AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS vs Intel Core i7-12800H Comparison

The Intel Core i7-12800H and AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS are both mobile processors aimed at high-performance laptops, yet the benchmark data reveals a clear split in their strengths. The AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS dominates the overall head-to-head, winning 12 of 15 tests, including decisive victories in multi-threaded and single-threaded workloads. However, the Intel Core i7-12800H secures three specific wins, demonstrating that its hybrid architecture still holds advantages in certain niche tasks. Both CPUs sit at the 82nd percentile among all CPUs, with average benchmark scores of 32,121 for the Intel and 31,593 for the AMD, placing them in a virtual tie overall, yet their individual workload characteristics diverge sharply.

The Verdict

The data suggests the AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS is the superior choice for users prioritizing raw throughput and everyday responsiveness. Its 19.1% lead in PassMark multithread (30,098 vs 24,346) and 11.3% advantage in PassMark single-thread (3,878 vs 3,440) indicate it handles both heavily parallel tasks and light, latency-sensitive work more efficiently. For content creators, the 8.6% edge in Cinebench R23 multi-core (16,713 vs 15,283) reinforces its strength in rendering and video encoding, while its 25.2% lead in data compression (365,352 vs 273,247) makes it the pick for file archiving and database workloads.

The Intel Core i7-12800H, despite losing most tests, is not obsolete. Its 10.9% win in PassMark find prime numbers (102 vs 92) and 16% lead in PassMark physics (1,682 vs 1,450) suggest it excels in integer-heavy, physics-based simulations. The 2.1% edge in Cinebench R23 single-core (1,828 vs 1,790) is marginal but indicates that Intel’s architecture can still win in specific single-threaded scenarios. Laptop buyers should choose the AMD for balanced performance across the board, while those running physics simulations or prime-number-based cryptographic workloads might prefer the Intel, albeit with fewer overall wins.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU is faster in multi-core rendering?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS wins Cinebench R23 multi-core with a score of 16,713, which is 8.6% higher than the Intel Core i7-12800H’s 15,283. The AMD also leads Cinebench R15 multi-core, scoring 2,656 versus 2,222, a 16.3% advantage.

Q: How do they compare in single-core performance?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS wins PassMark single-thread with 3,878 points, 11.3% ahead of the Intel’s 3,440. However, the Intel Core i7-12800H narrowly wins Cinebench R23 single-core, scoring 1,828 versus the AMD’s 1,790, a 2.1% difference.

Q: Is the Intel Core i7-12800H better at any specific task?

A: Yes, the Intel wins PassMark find prime numbers (102 vs 92, a 10.9% lead), PassMark physics (1,682 vs 1,450, a 16% lead), and Cinebench R23 single-core (1,828 vs 1,790). These wins suggest strengths in physics simulations and specific integer workloads.

Q: What about data encryption and compression tasks?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS is significantly faster here. It scores 21,777 in PassMark data encryption versus the Intel’s 16,234, a 25.5% lead, and 365,352 in data compression versus 273,247, a 25.2% advantage.

Q: Which CPU has better multi-threaded performance overall?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS wins PassMark multithread with 30,098 points, 19.1% ahead of the Intel Core i7-12800H’s 24,346. The AMD also leads in integer math (103,044 vs 86,488, a 16.1% margin) and floating-point math (62,897 vs 60,961, a 3.1% margin).

Q: Do they have similar overall benchmark averages?

A: Yes, the Intel Core i7-12800H has an average benchmark score of 32,121, while the AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS scores 31,593. Both are at the 82nd percentile, and their nearest rivals show negligible deltas, indicating they are performance peers in aggregate.

Architecture Differences

The Intel Core i7-12800H uses the Alder Lake-H architecture, built on Intel’s 10 nm process with a die size of 217 mm². It features a hybrid design with 14 cores and 20 threads, combining performance and efficiency cores. Its cache structure includes 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 24 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS, by contrast, employs the Zen 4 Phoenix architecture, fabricated on TSMC’s 4 nm process with 25,000 million transistors and a die size of 178 mm². It has 8 cores and 16 threads, with 64 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD’s smaller process node and denser transistor count (25,000 million) suggest a more power-efficient design, while Intel’s larger core count (14 vs 8) aims for higher parallel throughput.

