AMD Ryzen 7 7745HX vs Intel Core i5-12600HX Comparison

The Intel Core i5-12600HX and AMD Ryzen 7 7745HX are both 55 W mobile processors aimed at high-performance laptops, yet the benchmark data reveals a starkly different character for each. The Ryzen 7 7745HX dominates the majority of tests, winning 13 of the 15 head-to-head comparisons, while the Intel chip secures only 2 wins. However, the Intel Core i5-12600HX’s victories are not minor; they are massive outliers in single-core and multi-core rendering tests that may matter more to specific users. Both chips sit at the 83rd percentile among all CPUs, with nearly identical average benchmark scores (Intel at 33375, AMD at 33091), indicating that overall performance parity belies a deep divergence in workload strengths.

The Verdict

The data paints a clear picture for different user profiles. The AMD Ryzen 7 7745HX is the default choice for anyone whose work or play involves sustained multi-threaded throughput across varied tasks. It wins decisively in PassMark’s integer math (105773 vs 79339, a 25% lead), data compression (383322 vs 292256, a 23.8% lead), and multithreaded performance (32581 vs 24681, a 24.2% lead). For general productivity, content creation, or any workload that leverages many threads, the AMD part is systematically faster.

The Intel Core i5-12600HX, on the other hand, is the pick for two very specific scenarios. First, if your software relies heavily on single-threaded performance in Cinebench R23, the Intel chip’s 2924 score versus AMD’s 1850 represents a staggering 58.1% advantage. Second, for Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Intel part scores 20714 against AMD’s 18452.5, a 12.3% lead. This suggests that Intel’s Alder Lake architecture has a unique strength in certain rendering workloads that AMD’s Zen 4 cannot match, despite AMD’s broad superiority elsewhere. If your primary application is Cinebench or similar rendering engines, the Intel chip is the data-backed winner; for everything else, the AMD Ryzen 7 7745HX is the safer, faster bet.

Architecture Differences

The two chips are built on fundamentally different designs. The Intel Core i5-12600HX uses the Alder Lake architecture, manufactured on Intel’s 10 nm process, with a die size of 215 mm². It features 12 cores and 16 threads, relying on a hybrid design that the data indicates leads to irregular performance scaling. Its cache layout is 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 18 MB of shared L3. The AMD Ryzen 7 7745HX uses Zen 4 architecture, built by TSMC on a 5 nm process, with a much smaller die size of 71 mm² and 6,570 million transistors. It has 8 cores and 16 threads, with 64 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and a larger 32 MB of shared L3 cache.

These architectural choices have direct consequences. AMD’s larger L3 cache (32 MB vs 18 MB) likely contributes to its superior performance in data compression and encryption, where larger caches reduce memory latency. Intel’s hybrid core design, while achieving higher peak single-core clocks (4.60 GHz boost vs AMD’s 5.10 GHz boost), appears to cause inconsistent scaling in multi-threaded tests, as evidenced by its R23 multi-core win despite losing R15 multi-core by 30.1%. The process node disparity—10 nm versus 5 nm—also shows in power efficiency metrics, though both are rated at 55 W TDP. AMD’s smaller die and more modern process allow it to pack more performance into the same power envelope, which the benchmark scores reflect.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data reveals which chip wins where, and by how much. The AMD Ryzen 7 7745HX’s largest victory comes in Cinebench R15 multi-core, where it scores 2986 against Intel’s 2087, a 30.1% margin. This is a complete reversal from Cinebench R23 multi-core, where Intel wins with 20714 versus 18452.5, a 12.3% lead. The discrepancy between R15 and R23 results is striking and suggests workload-specific optimizations that favor each architecture differently.

In single-core tests, the results are equally split. Intel’s Cinebench R23 single-core score of 2924 crushes AMD’s 1850, a 58.1% advantage. However, in Cinebench R15 single-core, AMD wins by a hair: 294.5 versus 294, a mere 0.2% difference. This inconsistency is puzzling—AMD’s higher boost clock (5.10 GHz) should give it an edge, but Intel’s architecture clearly excels in the newer R23 benchmark.

