AMD Ryzen 7 8840HS vs Intel Core i7-12700 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data is unambiguous: the Intel Core i7-12700 wins every single recorded head-to-head comparison. Across 15 measured tests, the Ryzen 7 8840HS does not take a single victory. The most lopsided results come in multi-core workloads, where Intel's desktop-class part simply has more resources to throw at the problem.

In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Intel chip scores 21751 against the AMD's 13082, a delta of -39.9% for the Ryzen. That is a massive gap, nearly 40% behind. The Cinebench R15 multi-core test tells a similar story: Intel scores 3151, AMD scores 2045, a -35.1% difference. Floating point math in PassMark shows Intel at 81191 versus 52582, another -35.2% margin. These are not close calls; the i7-12700 is decisively faster in heavily threaded rendering and compute.

The single-core picture is closer but still favors Intel. In Cinebench R15 single-core, Intel scores 272 versus AMD's 270, a razor-thin -0.7% gap. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the margin widens to -8.3% (1894 vs 1737). PassMark single-thread shows 3864 for Intel against 3626 for AMD, a -6.2% deficit. The Ryzen's single-core performance is competitive but consistently a few points behind, not enough to flip any results.

Intermediate-thread workloads follow the same pattern. PassMark multi-thread gives Intel 30273 and AMD 24990, a -17.5% gap. Integer math: Intel 106554, AMD 90382, -15.2%. Data compression: Intel 375950, AMD 292888, -22.1%. Data encryption: Intel 20143, AMD 17650, -12.4%. Extended instructions: Intel 24184, AMD 20714, -14.3%. Physics: Intel 1558, AMD 1149, -26.3%. Random string sorting: Intel 38970, AMD 35517, -8.9%. Even prime number finding, a test that often favors AMD's architecture, goes to Intel at 101 versus 79, a -21.8% margin.

The overall average benchmark scores confirm the hierarchy: Intel sits at 32942 with an 83rd percentile ranking, while AMD is at 33667 with an 84th percentile. Interestingly, the Ryzen's average is technically higher despite losing every head-to-head test. This is because the database averages across a broader set of workloads, and the AMD part's efficiency and balanced scores pull its mean up. But in direct comparisons, the i7-12700 is the clear winner.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen 7 8840HS is a mobile chip built on TSMC's 4 nm process, part of the Zen 4 architecture under the Hawk Point codename. It has 8 cores and 16 threads, a base clock of 3.30 GHz, and a boost clock of 5.10 GHz. The package is rated at 28 W TDP, making it a low-power part designed for laptops. It fits into AMD Socket FP8 and uses PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes from the CPU.

The Intel Core i7-12700 is a desktop processor on Intel's 10 nm process, using the Alder Lake architecture (Alder Lake-S). It has 12 cores and 20 threads, a base clock of 2.10 GHz, and a boost clock of 4.90 GHz. The TDP is 65 W, more than double the AMD part. It uses Intel Socket 1700 and PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes from the CPU. The die size is 215 mm², larger than the AMD's 178 mm², though the AMD part packs 25,000 million transistors on its smaller die.

Cache hierarchies differ significantly. The AMD chip has 64 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3. Intel's design uses 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and a larger 25 MB of shared L3. That extra L3 cache helps Intel in workloads that benefit from larger working sets.

Memory support splits them as well. The Ryzen 7 8840HS supports DDR5 only, with dual-channel memory and a rated bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s. The Core i7-12700 supports both DDR4 and DDR5, also dual-channel, though the database does not list a bandwidth figure for it. Neither chip supports ECC memory, and neither has an unlocked multiplier.

Integrated graphics favor the AMD side. The Ryzen 7 8840HS carries the Radeon 780M, while Intel offers UHD Graphics 770. The database does not include graphics benchmarks, so no direct comparison can be made, but the AMD part's modern RDNA-based iGPU is generally considered more capable for gaming.

The market segments tell the story: AMD is explicitly mobile, Intel is explicitly desktop. The Ryzen was released on 2023-12-05, while the Intel part has no release date in the database. Intel's launch MSRP is listed at $349.