The integrated graphics differ significantly: the Intel pairs with Iris Xe 96EU, while the AMD includes Radeon 780M. Memory support also diverges, with Intel supporting both DDR4 and DDR5, whereas AMD supports only DDR5 and offers ECC memory support (true for AMD, false for Intel). Both use PCIe Gen 4 with 20 CPU lanes, but the AMD lists a memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s, a figure not provided for the Intel. The AMD’s base clock is 4.00 GHz and boost clock is 5.20 GHz, while the Intel’s base is 2.40 GHz and boost is 4.80 GHz, indicating the AMD runs at higher frequencies despite a lower TDP of 35 W versus Intel’s 45 W.

Specification Differences

The two CPUs differ in nearly every core specification. The Intel Core i7-12800H has 14 cores and 20 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS has 8 cores and 16 threads. Base clocks are 2.40 GHz for Intel and 4.00 GHz for AMD, with boost clocks of 4.80 GHz and 5.20 GHz, respectively. TDP is 45 W for Intel and 35 W for AMD. Process nodes are 10 nm (Intel) versus 4 nm (AMD), with die sizes of 217 mm² versus 178 mm². Transistor count is listed only for AMD at 25,000 million. Cache sizes differ: Intel has 80 KB L1, 1.25 MB L2, and 24 MB L3 per respective unit, while AMD has 64 KB L1, 1 MB L2, and 16 MB L3. Memory support is DDR4/DDR5 for Intel versus DDR5-only for AMD, and ECC memory is false for Intel, true for AMD. Memory bandwidth is listed only for AMD at 89.6 GB/s. Integrated graphics are Iris Xe 96EU for Intel and Radeon 780M for AMD. Sockets are Intel BGA 1744 and AMD Socket FP8, with part numbers SRLD2 for Intel and three variants for AMD (100-000000954, 100-000000963, 100-000001128).

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS wins 12 of 15 head-to-head tests, with several blowout margins. The largest win is PassMark extended instructions, where AMD scores 27,480 versus Intel’s 16,408, a 40.3% lead. This is followed by a 28.2% win in random string sorting (42,386 vs 30,453) and a 25.5% win in data encryption (21,777 vs 16,234). In multi-core workloads, AMD leads Cinebench R15 multi-core by 16.3% (2,656 vs 2,222) and Cinebench R23 multi-core by 8.6% (16,713 vs 15,283). PassMark multithread shows a 19.1% margin (30,098 vs 24,346), and integer math shows a 16.1% lead (103,044 vs 86,488). Even in floating-point math, AMD wins by 3.1% (62,897 vs 60,961). Single-thread tests favor AMD in PassMark single-thread (3,878 vs 3,440, an 11.3% lead) and Cinebench R15 single-core (283 vs 265, a 6.4% margin), but Intel wins Cinebench R23 single-core by 2.1% (1,828 vs 1,790).

The Intel Core i7-12800H claims three wins. The most notable is PassMark physics, where it scores 1,682 versus the AMD’s 1,450, a 16% swing. It also wins PassMark find prime numbers (102 vs 92, a 10.9% lead) and the aforementioned Cinebench R23 single-core. These wins are consistent with Intel’s hybrid architecture excelling in specific integer and physics-based tasks, while AMD’s higher clock speeds and newer node dominate most other areas.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS is the clear winner for general productivity, content creation, and data-heavy workloads. Its 25.2% lead in data compression and 25.5% lead in encryption make it ideal for file archiving, database management, and secure communications. The 40.3% advantage in extended instructions suggests superior SIMD and vector processing, benefiting scientific computing and multimedia codecs. Its 19.1% lead in multithread and 16.1% in integer math point to faster compilation, 3D rendering, and video encoding. For single-thread responsiveness, the 11.3% PassMark win means snappier application launches and more responsive daily use.

The Intel Core i7-12800H wins in niche scenarios. The 16% physics win suggests it handles rigid body and particle simulations better, which could benefit game physics or engineering simulations. The 10.9% find prime numbers win indicates an edge in certain cryptographic or number-theoretic workloads. The 2.1% Cinebench R23 single-core win, while small, shows it can outperform in specific lightly-threaded rendering tasks. Users running physics-heavy software or prime-number-based algorithms might prefer the Intel, but for nearly every other measurable workload, the data shows the AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS delivers superior performance.