AMD Ryzen 9 6900HS vs Intel Core i5-12450HX Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data splits these two mobile processors along clear lines. The AMD Ryzen 9 6900HS takes 11 of the 15 recorded head-to-head wins, while the Intel Core i5-12450HX claims 4. That raw tally, however, hides a more nuanced picture about what each chip does best.

The Ryzen 9 6900HS dominates heavily threaded workloads. Its wins span Cinebench R15 multi-core, Cinebench R23 multi-core, PassMark multi-thread, integer math, floating-point math, data compression, data encryption, extended instructions, prime number finding, and random string sorting. This is a processor built for sustained parallel throughput, and the data reflects that consistently.

The Intel Core i5-12450HX wins in a narrower but still meaningful set of tests: Cinebench R23 single-core, PassMark single-thread, PassMark physics, and it ties itself in the duplicate PassMark single-thread entry. The single-core victories are notable because they show Intel's architecture can outpace AMD in lightly threaded tasks despite having fewer threads overall.

For users deciding between these two, the pattern is straightforward. The Ryzen 9 6900HS is the choice for rendering, compilation, compression, encryption, or any workload that scales across cores. The Core i5-12450HX makes more sense for applications that rely primarily on single-thread performance, such as older games or lightly threaded productivity tools. The physics test win for Intel, albeit by a slim margin, suggests it also handles certain simulation-style workloads adequately.

Architecture Differences

The two chips come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The Intel Core i5-12450HX uses Alder Lake architecture, specifically the Alder Lake-HX variant, built on Intel's 10 nm process at Intel's own foundry. The AMD Ryzen 9 6900HS uses Zen 3+ architecture, codenamed Rembrandt, manufactured on TSMC's 6 nm process. The die sizes are close, with Intel at 215 mm² and AMD at 208 mm², but the process difference gives AMD a potential efficiency advantage.

Core and thread counts differ substantially. Both have 8 cores, but the Intel chip supports 12 threads while the AMD chip supports 16. This means the Ryzen 9 6900HS has four additional logical processors available for parallel work, which helps explain its multi-thread benchmark superiority. The Intel part uses a hybrid configuration typical of Alder Lake, while AMD's Zen 3+ uses a more conventional symmetric design.

Cache layouts also diverge. Intel provides 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 12 MB of shared L3 cache. AMD provides 64 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD chip has more total L3, which can benefit certain data-heavy workloads, while Intel's larger per-core L1 and L2 may help with lower-latency access patterns.

Memory support differs as well. The Intel chip supports both DDR4 and DDR5 in a dual-channel configuration, while the AMD chip supports only DDR5, also dual-channel. AMD lists a memory bandwidth figure of 76.8 GB/s, while Intel does not provide one in the recorded data. Both support PCIe Gen 5 on Intel versus Gen 4 on AMD, with 20 lanes available from the CPU in each case. The integrated graphics differ: Intel uses UHD Graphics 710, while AMD uses Radeon 680M, which is generally more capable for light gaming or media tasks. The Intel chip has an unlocked multiplier, while the AMD chip does not.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest single win for AMD comes in Cinebench R15 multi-core, where the Ryzen 9 6900HS scores 2161 against Intel's 1512, a 30% advantage. That gap narrows in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where AMD leads 13445 to 11390, a 15.3% margin. These numbers indicate that AMD's multi-thread advantage persists across different rendering workloads, though the magnitude varies.

PassMark integer math shows a dramatic split: AMD scores 86449 versus Intel's 57189, a 33.8% lead. Data encryption shows the same 33.8% delta, with AMD at 18303 and Intel at 12110. Extended instructions also favor AMD heavily, 20015 versus 13832, a 30.9% difference. These are substantial gaps that would be noticeable in any encryption, compression, or instruction-heavy workload.

Data compression tells a similar story: AMD at 292842 versus Intel at 219707, a 25% advantage. Random string sorting follows with AMD leading 30528 to 23306, a 23.7% delta. Floating-point math is closer, AMD at 48239 against Intel's 43126, a 10.6% lead. Even prime number finding, which might seem latency-sensitive, goes to AMD by 6.9%, 58 versus 54.

