AMD Ryzen 7 8700F vs Intel Core i7-12650HX Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins in the head-to-head benchmark comparison?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 8700F wins all 17 recorded head-to-head benchmark comparisons. The Intel Core i7-12650HX does not win a single test in the database's head-to-head set.

Q: How large is the performance gap in multi-threaded workloads?

A: In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the AMD Ryzen 7 8700F scores 26646 versus 19043 for the Intel chip, a 28.5% advantage. The gap is consistent across Cinebench R15 and R20 multi-core tests, both showing 28.5% deltas in AMD's favor.

Q: What about single-core performance?

A: The AMD part leads by 28.6% in Cinebench R15 single-core (378 vs 270) and by 28.5% in Cinebench R23 single-core (3761 vs 2688). In PassMark single-thread, the margin narrows to 6.1%, with scores of 3872 versus 3637.

Q: Are these two processors in the same performance percentile?

A: Yes, both sit at the 82nd percentile against all CPUs in the database. Their average benchmark scores are very close: 31290 for the Intel and 30746 for the AMD, a difference of roughly 1.7%.

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i7-12650HX has 14 cores and 20 threads. The AMD Ryzen 7 8700F has 8 cores and 16 threads. Despite having fewer cores, the AMD chip wins every multi-threaded benchmark.

Q: What memory types does each processor support?

A: The Intel chip supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration. The AMD chip supports DDR5 only, also dual-channel, with a recorded memory bandwidth of 83.2 GB/s.

Architecture Differences

The Intel Core i7-12650HX is built on Intel's Alder Lake architecture, specifically the Alder Lake-HX variant, using a 10 nm process node manufactured at Intel's own foundries. It employs a hybrid core design, though the database does not specify the exact hybrid composition. The die size is 215 mm².

The AMD Ryzen 7 8700F is based on Zen 4 architecture under the Phoenix codename, fabricated on TSMC's 4 nm process. It contains 25,000 million transistors on a 178 mm² die. This represents a significantly denser transistor packing compared to the Intel design.

Cache structures differ notably between the two. The Intel part features 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 24 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD part uses 64 KB L1 per core, 1 MB L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3. The Intel chip therefore has a larger total cache pool, yet this does not translate into benchmark wins.

Both processors have unlocked multipliers, but they target different market segments. The Intel Core i7-12650HX is a mobile processor on the Intel BGA 1964 socket, while the AMD Ryzen 7 8700F is a desktop part on AMD Socket AM5. The Intel chip includes integrated graphics in the form of UHD Graphics 770; the AMD chip has no integrated graphics at all.

PCIe support also diverges. The Intel processor offers PCIe Gen 5 with 20 lanes from the CPU. The AMD processor provides PCIe Gen 4 with the same 20 lanes. The AMD chip was released in 2024, roughly two years after the Intel part's 2022 release date.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The AMD Ryzen 7 8700F dominates the head-to-head results across every category. The largest margins appear in PassMark extended instructions, where AMD leads by 44.3% (28474 versus 15856). This suggests a substantial advantage in SIMD or specialized instruction workloads. Random string sorting shows a 34.6% gap in AMD's favor (45425 versus 29692), indicating strong memory handling and sorting throughput.

Data compression and encryption workloads also favor AMD heavily. The Ryzen 7 8700F scores 378160 in data compression versus 266700 for the Intel, a 29.5% difference. Data encryption shows a 30.7% gap (22117 versus 15325). Prime number finding, a test sensitive to integer throughput, gives AMD a 24.5% edge (98 versus 74).

The Cinebench suite tells a consistent story. Across R15, R20, and R23, both multi-core and single-core tests show AMD leading by 28.5% to 28.6%. This uniformity across different Cinebench versions suggests a fundamental per-clock advantage rather than a workload-specific quirk. The R23 multi-core score of 26646 for AMD places it firmly ahead of Intel's 19043.

