AMD Ryzen 7 6800HS vs Intel Core i7-12700 Comparison

The Intel Core i7-12700 and AMD Ryzen 7 6800HS occupy different corners of the processor market, one as a desktop part and the other as a mobile chip. The recorded data shows a clear performance gap, but the choice is not purely about raw speed. The Intel part is a 12-core Alder Lake desktop processor with a 65 W TDP, while the AMD part is an 8-core Zen 3+ mobile processor with a 35 W TDP. These specifications alone tell you that the comparison is about a desktop workhorse versus a mobile efficiency part. The benchmark results consistently favor the Intel chip in every recorded test, but the context of that dominance matters for a practical buying decision.

FAQ

Q: How much faster is the Intel Core i7-12700 in multi-threaded workloads?

A: The Intel chip leads substantially in multi-threaded tests. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 21751 against the AMD Ryzen 7 6800HS's 11992, a 81.4% advantage. Similarly, in Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Intel part scores 3151 versus 1987 for the AMD, a 58.6% difference. The PassMark multi-thread test also shows Intel ahead at 30273 versus 22801, a 32.8% edge.

Q: How do the single-thread scores compare?

A: The Intel Core i7-12700 wins single-thread tests as well, though by a smaller margin than in multi-thread. In Cinebench R23 single-core, Intel scores 1894 while AMD scores 1455, a 30.2% advantage. In Cinebench R15 single-core, the gap is 272 versus 234, which is a 16.2% difference. PassMark single-thread scores show Intel at 3864 and AMD at 3184, a 21.4% lead for Intel.

Q: The AMD chip has a lower TDP. What does that mean for real-world use?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 6800HS has a TDP of 35 watts, while the Intel Core i7-12700 has a TDP of 65 watts. This is a crucial distinction. The AMD part is designed for mobile systems where heat and power constraints are tight. The Intel chip is a desktop part that can draw more power and requires a more robust cooling solution. The benchmark scores reflect this, but the lower TDP of the AMD makes it a more practical choice for thin-and-light laptops.

Q: Which CPU has better integrated graphics?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 6800HS comes with a Radeon 680M integrated GPU, while the Intel Core i7-12700 has UHD Graphics 770. The database does not provide a direct benchmark comparison of these integrated GPUs, so no accurate statement can be made about which is faster. However, the choice of integrated graphics is a key specification difference, and the AMD part is often found in systems where the iGPU is a primary consideration for light gaming or media work.

Q: How does the memory support differ between the two?

A: The Intel Core i7-12700 supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, while the AMD Ryzen 7 6800HS supports DDR5 only. Both are dual-channel. The AMD also has a recorded memory bandwidth of 76.8 GB/s, while no memory bandwidth figure is recorded for the Intel part. This means the Intel offers more flexibility for builders, as they can use either older DDR4 or newer DDR5 modules.

Q: What are the cache differences?

A: The Intel Core i7-12700 has a larger total cache structure. Its L1 is 80 KB per core, L2 is 1.25 MB per core, and L3 is 25 MB shared. The AMD Ryzen 7 6800HS has 64 KB per core L1, 512 KB per core L2, and 16 MB shared L3. The larger cache on the Intel part likely contributes to its performance edge in data-compression and encryption tasks.

Q: Which one wins in every recorded benchmark?

A: The Intel Core i7-12700 wins all 15 head-to-head benchmark comparisons in the database. The AMD Ryzen 7 6800HS has zero wins in those recorded tests. However, the data also shows that the AMD is competitive in terms of its average score, sitting at 32354, which is close to its nearest rivals like the Intel Core i5-14400F.

The Verdict

The data points to a simple conclusion for raw performance: the Intel Core i7-12700 is the superior processor. It wins every single benchmark recorded. For a desktop user who prioritizes multi-threaded work, video rendering, or software compilation, the Intel is the clear choice. Its 81.4% lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core over the AMD is a decisive margin. Similarly, its 70.8% advantage in PassMark floating point math shows it is far better for scientific computing or financial modeling.

The AMD Ryzen 7 6800HS is not a bad chip. It is an 8-core, 16-thread processor with a 35 W TDP, placing it in the same performance percentile as the Intel (both are at the 83rd percentile in the database). Its avg benchmark score of 32.3 is close to that of the Intel's 32,942, but that average includes different tests. The AMD is for the mobile laptop buyer who needs a capable CPU for a detailed workstation that stays within a tight power envelope. It is not for someone who needs the maximum multi-thread performance that a desktop can provide.

The verdict is straightforward. Choose the Intel Core i7-12700 for a desktop system where performance is the only goal. Choose the AMD Ryzen 7 6800HS for a mobile system where battery life and cooling are more important than the highest benchmark scores. The data shows that you cannot have both at this level. The Intel wins performance, but the AMD wins on power efficiency and mobility.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data is a one-sided affair. The Intel Core i7-12700 takes every single test. The largest margin is in Cinebench R23 multi-core where Intel scores 21751 against the AMD's 11992, a 81.4% delta. This is a crushing lead and means that for any multi-threaded render, the Intel will finish in less than half the time of the AMD. The same story appears in Cinebench R15 multi-core, where Intel's 3151 is 58.6% higher than the AMD's 1987.

