AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U vs Intel Core i7-12800H Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U and Intel Core i7-12800H are two mobile processors that target similar performance territory despite fundamentally different designs. The Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U wins 11 of 17 head-to-head benchmark comparisons, while the Core i7-12800H takes 6, yet the overall average benchmark scores are remarkably close: 32233 for the AMD part versus 32121 for the Intel part, a difference of only 0.3% in favor of the AMD processor. Both chips sit within the 82nd to 83rd percentile of all CPUs, indicating that they deliver comparable aggregate performance despite their architectural divergence.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher single-core performance?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U leads in single-core benchmarks, scoring 3641 in PassMark single-thread versus 3440 for the Intel Core i7-12800H, a 5.8% advantage. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the AMD chip scores 2859 versus 1828 for the Intel chip, a 56.4% lead.

Q: How do the two CPUs compare in multi-core workloads?

A: The results are mixed. The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U wins Cinebench R23 multi-core with 20254 versus 15283 for the Intel Core i7-12800H (32.5% ahead), but the Intel chip wins Cinebench R15 multi-core 2222 to 2041 (8.1% ahead). In PassMark multithread, the Intel chip edges ahead 24346 to 23850, a 2% difference.

Q: What is the core and thread configuration difference?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U has 8 cores and 16 threads, all based on Zen 4 architecture. The Intel Core i7-12800H has 14 cores and 20 threads, using the Alder Lake hybrid architecture with a mix of performance and efficiency cores.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U supports ECC memory, while the Intel Core i7-12800H does not. Both processors support dual-channel DDR5 memory, but the Intel chip also supports DDR4, whereas the AMD chip supports only DDR5.

Q: What are the integrated graphics options?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U features the Radeon 780M integrated graphics, while the Intel Core i7-12800H features Iris Xe 96EU. The benchmark data does not include direct graphics comparisons.

Q: How close are the overall average benchmark scores?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U has an average benchmark score of 32233, and the Intel Core i7-12800H has an average score of 32121. The Intel chip is listed as a nearest rival to the AMD chip with a deltaPct of 0.3%, meaning the AMD processor is just 0.3% higher on average.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U is built on the Zen 4 architecture with the codename Hawk Point, manufactured by TSMC on a 4 nm process node. The processor die measures 178 mm² and contains 25,000 million transistors. In contrast, the Intel Core i7-12800H uses the Alder Lake architecture (codename Alder Lake-H), manufactured by Intel on a 10 nm process node with a larger die size of 217 mm². The Intel chip does not list a transistor count in the data.

The cache hierarchies differ substantially. The AMD processor has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 1 MB of L2 cache per core, and 16 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel processor has 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core, and a larger 24 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel chip's larger L3 cache is notable given its hybrid core design.

Memory support also diverges. The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U supports only DDR5 memory with a dual-channel bus and a listed memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s. The Intel Core i7-12800H supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory with a dual-channel bus, though no memory bandwidth figure is listed in the data. ECC memory is supported only on the AMD processor.

Both processors use PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes (CPU only), and both are locked (multiplier not unlocked). The AMD chip has a base clock of 3.30 GHz and boost clock of 5.10 GHz, while the Intel chip has a lower base clock of 2.40 GHz but a boost clock of 4.80 GHz. The thermal design power differs significantly, with the AMD processor rated at 28 W and the Intel processor rated at 45 W.

The integrated graphics differ as well: the AMD chip uses the Radeon 780M, while the Intel chip uses Iris Xe 96EU. The AMD processor was released on 2024-04-15 and is currently active in production; the Intel processor's release date is not listed in the data, but it is also marked as active.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U dominates in single-threaded and lightly threaded workloads. It wins Cinebench R15 single-core by 8.7%, Cinebench R20 single-core by 0.5%, and Cinebench R23 single-core by an overwhelming 56.4%. In PassMark single-thread, the AMD chip leads by 5.8%. The AMD processor also wins PassMark extended instructions by 16.6%, PassMark integer math by 2.1%, PassMark data encryption by 1.3%, and PassMark random string sorting by 8.7%.

The Intel Core i7-12800H shows strength in specific multi-threaded and math-heavy tasks. It wins Cinebench R15 multi-core by 8.1%, PassMark floating point math by 16.8%, PassMark physics by 30.2%, PassMark find prime numbers by 25.5%, and PassMark data compression by 0.2%. The Intel chip also edges out the AMD chip in PassMark multithread by 2%.

