel Core i9-12900T has 16 cores and 24 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 7 250 has 8 cores and 16 threads. The Intel base clock is 1.40 GHz versus the AMD base clock of 3.30 GHz. The Intel boost clock is 4.90 GHz versus the AMD boost clock of 5.10 GHz. The Intel TDP is 35 watts, the AMD TDP is 28 watts.

The Intel chip uses Intel Socket 1700, the AMD chip uses AMD Socket FP8. The Intel part is Alder Lake-S on a 10 nm process from Intel's foundry; the AMD part is Hawk Point on a 4 nm process from TSMC. The AMD chip has a recorded transistor count of 25,000 million and a die size of 178 mm², while the Intel chip has a die size of 215 mm² and no recorded transistor count.

Cache configurations differ: Intel has 80 KB L1 per core, 1.25 MB L2 per core, and 30 MB shared L3; AMD has 64 KB L1 per core, 1 MB L2 per core, and 16 MB shared L3. Intel supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory; AMD supports only DDR5. The AMD chip has a recorded memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s, and the Intel chip does not. Both are dual-channel and neither supports ECC.

PCIe versions differ: Intel is Gen 5 with 20 lanes, AMD is Gen 4 with 20 lanes. The integrated graphics are UHD Graphics 770 for Intel and Radeon 780M for AMD. The Intel part is a desktop chip, the AMD part is mobile. The Intel multiplier is unlocked, the AMD multiplier is locked. The Intel launch MSRP is $489, the AMD launch MSRP is not recorded. The Intel part number is SRL4M, the AMD part number is 100-000001722. The Intel release date was January 3, 2022, and the AMD release date was January 5, 2025.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i9-12900T has 16 cores and 24 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 7 250 has 8 cores and 16 threads.

Q: How big is the performance gap in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The Intel Core i9-12900T scores 24528, which is 67.1% higher than the AMD Ryzen 7 250's score of 14676.

Q: Is there any benchmark where the AMD Ryzen 7 250 wins?

A: Yes, the AMD Ryzen 7 250 wins the PassMark extended instructions test with a score of 21613, which is 7.2% higher than the Intel Core i9-12900T's 20054.

Q: What are the process nodes for each chip?

A: The Intel Core i9-12900T is built on a 10 nm process at Intel's foundry, while the AMD Ryzen 7 250 is built on a 4 nm process at TSMC.

Q: Which chip has a higher boost clock?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 250 has a boost clock of 5.10 GHz, which is higher than the Intel Core i9-12900T's boost clock of 4.90 GHz.

Q: What is the average benchmark score for each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 250 has an average benchmark score of 38221, and the Intel Core i9-12900T has an average benchmark score of 37112.