AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 6850H vs Intel Core i7-12800H Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head comparison between the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 6850H and the Intel Core i7-12800H shows a clear overall victory for Intel, but the win distribution is far from uniform. The Intel chip claims 11 benchmark wins, while the AMD processor takes 4, yet the margins in each direction tell a more nuanced story.

Intel's largest advantages appear in single-core and lightly threaded workloads. In Cinebench R15 single-core, the i7-12800H scores 265 against 205.1 for the Ryzen, a decisive 22.6% lead. The gap narrows only slightly in Cinebench R23 single-core, where Intel wins 1828 to 1480, a 19% margin. These are substantial gaps, reflecting a significant difference in per-thread performance.

Multi-core Cinebench results also favor Intel, though by smaller margins. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the i7-12800H scores 15283 versus 12393 for the AMD part, an 18.9% advantage. The Cinebench R15 multi-core test shows a narrower 6.1% lead for Intel (2222 versus 2085.5). PassMark multi-thread testing gives Intel a 3.8% edge (24346 versus 23417).

The most lopsided Intel wins come in specialized workloads. PassMark find prime numbers shows Intel at 102 versus 59 for AMD, a 42.2% blowout. PassMark physics also heavily favors Intel, 1682 to 1093, a 35% gap. Floating point math goes to Intel by 20.8% (60961 versus 48276), while single-thread PassMark gives Intel a 3.9% edge (3440 versus 3305).

AMD's wins are concentrated in memory and data-oriented tasks. The largest is PassMark extended instructions, where the Ryzen 7 PRO 6850H scores 19654 versus 16408 for Intel, a 19.8% victory. Data encryption also goes strongly to AMD, 18681 to 16234, a 15.1% margin. Data compression favors AMD by 8% (295214 versus 273247), and random string sorting goes to AMD by a slim 2.4% (31170 versus 30453). Integer math is nearly a tie, with Intel ahead by just 0.5% (86488 versus 86068).

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i7-12800H is the clear choice for compute-bound, latency-sensitive tasks. Its dominance in single-core Cinebench tests (22.6% and 19% leads) and PassMark single-thread (3.9% ahead) indicates superior responsiveness in everyday applications and lightly threaded software. The 42.2% advantage in prime number finding and 35% lead in physics simulations point to strong integer and scientific computing performance. Floating point math, where Intel leads by 20.8%, further cements its position for engineering and simulation workloads.

The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 6850H, conversely, excels in data manipulation and security-related tasks. Its 19.8% lead in extended instructions suggests better handling of modern instruction set extensions. The 15.1% advantage in data encryption makes it the stronger option for security workloads, VPN processing, or encrypted storage. Data compression (8% ahead) and random string sorting (2.4% ahead) indicate efficient memory subsystem performance for database and archival workloads.

For mixed workloads, the picture is more balanced. PassMark multi-thread shows Intel only 3.8% ahead, and integer math is effectively a tie. This suggests that for general productivity, the gap between the two narrows considerably. The data indicates that Intel wins most raw performance contests, but AMD holds its own in tasks that stress memory bandwidth and instruction efficiency.

Architecture Differences

The two processors take fundamentally different design approaches. The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 6850H uses the Zen 3+ architecture on a 6 nm process from TSMC, with a die size of 208 mm². It features 8 cores and 16 threads. The Intel Core i7-12800H uses the Alder Lake architecture on Intel's 10 nm process, with a larger die at 217 mm², and packs 14 cores and 20 threads.

Cache configurations diverge sharply. The AMD part has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3 cache. Intel counters with 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 24 MB of shared L3. The larger L3 cache on Intel likely contributes to its multi-core advantages in certain benchmarks, while AMD's smaller cache is compensated by other design choices.

Memory support differs as well. The Ryzen 7 PRO 6850H supports only DDR5 with dual-channel memory and a measured bandwidth of 76.8 GB/s. The i7-12800H supports both DDR4 and DDR5, also dual-channel, though its memory bandwidth figure is not recorded in the database. Neither processor supports ECC memory.

Both chips have integrated graphics, but different implementations. AMD uses the Radeon 680M, while Intel uses Iris Xe 96EU. Both are mobile processors with a 45 W TDP, and neither has an unlocked multiplier. The AMD chip uses socket FP7, while Intel uses BGA 1744. Both support PCIe Gen 4 with 20 CPU lanes.

The process node difference is notable: 6 nm for AMD versus 10 nm for Intel. Despite the smaller node, the AMD chip does not translate this into a consistent performance advantage, which highlights the architectural efficiency of Intel's Alder Lake design. The AMD part has a base clock of 3.20 GHz and a boost of 4.70 GHz, while Intel runs at 2.40 GHz base and 4.80 GHz boost. The higher base clock on AMD does not overcome Intel's higher boost and core count in most tests.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in single-core performance?

A: The Intel Core i7-12800H is consistently faster in single-core tests. It leads by 22.6% in Cinebench R15 single-core (265 versus 205.1), by 19% in Cinebench R23 single-core (1828 versus 1480), and by 3.9% in PassMark single-thread (3440 versus 3305).

Q: Does the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 6850H win any benchmarks?

A: Yes, the AMD chip wins 4 out of 15 head-to-head tests. These are PassMark data compression (8% ahead), data encryption (15.1% ahead), extended instructions (19.8% ahead), and random string sorting (2.4% ahead).

Q: How do the core counts compare?

A: The Intel Core i7-12800H has 14 cores and 20 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 6850H has 8 cores and 16 threads. Despite the lower core count, the AMD chip remains competitive in several multi-threaded workloads, trailing by only 3.8% in PassMark multi-thread.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth of each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 6850H has a recorded memory bandwidth of 76.8 GB/s with dual-channel DDR5 support. The Intel Core i7-12800H supports both DDR4 and DDR5 in dual-channel mode, but its memory bandwidth figure is not listed in the database.

Q: Which processor has a larger L3 cache?

A: The Intel Core i7-12800H has 24 MB of shared L3 cache, compared to 16 MB on the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 6850H. Intel also has larger L1 (80 KB per core) and L2 (1.25 MB per core) caches versus 64 KB and 512 KB per core on the AMD part.

Q: Are both processors unlocked for overclocking?

A: No. Both the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 6850H and the Intel Core i7-12800H have locked multipliers, meaning they are not unlocked for overclocking.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 6850H | Intel Core i7-12800H |

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

| Cores | 8 | 14 |

| Threads | 16 | 20 |

| Base Clock | 3.20 GHz | 2.40 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.70 GHz | 4.80 GHz |

| TDP | 45 W | 45 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket FP7 | Intel BGA 1744 |

| Architecture | Zen 3+ | Alder Lake |

| Codename | Rembrandt | Alder Lake-H |

| Process Node | 6 nm | 10 nm |

| Foundry | TSMC | Intel |

| Die Size | 208 mm² | 217 mm² |

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

| L2 Cache | 512 KB (per core) | 1.25 MB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 16 MB (shared) | 24 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR5 | DDR4, DDR5 |

| Memory Bus | Dual-channel | Dual-channel |

| Memory Bandwidth | 76.8 GB/s | Not recorded |

| ECC Memory | No | No |

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

| Integrated Graphics | Radeon 680M | Iris Xe 96EU |

| Market Segment | Mobile | Mobile |

| Production Status | Active | Active |

| Multiplier Unlocked | No | No |

| Part Number | 100-000000542100-000000564 | SRLD2 |