AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX vs Intel Core i5-12450HX Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX and Intel Core i5-12450HX are both 8-core mobile processors aimed at high-performance laptops, yet benchmark data reveals they have distinctly different strengths. The Ryzen 9 5900HX wins 10 of the 15 head-to-head comparisons, while the Intel chip takes 5, but the margin and nature of those wins tell a more nuanced story about which workload each processor is built for.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX has an average benchmark score of 24822, which is slightly higher than the Intel Core i5-12450HX’s 24576. Both processors sit at the 77th percentile when compared against all CPUs.

Q: How do the two processors compare in single-threaded performance?

A: The Intel Core i5-12450HX leads in single-threaded tests. It scores 2119 in Cinebench R23 single-core versus 1488 for the AMD chip, a 29.8% advantage. In PassMark single-thread, Intel wins 3340 to 3178, a 4.9% lead.

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

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX dominates multi-threaded benchmarks. It scores 12845 in Cinebench R23 multi-core versus 11390 for Intel, a 12.8% lead. The gap widens to 39.3% in Cinebench R15 multi-core, where AMD scores 2106 against Intel’s 1512.

Q: What are the core and thread counts for each processor?

A: Both processors have 8 cores. The AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX supports 16 threads, while the Intel Core i5-12450HX supports 12 threads. This difference in thread count is a key factor in the AMD chip’s multi-threaded advantage.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock speed?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX has a boost clock of 4.60 GHz, which is higher than the Intel Core i5-12450HX’s 4.40 GHz. However, the Intel chip still manages to win single-threaded tests despite the lower clock.

Q: Do both processors support DDR5 memory?

A: No. The AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX only supports DDR4 memory, while the Intel Core i5-12450HX supports both DDR4 and DDR5. The Intel chip also supports PCIe Gen 5 with 20 lanes, whereas the AMD chip is limited to PCIe Gen 3.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX is built on TSMC’s 7 nm process node with a die size of 180 mm², housing 10,700 million transistors. It uses the Zen 3 architecture under the Cezanne codename. The Intel Core i5-12450HX is fabricated on Intel’s 10 nm process with a larger die size of 215 mm², using the Alder Lake architecture under the Alder Lake-HX codename.

Cache layouts differ substantially. The AMD chip provides 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel chip offers 80 KB of L1 per core, a much larger 1.25 MB of L2 per core, but only 12 MB of shared L3 cache. This means Intel has more low-latency cache per core, while AMD has a larger pool of shared L3.

The memory controller is another split. AMD supports only DDR4 with dual-channel configuration and a memory bandwidth of 68.3 GB/s. Intel supports both DDR4 and DDR5 in dual-channel mode, though no bandwidth figure is listed. PCIe support also diverges: AMD offers Gen 3, while Intel provides PCIe Gen 5 with 20 lanes from the CPU.

Integrated graphics differ as well. The AMD chip features Radeon Vega 8, while the Intel chip uses UHD Graphics 710. Neither processor supports ECC memory. The AMD part has an unlocked multiplier, and so does the Intel part, making both overclockable in supporting systems.

The release dates are roughly a year apart. The AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX launched on January 11, 2021, while the Intel Core i5-12450HX launched on May 9, 2022. The AMD chip has a TDP of 45 watts, while the Intel chip has a higher TDP of 55 watts.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX wins decisively in multi-threaded and compute-heavy workloads. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, AMD scores 2106 against Intel’s 1512, a 39.3% advantage. The Cinebench R23 multi-core test shows a narrower but still clear lead: AMD at 12845 versus Intel at 11390, a 12.8% difference. This pattern suggests the AMD chip’s extra threads (16 vs 12) provide a meaningful scaling benefit in heavily threaded rendering tasks.

AMD’s lead extends to integer and encryption workloads. In PassMark integer math, AMD scores 86735 versus Intel’s 57189, a massive 51.7% win. Data encryption shows a 50.2% advantage (18188 vs 12110), and extended instructions follow at 40.9% (19488 vs 13832). These are large, consistent margins that point to superior compute throughput per clock in AMD’s Zen 3 design.

Data compression also favors AMD, with a score of 287793 versus 219707, a 31% lead. Floating-point math goes to AMD by 10.3% (47556 vs 43126), and multithreaded PassMark shows AMD ahead by 22.2% (22326 vs 18274). Random string sorting is another AMD win, 30042 vs 23306, a 28.9% margin.

The Intel Core i5-12450HX wins in a few specific areas. Its biggest victory is in Cinebench R23 single-core, where it scores 2119 versus AMD’s 1488, a 29.8% lead. This is a substantial gap that indicates Intel’s Alder Lake architecture has a significant per-core performance advantage in lightly threaded workloads. PassMark single-thread also goes to Intel, 3340 vs 3178, a 4.9% edge.