The PassMark suite tells a one-sided story. AMD wins data compression by 23.8% (383322 vs 292256), data encryption by 23.8% (22967 vs 17506), and extended instructions by a massive 40.2% (28966 vs 17328). The largest delta is in find prime numbers, where AMD scores 156 versus Intel’s 83, a 46.8% lead. Even in floating-point math, where Intel’s 58378 is respectable, AMD’s 64297 wins by 9.2%. The pattern is consistent: AMD’s Zen 4 cores are simply more efficient at executing a wide range of instructions.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 7745HX has a boost clock of 5.10 GHz, while the Intel Core i5-12600HX boosts to 4.60 GHz.

Q: Does the Intel chip win any multi-core benchmarks?

A: Yes, the Intel Core i5-12600HX wins Cinebench R23 multi-core with a score of 20714 versus AMD’s 18452.5, a 12.3% lead, despite losing Cinebench R15 multi-core by 30.1%.

Q: Which chip has more L3 cache?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 7745HX has 32 MB of shared L3 cache, while the Intel Core i5-12600HX has 18 MB.

Q: How do the chips compare in single-threaded PassMark?

A: AMD wins PassMark single-thread with a score of 3947 versus Intel’s 3623, an 8.2% advantage.

Q: Are both processors unlocked for overclocking?

A: Yes, both the Intel Core i5-12600HX and AMD Ryzen 7 7745HX have unlocked multipliers.

Q: What is the average benchmark score difference?

A: The Intel chip has an average benchmark score of 33375, while AMD scores 33091, a difference of 0.9% in Intel’s favor, though AMD wins 13 of 15 head-to-head tests.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 7 7745HX is the champion of general-purpose computing. It wins in data compression (383322 vs 292256), data encryption (22967 vs 17506), and integer math (105773 vs 79339). For users who compress files, encrypt data, or run code with heavy integer operations, AMD’s 25% to 40% leads are significant. Its PassMark multithread score of 32581 versus Intel’s 24681 (24.2% higher) indicates that any parallel workload—video encoding, software compilation, or scientific simulation—will run faster on the AMD chip. Even in physics calculations (1697 vs 1504, an 11.4% lead) and random string sorting (44474 vs 33110, a 25.6% lead), AMD holds a clear edge.

The Intel Core i5-12600HX wins in a narrow but critical niche: Cinebench R23. Its single-core score of 2924 is 58.1% higher than AMD’s 1850, which is an enormous margin for a single-threaded test. This suggests that any application that relies on a single thread and uses similar instructions to Cinebench R23 will see dramatic gains. Its multi-core R23 score of 20714 is also 12.3% higher than AMD’s 18452.5, meaning that even in multi-threaded rendering, Intel can win when the workload matches its architecture. However, this advantage does not carry over to Cinebench R15, where AMD wins by 30.1%, making Intel’s R23 dominance look like an outlier rather than a general trend.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key specifications. The Intel Core i5-12600HX has 12 cores and 16 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 7 7745HX has 8 cores and 16 threads—both offer the same thread count, but Intel relies on more physical cores. Base clocks differ significantly: Intel runs at 2.50 GHz, while AMD runs at 3.60 GHz. Boost clocks also differ, with AMD reaching 5.10 GHz versus Intel’s 4.60 GHz. The process node is a major divergence: Intel uses 10 nm, while AMD uses 5 nm from TSMC, resulting in a die size of 215 mm² for Intel versus 71 mm² for AMD.

Cache configurations are distinct: Intel has 80 KB L1 per core and 1.25 MB L2 per core, while AMD has 64 KB L1 and 1 MB L2 per core; Intel’s L3 is 18 MB shared, AMD’s is 32 MB shared. Memory support differs, with Intel supporting both DDR4 and DDR5, while AMD supports only DDR5; both are dual-channel, but AMD lists a memory bandwidth of 83.2 GB/s, while Intel’s is not specified. PCIe lanes also differ: Intel provides Gen 5 with 20 lanes (CPU only), while AMD provides Gen 5 with 28 lanes (CPU only). The integrated graphics are different: Intel uses UHD Graphics 770, while AMD uses Radeon 610M. Both support ECC memory and have unlocked multipliers. The Intel part has a launch MSRP of $284, while AMD’s is not listed. The release dates also differ, with Intel launching on 2022-05-09 and AMD on 2023-01-03.