The PassMark suite shows a similar pattern. In floating point math, the Intel scores 81191 versus the AMD's 47533, a 70.8% lead. The gap is also stark in prime number finding, with Intel at 101 and AMD at 56, an 80.4% delta. Even in integer math, a test more common in office and productivity tasks, the Intel leads with 106554 versus 84228, a 26.5% edge. The Intel also wins in data compression (375950 versus 292698, a 28.4% lead) and data encryption (20143 versus 18104, an 11.3% lead).

Single-thread tests are closer but still favor Intel. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the Intel scores 1894 against the AMD's 1455, a 30.2% delta. In Cinebench R15 single-core, the gap narrows to 16.2%, with scores of 272 and 234. PassMark single-thread shows a 21.4% lead for Intel with 3864 versus 3184. These results show that even in tasks that rely on a single core, the Intel Alder Lake architecture has a clear advantage.

The only categories where the AMD is relatively close are PassMark data encryption, where the Intel leads by only 11.3%, and Cinebench R15 single-core, where the gap is 16.2%. But even in these, the Intel wins. The data is unambiguous: the Intel Core i7-12700 is a much faster processor than the AMD Ryzen 7 6800HS in every recorded benchmark.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in almost every fundamental specification. The Intel Core i7-12700 has 12 cores and 20 threads, while the AMD has 8 cores and 16 threads. The Intel has a base clock of 2.10 GHz and a boost clock of 4.90 GHz. The AMD has a base clock of 3.20 GHz and a boost clock of 4.70 GHz. The AMD starts with a higher base clock, but the Intel reaches a higher boost clock.

The TDP is a major difference. The Intel has a TDP of 65 watts, while the AMD is rated at 35 watts. This reflects their target platforms. The Intel uses an Intel Socket 1700, while the AMD uses an AMD Socket FP7. The Intel is a desktop processor, the AMD is a mobile processor.

Memory support is also different. The Intel supports both DDR4 and DDR5, while the AMD supports DDR5 only. Both are dual-channel. The AMD has a recorded memory bandwidth of 76.8 GB/s, while no figure is listed for the Intel. The Intel has a PCIe Gen 5 interface with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the AMD offers PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes (CPU only). The Intel has a larger L3 cache at 25 MB shared, versus 16 MB on the AMD. The Intel also has a larger L1 and L2 per core. The die size is similar, 215 mm² for Intel and 208 mm² for AMD, but the Intel is on a 10 nm process, while the AMD is on a 6 nm process. The Intel has a launch MSRP of $349, while no launch MSRP is recorded for the AMD.

Architecture Differences

The Intel Core i7-12700 is based on the Alder Lake architecture, with the codename Alder Lake-S. It is a generation Core i7 from the Alder Lake family. The AMD Ryzen 7 6800HS is based on Zen 3+, with the codename Rembrandt. It is a Ryzen 7 from the 6000 series.

The process nodes are different. The Intel is built on a 10 nm process at Intel's foundry. The AMD is built on a 6 nm process at TSMC. The AMD has a finer process node, which can help with power efficiency, but the Intel’s larger process node still delivers higher performance in the recorded data. The cache hierarchy is different. The Intel has 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 25 MB of shared L3. The AMD has 64 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3. The Intel has more cache at every level.

The memory support is also an architecture-level difference. The Intel natively supports both DDR4 and DDR5, while the AMD is limited to DDR5. This is a practical difference for builders, as DDR4 is more affordable and widely available, but the AMD’s support for DDR5 only is a modern standard. The PCIe generation is different. The Intel has PCIe Gen 5, while the AMD has PCIe Gen 4. The AMD has more lanes, 20, versus 16 on the Intel. The integrated graphics are also different: the Intel has UHD Graphics 770, and the AMD has Radeon 680M. The AMD’s Radeon 680M is a newer design and is generally known for better integrated graphics performance, though no benchmark in the database confirms this.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i7-12700 wins in every benchmark recorded in the database. The wins are not marginal. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it is 81.4% faster. This is the definitive win for rendering, 3D modeling, and video editing. In PassMark floating-point math, it is 70.8% faster, which benefits scientific computing and simulations. In PassMark prime numbers, it is 80.4% faster, indicating a strong advantage for cryptographic work. The Intel also wins in memory band-intensive tasks like data compression, where it leads by 28.4%, and data encryption, where it leads by 11.3%. In single-thread tests, it still wins, with a 30.2% lead in Cinebench R23 single-core.

The AMD Ryzen 7 6800HS has no benchmark wins in the database. That does not mean it is a failure, but in a pure performance comparison, it loses. Its only real advantage is its power efficiency. With a 35 W TDP, it is nearly half the power draw of the Intel’s 65 W. This makes it the best choice for a thin-and-light laptop where battery life is more important than the highest frame rates or shortest render times. The AMD is also built on a 6 nm process, which is a more modern node than Intel’s 10 nm, but the recorded data shows that this does not translate to any performance advantage.

The database also shows that the AMD Ryzen 7 6800HS is not a slow processor in absolute terms. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Core i5-14400F and the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 7645, with average scores very close to its own. It is a mid-range mobile CPU that performs within its class. But the Intel Core i7-12700 is a high-end desktop chip that sits in a higher performance tier. If you need the fastest possible desktop performance, the Intel wins. If you need a mobile chip that balances performance with power efficiency, the AMD is the only one of the two that even fits in a laptop. The data does not lie: the Intel is faster, but the AMD is the only practical option for a portable system.