Where Each One Wins

Given the sweep, the Intel Core i7-12700 wins everywhere in the recorded head-to-head data. Multi-core rendering, single-core responsiveness, encryption, compression, integer math, floating point, physics simulation, and even string sorting all go to Intel. The largest margins are in multi-core Cinebench and floating point, where the 12-core, 20-thread Intel design leverages its extra cores and threads to pull ahead by 35-40%. The smallest margins are in single-core tests, where the Ryzen's high boost clock of 5.10 GHz keeps it within 0.7-8.3% of Intel.

The AMD Ryzen 7 8840HS does not win any recorded benchmark, but the data suggests it is not a weak chip. Its 84th percentile ranking and average score of 33667 show it performs well in the broader database context. Its advantage lies outside the head-to-head tests: a 28 W TDP versus 65 W, a 4 nm process versus 10 nm, and a mobile form factor. For thin-and-light laptops where power draw and heat are the primary constraints, the Ryzen is the only viable option of the two. The Intel part simply cannot fit into that envelope.

The Verdict

Pick the Intel Core i7-12700 if you need raw performance and are building or buying a desktop. The data shows it is faster in every measured category, with multi-core leads of 35-40% that will be felt in rendering, video encoding, and heavily threaded productivity. Its 65 W TDP is reasonable for a desktop socket, and the support for both DDR4 and DDR5 gives flexibility in system building. The 83rd percentile ranking is high, and the nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D, which is only 0.4% behind in average score, so this Intel part sits in strong company.

Pick the AMD Ryzen 7 8840HS if you need a mobile processor that balances performance with power efficiency. The 28 W TDP is the key differentiator; it enables laptops that run cooler and longer on battery. The single-core performance is close enough to Intel that day-to-day responsiveness will feel similar, and the Radeon 780M integrated graphics are a notable asset for a mobile chip. The 84th percentile ranking and average score of 33667 place it above the Intel part in the overall database, though that is a quirk of the averaging method. In a laptop, this is the sensible choice. In a desktop, the i7-12700 is objectively stronger.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in multi-core workloads?

A: The Intel Core i7-12700. It scores 21751 in Cinebench R23 multi-core versus 13082 for the AMD Ryzen 7 8840HS, a -39.9% gap. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, Intel scores 3151 versus 2045, a -35.1% difference.

Q: How close is single-core performance?

A: Very close in Cinebench R15, where Intel scores 272 and AMD scores 270, a -0.7% margin. The gap grows in Cinebench R23 single-core (1894 vs 1737, -8.3%) and PassMark single-thread (3864 vs 3626, -6.2%).

Q: Does the AMD chip have any benchmark wins?

A: No. In the 15 recorded head-to-head tests, the Intel Core i7-12700 wins all of them. The wins count is 15 for Intel and 0 for AMD.

Q: What is the TDP difference?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 8840HS has a TDP of 28 W, while the Intel Core i7-12700 has a TDP of 65 W. The AMD part is designed for mobile laptops, and the Intel part for desktop systems.

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i7-12700 has 12 cores and 20 threads. The AMD Ryzen 7 8840HS has 8 cores and 16 threads.

Q: What memory types does each support?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 8840HS supports DDR5 only. The Intel Core i7-12700 supports both DDR4 and DDR5. Both use dual-channel memory buses.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen 7 8840HS | Intel Core i7-12700 |

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

| Cores | 8 | 12 |

| Threads | 16 | 20 |

| Base Clock | 3.30 GHz | 2.10 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 5.10 GHz | 4.90 GHz |

| TDP | 28 W | 65 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket FP8 | Intel Socket 1700 |

| Architecture | Zen 4 | Alder Lake |

| Process Node | 4 nm | 10 nm |

| Foundry | TSMC | Intel |

| Die Size | 178 mm² | 215 mm² |

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

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

| L3 Cache | 16 MB (shared) | 25 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR5 | DDR4, DDR5 |

| Memory Bandwidth | 89.6 GB/s | Not listed |

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

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

| Market Segment | Mobile | Desktop |

| Launch MSRP | Not listed | $349 |