AMD Ryzen 7 8700G vs Intel Core i5-12600HX Comparison

The Intel Core i5-12600HX and AMD Ryzen 7 8700G occupy different corners of the hardware world—one is a mobile part for high-performance laptops, the other a desktop APU—yet their benchmark averages land remarkably close. The Intel chip posts an average benchmark score of 33,375 against AMD’s 33,089, and both sit at the 83rd percentile among all CPUs. That near-parity in overall standing masks a split personality: Intel wins decisively in a couple of Cinebench tests, while AMD sweeps nearly everything else. The data shows a classic trade-off between raw single-threaded rendering and broad all-around throughput.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The biggest swing in this matchup belongs to Intel in Cinebench R23. The i5-12600HX scores 20,714 in the multicore test, beating the 8700G’s 17,128 by 20.9%. That is a substantial margin, but the single-core result is even more lopsided: Intel’s 2,924 versus AMD’s 1,817, a 60.9% advantage. Those two wins alone explain why Intel takes the overall average despite losing 12 of 15 head-to-head comparisons. The older Cinebench R15 multicore test tells a different story, however—there AMD wins 2,693 to 2,087, a 22.5% gap in its favor. Intel’s R15 single-core score of 294 edges out AMD’s 286 by 2.8%, so the two Cinebench versions do not agree on which chip is faster across the board.

Outside Cinebench, AMD dominates the Passmark suite. The 8700G leads by 24.4% in data compression (386,811 versus 292,256), by 23.4% in data encryption (22,842 versus 17,506), and by 40.4% in extended instructions (29,067 versus 17,328). Integer math shows a 23.1% gap (103,107 versus 79,339), and random string sorting is 28.1% ahead (46,025 versus 33,110). Even in floating-point math, where Intel’s architecture might be expected to compete, AMD wins 63,815 to 58,378, an 8.5% margin. The multithread Passmark score favors AMD by 22.1% (31,690 versus 24,681), and physics follows at 8.7% (1,647 versus 1,504). Single-thread Passmark also goes AMD’s way: 3,928 versus 3,623, a 7.8% edge. Prime number finding is closer in percentage terms but still AMD’s, 103 to 83, a 19.4% win.

The pattern is clear: Intel’s Cinebench R23 results are outliers in its favor, while AMD wins nearly every other measurable workload. The 3DMark results for AMD are listed separately in its benchmark set—scores of 7,918 for 16 threads, 6,589 for 8 threads, 3,825 for 4 threads, 1,978 for 2 threads, and 1,010 for single-thread—but Intel has no matching 3DMark entries in the data, so a direct comparison there is not possible.

Where Each One Wins

Intel’s wins come down to specific rendering tasks. The 20.9% lead in Cinebench R23 multicore suggests the i5-12600HX is the better choice for heavily threaded render workloads that scale across its 12 cores and 16 threads. Its 60.9% single-core advantage in R23 is even more striking—that is a workload where Intel simply dominates, making it the pick for applications that rely on a single fast thread in that specific benchmark. The R15 single-core win, though narrow at 2.8%, adds a second data point in Intel’s favor for lightly threaded Cinebench work.

AMD’s wins are broader and more consistent. In every Passmark category except none, the 8700G takes the lead, ranging from an 8.5% margin in floating-point math to a 40.4% blowout in extended instructions. Data compression, encryption, integer math, and random string sorting all fall AMD’s way with margins between 23.1% and 28.1%. The multithread and single-thread Passmark scores both favor AMD, meaning the 8700G is faster in general-purpose computing tasks like file compression, cryptographic operations, and everyday multitasking. Physics simulation also goes to AMD, albeit narrowly. For a desktop user running mixed workloads—compressing files, encrypting data, crunching spreadsheets, or doing any math-heavy task—the 8700G is the stronger performer.

Architecture Differences

The two chips come from different design philosophies. Intel’s i5-12600HX uses Alder Lake architecture on a 10 nm process from Intel’s own foundry, with a die size of 215 mm². It packs 12 cores and 16 threads, with a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost of 4.60 GHz. Its cache layout is 80 KB L1 per core, 1.25 MB L2 per core, and 18 MB of shared L3. The chip supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory over a dual-channel bus, and it includes ECC memory support. Its integrated graphics are UHD Graphics 770, and it connects via PCIe Gen 5 with 20 CPU lanes. This is a mobile part, socketed into Intel BGA 1964, with a 55 W TDP.

