AMD Ryzen 9 5980HS vs Intel Core i5-12400T Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data presents a split decision between the AMD Ryzen 9 5980HS and the Intel Core i5-12400T, with each processor claiming two wins across the four shared Cinebench tests. The results show that the nature of the workload matters more than any overall performance crown.

In the Cinebench R15 suite, the AMD Ryzen 9 5980HS dominates. Its multicore score of 2083 eclipses the Intel Core i5-12400T's 1333, a commanding 56.3% advantage. This is the largest margin in the entire head-to-head comparison. The single-core R15 test tells a similar story, though with a smaller gap: AMD scores 243 against Intel's 188, a 29.3% lead. These are decisive victories for the Ryzen part, suggesting its architecture is particularly well-optimized for the legacy Cinebench R15 workload.

The tables turn completely in the newer Cinebench R23 tests. Here, the Intel Core i5-12400T takes the lead. In the multicore R23 benchmark, Intel scores 13234 versus AMD's 12629, a 4.6% advantage. The single-core R23 result is even more lopsided: Intel's 1868 beats AMD's 1529 by 18.1%. This reversal indicates that Intel's Alder Lake architecture handles the newer Cinebench engine more efficiently, particularly in single-threaded tasks where its boost clock and IPC improvements shine through.

Looking at the broader average benchmark score, the two processors are nearly inseparable. The AMD Ryzen 9 5980HS posts an average score of 4121, while the Intel Core i5-12400T averages 4019. This places both at the 57th percentile among all CPUs, meaning they occupy the same performance tier overall. The AMD part's nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 2700X (0.2% behind), the Intel Core i9-9900 (1% ahead), and the Intel Core i5-12500TE (0.9% behind). The Intel i5-12400T's closest competitors are the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 4655G (0.2% behind), the Intel Xeon E-2278G (0.8% ahead), and the Intel Xeon E-2336 (0.9% behind). These rival lists confirm that both chips sit in the same competitive neighborhood, with no clear overall winner.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen 9 5980HS is built on the Zen 3 architecture, codenamed Cezanne, using a 7 nm process node fabricated by TSMC. It houses 8 cores and 16 threads. The Intel Core i5-12400T uses the Alder Lake architecture, specifically Alder Lake-S, on Intel's 10 nm process node. It offers 6 cores and 12 threads. The die sizes are comparable — AMD's is 180 mm², Intel's is 163 mm² — but AMD packs 10,700 million transistors onto its larger die, while Intel's transistor count is not listed.

Cache configurations differ notably. The AMD Ryzen 9 5980HS features 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel Core i5-12400T provides 80 KB of L1 per core, a substantially larger 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 18 MB of shared L3 cache. Intel's larger per-core L2 cache likely contributes to its strong single-threaded performance in newer benchmarks, while AMD's balanced design favors multi-threaded throughput in older workloads.

Memory support marks another divergence. AMD supports DDR4 memory only, with a dual-channel bus providing 68.3 GB/s of bandwidth. Intel supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory over a dual-channel bus, though its memory bandwidth figure is not provided. Neither processor supports ECC memory. PCIe connectivity also favors Intel: the i5-12400T offers PCIe Gen 5 with 20 lanes (CPU only), while the Ryzen 9 5980HS is limited to PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only). This gives Intel a significant advantage for future expansion and high-speed peripherals.

Integrated graphics differ as well. AMD includes Radeon Vega 8 graphics, while Intel pairs the i5-12400T with UHD Graphics 730. The AMD part is a mobile processor on AMD Socket FP6, locked multiplier, and was released on 2021-01-11. The Intel part targets desktops on Intel Socket 1700, also with a locked multiplier, and has no listed release date. The market positioning is clear: AMD's chip is designed for laptops, while Intel's is built for desktop systems.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear division of labor. The AMD Ryzen 9 5980HS is the better choice for legacy multi-threaded workloads, as evidenced by its 56.3% multicore advantage in Cinebench R15. That test appears to reward AMD's 8-core, 16-thread configuration and Zen 3 architecture heavily. For users running older software that scales across many cores, the Ryzen part delivers substantially more performance.

The Intel Core i5-12400T takes over in modern workloads. Its 18.1% single-core lead in Cinebench R23 and 4.6% multicore win in the same test show that Intel's Alder Lake architecture is better suited for current and future applications. The larger L2 cache and newer process technology appear to pay dividends in the R23 engine. The Intel chip also offers more platform headroom with PCIe Gen 5 support and DDR5 compatibility, making it the more forward-looking option for desktop builds.

