AMD Ryzen 7 5800U vs Intel Core i3-12100T Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 5800U has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Intel Core i3-12100T has 4 cores and 8 threads. The AMD part doubles the core and thread count of the Intel part.

Q: How do the two chips compare in average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 5800U has an average benchmark score of 3369, placing it in the 54th percentile of all CPUs. The Intel Core i3-12100T scores 3277 on average, which lands in the 53rd percentile. The AMD chip sits slightly higher overall.

Q: Which processor wins in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The Intel Core i3-12100T wins Cinebench R23 multi-core with a score of 10490 against the AMD Ryzen 7 5800U’s 8154. That is a 22.3% advantage for Intel in this specific workload.

Q: What is the single-core performance difference in Geekbench?

A: The Intel Core i3-12100T scores 1957 in Geekbench single-core, while the AMD Ryzen 7 5800U scores 1656. Intel leads by 15.4% in this test.

Q: Which chip has the higher boost clock?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 5800U has a boost clock of 4.40 GHz, which is higher than the Intel Core i3-12100T’s 4.10 GHz. However, the Intel part has a higher base clock at 2.20 GHz versus 1.90 GHz.

Q: What are the TDP ratings of the two processors?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 5800U has a TDP of 15 watts, while the Intel Core i3-12100T has a TDP of 35 watts. The AMD chip is rated for significantly lower power draw.

The Verdict

The recorded data splits the two processors evenly, with three benchmark wins for each. The decision comes down to workload type and platform constraints, not overall superiority.

The AMD Ryzen 7 5800U is the choice for multi-threaded productivity outside of Cinebench R23. It wins Geekbench multi-core by 17.8% (7132 vs 6055) and dominates both Cinebench R15 tests, taking multi-core by 52.6% (1613 vs 1057) and single-core by 53.7% (229 vs 149). Its 8-core, 16-thread configuration and 15-watt TDP make it suited for mobile systems where power efficiency matters. The 54th percentile ranking and average score of 3369 put it slightly ahead of the Intel part in aggregate.

The Intel Core i3-12100T is the better pick for modern rendering workloads and raw single-thread speed. It wins Cinebench R23 multi-core by 22.3% (10490 vs 8154) and single-core by 3.6% (1481 vs 1427). Its Geekbench single-core score of 1957 beats the AMD chip by 15.4%. The desktop platform with Socket 1700, PCIe Gen 5 support, and DDR5 memory compatibility gives it a more future-proof foundation for a fixed desktop build.

Users who prioritize sustained multi-core rendering in Cinebench R23 should select the Intel part. Users who need a balance of multi-thread performance, lower power draw, and mobile form factor should select the AMD part. The data does not declare a single winner; it declares two winners for two different use cases.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark suite reveals a clear split. The AMD Ryzen 7 5800U wins three tests, and the Intel Core i3-12100T wins three tests. The margins vary dramatically from one workload to the next.

The largest victory belongs to AMD in Cinebench R15 single-core. The AMD chip scores 229, while the Intel chip scores 149. That is a 53.7% delta in favor of AMD. The R15 multi-core test shows a similar gap: AMD scores 1613 against Intel’s 1057, a 52.6% advantage. These are not marginal differences; the AMD processor is substantially faster in this older rendering benchmark.

Geekbench multi-core also goes to AMD, with a score of 7132 versus 6055. The 17.8% delta is significant but less extreme than the R15 results. This test reflects the AMD chip’s core count advantage, as the 8-core design outperforms the 4-core Intel part in parallel integer and floating-point workloads.

The Intel Core i3-12100T fights back in Cinebench R23. The multi-core score of 10490 dwarfs the AMD chip’s 8154, giving Intel a 22.3% lead. This is the single largest win for either side in absolute score difference. The R23 single-core test is much closer: Intel scores 1481, AMD scores 1427, a 3.6% margin. This suggests that Intel’s newer architecture handles the more demanding R23 workload more efficiently, despite having fewer cores.