The Intel wins are smaller in percentage terms but still meaningful. In Cinebench R23 single-core, Intel scores 2119 against AMD's 1554, a 36.4% advantage. That is the largest single delta in either direction and shows a clear Intel strength. PassMark single-thread gives Intel a 3.2% edge, 3340 versus 3237, and PassMark physics gives Intel a 4.3% lead, 1086 versus 1041. The physics win is notable because it is the only multi-threaded test Intel manages to take.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in multi-threaded rendering?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 6900HS wins both Cinebench R15 multi-core (2161 versus 1512, a 30% lead) and Cinebench R23 multi-core (13445 versus 11390, a 15.3% lead).

Q: Does the Intel Core i5-12450HX have any clear advantage?

A: Yes, in single-core performance. It leads Cinebench R23 single-core by 36.4% (2119 versus 1554) and PassMark single-thread by 3.2% (3340 versus 3237).

Q: How do the two compare in thread counts?

A: Both have 8 cores, but the AMD Ryzen 9 6900HS supports 16 threads while the Intel Core i5-12450HX supports 12 threads.

Q: Which chip handles encryption workloads better?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 6900HS is significantly faster in PassMark data encryption, scoring 18303 versus Intel's 12110, a 33.8% advantage.

Q: Are there any workloads where the Intel chip wins despite fewer threads?

A: The Intel chip wins PassMark physics (1086 versus 1041, a 4.3% lead), in addition to its single-core victories.

Q: What is the average benchmark score difference between the two?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 6900HS has an average benchmark score of 25284, while the Intel Core i5-12450HX scores 24576, a difference of roughly 2.9%.

The Verdict

The recorded data points to a clear overall winner for most users: the AMD Ryzen 9 6900HS. It wins 11 of 15 head-to-head tests, often by double-digit margins. Its multi-thread dominance in Cinebench and PassMark suites covers the workloads that matter most for content creation, data processing, and heavy multitasking. The 16 threads versus 12 threads advantage appears to be decisive in these scenarios.

The Intel Core i5-12450HX is not without merit, however. Its 36.4% lead in Cinebench R23 single-core is substantial, and its PassMark single-thread win shows consistency. For users running applications that are poorly optimized for multi-threading, or for those who prioritize single-thread response in everyday tasks, the Intel chip could be the better fit. The physics test win, while narrow, also suggests some simulation workloads may favor Intel.

The average benchmark scores reflect the overall balance: AMD at 25284 versus Intel at 24576. Both processors sit at the 77th percentile among all CPUs in the database, indicating they are closely matched in overall standing. But the distribution of wins matters more than the aggregate. AMD's wins are broader and deeper, covering more test categories with larger deltas.

The choice ultimately comes down to workload type. For rendering, encryption, compression, or any parallel-heavy task, the Ryzen 9 6900HS is the data-backed pick. For single-thread-sensitive applications, the Core i5-12450HX offers a meaningful advantage. The Intel chip also has an unlocked multiplier, which may appeal to users who plan to overclock, though the AMD chip's higher base and boost clocks (3.30 GHz and 4.90 GHz versus 2.40 GHz and 4.40 GHz) give it a clock-speed edge out of the box.

Specification Differences

• Threads: Intel 12, AMD 16
• Base Clock: Intel 2.40 GHz, AMD 3.30 GHz
• Boost Clock: Intel 4.40 GHz, AMD 4.90 GHz
• TDP: Intel 55 W, AMD 35 W
• Socket: Intel BGA 1964, AMD Socket FP7
• Architecture: Intel Alder Lake, AMD Zen 3+
• Process Node: Intel 10 nm, AMD 6 nm
• Foundry: Intel, TSMC
• Die Size: Intel 215 mm², AMD 208 mm²
• L1 Cache: Intel 80 KB per core, AMD 64 KB per core
• L2 Cache: Intel 1.25 MB per core, AMD 512 KB per core
• L3 Cache: Intel 12 MB shared, AMD 16 MB shared
• Memory Support: Intel DDR4 and DDR5, AMD DDR5 only
• Memory Bandwidth: Intel not listed, AMD 76.8 GB/s
• PCIe Version: Intel Gen 5, AMD Gen 4
• Integrated Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 710, AMD Radeon 680M
• Multiplier: Intel unlocked, AMD locked
• Launch MSRP: Intel $284, AMD not listed