AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS vs Intel Core i7-12650HX Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS and Intel Core i7-12650HX are both high-end mobile processors aimed at different performance philosophies. The data shows a clear split: AMD dominates the majority of benchmark tests with 13 wins, while Intel claims two significant victories in Cinebench R23. With nearly identical average benchmark scores (31,593 vs. 31,290) and both sitting at the 82nd percentile among all CPUs, these are closely matched parts that excel in different workloads.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS leads with an average benchmark score of 31,593, compared to the Intel Core i7-12650HX’s 31,290. The difference is a mere 303 points, roughly 1% apart.

Q: How do the core and thread counts compare between the two?

A: The Intel Core i7-12650HX has 14 cores and 20 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS has 8 cores and 16 threads. Intel’s hybrid architecture provides a 6-core and 4-thread advantage on paper.

Q: Which CPU wins the Cinebench R23 multicore test?

A: Intel wins with a score of 19,043, beating AMD’s 16,713. This gives Intel a 12.2% lead in this particular rendering workload, despite AMD winning the older Cinebench R15 multicore test.

Q: What is the largest performance gap between the two chips in the head-to-head data?

A: The biggest delta is in PassMark extended instructions, where AMD scores 27,480 versus Intel’s 15,856. That is a 73.3% advantage for the Ryzen 9 7940HS, representing the most lopsided result across all tested workloads.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No. The AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS supports ECC memory, while the Intel Core i7-12650HX does not list ECC support in its specifications.

Q: Which chip has a higher boost clock?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS boosts to 5.20 GHz, while the Intel Core i7-12650HX reaches 4.70 GHz. AMD’s base clock is also higher at 4.00 GHz compared to Intel’s 2000.00 MHz base clock.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS is the clear winner in computational throughput across most standard workloads. It takes the PassMark multithread test with a score of 30,098, which is 33.3% ahead of Intel’s 22,573. This pattern repeats in integer math (103,044 vs. 81,810, a 26% lead) and floating-point math (62,897 vs. 58,426, a 7.7% lead). For users running physics simulations, PassMark physics shows AMD ahead at 1,450 versus 1,152, a 25.9% margin. Data-heavy tasks also favor AMD decisively: data compression scores 365,352 against Intel’s 266,700 (37% higher), and random string sorting shows a 42.8% advantage at 42,386 vs. 29,692.

The Intel Core i7-12650HX wins where sustained multicore rendering and single-threaded performance in newer benchmarks matter most. In Cinebench R23 multicore, Intel scores 19,043 versus AMD’s 16,713, a 12.2% lead. The most striking Intel victory is in Cinebench R23 single-core, where Intel posts 2,688 against AMD’s 1,790 — a commanding 33.4% advantage. This indicates that for applications built around the latest Cinebench renderer, Intel’s architecture delivers better per-thread performance and stronger multi-threaded scaling.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS is built on Zen 4 architecture, codenamed Phoenix, and manufactured on a 4 nm process at TSMC. It packs 25,000 million transistors into a 178 mm² die. In contrast, the Intel Core i7-12650HX uses Alder Lake-HX architecture on Intel’s 10 nm process, with a larger 215 mm² die size.

Cache layouts differ significantly. AMD allocates 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 1 MB of L2 per core, with a shared 16 MB L3 pool. Intel provides 80 KB of L1 per core and 1.25 MB of L2 per core, but doubles the shared L3 to 24 MB. This larger L3 cache on Intel likely contributes to its Cinebench R23 single-core advantage.

Memory support also diverges. AMD supports only DDR5 with dual-channel memory and a listed bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s. Intel supports both DDR4 and DDR5, also dual-channel, though no bandwidth figure is provided. AMD includes ECC memory support; Intel does not. PCIe connectivity differs as well: AMD offers Gen 4 with 20 lanes, while Intel provides Gen 5 with 20 lanes.

Integrated graphics separate the two further. AMD pairs the CPU with Radeon 780M graphics, while Intel uses UHD Graphics 770. These are different iGPU solutions, though the benchmark data does not directly compare their graphics performance.

Specification Differences

The core count is the most obvious difference: AMD has 8 cores and 16 threads, while Intel has 14 cores and 20 threads. Clock speeds favor AMD, with a 4.00 GHz base and 5.20 GHz boost versus Intel’s 2000.00 MHz base and 4.70 GHz boost. Thermal design power also differs, with AMD rated at 35W and Intel at 55W.

Socket compatibility is unique to each: AMD uses Socket FP8, and Intel uses BGA 1964. Process nodes are distinct — AMD on 4 nm, Intel on 10 nm. Die size shows Intel’s larger footprint at 215 mm² versus AMD’s 178 mm². AMD lists 25,000 million transistors, while Intel’s transistor count is not provided.

L3 cache differs: AMD has 16 MB shared, Intel has 24 MB shared. L1 and L2 cache per core also vary, with Intel offering larger per-core allocations. Memory support is broader on Intel (DDR4 and DDR5) versus AMD (DDR5 only). AMD reports 89.6 GB/s memory bandwidth; Intel has no listed bandwidth. ECC is supported on AMD, not on Intel. PCIe generation favors Intel (Gen 5 vs. Gen 4), though both offer 20 lanes.

The multiplier is unlocked on the Intel part, while AMD’s is locked. Intel has a release date of 2022-05-09, while AMD’s release date is not listed. Production status is active for both.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data paints a lopsided picture in favor of AMD, with 13 wins against Intel’s 2. The largest AMD victory is in PassMark extended instructions, where AMD scores 27,480 against Intel’s 15,856 — a 73.3% delta. This suggests AMD’s instruction set handling is significantly more efficient for specialized workloads.

Data encryption shows a 42.1% lead for AMD (21,777 vs. 15,325), and random string sorting follows at 42.8% (42,386 vs. 29,692). AMD also wins PassMark data compression by 37% (365,352 vs. 266,700) and PassMark multithread by 33.3% (30,098 vs. 22,573). Integer math shows a 26% gap (103,044 vs. 81,810), and find prime numbers has AMD ahead by 24.3% (92 vs. 74). PassMark physics gives AMD a 25.9% edge (1,450 vs. 1,152), while floating-point math is closer at 7.7% (62,897 vs. 58,426).

In Cinebench R15, AMD wins both multicore (2,656 vs. 1,919) and single-core (283 vs. 270), with deltas of 38.4% and 4.8%, respectively. The single-thread tests in PassMark show AMD ahead by 6.6% (3,878 vs. 3,637) in both passmark_single_thread and passmark_singlethread.

Intel’s two wins are both in Cinebench R23. The multicore result gives Intel a 12.2% lead (19,043 vs. 16,713), while the single-core result is a decisive 33.4% win (2,688 vs. 1,790). These results indicate that Intel’s Alder Lake-HX design excels specifically in the Cinebench R23 benchmark, likely due to its larger L3 cache and higher per-core performance in that renderer.

The overall pattern is clear: AMD dominates general-purpose computing, encryption, compression, and math workloads by substantial margins, while Intel’s strengths are concentrated in Cinebench R23 rendering tasks. The average scores remain close because Intel’s two wins are significant enough to offset some of AMD’s broader success, leaving both processors within 1% of each other overall.