PassMark multithread results show AMD at 30893 versus Intel's 22573, a 26.9% gap. Physics scores follow the same pattern: 1553 for AMD, 1152 for Intel, a 25.8% difference. Floating-point math narrows the gap to just 6.7% (62629 versus 58426), the smallest margin outside single-thread tests. Integer math gives AMD an 18.5% advantage (100371 versus 81810).

The closest overall contest is in PassMark single-thread performance, where AMD leads by only 6.1% (3872 versus 3637). This indicates that while AMD's architectural efficiency is clear, the single-thread gap is modest compared to the multi-threaded deltas. The larger core count advantage of Intel (14 vs 8) is simply overwhelmed by the per-core performance superiority of the Zen 4 design.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every core specification. The Intel Core i7-12650HX has 14 cores and 20 threads; the AMD Ryzen 7 8700F has 8 cores and 16 threads. Base clocks favor AMD substantially: 4.10 GHz versus 2.00 GHz. Boost clocks also favor AMD: 5.00 GHz versus 4.70 GHz.

Thermal design power differs as well, with Intel rated at 55 W and AMD at 65 W. The process node gap is significant: Intel uses 10 nm while AMD uses 4 nm. Foundry choices reflect this: Intel fabricates its own chip, while TSMC manufactures the AMD processor.

Cache configurations differ in both size and organization. Intel's L1 is 80 KB per core, AMD's is 64 KB per core. Intel's L2 is 1.25 MB per core, AMD's is 1 MB per core. Intel's shared L3 totals 24 MB, AMD's totals 16 MB.

Memory support separates the two clearly. Intel supports DDR4 and DDR5; AMD supports DDR5 only. The AMD part has a recorded memory bandwidth of 83.2 GB/s, while no bandwidth figure exists for the Intel chip. Both use dual-channel memory buses and neither supports ECC memory.

PCIe generation differs: Intel offers Gen 5, AMD offers Gen 4, both with 20 CPU lanes. Integrated graphics are present on Intel (UHD Graphics 770) but absent on AMD. The Intel part is marked for mobile use on BGA 1964, while AMD targets desktops on Socket AM5. Release dates are roughly two years apart: Intel in May 2022, AMD in March 2024.

The Verdict

The data presents an unambiguous result. The AMD Ryzen 7 8700F outperforms the Intel Core i7-12650HX in every single benchmark recorded in the database. The smallest margin is 6.1% in single-thread PassMark; the largest is 44.3% in extended instructions. Across the Cinebench suite, AMD's advantage sits consistently near 28.5%.

For users prioritizing multi-threaded rendering, compilation, or data processing, the Ryzen 7 8700F is the clear choice based on recorded results. Its 26646 Cinebench R23 multi-core score versus Intel's 19043 represents a substantial practical advantage. The AMD chip achieves this with fewer cores (8 versus 14), demonstrating superior per-core efficiency from the Zen 4 architecture and 4 nm process.

Single-thread performance also favors AMD, though by a smaller margin. The 6.1% PassMark single-thread lead may be less noticeable in everyday use, but it still points to AMD. The consistent 28.5% single-core Cinebench deltas reinforce this conclusion. Users running lightly threaded applications should still expect better responsiveness from the AMD part.

The Intel chip is not without rationale for selection. It offers integrated graphics, which the AMD part lacks entirely. It supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, providing flexibility in platform choices. Its mobile market segment and lower 55 W TDP suggest suitability for laptop environments where power efficiency and integrated display output matter. The PCIe Gen 5 support also provides newer I/O connectivity.

However, the benchmark database contains no test where the Intel processor emerges victorious. Every recorded workload, from encryption to physics to math operations, shows AMD ahead. The two processors share the same 82nd percentile ranking, but the average benchmark scores (31290 for Intel, 30746 for AMD) place them within 1.7% of each other overall, a statistical tie despite the head-to-head sweep.

The verdict from the data is straightforward: the AMD Ryzen 7 8700F is the faster processor in every measured dimension. Desktop builders seeking maximum performance should choose AMD based on these results. The Intel Core i7-12650HX remains relevant only for mobile deployments where its integrated graphics and lower TDP profile are decisive factors, but for raw compute performance, the Ryzen 7 8700F leads across the board.