Geekbench single-core also favors Intel, with a score of 1957 versus 1656. The 15.4% delta shows a clear advantage for Intel in single-threaded performance. This is consistent with the R23 single-core result, though the margin is larger.

The data shows an interesting pattern. The AMD chip wins the older Cinebench R15 tests by massive margins, likely due to its higher core count and thread count. The Intel chip wins the newer R23 tests and the Geekbench single-core test, indicating better architectural efficiency per core. The Geekbench multi-core result breaks this pattern, going to AMD by 17.8%.

Overall, the head-to-head data shows that neither chip is universally faster. The workload matters greatly. Older multi-threaded tests favor AMD, while newer rendering tests and single-threaded tests favor Intel.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every specification category. The AMD Ryzen 7 5800U uses 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Intel Core i3-12100T uses 4 cores and 8 threads. Base clocks differ: AMD runs at 1.90 GHz, Intel at 2.20 GHz. Boost clocks also differ: AMD reaches 4.40 GHz, Intel reaches 4.10 GHz.

Power draw is a major differentiator. The AMD chip has a TDP of 15 watts, while the Intel chip has a TDP of 35 watts. The AMD part is designed for mobile platforms, as indicated by its market segment of Mobile. The Intel part is a desktop processor, with its market segment listed as Desktop.

Socket compatibility is entirely different. The AMD Ryzen 7 5800U uses AMD Socket FP6, while the Intel Core i3-12100T uses Intel Socket 1700. These are not interchangeable platforms.

Memory support differs substantially. The AMD chip supports DDR4 only, with dual-channel memory and a bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s. The Intel chip supports both DDR4 and DDR5, also dual-channel, though its bandwidth figure is not recorded in the database.

PCIe capabilities are another key difference. The AMD chip provides PCIe Gen 3 with 8 lanes (CPU only). The Intel chip provides PCIe Gen 5 with 20 lanes (CPU only). The Intel part offers both a newer standard and more lanes.

Integrated graphics differ as well. The AMD chip features Radeon Vega 8, while the Intel chip features UHD Graphics 730. Neither chip has an unlocked multiplier.

The die size is similar: AMD measures 180 mm², Intel measures 163 mm². The process node differs, with AMD on 7 nm and Intel on 10 nm. The AMD chip has 10,700 million transistors; the Intel chip’s transistor count is not recorded.

Architecture Differences

The architectural split is fundamental. The AMD Ryzen 7 5800U is built on Zen 3 architecture with the codename Cezanne-U, part of the 5000 series. The Intel Core i3-12100T is built on Alder Lake architecture with the codename Alder Lake-S, part of the Core 12th Gen series.

The process nodes differ: AMD uses 7 nm process technology fabricated by TSMC, while Intel uses 10 nm process technology fabricated by Intel. This gives AMD a density advantage on paper, though the Intel chip’s transistor count is not listed for comparison.

Cache hierarchies are structured differently. The AMD chip provides 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 cache per core, and 16 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel chip provides 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core, and 12 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel part has larger per-core L1 and L2 caches, while the AMD part has a larger shared L3 cache.

The generation names reflect different design philosophies. AMD lists the generation as Ryzen 7 (Zen 3 (Cezanne)), while Intel lists the generation as Core i3 (Alder Lake-S). The AMD chip is part of a mobile-focused U-series line, while the Intel chip is part of a desktop S-series line.

Both chips have integrated graphics, but they are different implementations. The AMD Radeon Vega 8 is a Vega-based GPU, while the Intel UHD Graphics 730 is an Xe-based implementation. Neither chip supports ECC memory.

The release dates differ. The AMD chip was released on 2021-01-11, while the Intel chip’s release date is not recorded in the database. The AMD chip has a part number of 100-000000285, while the Intel chip has a part number of SRL64.

The architectural differences explain the benchmark results. The AMD chip’s 8-core Zen 3 design with larger L3 cache excels in older multi-threaded workloads like Cinebench R15. The Intel chip’s Alder Lake architecture, with larger per-core caches and newer process design, excels in single-threaded tests and the more demanding Cinebench R23 workload. Each architecture has strengths that show up clearly in different benchmark scenarios.