AMD Ryzen 9 5980HS vs Intel Core i5-12500T Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins in Cinebench R23 multi-core performance?

A: The Intel Core i5-12500T takes the win with a score of 13913, which is 10.2% ahead of the AMD Ryzen 9 5980HS’s 12629.

Q: How do the two chips compare in single-core Cinebench R15?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 5980HS leads with 243 points versus Intel’s 197, a delta of -18.9% from Intel’s perspective. That translates to AMD being roughly 23% faster in that specific test.

Q: What is the average benchmark score for each processor?

A: The Intel Core i5-12500T posts an average benchmark score of 4216, while the AMD Ryzen 9 5980HS sits at 4121. Both land at the 57th percentile among all CPUs.

Q: Which chip has more cores and threads?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 5980HS has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Intel Core i5-12500T offers 6 cores and 12 threads.

Q: Do both processors support the same memory types?

A: No. The Intel chip supports both DDR4 and DDR5, whereas the AMD chip supports only DDR4. Both use dual-channel memory buses.

Q: Are these chips unlocked for overclocking?

A: Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier, so both are locked for overclocking.

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Architecture Differences

The Intel Core i5-12500T is built on Intel’s Alder Lake architecture, specifically the Alder Lake-S die, fabricated on Intel’s 10 nm process. The die size is 163 mm². The AMD Ryzen 9 5980HS uses the Zen 3 architecture under the Cezanne codename, built on TSMC’s 7 nm process, with a larger die at 180 mm² and a transistor count of 10,700 million.

Cache layouts diverge significantly. Intel allocates 80 KB of L1 per core and 1.25 MB of L2 per core, with 18 MB of shared L3. AMD provides 64 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3. Intel’s larger per-core L2 and bigger L3 pool give it a structural advantage in cache-heavy workloads, though AMD’s newer process node may offset some of that with higher efficiency.

Memory support differs: Intel’s chip supports DDR4 and DDR5, while AMD’s is limited to DDR4. Intel also provides a memory bandwidth figure of 68.3 GB/s for the AMD part, though Intel’s own bandwidth is not listed. PCIe connectivity favors Intel, which offers Gen 5 with 20 CPU lanes, versus AMD’s Gen 3 with 16 lanes. The integrated graphics are also different: Intel uses UHD Graphics 770, while AMD pairs the Ryzen 9 5980HS with Radeon Vega 8.

The sockets are incompatible — Intel uses Socket 1700, AMD uses Socket FP6. The Intel chip is a desktop part, while the AMD chip targets mobile systems. Both are listed as Active in production status, and both have locked multipliers. The AMD part has a release date of January 11, 2021; Intel’s release date is not provided.

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The Verdict

The benchmark data tells a split story. In Cinebench R23, the Intel Core i5-12500T wins both multi-core and single-core tests. Its multi-core score of 13913 beats AMD’s 12629 by 10.2%, and its single-core score of 1964 beats AMD’s 1529 by 28.4%. For workloads that rely on the latest Cinebench version — which typically stresses modern instruction sets and single-thread efficiency — Intel is the clear pick.

However, in the older Cinebench R15 tests, AMD dominates. The Ryzen 9 5980HS scores 2083 in multi-core versus Intel’s 1402, a 32.7% advantage. In single-core R15, AMD’s 243 beats Intel’s 197, an 18.9% gap. This suggests AMD’s higher base clock (3.00 GHz versus 2.00 GHz) and higher boost clock (4.80 GHz versus 4.40 GHz) help in shorter, less cache-sensitive workloads.

The head-to-head benchmark tally is even at 2 wins each. The average benchmark scores are close — Intel at 4216, AMD at 4121 — and both sit at the same 57th percentile. The nearest rivals for Intel include the Intel Core i9-9900 (4163, delta 1.3%) and Intel Core i5-11500H (4187, delta 0.7%). AMD’s nearest rivals include the Intel Core i9-9900 (4163, delta -1%) and Intel Core i5-12500TE (4083, delta 0.9%).

Who should pick which? If the workload involves Cinebench R23-style rendering or single-threaded performance, the Intel Core i5-12500T is the stronger choice. If the workload is more representative of Cinebench R15 or relies on higher raw clock speeds, the AMD Ryzen 9 5980HS offers a significant edge. The data does not show a universal winner.

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Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i5-12500T | AMD Ryzen 9 5980HS |

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

| Cores | 6 | 8 |

| Threads | 12 | 16 |

| Base Clock | 2.00 GHz | 3.00 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.40 GHz | 4.80 GHz |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1700 | AMD Socket FP6 |

| Architecture | Alder Lake | Zen 3 |

| Codename | Alder Lake-S | Cezanne |

| Process Node | 10 nm | 7 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | TSMC |

| Die Size | 163 mm² | 180 mm² |

| Transistors | Not listed | 10,700 million |

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

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

| L3 Cache | 18 MB (shared) | 16 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR4, DDR5 | DDR4 |

| Memory Bandwidth | Not listed | 68.3 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 5, 20 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 3, 16 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | UHD Graphics 770 | Radeon Vega 8 |

| Market Segment | Desktop | Mobile |

| Release Date | Not listed | 2021-01-11 |

| Part Number | SRL5W | 100-000000474 |

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Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The two processors split their four shared benchmark results exactly evenly, but the margins tell very different stories.

The AMD Ryzen 9 5980HS wins the Cinebench R15 multi-core test with 2083 points against Intel’s 1402. That is a 32.7% advantage, the largest performance gap in either direction across all tests. The R15 single-core test also goes to AMD, with 243 versus Intel’s 197, an 18.9% margin. These results indicate that AMD’s higher base clock and boost clock translate directly into faster execution in this older benchmark, which is less sensitive to cache size and more reliant on raw clock speed.

The Intel Core i5-12500T counters decisively in the newer Cinebench R23 tests. In multi-core, Intel scores 13913 versus AMD’s 12629, a 10.2% win. The single-core R23 result is even more lopsided: Intel’s 1964 beats AMD’s 1529 by 28.4%. This is a notable reversal — Intel’s chip, despite having fewer cores and a lower base clock, outperforms AMD in the more modern workload. The 28.4% single-core margin in R23 is particularly striking given that AMD’s boost clock is 0.40 GHz higher.

Looking at the broader benchmark picture, Intel’s average score of 4216 edges out AMD’s 4121, though both sit at the same 57th percentile. Intel’s nearest rivals include the Intel Xeon E-2378 (4232, delta -0.4%) and Intel Core i7-1265U (4248, delta -0.7%), showing that the i5-12500T sits in a tight cluster. AMD’s nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 2700X (4114, delta 0.2%) and Intel Core i5-12500TE (4083, delta 0.9%), indicating similar competitive positioning.

The data suggests that benchmark selection dramatically changes the outcome. In R15, AMD leads by a wide margin. In R23, Intel leads by an equally wide margin. The two chips are evenly matched in overall wins, but the performance character is opposite: AMD favors older, clock-driven tests, while Intel favors newer, cache- and architecture-sensitive tests. For users who know which Cinebench version their workload resembles, the choice is clear. For general-purpose comparison, the average scores and percentile rankings show these processors are effectively peers.