AMD Ryzen 7 7735U vs Intel Core i5-12600 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a dominant overall performance advantage for the Intel Core i5-12600, which wins 12 of the 15 head-to-head comparisons. The largest margin appears in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where the Intel part scores 18,105 versus 10,085 for the AMD Ryzen 7 7735U, a 79.5% lead. This is a substantial gap that reflects sustained multi-threaded workload superiority, far beyond what the core-count difference alone would suggest.

Single-core performance follows a similar pattern, though with a slightly smaller margin. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the i5-12600 scores 2,556 against 1,490, a 71.5% advantage. The Cinebench R15 results are closer, with the Intel chip ahead by 9.8% in single-core (257 versus 234) and by 7.4% in multi-core (1,824 versus 1,698). The R23 results, however, indicate that the gap widens under longer or more demanding render workloads.

PassMark integer math is a notable exception, with the AMD Ryzen 7 7735U scoring 79,580 versus 66,123 for the Intel part, a 16.9% win for AMD. Data encryption is another AMD victory, with a score of 15,825 against 13,084, a 17.3% margin. Random string sorting also goes to AMD, though narrowly, with 26,365 versus 25,832, a 2% edge. These three wins suggest that certain algorithmic patterns, particularly those involving integer throughput and cryptographic operations, favor the Zen 3+ architecture.

The Intel processor leads in the remaining PassMark subtests. Floating point math shows an 18.3% advantage (50,838 versus 42,966), and find prime numbers shows a 45.6% lead (83 versus 57). Extended instructions favor Intel by 4.1% (17,027 versus 16,349). The composite PassMark multithread score is close, with Intel at 21,399 versus 20,723, a 3.3% margin, while the single-thread score shows Intel ahead by 18.1% (3,823 versus 3,236). Physics simulation also favors Intel substantially, with 1,365 versus 996, a 37% difference.

Data compression is nearly identical, with Intel at 252,160 and AMD at 250,457, a 0.7% edge. Across the whole benchmark suite, the average benchmark score for the Intel Core i5-12600 is 28,646, while the AMD Ryzen 7 7735U averages 28,350. Both processors sit at the 80th percentile among all CPUs in the database, meaning they occupy the same overall performance tier despite the wide swings in individual workloads.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies and target different market segments. The Intel Core i5-12600 is a desktop part based on Alder Lake-S architecture, fabricated on Intel's 10 nm process with a die size of 163 mm². The AMD Ryzen 7 7735U is a mobile processor using Zen 3+ architecture (codenamed Rembrandt-R), built by TSMC on a 6 nm process with a die size of 208 mm².

Core configurations differ notably. The Intel chip has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the AMD chip has 8 cores and 16 threads. Despite having fewer cores, the i5-12600 still wins most multi-threaded benchmarks, which points to higher per-core efficiency and clock rates. The base clock for Intel is 3.30 GHz versus 2.70 GHz for AMD, and boost clocks are close: 4.80 GHz for Intel and 4.75 GHz for AMD.

Cache hierarchies are structured differently. The Intel part allocates 80 KB of L1 and 1.25 MB of L2 per core, with 18 MB of shared L3. The AMD part uses 64 KB of L1 and 512 KB of L2 per core, with 16 MB of shared L3. The Intel design provides more L2 per core, which may contribute to its lead in latency-sensitive workloads such as find prime numbers and physics. The AMD part compensates with a larger process node advantage, as 6 nm versus 10 nm typically allows higher transistor density and better power efficiency.

Power envelopes are vastly different. The Intel Core i5-12600 has a TDP of 65 watts, while the AMD Ryzen 7 7735U is rated at 28 watts. This explains the mobile positioning of the AMD chip, yet the benchmark data shows it remains competitive in several integer and encryption workloads despite the much lower power budget.

Memory support differs as well. Intel supports both DDR4 and DDR5 in dual-channel mode, while AMD supports only DDR5, also dual-channel, but with a recorded memory bandwidth of 76.8 GB/s. The Intel part does not list a memory bandwidth figure. ECC memory is supported on the AMD processor but not on the Intel part.