AMD’s 8700G uses Zen 4 architecture under the Phoenix codename, built on a 4 nm process at TSMC. It has 8 cores and 16 threads, with a base clock of 4.20 GHz and a boost of 5.10 GHz. The transistor count is listed at 25,000 million on a 178 mm² die. Cache is smaller per core—64 KB L1 and 1 MB L2—but the shared L3 is 16 MB. Memory support is DDR5 only, dual-channel, with a rated bandwidth of 83.2 GB/s. ECC is not supported. The integrated GPU is Radeon 780M, and PCIe is Gen 4 with 20 CPU lanes. This is a desktop part on AMD Socket AM5, with a 65 W TDP.

The key differences are process node (10 nm versus 4 nm), core count (12 versus 8), cache distribution, memory support (DDR4/DDR5 versus DDR5 only), PCIe generation (Gen 5 versus Gen 4), and integrated graphics (UHD 770 versus Radeon 780M). Intel also has a higher die size but fewer transistors—the pack does not list Intel’s transistor count, so no direct comparison is possible there. Both chips have unlocked multipliers, and both are listed as Active in production.

The Verdict

The data points to a straightforward choice based on workload. If the priority is Cinebench R23 rendering performance, the Intel Core i5-12600HX is the clear winner—it leads by 20.9% in multicore and 60.9% in single-core, which are massive margins in that specific benchmark. That suggests a system tuned for render tasks using that test would favor Intel. Its mobile nature and 55 W TDP also make it a laptop-oriented option, though the pack does not confirm any specific laptop models.

For almost everything else, the AMD Ryzen 7 8700G is the better buy. It wins 12 of 15 head-to-head tests, with margins that are consistently double-digit in many categories. Data compression, encryption, integer math, and multithread performance all show AMD ahead by over 20%. Its higher boost clock of 5.10 GHz and newer 4 nm process likely contribute to those wins, though the pack does not state a causal link. The 8700G is a desktop part with a 65 W TDP, so it fits a different system type entirely. Its Radeon 780M integrated graphics are also a different class than Intel’s UHD 770, though the pack does not include graphics benchmarks to quantify the gap.

The launch MSRP for the Intel chip is $284, and for the AMD chip it is $329. Both are unlocked and active in production. The verdict: pick Intel for Cinebench R23-heavy render workloads, pick AMD for general-purpose desktop performance across the broader benchmark suite.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i5-12600HX averages 33,375, while the AMD Ryzen 7 8700G averages 33,089. Both rank in the 83rd percentile of all CPUs.

Q: How big is Intel’s lead in Cinebench R23 single-core?

A: Intel scores 2,924 versus AMD’s 1,817, a 60.9% advantage. This is the largest single margin in any head-to-head test.

Q: Does AMD win every Passmark test?

A: No. AMD wins all Passmark tests listed, but Intel wins both Cinebench R23 tests and the Cinebench R15 single-core test. AMD wins the R15 multicore test.

Q: What is the core and thread count difference?

A: Intel has 12 cores and 16 threads; AMD has 8 cores and 16 threads. Both support 16 threads, but Intel has more physical cores.

Q: Which chip supports DDR4 memory?

A: Only the Intel Core i5-12600HX supports both DDR4 and DDR5. The AMD Ryzen 7 8700G supports DDR5 only.

Q: What are the TDP ratings?

A: Intel’s TDP is 55 W, and AMD’s is 65 W. The pack does not include any power consumption measurements beyond these TDP figures.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i5-12600HX | AMD Ryzen 7 8700G |

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

| Cores | 12 | 8 |

| Base Clock | 2.50 GHz | 4.20 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.60 GHz | 5.10 GHz |

| TDP | 55 W | 65 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1964 | AMD Socket AM5 |

| Architecture | Alder Lake | Zen 4 |

| Process Node | 10 nm | 4 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | TSMC |

| Die Size | 215 mm² | 178 mm² |

| Transistors | Not listed | 25,000 million |

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

| L2 Cache | 1.25 MB (per core) | 1 MB (per core) |

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

| Memory Support | DDR4, DDR5 | DDR5 |

| Memory Bandwidth | Not listed | 83.2 GB/s |

| ECC Memory | Yes | No |

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

| Integrated Graphics | UHD Graphics 770 | Radeon 780M |

| Market Segment | Mobile | Desktop |

| Release Date | 2022-05-09 | 2024-01-07 |

| Launch MSRP | $284 | $329 |

| Part Number | SRLGJ | 100-000001236 |