AMD Ryzen 9 5980HX vs Intel Core i7-12650HX Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 9 5980HX and Intel Core i7-12650HX are two mobile processors that target the same performance tier, yet they achieve their results through fundamentally different designs. The benchmark data shows the AMD chip winning 12 of 17 head-to-head tests, but the Intel part is far from a pushover, taking 5 wins in specific workloads. The Ryzen 9 5980HX consistently leads in Cinebench tests, with margins of 4.2% to 4.4% across all versions, and it dominates in data compression (16.5% ahead), encryption (25.4% ahead), and extended instructions (33.8% ahead). The Intel Core i7-12650HX counters with a 28.4% lead in prime number finding, a 23.5% lead in physics, a 14% advantage in floating-point math, and an 8.6% edge in single-threaded PassMark tests. Both processors sit at the 82nd percentile of all CPUs, and their average benchmark scores are nearly identical, with the AMD part at 31495 and the Intel part at 31290.

The Verdict

The data presents a clear split: the AMD Ryzen 9 5980HX is the better choice for users whose workloads are dominated by rendering, compilation, and general productivity tasks. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 19850 versus 19043 for the Intel chip, a 4.2% difference, indicates a meaningful advantage in threaded content creation. The gap grows in encryption workloads, where the AMD part scores 19221 versus 15325, a 25.4% improvement that suggests stronger security-related performance. For data compression, the AMD chip's 310694 score versus 266700 represents a 16.5% lead, making it the preferred option for archiving and file management tasks.

The Intel Core i7-12650HX, however, is the pick for users prioritizing raw single-threaded responsiveness or specific computational patterns. Its PassMark single-thread score of 3637 versus 3326 gives it an 8.6% advantage, which translates to snappier everyday application feel. The physics score of 1152 versus 881, a 23.5% lead, points to better performance in simulation or gaming physics engines. The floating-point math advantage of 14% (58426 versus 50223) makes it more suitable for scientific computing that relies heavily on FPU throughput.

Strictly from the data, the AMD Ryzen 9 5980HX is the all-around winner for mixed workloads, as it wins 12 of 17 tests and holds the higher average benchmark score. The Intel chip is a specialist, winning in narrow but important niches. Users who need maximum single-thread speed or specific math-heavy operations should choose the Intel part, while everyone else benefits from the AMD chip's broader dominance.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen 9 5980HX uses Zen 3 architecture on a 7 nm TSMC process, with a die size of 180 mm² and 10,700 million transistors. It features 8 cores and 16 threads, with a base clock of 3.30 GHz and a boost clock of 4.80 GHz. The cache hierarchy consists of 64 KB L1 per core, 512 KB L2 per core, and 16 MB shared L3. Memory support is limited to DDR4 on a dual-channel bus, offering 68.3 GB/s bandwidth. The integrated graphics are Radeon Vega 8, and PCIe connectivity is Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU.

The Intel Core i7-12650HX uses Alder Lake architecture on Intel's 10 nm process, with a die size of 215 mm². It has 14 cores and 20 threads, reflecting a hybrid design, with a base clock of 2000.00 MHz and a boost clock of 4.70 GHz. The cache configuration is larger per core: 80 KB L1, 1.25 MB L2, and 24 MB shared L3. Memory support spans both DDR4 and DDR5 on a dual-channel bus, though no memory bandwidth figure is provided in the data. The integrated graphics are UHD Graphics 770, and PCIe connectivity is Gen 5 with 20 lanes from the CPU.

The process node difference is significant: TSMC's 7 nm versus Intel's 10 nm. The AMD chip's smaller node and lower transistor count (10,700 million versus no listed figure for Intel) contribute to its efficiency, while the Intel chip's larger die size of 215 mm² accommodates more cores. The Intel part's higher core count (14 versus 8) and thread count (20 versus 16) suggests it should win in multi-threaded workloads, but the data shows otherwise, indicating the Zen 3 architecture extracts more performance per core. The PCIe generation difference is notable: Intel offers Gen 5 with 20 lanes versus AMD's Gen 3 with 16 lanes, which matters for future expansion but does not appear in the benchmark scores.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher single-core benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i7-12650HX leads in PassMark single-thread testing with a score of 3637, which is 8.6% higher than the AMD Ryzen 9 5980HX's score of 3326. However, in Cinebench R23 single-core, the AMD chip scores 2802 versus 2688, giving it a 4.2% advantage.

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

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 5980HX wins in all three Cinebench multi-core tests. In R15, it scores 2000 versus 1919 (4.2% lead). In R20, it scores 8337 versus 7998 (4.2% lead). In R23, it scores 19850 versus 19043 (4.2% lead).

