AMD Ryzen 7 4700GE vs Intel Core i5-12600HE Comparison

The Intel Core i5-12600HE and AMD Ryzen 7 4700GE are two very different approaches to a similar performance class. The data shows a clear, consistent pattern across every recorded benchmark. The Intel chip wins all six head-to-head comparisons, but the margins are remarkably narrow, which makes the choice between them far more interesting than a simple victory count.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Intel Core i5-12600HE takes a clean sweep in the recorded Cinebench tests, but it does so by a uniform margin. In the multicore tests, the Intel part scores 1735 in Cinebench R15 against 1685 for the AMD, a 3% lead. That same 3% delta repeats in Cinebench R20, where Intel scores 7231 versus 7023, and again in Cinebench R23, with 17217 against 16722. The consistency of that 3% delta across three different rendering workloads suggests a steady structural advantage in sustained multicore throughput, not a result driven by a single workload quirk.

Single-core performance tells the same story. Intel wins Cinebench R15 single-core with 244 versus 237, a 3% edge. In R20 single-core, the gap narrows slightly to 2.9%, with Intel at 1020 and AMD at 991. R23 single-core returns to a 3% delta, with Intel at 2430 and AMD at 2360. The pattern is striking: every single test, regardless of generation or threading load, lands within a narrow band of 2.9% to 3%. This is not a case of one chip excelling in one benchmark and losing another; it is a consistent, modest performance advantage for Intel across the board.

Looking at the broader database context, the Intel Core i5-12600HE holds an average benchmark score of 4980, placing it in the 59th percentile of all CPUs. The AMD Ryzen 7 4700GE averages 4836, also in the 59th percentile. The Intel chip sits 3% ahead in the direct head-to-head, which is reflected in its higher average score. For reference, the Intel part’s nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-1375PRE at 4985 (0.1% higher) and the Intel Core i3-12300HE at 4995 (0.3% higher), while the AMD chip’s closest competition includes the AMD Ryzen 7 5800HS at 4827 (0.2% lower) and the AMD Ryzen 9 3950X at 4807 (0.6% lower). Both chips are clustered tightly among similarly performing parts, but the Intel entry holds a small edge in raw average score.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The Intel Core i5-12600HE is built on Alder Lake-H architecture, using a 10 nm process at Intel’s own foundry. It packs 12 cores and 16 threads, which indicates a hybrid arrangement of performance and efficiency cores. The die size is recorded at 217 mm². The AMD Ryzen 7 4700GE, by contrast, uses Zen 2 architecture in its Renoir form, fabricated on a 7 nm process at TSMC. It has 8 cores and 16 threads, meaning it relies entirely on simultaneous multithreading to reach 16 threads, rather than a hybrid core layout. Its die is smaller at 156 mm², and it carries 9,800 million transistors.

Cache configurations differ substantially. The Intel chip has 80 KB of L1 per core and 1.25 MB of L2 per core, with 18 MB of shared L3. The AMD part has 64 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and just 8 MB of L3. The L3 advantage is significant: Intel offers more than double the shared cache, which can help with larger working sets and repeated data access.

Memory support also splits the two. The Intel chip supports both DDR4 and DDR5, while the AMD part is limited to DDR4. Both use a dual-channel memory bus. The AMD chip has a recorded memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s, while the Intel part lists no specific bandwidth figure. PCIe support differs as well: Intel provides Gen 4 with 20 lanes from the CPU, while AMD provides Gen 3 without a lane count in the database. Integrated graphics are another divergence, with Intel using Iris Xe 80EU and AMD using Radeon Vega 8.

Physical and platform attributes add further contrast. Intel uses the BGA 1744 socket and targets the mobile segment, while AMD uses Socket AM4 and is classified as a desktop part. Intel’s TDP is 45 W, AMD’s is 35 W. The AMD chip has an unlocked multiplier, the Intel chip does not. The AMD part carries a release date of 2020-07-20, while no release date is recorded for the Intel chip. Both are listed as active production parts.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i5-12600HE wins every recorded benchmark, so there is no workload in this database where the AMD part takes the lead. But the size of that win matters for real-world decisions. The 3% margin in multicore tests and the 2.9% to 3% margin in single-core tests are small enough that they will not transform a workload from unusable to smooth. What the Intel chip offers is a consistent edge across all rendering and CPU-bound tasks, which makes it the safer pick for someone who wants a small but measurable advantage in every scenario.

