AMD Ryzen 9 5980HX vs Intel Core i7-12800H Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i7-12800H and AMD Ryzen 9 5980HX split the workload categories almost evenly, with the Intel part taking 9 benchmark wins and the AMD part taking 8. The split is not random; it tracks the fundamental design philosophies of the two chips. The Intel Core i7-12800H, with its 14 cores and 20 threads, dominates workloads that scale heavily with core count and raw parallel throughput. The AMD Ryzen 9 5980HX, built on 8 cores and 16 threads, counters with superior performance in single-threaded and lightly threaded scenarios, as well as in encryption and compression tasks.

For content creation, the picture is mixed. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Intel part leads by 11.1 percent, and in Cinebench R20 multicore it edges ahead by 1.5 percent. However, the AMD chip strikes back hard in Cinebench R23 multicore, where it is 23 percent ahead, and in Cinebench R23 singlecore, where it leads by 34.8 percent. This suggests the Ryzen 9 5980HX has a distinct advantage in sustained long-duration rendering workloads, while the Intel part holds its own in shorter render tests.

For everyday productivity and office tasks, the Intel Core i7-12800H wins the PassMark multithread test by 4.2 percent and the PassMark single-thread test by 3.4 percent. The AMD part counters with a 3.7 percent lead in integer math and a 5.5 percent lead in random string sorting. For security and encryption work, the AMD Ryzen 9 5980HX is clearly stronger, leading by 15.5 percent in data encryption and 22.6 percent in extended instructions. The Intel part, by contrast, wins decisively in prime number finding by 92.5 percent and in physics simulation by 90.9 percent, which points to very specific workload characteristics rather than a general trend.

The Intel chip also leads in floating point math by 21.4 percent, making it the better choice for scientific computing and simulation tasks that rely heavily on FPU throughput. The AMD chip leads in data compression by 12.1 percent, which matters for file archiving and database workloads. In short, the Intel Core i7-12800H is the pick for physics, floating point, and prime-heavy integer workloads, while the AMD Ryzen 9 5980HX is the pick for compression, encryption, and long render jobs.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher single-core Cinebench R23 score?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 5980HX scores 2802 in Cinebench R23 singlecore, while the Intel Core i7-12800H scores 1828. That is a 34.8 percent advantage for AMD.

Q: How do the two chips compare in multi-core rendering?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 5980HX wins Cinebench R23 multicore with a score of 19850 versus 15283 for the Intel Core i7-12800H, a 23 percent lead. In the older Cinebench R15 multicore test, the Intel part leads with 2222 versus 2000, an 11.1 percent margin.

Q: Which CPU is better for encryption workloads?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 5980HX leads in PassMark data encryption with a score of 19221 versus 16234 for the Intel Core i7-12800H, a 15.5 percent advantage.

Q: Does the Intel Core i7-12800H win any math-heavy tests?

A: Yes. The Intel part wins PassMark floating point math with 60961 versus 50223 for AMD, a 21.4 percent lead, and PassMark find prime numbers with 102 versus 53, a 92.5 percent lead.

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i7-12800H has 14 cores and 20 threads. The AMD Ryzen 9 5980HX has 8 cores and 16 threads.

Q: Are both processors in the same performance percentile?

A: Yes, both are in the 82nd percentile of all CPUs in the database. The Intel Core i7-12800H has an average benchmark score of 32121, while the AMD Ryzen 9 5980HX scores 31495.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results show a genuine split personality between the two chips. The largest Intel win is in PassMark find prime numbers, where the Core i7-12800H scores 102 against 53 for the Ryzen 9 5980HX, a 92.5 percent blowout. The second largest Intel win is PassMark physics, with 1682 versus 881, a 90.9 percent margin. These are not subtle differences; they are near-doubling results. The Intel part also wins floating point math by 21.4 percent, with 60961 versus 50223, and Cinebench R15 multicore by 11.1 percent, with 2222 versus 2000.

The AMD Ryzen 9 5980HX has its own set of dominant wins. The biggest is Cinebench R23 singlecore, where it scores 2802 versus 1828 for Intel, a 34.8 percent lead. In Cinebench R23 multicore, the AMD chip scores 19850 versus 15283, a 23 percent lead. In PassMark extended instructions, AMD wins with 21209 versus 16408, a 22.6 percent margin. Data encryption goes to AMD by 15.5 percent, with 19221 versus 16234. Data compression goes to AMD by 12.1 percent, with 310694 versus 273247. The smaller AMD wins include random string sorting by 5.5 percent and integer math by 3.7 percent.