Q: Which processor is better for data encryption tasks?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 5980HX is significantly better for data encryption, scoring 19221 in PassMark's encryption test compared to the Intel Core i7-12650HX's 15325. This represents a 25.4% advantage for the AMD chip.

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

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 5980HX has 8 cores and 16 threads. The Intel Core i7-12650HX has 14 cores and 20 threads. Despite having fewer cores, the AMD chip wins more benchmark tests.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock speed?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 5980HX has a boost clock of 4.80 GHz, while the Intel Core i7-12650HX has a boost clock of 4.70 GHz. The AMD chip's boost clock is 0.10 GHz higher.

Q: How do the processors compare in PassMark integer math performance?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 5980HX leads in integer math with a score of 89772, which is 9.7% higher than the Intel Core i7-12650HX's score of 81810.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key specifications. The AMD Ryzen 9 5980HX has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Intel Core i7-12650HX has 14 cores and 20 threads. The base clock is 3.30 GHz for AMD versus 2000.00 MHz for Intel, and the boost clock is 4.80 GHz versus 4.70 GHz. The TDP is 45 watts for AMD and 55 watts for Intel. The socket is AMD Socket FP6 versus Intel BGA 1964. The architecture is Zen 3 versus Alder Lake, with codenames Cezanne and Alder Lake-HX respectively. The process node is 7 nm from TSMC versus 10 nm from Intel. The die size is 180 mm² versus 215 mm². The transistor count is 10,700 million for AMD, with no figure listed for Intel.

The cache configurations differ substantially. 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 24 MB shared L3. Memory support is DDR4 for AMD, while Intel supports both DDR4 and DDR5, both on dual-channel buses. AMD lists a memory bandwidth of 68.3 GB/s, while Intel does not provide a figure. PCIe support is Gen 3 with 16 lanes for AMD versus Gen 5 with 20 lanes for Intel. The integrated graphics are Radeon Vega 8 for AMD and UHD Graphics 770 for Intel. Both have unlocked multipliers, and neither supports ECC memory.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench suite shows a consistent pattern of AMD dominance. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the AMD Ryzen 9 5980HX scores 2000 versus 1919, a 4.2% win. In R15 single-core, it scores 282 versus 270, a 4.4% win. In R20 multi-core, the scores are 8337 versus 7998, another 4.2% win. In R20 single-core, 1176 versus 1128 represents a 4.3% win. In R23 multi-core, 19850 versus 19043 is a 4.2% win. In R23 single-core, 2802 versus 2688 is a 4.2% win. Across all six Cinebench tests, AMD wins by roughly 4%, indicating a uniform architectural advantage in this workload.

The PassMark suite tells a more varied story. AMD wins data compression with 310694 versus 266700, a 16.5% margin. AMD wins data encryption with 19221 versus 15325, a 25.4% margin. AMD wins extended instructions with 21209 versus 15856, a 33.8% margin. AMD wins integer math with 89772 versus 81810, a 9.7% margin. AMD wins multithread with 23356 versus 22573, a 3.5% margin. AMD wins random string sorting with 32238 versus 29692, an 8.6% margin.

Intel takes the remaining PassMark tests. The biggest Intel win is in find prime numbers, where it scores 74 versus 53, a 28.4% advantage. Intel also wins physics with 1152 versus 881, a 23.5% lead. Intel wins floating-point math with 58426 versus 50223, a 14% lead. Intel wins single-thread with 3637 versus 3326, an 8.6% lead. The single-thread and singlethread tests both show the same scores for Intel, confirming consistency.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 9 5980HX wins in the majority of workloads, taking 12 of 17 tests. Its most decisive victories are in extended instructions (33.8% ahead) and data encryption (25.4% ahead), suggesting it is superior for cryptographic operations and instruction-heavy code. The data compression win of 16.5% makes it ideal for file archiving and database workloads. The integer math advantage of 9.7% points to strengths in general-purpose computing. All Cinebench wins, whether single-core or multi-core, go to AMD, indicating that it is the better choice for rendering and video encoding. The multithread win of 3.5% and random string sorting win of 8.6% round out a comprehensive productivity package.

The Intel Core i7-12650HX wins in 5 tests, but these wins are concentrated in specific areas. The find prime numbers win of 28.4% suggests it excels at integer-heavy loops that are not memory-bound. The physics win of 23.5% makes it the better choice for physics simulations in gaming or engineering. The floating-point math win of 14% indicates superiority in scientific computing and numerical analysis. The single-thread win of 8.6% gives it an edge in lightly threaded applications where raw per-core speed matters, such as legacy software or certain game logic. These wins are significant, but they are fewer and narrower than AMD's. The data suggests that users with workloads matching Intel's strengths should choose the i7-12650HX, but for a general-purpose mobile processor, the AMD Ryzen 9 5980HX is the more versatile performer.