AMD Ryzen 9 3900XT vs Intel Core i7-12800HX Comparison

The Intel Core i7-12800HX and AMD Ryzen 9 3900XT are two very different processors that land at nearly the same overall performance level, with average benchmark scores of 33875 and 33736 respectively—a margin of just 0.4%. The Intel part is a mobile Alder Lake-HX chip with 16 cores and 24 threads, while the AMD is a desktop Zen 2 chip with 12 cores and 24 threads. Both sit at the 84th percentile versus all CPUs, and their head-to-head benchmark record is nearly split: the Intel chip wins 11 tests, the AMD wins 12. The data paints a picture of two chips that excel in different workloads, and the choice between them depends entirely on what the user prioritizes.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i7-12800HX dominates in short-burst, latency-sensitive, and single-thread-heavy tasks. Its 3DMark scores are uniformly higher across every thread count, with particularly striking leads at low thread counts: 33.8% ahead in the 2-thread test and 30% ahead in the 4-thread test. The single-thread 3DMark result shows a 35.9% advantage for Intel, and PassMark single-thread performance is 35.3% higher. This pattern extends to floating-point math, where Intel scores 82122 versus AMD’s 58513—a 40.3% lead—and integer math, where Intel is 10.3% ahead. These results indicate that the Intel chip is the stronger choice for applications that depend on fast single-core response and moderate multi-threading, such as gaming, UI responsiveness, and lightly threaded productivity tasks.

The AMD Ryzen 9 3900XT, by contrast, wins in sustained heavy multi-threaded workloads and in several specialized compute tasks. Its Cinebench R23 multicore score is 27688 versus Intel’s 22456, a 18.9% advantage, and its Cinebench R20 multicore score is 11628 versus 11111, a 4.4% lead. The AMD chip also wins in data compression (452328 vs 387535, 14.3% ahead), data encryption (28634 vs 21972, 23.3% ahead), extended instruction workloads (28586 vs 23760, 16.9% ahead), and prime number finding (214 vs 108, 49.5% ahead). It also edges out Intel in multithread PassMark (32575 vs 31585, 3% ahead) and physics (1776 vs 1743, 1.9% ahead). The AMD chip is the better pick for rendering, video encoding, scientific computing, and other workloads that scale across all cores and threads.

The Verdict

Choose the Intel Core i7-12800HX if the workload is interactive, latency-sensitive, or dominated by single-thread performance. The data shows it is dramatically faster in low-thread scenarios—33.8% better in 2-thread 3DMark—and its 35.3% lead in PassMark single-thread makes it the obvious pick for gaming and everyday desktop responsiveness. It also holds a commanding 40.3% advantage in floating-point math, which benefits certain simulation and physics workloads.

Choose the AMD Ryzen 9 3900XT for sustained multi-core productivity and specialized compute. Its 18.9% lead in Cinebench R23 multicore is a strong indicator of rendering performance, and its wins in data compression (14.3%), encryption (23.3%), and extended instructions (16.9%) make it the better tool for archiving, security, and AVX-heavy tasks. The AMD chip also has the higher base clock at 3.90 GHz versus Intel’s 2.00 GHz, which helps in scenarios where boost clocks cannot be sustained.

The overall win split (11 vs 12) suggests these are essentially equivalent in aggregate performance. The Intel chip’s wins are often by huge margins (30-40%), while the AMD chip’s wins are more frequent but often smaller (3-18%). A user who cares about peak performance in any single metric will find a clear winner; a user who just needs a balanced chip can pick either.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most decisive Intel wins come in short-threaded tests. In 3DMark 2-thread, Intel scores 1943 against AMD’s 1452, a 33.8% advantage. The 4-thread test shows Intel at 3636 versus 2796, a 30% lead, and the 8-thread test shows 6292 versus 5200, a 21% lead. Even at 16 threads, Intel maintains a 4.7% edge (7889 vs 7537), and at max threads the lead is 7.1% (9119 vs 8515). Single-thread 3DMark is particularly lopsided: 999 versus 735, a 35.9% delta. PassMark single-thread confirms this, with Intel at 3711 versus AMD’s 2742, a 35.3% lead. In floating-point math, Intel’s 82122 crushes AMD’s 58513 by 40.3%. Integer math is closer but still favors Intel: 109968 versus 99722, a 10.3% lead.