PCIe connectivity also varies. The Intel chip provides Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the AMD chip provides Gen 4 with 20 lanes (CPU only). The integrated graphics differ: Intel uses UHD Graphics 770, AMD uses Radeon 680M. The AMD part uses socket FP7, Intel uses Socket 1700. The Intel part has a launch MSRP of $233 and is a desktop segment product; the AMD part is mobile segment with no launch MSRP recorded.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The Intel Core i5-12600 is significantly faster, scoring 18,105 versus 10,085 for the AMD Ryzen 7 7735U, a 79.5% advantage.

Q: Are there any workloads where the AMD Ryzen 7 7735U beats the Intel Core i5-12600?

A: Yes. The AMD chip wins PassMark data encryption (15,825 versus 13,084, a 17.3% margin), PassMark integer math (79,580 versus 66,123, a 16.9% margin), and PassMark random string sorting (26,365 versus 25,832, a 2% margin).

Q: How do the core counts compare?

A: The Intel Core i5-12600 has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 7 7735U has 8 cores and 16 threads. Despite the AMD chip having more cores, the Intel chip wins the majority of multi-threaded tests.

Q: What is the TDP difference between these two processors?

A: The Intel Core i5-12600 has a TDP of 65 watts, while the AMD Ryzen 7 7735U has a TDP of 28 watts.

Q: Do both processors support the same memory types?

A: No. The Intel part supports both DDR4 and DDR5 in dual-channel mode. The AMD part supports only DDR5, also dual-channel, with a recorded memory bandwidth of 76.8 GB/s.

Q: Which processor has a higher single-thread PassMark score?

A: The Intel Core i5-12600 scores 3,823 versus 3,236 for the AMD Ryzen 7 7735U, an 18.1% lead.

The Verdict

The benchmark data clearly favors the Intel Core i5-12600 for most compute-heavy tasks. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score is 79.5% higher, and its single-core score is 71.5% higher, which makes it the stronger choice for rendering, physics simulation, and general CPU-bound work. The PassMark single-thread and floating-point results reinforce this, with 18.1% and 18.3% leads respectively.

The AMD Ryzen 7 7735U, however, demonstrates clear strengths in specific domains. Its 16.9% lead in integer math and 17.3% lead in data encryption suggest that workloads heavy on integer operations or cryptographic processing would run faster on the AMD part. The random string sorting win, though small at 2%, adds another niche where the AMD chip excels.

For users running mixed or typical desktop workloads, the data suggests the Intel Core i5-12600 is the more versatile performer, given that it wins 12 of 15 benchmark comparisons and has a higher average benchmark score of 28,646 versus 28,350. Both processors sit at the same 80th percentile overall, but the Intel chip achieves that ranking while also delivering a much larger margin in the most demanding tests.

The power envelope difference is important context. The AMD Ryzen 7 7735U operates at a 28-watt TDP, which is less than half of the Intel part's 65-watt TDP. For mobile or power-constrained systems, that efficiency gap may outweigh the performance deficit. But for a desktop system where power is less of a constraint, the Intel Core i5-12600 is the better performer in nearly every category that matters for general productivity and creative workloads.

One should also note that the Intel chip supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, which provides more flexibility in system building, while the AMD chip requires DDR5. ECC memory support on the AMD part could be a deciding factor for users needing error-correcting memory, a feature the Intel part lacks.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i5-12600 | AMD Ryzen 7 7735U |

|---|---|---|

| Cores | 6 | 8 |

| Threads | 12 | 16 |

| Base Clock | 3.30 GHz | 2.70 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.80 GHz | 4.75 GHz |

| TDP | 65 W | 28 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1700 | AMD Socket FP7 |

| Architecture | Alder Lake | Zen 3+ |

| Codename | Alder Lake-S | Rembrandt-R |

| Process Node | 10 nm | 6 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | TSMC |

| Die Size | 163 mm² | 208 mm² |

| L1 Cache (per core) | 80 KB | 64 KB |

| L2 Cache (per core) | 1.25 MB | 512 KB |

| L3 Cache (shared) | 18 MB | 16 MB |

| Memory Support | DDR4, DDR5 | DDR5 |

| Memory Bandwidth | Not recorded | 76.8 GB/s |

| ECC Memory | No | Yes |

| PCIe | Gen 5, 16 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 4, 20 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | UHD Graphics 770 | Radeon 680M |

| Market Segment | Desktop | Mobile |

| Launch MSRP | $233 | Not recorded |

| Part Number | SRL5T | 100-000000987(FP7)100-000000991(FP7r2) |