The AMD Ryzen 7 4700GE does not win any benchmark, but its strengths lie elsewhere in the recorded data. Its 35 W TDP is 10 W lower than Intel’s 45 W, which matters for systems where thermal headroom is tight. It is also the only one of the two with an unlocked multiplier, which gives it flexibility for users who want to adjust clocks. Its desktop socket and 7 nm process are differentiators, but they do not show up as a performance win in the Cinebench results.

For workloads that are heavily multithreaded, the Intel chip’s 3% lead in R23 multicore (17217 versus 16722) is the headline number. For single-threaded responsiveness, the lead is similarly narrow at 3% in R23 single-core (2430 versus 2360). The database shows no test where AMD closes the gap or takes the lead, so the use-case split is not about performance per task; it is about platform and power characteristics.

FAQ

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

A: The Intel Core i5-12600HE wins all three multicore benchmarks: Cinebench R15 at 1735 versus 1685, R20 at 7231 versus 7023, and R23 at 17217 versus 16722. Each win is by a 3% margin.

Q: Is the AMD Ryzen 7 4700GE better in single-core performance?

A: No. The Intel chip also wins every single-core test, including Cinebench R23 with a score of 2430 against 2360 for AMD, a 3% advantage.

Q: How do the core counts compare?

A: The Intel Core i5-12600HE has 12 cores and 16 threads. The AMD Ryzen 7 4700GE has 8 cores and 16 threads. Both provide 16 threads, but Intel does so with more physical cores.

Q: What are the power consumption differences?

A: The Intel chip has a TDP of 45 W, while the AMD chip has a TDP of 35 W. The AMD part draws less under its rated thermal envelope.

Q: Do they support the same memory types?

A: No. The Intel chip supports both DDR4 and DDR5, while the AMD chip supports DDR4 only. Both use a dual-channel memory bus.

Q: Which chip has more L3 cache?

A: The Intel Core i5-12600HE has 18 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD Ryzen 7 4700GE has 8 MB of L3 cache, so Intel offers more than double.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ on every major specification except threads and memory bus width. The Intel Core i5-12600HE has 12 cores and 16 threads; the AMD Ryzen 7 4700GE has 8 cores and 16 threads. Intel’s base clock is 2.50 GHz with a boost of 4.50 GHz; AMD’s base is 3.10 GHz with a boost of 4.30 GHz. Intel’s TDP is 45 W versus AMD’s 35 W. Intel uses the BGA 1744 socket, AMD uses Socket AM4. Intel is Alder Lake-H on a 10 nm Intel process; AMD is Zen 2 Renoir on a 7 nm TSMC process. The Intel die is 217 mm², the AMD die is 156 mm².

Cache differs across all levels: Intel has 80 KB L1 per core, 1.25 MB L2 per core, and 18 MB shared L3; AMD has 64 KB L1 per core, 512 KB L2 per core, and 8 MB L3. Intel supports DDR4 and DDR5, AMD supports DDR4 only. AMD lists a memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s, Intel lists none. Intel provides PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes from the CPU; AMD provides PCIe Gen 3. Integrated graphics are Iris Xe 80EU on Intel and Radeon Vega 8 on AMD. Intel targets mobile, AMD targets desktop. The AMD multiplier is unlocked; Intel’s is not. AMD has a recorded release date of 2020-07-20; Intel has none. Intel’s part number is SRLE5; AMD’s is 100-000000149.

The Verdict

The data points to the Intel Core i5-12600HE as the faster processor in every measured scenario. It wins all six Cinebench tests by margins of 2.9% to 3%, and its average benchmark score of 4980 sits above AMD’s 4836. If pure CPU performance is the only criterion, the Intel part is the clear choice. Its 12-core layout, 18 MB of L3 cache, and support for DDR5 memory give it a structural advantage that shows up consistently in rendering workloads.

The AMD Ryzen 7 4700GE, however, is not without a case. Its 35 W TDP is lower than Intel’s 45 W, which makes it attractive for compact or thermally constrained systems. Its unlocked multiplier appeals to users who want tuning control, and its desktop socket and 7 nm process from TSMC represent a different platform philosophy. The 3% performance gap is real but modest, so users who prioritize power efficiency, platform familiarity, or overclocking flexibility may find the AMD part more appropriate despite losing every benchmark. For anyone who simply wants the fastest Cinebench scores in this pairing, the Intel Core i5-12600HE is the answer, and the recorded data supports that without qualification.