The AMD wins are concentrated in Cinebench and PassMark compute tests. Cinebench R23 multicore shows AMD at 27688 versus Intel’s 22456, an 18.9% margin. Cinebench R20 multicore is closer, with AMD at 11628 versus 11111, a 4.4% lead. Cinebench R15 singlecore is notable: AMD scores 393 versus Intel’s 260, a 33.8% advantage—this is the largest AMD win in percentage terms. Cinebench R20 singlecore also goes to AMD (1641 vs 1568, 4.4% ahead), and Cinebench R23 singlecore shows AMD at 3909 versus 1812, a staggering 53.6% lead. In PassMark, AMD wins data compression by 14.3% (452328 vs 387535), data encryption by 23.3% (28634 vs 21972), extended instructions by 16.9% (28586 vs 23760), and prime numbers by 49.5% (214 vs 108). AMD also takes PassMark multithread (32575 vs 31585, 3% ahead) and physics (1776 vs 1743, 1.9% ahead).

The pattern is clear: Intel wins where single-core frequency and latency matter, AMD wins where multi-core throughput and specific instruction sets matter.

FAQ

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

A: The Intel Core i7-12800HX is significantly ahead in most single-thread tests, with a 35.9% lead in 3DMark single-thread and a 35.3% lead in PassMark single-thread. However, AMD wins in Cinebench R23 singlecore by 53.6% (3909 vs 1812) and Cinebench R15 singlecore by 33.8% (393 vs 260), so the answer depends on the benchmark.

Q: Which processor is better for multi-threaded rendering?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 3900XT wins in Cinebench R23 multicore with a score of 27688 versus Intel’s 22456, an 18.9% advantage. It also leads in Cinebench R20 multicore (11628 vs 11111), though by a smaller 4.4% margin.

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i7-12800HX has 16 cores and 24 threads. The AMD Ryzen 9 3900XT has 12 cores and 24 threads. Both have the same thread count, but Intel has four more physical cores.

Q: Which processor is better for data encryption workloads?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 3900XT is 23.3% ahead in PassMark data encryption, scoring 28634 versus Intel’s 21972.

Q: Which processor supports PCIe Gen 5?

A: Only the Intel Core i7-12800HX supports PCIe Gen 5, with 20 lanes from the CPU. The AMD Ryzen 9 3900XT supports PCIe Gen 4 with 24 lanes.

Q: Which processor has a higher base clock?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 3900XT has a base clock of 3.90 GHz, which is much higher than the Intel Core i7-12800HX’s 2.00 GHz base clock. The Intel chip has a slightly higher boost clock at 4.80 GHz versus AMD’s 4.70 GHz.

Architecture Differences

The Intel Core i7-12800HX uses the Alder Lake architecture, specifically the Alder Lake-HX codename, built on Intel’s 10 nm process with a die size of 215 mm². It features 16 cores (a hybrid design, though the pack does not specify P-core/E-core split) and 24 threads. Its cache layout includes 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 25 MB of shared L3. The chip is fabricated by Intel and uses the Intel BGA 1964 socket, targeting the mobile market segment.

The AMD Ryzen 9 3900XT uses the Zen 2 architecture, specifically the Matisse 2 codename, built on TSMC’s 7 nm process with a dual-die design totaling 2x 74 mm² and 7,600 million transistors. It has 12 cores and 24 threads. Cache differs significantly: 64 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and a much larger 64 MB of L3. The chip uses the AMD Socket AM4 and targets the desktop market segment.

The Intel chip has integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 770), while the AMD chip has no integrated graphics. Intel supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, whereas AMD supports only DDR4. Intel uses PCIe Gen 5 with 20 lanes, while AMD uses PCIe Gen 4 with 24 lanes. The AMD chip has a memory bandwidth figure of 51.2 GB/s, while Intel’s memory bandwidth is not listed. Both are unlocked for overclocking, and both are currently Active in production status.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i7-12800HX | AMD Ryzen 9 3900XT |

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

| Cores | 16 | 12 |

| Threads | 24 | 24 |

| Base Clock | 2.00 GHz | 3.90 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.80 GHz | 4.70 GHz |

| TDP | 55 W | 105 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1964 | AMD Socket AM4 |

| Process Node | 10 nm | 7 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | TSMC |

| Transistors | Not listed | 7,600 million |

| Die Size | 215 mm² | 2x 74 mm² |

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

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

| L3 Cache | 25 MB (shared) | 64 MB |

| Memory Support | DDR4, DDR5 | DDR4 |

| Memory Bandwidth | Not listed | 51.2 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 5, 20 Lanes | Gen 4, 24 Lanes |

| Integrated Graphics | UHD Graphics 770 | None |

| Market Segment | Mobile | Desktop |

| Release Date | 2022-05-09 | 2020-07-06 |

| Launch MSRP | $457 | $499 |

| Part Number | SRLGL | 100-100000277WOF |