AMD Ryzen 7 7735U vs Intel Core i7-12650H Comparison

The Verdict

The database comparison between the Intel Core i7-12650H and the AMD Ryzen 7 7735U reveals two processors aimed at different mobile priorities, with the Intel part taking the overall performance crown. Based on recorded benchmark results, the Core i7-12650H wins 11 of the 15 head-to-head tests, while the Ryzen 7 7735U secures 4 victories. The Intel chip leads by substantial margins in several compute-heavy workloads, making it the clear choice for users prioritizing raw multi-threaded and single-threaded CPU performance. The AMD Ryzen 7 7735U, however, demonstrates specific strengths in integer math, encryption, and data compression, and it operates at a lower 28 W TDP compared to the Intel part's 45 W TDP, which suggests it is better suited for efficiency-focused designs. Buyers who need maximum processing throughput for rendering, physics simulation, or floating-point tasks should select the Intel Core i7-12650H. Those who value a more balanced feature set including ECC memory support and a stronger integrated GPU, the Radeon 680M, should lean toward the AMD Ryzen 7 7735U, provided their workloads align with its winning test categories.

Architecture Differences

The two chips come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The Intel Core i7-12650H is built on the Alder Lake architecture, specifically the Alder Lake-H generation, using Intel's 10 nm process node. It features 10 cores and 16 threads, with a base clock of 2.30 GHz and a boost clock of 4.70 GHz. The die size is 217 mm². Its cache hierarchy includes 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 24 MB of shared L3 cache. It supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration, and it does not support ECC memory. The integrated graphics are Intel UHD Graphics.

The AMD Ryzen 7 7735U is a Zen 3+ design, codenamed Rembrandt-R, manufactured on TSMC's 6 nm process. It has 8 cores and 16 threads, with a base clock of 2.70 GHz and a boost clock of 4.75 GHz. The die size is 208 mm². Cache amounts are smaller per core: 64 KB L1, 512 KB L2, and 16 MB of shared L3. It supports only DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration, with a recorded memory bandwidth of 76.8 GB/s, and it does support ECC memory. The integrated graphics are the Radeon 680M, which is generally a more capable iGPU than Intel's UHD Graphics, though the database does not list direct graphics benchmarks for comparison.

Both processors share the same PCIe configuration: Gen 4 with 20 lanes available from the CPU. Both are mobile-market parts, currently active in production, and neither has an unlocked multiplier. The Intel part uses the Intel BGA 1744 socket, while the AMD part uses AMD Socket FP7. The AMD chip was released on January 3, 2023. The Intel part's release date is not recorded in the database. The process node difference (10 nm Intel vs 6 nm TSMC) and the cache allocation strategy are the most significant architectural distinctions, with Intel opting for larger per-core caches and a bigger shared L3 pool.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data shows a pattern of Intel dominance in most CPU-centric tests, with AMD carving out wins in a few specific areas. The largest margin for the Intel Core i7-12650H comes in the PassMark find prime numbers test, where it scores 91 versus the Ryzen's 57, a 59.6% advantage. This is a notable outlier and suggests a significant efficiency advantage in that particular integer workload. Another major win for Intel is in PassMark physics, where the Core i7-12650H scores 1430 against 996 for the Ryzen 7 7735U, a 43.6% lead. Floating-point math also heavily favors Intel: 54934 versus 42966, a 27.9% difference.

In Cinebench tests, the Intel part is consistently ahead. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Core i7-12650H scores 12074 versus 10085 for the AMD chip, a 19.7% edge. Single-core in R23 shows 1763 versus 1490, an 18.3% lead. Cinebench R15 multi-core results show 1851.5 versus 1698, a 9% lead, and R15 single-core shows 250 versus 234, a 6.8% lead. PassMark multi-thread also goes to Intel: 21962 versus 20723, a 6% margin. Single-thread PassMark results favor Intel by 9.4%, with scores of 3539 versus 3236. Random string sorting is a narrow Intel win: 26591 versus 26365, just 0.9% apart.