Intel also wins in PassMark physics (1086 vs 909, a 16.3% lead) and in the find prime numbers test (54 vs 53, a 1.9% margin). These wins are narrower and more specialized. The physics result is notable because it shows Intel performing better in a test that often relies on single-threaded efficiency, while the prime numbers test is nearly a tie.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key specifications. The AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX has a base clock of 3.30 GHz and a boost clock of 4.60 GHz, while the Intel Core i5-12450HX has a base clock of 2.40 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz. AMD runs at a lower TDP of 45 watts, while Intel’s TDP is 55 watts.

Thread counts differ: AMD has 16 threads, Intel has 12. The AMD chip uses socket AMD Socket FP6, while Intel uses Intel BGA 1964. Process nodes differ as noted, with AMD at 7 nm and Intel at 10 nm. Die size is 180 mm² for AMD and 215 mm² for Intel.

Memory support is a clear split: AMD only supports DDR4, while Intel supports DDR4 and DDR5. AMD has a listed memory bandwidth of 68.3 GB/s; Intel does not have a listed figure. PCIe support differs with AMD at Gen 3 and Intel at Gen 5 with 20 lanes.

Cache specifications are different across all levels. AMD has 64 KB L1 per core, 512 KB L2 per core, and 16 MB shared L3. Intel has 80 KB L1 per core, 1.25 MB L2 per core, and 12 MB shared L3. Integrated graphics differ: AMD uses Radeon Vega 8, Intel uses UHD Graphics 710.

The release dates differ by over a year, with AMD launching in January 2021 and Intel in May 2022. The Intel chip has a launch MSRP of $284. The AMD chip has no listed launch MSRP. Both have unlocked multipliers and neither supports ECC memory.

The Verdict

The benchmark data points to a clear split in workload suitability. The AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX is the stronger choice for multi-threaded, compute-intensive tasks. It wins 10 of 15 head-to-head comparisons, with particularly large margins in integer math (51.7%), data encryption (50.2%), and extended instructions (40.9%). Its 16 threads versus Intel’s 12 threads give it a structural advantage in any application that scales with thread count. For users running rendering, compilation, or data processing workloads, the AMD chip delivers consistently higher throughput.

The Intel Core i5-12450HX is the better option for single-threaded performance. Its 29.8% lead in Cinebench R23 single-core is the largest margin in any test, and it also wins PassMark single-thread and physics tests. This makes it suitable for applications that rely heavily on per-core speed, such as older games or lightly threaded productivity software. The Intel chip also benefits from newer platform features, including DDR5 memory support and PCIe Gen 5 connectivity.

The average benchmark scores are close, with AMD at 24822 and Intel at 24576, but the performance profiles are not interchangeable. The AMD chip’s wins are often by wide margins, while Intel’s wins are either narrow (single-thread PassMark at 4.9%) or confined to specific tests. The data suggests the AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX is the more versatile processor overall, while the Intel Core i5-12450HX excels in a narrower set of single-threaded scenarios.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX wins in multi-threaded rendering, as shown by Cinebench R15 multi-core (2106 vs 1512) and Cinebench R23 multi-core (12845 vs 11390). It also dominates in integer-heavy computations, with PassMark integer math at 86735 versus 57189. Data encryption (18188 vs 12110) and extended instruction workloads (19488 vs 13832) are clear AMD strengths. Compression tasks favor AMD with a 31% lead in PassMark data compression (287793 vs 219707). Floating-point math (47556 vs 43126) and general multithreaded performance (22326 vs 18274) also go to AMD. Random string sorting (30042 vs 23306) rounds out the AMD wins.

The Intel Core i5-12450HX wins in single-threaded rendering with a decisive Cinebench R23 single-core score of 2119 versus 1488. It also takes PassMark single-thread (3340 vs 3178) and the identical single-thread variant (3340 vs 3178). Physics simulation goes to Intel (1086 vs 909), and the find prime numbers test is a narrow Intel win (54 vs 53). These wins are concentrated in tests that leverage high per-core clock efficiency rather than raw thread scaling.

For a user choosing between the two, the decision hinges on workload type. Data-heavy, parallel tasks favor the AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX by substantial margins. Single-threaded, latency-sensitive tasks favor the Intel Core i5-12450HX, though with smaller overall margins. The AMD chip’s higher thread count and lower TDP make it an efficient multi-threaded workhorse, while Intel’s newer architecture and platform features appeal to users prioritizing per-core speed and modern I/O.