The closer contests are worth noting as well. Cinebench R20 multicore goes to Intel by just 1.5 percent, 8463 versus 8337. Cinebench R20 singlecore also goes to Intel by 1.5 percent, 1194 versus 1176. PassMark multithread goes to Intel by 4.2 percent, 24346 versus 23356. PassMark single-thread goes to Intel by 3.4 percent, 3440 versus 3326. The Cinebench R15 singlecore test is one of the few where AMD wins narrowly, with 282 versus 265, a 6 percent margin. These narrow margins indicate that in many tasks the two processors are effectively interchangeable, with the larger wins concentrated in specific workload categories.

Overall, the recorded data shows 9 wins for the Intel Core i7-12800H and 8 wins for the AMD Ryzen 9 5980HX across the shared benchmark suite. The average benchmark scores reflect this near parity: 32121 for Intel versus 31495 for AMD. Both chips land in the 82nd percentile of all CPUs, and their nearest rivals in the database are similar desktop and mobile parts, such as the Intel Core i5-14400 and the Intel Core i5-13500, indicating that both are solid mid-to-high-end performers.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every fundamental specification. The Intel Core i7-12800H uses 14 cores and 20 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 9 5980HX uses 8 cores and 16 threads. The base clock speeds differ significantly: the Intel chip runs at 2.40 GHz, while the AMD chip runs at 3.30 GHz. Both share the same boost clock of 4.80 GHz. Both are rated at a 45 W TDP.

The cache layouts are completely different. The Intel Core i7-12800H has 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core, and 24 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD Ryzen 9 5980HX has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 cache per core, and 16 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel chip has a larger total cache footprint, which helps in certain multithreaded workloads.

Memory support also differs. The Intel Core i7-12800H supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration, while the AMD Ryzen 9 5980HX supports only DDR4 in a dual-channel configuration. The AMD chip has a recorded memory bandwidth of 68.3 GB/s; no comparable figure is recorded for the Intel part. Neither chip supports ECC memory.

The PCIe interfaces differ as well. The Intel part offers Gen 4 with 20 lanes from the CPU, while the AMD part offers Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU. The integrated graphics differ: the Intel Core i7-12800H uses Iris Xe with 96 execution units, while the AMD Ryzen 9 5980HX uses Radeon Vega 8. The sockets are different: Intel BGA 1744 for the Intel chip, AMD Socket FP6 for the AMD chip. The Intel multiplier is locked, the AMD multiplier is unlocked. The Intel part number is SRLD2, the AMD part number is 100-000000474.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between these two chips is substantial. The Intel Core i7-12800H is built on Intel's Alder Lake architecture, specifically the Alder Lake-H generation. It uses a 10 nm process node and is fabricated by Intel. The die size is recorded at 217 mm². The AMD Ryzen 9 5980HX is built on Zen 3 architecture, codenamed Cezanne, and uses a 7 nm process node fabricated by TSMC. The AMD die size is 180 mm², and the transistor count is recorded at 10,700 million. No transistor count is recorded for the Intel part.

These architectural differences explain much of the benchmark behavior. The Intel Alder Lake design uses a hybrid core arrangement, pairing performance cores with efficiency cores to reach 14 cores and 20 threads. The AMD Zen 3 design uses a more traditional 8-core, 16-thread layout with higher base clocks. The higher base clock of 3.30 GHz on the AMD part, combined with the larger L3 cache efficiency of Zen 3, helps explain the AMD wins in single-threaded Cinebench R23 and in encryption and compression tasks. The Intel part's larger core count and larger cache, 24 MB shared L3 versus 16 MB, help explain the wins in physics, floating point math, and prime number finding.

The process node difference is also notable. The AMD chip's 7 nm TSMC process is smaller than the Intel 10 nm node, which typically allows for better power efficiency per transistor. The Intel chip's larger die size of 217 mm² versus 180 mm² for AMD reflects the additional cores and cache. The AMD Ryzen 9 5980HX was released on January 11, 2021, while no release date is recorded for the Intel Core i7-12800H. Both are classified as mobile processors and are currently listed as active in production.

The memory and PCIe differences are also architectural in nature. Intel's support for both DDR4 and DDR5 gives it a path to newer memory technology, while AMD is limited to DDR4. Intel's PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes is a generation ahead of AMD's PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes. These differences matter for system builders choosing platforms, as they affect upgrade paths and peripheral bandwidth. The unlocked multiplier on the AMD part offers overclocking headroom that the locked Intel multiplier does not, though both are mobile parts where thermal headroom is limited.