The AMD Ryzen 7 7735U wins the remaining four tests. The largest AMD margin is in data encryption, where it scores 15825 versus Intel's 14041, an 11.3% advantage. Integer math also goes to AMD: 79580 versus 73641, a 7.5% lead. Extended instructions favor AMD by 5.6%, with scores of 16349 versus 15438. Data compression is nearly a tie, but AMD edges it out with 250457 versus 250026, a mere 0.2% difference. Notably, the database does not include a Cinebench R20 multi-core or single-core score for the AMD part, while the Intel part has recorded scores of 7608 multi-core and 1073 single-core for R20.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i7-12650H has 10 cores and 16 threads. The AMD Ryzen 7 7735U has 8 cores and 16 threads. Both support the same number of threads, but Intel has two additional physical cores.

Q: Does the AMD Ryzen 7 7735U support ECC memory?

A: Yes, the Ryzen 7 7735U supports ECC memory. The Intel Core i7-12650H does not support ECC memory. This is a differentiating feature for workstation or reliability-focused use cases.

Q: Which chip has a higher boost clock?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 7735U has a boost clock of 4.75 GHz, slightly higher than the Intel Core i7-12650H's boost clock of 4.70 GHz. However, the Intel part still wins in single-threaded benchmark scores.

Q: How much L3 cache does each processor have?

A: The Intel Core i7-12650H has 24 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD Ryzen 7 7735U has 16 MB of shared L3 cache. Intel also has larger per-core L1 and L2 caches.

Q: What is the biggest benchmark margin between the two?

A: The largest margin is in the PassMark find prime numbers test, where the Intel Core i7-12650H outperforms the AMD Ryzen 7 7735U by 59.6%. The smallest margin is in PassMark data compression, where AMD wins by just 0.2%.

Q: Which processor supports DDR4 memory?

A: The Intel Core i7-12650H supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory. The AMD Ryzen 7 7735U supports only DDR5 memory. The AMD chip has a recorded memory bandwidth of 76.8 GB/s, while the Intel part's bandwidth is not listed.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i7-12650H is the winner for users running multi-threaded productivity applications, rendering workloads, and physics simulations. Its 19.7% lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 43.6% lead in PassMark physics make it the stronger choice for content creation and 3D modeling tasks. The 27.9% advantage in floating-point math also points to superiority in scientific computing and numerical analysis. The 59.6% win in prime number finding suggests a strong showing in certain integer-based algorithmic tasks, though the AMD chip counters with a 7.5% win in the broader integer math test. For single-threaded responsiveness, the Intel part leads by 18.3% in Cinebench R23 single-core and 9.4% in PassMark single-thread, so it is the better choice for lightly threaded applications and general snappiness. With 11 wins out of 15 head-to-head comparisons, the Intel Core i7-12650H is the default recommendation for maximum CPU performance in a mobile chassis, especially given its larger cache pool and higher core count.

The AMD Ryzen 7 7735U wins in data encryption, integer math, extended instructions, and data compression. The 11.3% advantage in encryption suggests it is well suited for security-sensitive workloads, VPN processing, or encrypted storage operations. The 7.5% lead in integer math makes it attractive for database workloads, compilation tasks, and general integer-heavy code. The extended instructions win indicates better performance in SIMD and specialized instruction sets, which can benefit certain multimedia or scientific libraries. The data compression result is essentially a tie, but AMD's marginal win keeps it competitive in archiving and file compression tasks. Additionally, the AMD part's 28 W TDP, compared to Intel's 45 W, combined with ECC memory support and the Radeon 680M integrated graphics, makes it the better fit for thin-and-light laptops, always-on systems, or environments where power draw and error-correcting memory are priorities. The Ryzen 7 7735U also has a higher boost clock at 4.75 GHz, though that does not translate into single-thread benchmark wins. Users who need a balanced mobile processor with strong encryption and integer performance, plus a more capable iGPU, should choose the AMD chip. Those who need raw compute throughput across a broader range of tests should choose the Intel part.