The pattern suggests that the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U excels in general productivity, encryption, and extended instruction workloads, while the Intel Core i7-12800H has advantages in floating-point calculations, physics simulations, and prime number finding. The Intel chip's 14-core design with 20 threads appears to help in certain parallel workloads, but the AMD chip's higher clock speeds and newer architecture give it the edge in single-threaded scenarios.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every core specification. The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Intel Core i7-12800H has 14 cores and 20 threads. The AMD base clock is 3.30 GHz versus 2.40 GHz for Intel, and the AMD boost clock is 5.10 GHz versus 4.80 GHz for Intel. The TDP is 28 W for AMD and 45 W for Intel.

The socket types are entirely different: AMD uses Socket FP7, while Intel uses BGA 1744. The process node is 4 nm for AMD (TSMC foundry) versus 10 nm for Intel (Intel foundry). The die size is 178 mm² for AMD versus 217 mm² for Intel. The AMD chip lists 25,000 million transistors, while the Intel chip has no listed transistor count.

Cache allocations differ at every level. The AMD L1 cache is 64 KB per core, L2 is 1 MB per core, and L3 is 16 MB shared. The Intel L1 cache is 80 KB per core, L2 is 1.25 MB per core, and L3 is 24 MB shared. Memory support shows AMD limited to DDR5, while Intel supports both DDR4 and DDR5. The AMD chip has a listed memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s; Intel has no listed memory bandwidth. ECC memory is supported only on AMD.

Both processors use PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes (CPU only). Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier. The integrated graphics differ: Radeon 780M on AMD versus Iris Xe 96EU on Intel. The part numbers are 100-000001317(FP7r2) and 100-000001377(FP7) for AMD, and SRLD2 for Intel. The AMD chip's release date is 2024-04-15, while Intel's release date is not provided.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest win for the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U comes in Cinebench R23 single-core, where it scores 2859 versus 1828 for the Intel Core i7-12800H, a 56.4% advantage. This is followed by Cinebench R23 multi-core, where the AMD chip scores 20254 versus 15283, a 32.5% lead. In PassMark extended instructions, the AMD chip leads 19132 to 16408, a 16.6% difference. PassMark random string sorting goes to AMD by 8.7% (33109 to 30453), and Cinebench R15 single-core goes to AMD by 8.7% (288 to 265). PassMark single-thread also favors AMD by 5.8% (3641 to 3440), while PassMark integer math, data encryption, and Cinebench R20 show smaller AMD leads of 2.1%, 1.3%, and 0.5% respectively.

The Intel Core i7-12800H's biggest win is in PassMark physics, where it scores 1682 versus 1174 for the AMD chip, a 30.2% advantage. PassMark find prime numbers goes to Intel by 25.5% (102 to 76). In PassMark floating point math, the Intel chip leads 60961 to 50746, a 16.8% margin. Cinebench R15 multi-core favors Intel by 8.1% (2222 to 2041). PassMark multithread shows a 2% Intel lead (24346 to 23850), and PassMark data compression is nearly tied, with Intel ahead by just 0.2% (273247 to 272664).

The overall win count is 11 for the AMD processor and 6 for the Intel processor across the 17 head-to-head benchmarks. The average benchmark scores reinforce the closeness of the competition, with the AMD chip at 32233 and the Intel chip at 32121, a 0.3% difference. Both processors sit at the 83rd and 82nd percentiles of all CPUs, respectively.

The Verdict

The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U is the clear choice for users prioritizing single-threaded performance and general productivity. The data shows dominant wins in Cinebench R23 single-core (56.4% ahead) and multi-core (32.5% ahead), plus advantages in encryption, extended instructions, and integer math. The 28 W TDP also suggests lower power consumption, though the data does not include direct power measurements. The ECC memory support and 5.10 GHz boost clock make it suitable for workloads requiring reliability and high clock speeds.

The Intel Core i7-12800H is the better option for specific math-intensive and physics-based workloads. It wins PassMark physics by 30.2% and floating point math by 16.8%, along with prime number finding by 25.5%. The 14-core, 20-thread configuration provides an edge in Cinebench R15 multi-core (8.1% ahead) and PassMark multithread (2% ahead). The larger 24 MB L3 cache and support for both DDR4 and DDR5 memory offer flexibility, though the 45 W TDP is notably higher than the AMD chip's 28 W.

For most users, the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U appears to be the more balanced processor, winning 11 of 17 benchmarks and delivering a higher average score (32233 versus 32121). The Intel Core i7-12800H remains competitive in its specific strengths, particularly floating-point and physics calculations. The choice ultimately depends on which workloads matter most: the AMD chip for general single-threaded and mixed productivity, or the Intel chip for math-heavy parallel tasks.