The average benchmark scores essentially cancel out any overall winner. Both processors sit at the 57th percentile, with the AMD part averaging 4121 and the Intel part averaging 4019 — a difference of roughly 2.5%. The choice ultimately depends on the specific software environment. Legacy multi-threaded apps favor AMD; modern single-threaded and multi-threaded apps favor Intel. Neither processor can claim universal superiority.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins in Cinebench R15 multicore?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 5980HS wins decisively with a score of 2083 versus Intel's 1333, a 56.3% advantage.

Q: What is the single-core performance difference in Cinebench R23?

A: The Intel Core i5-12400T leads with a score of 1868, which is 18.1% higher than the AMD Ryzen 9 5980HS's 1529.

Q: How do the average benchmark scores compare?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 5980HS averages 4121, while the Intel Core i5-12400T averages 4019. Both processors rank at the 57th percentile among all CPUs.

Q: What is the core and thread count for each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 5980HS has 8 cores and 16 threads. The Intel Core i5-12400T has 6 cores and 12 threads.

Q: Which processor supports DDR5 memory?

A: The Intel Core i5-12400T supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory. The AMD Ryzen 9 5980HS supports DDR4 only.

Q: What is the launch MSRP of the Intel Core i5-12400T?

A: The launch MSRP is $192. The AMD Ryzen 9 5980HS has no listed launch MSRP.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 9 5980HS wins in scenarios that leverage its higher core count and legacy architecture strengths. The Cinebench R15 multicore test shows a 56.3% lead, making it the stronger option for older multi-threaded applications that do not benefit from Intel's newer optimizations. Its single-core R15 advantage of 29.3% also indicates that it handles legacy single-threaded workloads with ease. The 35 W TDP and mobile form factor (AMD Socket FP6) make it suitable for thin-and-light laptops where power efficiency and older software compatibility are priorities.

The Intel Core i5-12400T wins in modern computing environments. Its Cinebench R23 single-core score of 1868 (18.1% ahead) demonstrates superior per-thread performance for current applications, including web browsing, office productivity, and many games. The 4.6% multicore lead in R23 suggests that even well-threaded modern software runs better on Intel. The desktop platform advantages — PCIe Gen 5, 20 lanes, DDR5 support, and Intel Socket 1700 — make it the choice for new desktop builds that prioritize upgradeability and high-speed storage or graphics. The larger L2 cache per core (1.25 MB versus 512 KB) likely contributes to its responsiveness in latency-sensitive tasks.

The 35 W TDP is shared by both processors, so power draw is not a differentiator. The AMD part's mobile orientation means it belongs in laptops, while the Intel part's desktop socket means it belongs in tower or SFF systems. For users running a mix of old and new software, the average scores suggest either processor will deliver similar overall performance, but the specific workload split above should guide the decision.

Specification Differences

The following specifications differ between the AMD Ryzen 9 5980HS and the Intel Core i5-12400T:

• Series: 5000 series (AMD) versus Core 12th Gen (Intel)
• Cores: 8 (AMD) versus 6 (Intel)
• Threads: 16 (AMD) versus 12 (Intel)
• Base clock: 3.00 GHz (AMD) versus 1800.00 MHz (Intel)
• Boost clock: 4.80 GHz (AMD) versus 4.20 GHz (Intel)
• Socket: AMD Socket FP6 versus Intel Socket 1700
• Architecture: Zen 3 versus Alder Lake
• Codename: Cezanne versus Alder Lake-S
• Generation: Ryzen 9 (Zen 3 (Cezanne)) versus Core i5 (Alder Lake-S)
• Process node: 7 nm (TSMC) versus 10 nm (Intel)
• Foundry: TSMC versus Intel
• Die size: 180 mm² versus 163 mm²
• Transistors: 10,700 million versus not listed
• L1 cache: 64 KB per core versus 80 KB per core
• L2 cache: 512 KB per core versus 1.25 MB per core
• L3 cache: 16 MB shared versus 18 MB shared
• Memory support: DDR4 versus DDR4, DDR5
• Memory bandwidth: 68.3 GB/s versus not listed
• PCIe: Gen 3, 16 Lanes (CPU only) versus Gen 5, 20 Lanes (CPU only)
• Integrated graphics: Radeon Vega 8 versus UHD Graphics 730
• Market segment: Mobile versus Desktop
• Release date: 2021-01-11 versus not listed
• Part number: 100-000000474 versus SRL5X