AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS vs Intel Core i7-12650HX Comparison

The Intel Core i7-12650HX and AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS are two very different mobile processors that land in the same performance tier. Both hold an 82nd percentile ranking among all CPUs, and their average benchmark scores are nearly identical: 31,290 for the Intel part versus 31,074 for the AMD part. The Intel chip edges ahead by roughly 0.7% in average score, while the AMD chip’s closest rival, the Intel Core i7-12700F, matches it exactly at 31,081. This is a story of two architectures with opposite strengths, and the benchmark data shows a clear split between single-threaded and multi-threaded workloads.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking result in the head-to-head data is the Cinebench R23 single-core test, where Intel wins decisively. The Core i7-12650HX scores 2,688 points against the Ryzen 9 8945HS’s 1,805, a 48.9% advantage. That is not a small gap; it is a generational chasm in single-thread performance. The Intel chip also wins the Cinebench R23 multi-core test, scoring 19,043 versus 16,795, a 13.4% lead. This is surprising given that the AMD chip has a higher boost clock (5.20 GHz versus 4.70 GHz) and a more modern 4 nm process node, but the Intel part’s 14 cores and 20 threads simply outmuscle the AMD’s 8 cores and 16 threads in this workload.

However, the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS dominates nearly every other benchmark in the comparison. The data shows AMD winning 13 of the 15 head-to-head tests, with the two Cinebench R23 results being Intel’s only victories. The largest margin for AMD comes in PassMark extended instructions, where the Ryzen scores 26,964 against Intel’s 15,856—a 41.2% advantage. This suggests the Zen 4 architecture has substantially better support for advanced instruction sets. Similarly, in PassMark random string sorting, AMD wins 43,202 to 29,692, a 31.3% lead, indicating superior memory handling and data manipulation throughput.

The gap narrows somewhat in other tests but remains consistently in AMD’s favor. In PassMark data compression, AMD scores 356,508 against Intel’s 266,700, a 25.2% margin. Data encryption shows a 28.1% advantage for AMD (21,323 versus 15,325). Even in integer math, where Intel’s higher core count might be expected to help, AMD wins 101,226 to 81,810, a 19.2% lead. Floating-point math is closer, with AMD ahead by just 5.5% (61,821 versus 58,426). The single-threaded PassMark test also favors AMD, 3,850 to 3,637, a 5.5% edge—a stark contrast to the Cinebench R23 single-core result.

The multi-threaded PassMark test shows AMD ahead by 24.2% (29,780 versus 22,573), which is paradoxical given Intel’s victory in Cinebench R23 multi-core. This discrepancy highlights how different benchmark suites stress different aspects of the CPU. The Cinebench R23 multi-core result may favor Intel’s hybrid architecture, while PassMark’s multi-threaded workload appears to reward AMD’s higher per-core efficiency and faster memory bandwidth (89.6 GB/s versus unspecified for Intel). The older Cinebench R15 tests also favor AMD: multi-core scores 2,640 versus 1,919 (27.3% lead) and single-core 281 versus 270 (3.9% lead).

The Verdict

The data paints a nuanced picture. For users whose primary workloads are single-threaded and burst-oriented, such as those measured by Cinebench R23 single-core, the Intel Core i7-12650HX is the clear choice—its 48.9% lead there is the single largest margin in the entire comparison. The Intel chip also wins the modern multi-core Cinebench R23 test, making it attractive for content creators who rely on that specific benchmark’s rendering engine.

However, for virtually every other measurable workload, the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS is the better processor. The data shows AMD ahead by double-digit margins in data compression (25.2%), encryption (28.1%), extended instructions (41.2%), integer math (19.2%), multi-threaded PassMark (24.2%), physics (19.7%), and random string sorting (31.3%). Even in floating-point math, where the gap is smallest, AMD still leads by 5.5%. The PassMark single-thread score also favors AMD, contradicting the Cinebench R23 single-core result and suggesting that real-world single-threaded applications may see closer performance than that one benchmark implies.

The AMD processor also offers a higher boost clock (5.20 GHz versus 4.70 GHz), a more efficient 4 nm TSMC process node, and an integrated Radeon 780M GPU, which is likely more capable for gaming than Intel’s UHD Graphics 770, though the data does not include direct iGPU benchmarks. The Intel part counters with more cores (14 versus 8), more threads (20 versus 16), a larger L3 cache (24 MB versus 16 MB), and PCIe Gen 5 support versus AMD’s Gen 4. Both CPUs sit at the 82nd percentile of all processors, and their average scores are within 1% of each other.

The verdict depends on the workload. The Intel Core i7-12650HX wins the Cinebench R23 suite, which is a common proxy for rendering performance. The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS wins nearly everything else in the data. For a general-purpose mobile processor where the workload is varied, the AMD chip’s consistent wins across PassMark’s extensive test suite make it the safer recommendation. For users who specifically value Cinebench R23 performance, the Intel part has a demonstrable edge.

FAQ

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

A: The Intel Core i7-12650HX scores 2,688 points, which is 48.9% higher than the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS’s 1,805 points.

Q: How does the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS perform in PassMark data encryption compared to the Intel chip?

A: AMD wins by 28.1%, scoring 21,323 points versus Intel’s 15,325 points.

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i7-12650HX has 14 cores and 20 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS has 8 cores and 16 threads.

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

A: The Intel chip has an average score of 31,290, while the AMD chip has 31,074. Intel is ahead by roughly 0.7%.

Q: Which processor wins the Cinebench R15 multi-core test?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS wins with a score of 2,640, which is 27.3% higher than Intel’s 1,919.

Q: Do both processors support DDR5 memory?

A: Yes, both support DDR5. The Intel chip also supports DDR4, while the AMD chip supports only DDR5.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every core specification. The Intel Core i7-12650HX has 14 cores and 20 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS has 8 cores and 16 threads. Base clocks are starkly different: Intel runs at 2,000 MHz, while AMD runs at 4,000 MHz. Boost clocks also favor AMD: 5.20 GHz versus 4.70 GHz. Thermal design power differs, with Intel rated at 55W and AMD at 45W.

Cache configurations diverge significantly. Intel provides 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 24 MB of shared L3. AMD provides 64 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3. Memory support differs: Intel supports both DDR4 and DDR5, while AMD supports only DDR5. Memory bandwidth is specified for AMD at 89.6 GB/s, while Intel’s is not listed. PCIe support differs: Intel has Gen 5 with 20 lanes, while AMD has Gen 4 with 20 lanes.

The integrated GPUs are different: Intel uses UHD Graphics 770, while AMD uses Radeon 780M. Sockets are incompatible: Intel uses BGA 1964, while AMD uses Socket FP8. The Intel multiplier is unlocked, while AMD’s is locked. AMD lists part numbers (100-000001319, 100-000001383, 100-000001309), while Intel does not. Release dates differ: Intel launched on 2022-05-09, while AMD launched on 2023-12-05.

Architecture Differences

The architectural divide is fundamental. Intel’s Core i7-12650HX is built on the Alder Lake architecture, specifically the Alder Lake-HX codename, using a 10 nm process node fabricated by Intel. AMD’s Ryzen 9 8945HS uses the Zen 4 architecture under the Hawk Point codename, built on a 4 nm process node from TSMC. AMD’s process node is significantly more advanced, which likely contributes to its higher clock speeds at a lower TDP (45W versus 55W).

AMD’s chip contains 25,000 million transistors on a 178 mm² die, while Intel’s transistor count is not listed, though its die size is 215 mm². The architecture differences manifest in benchmark behavior: Intel’s hybrid design (implied by Alder Lake’s P-core/E-core structure) wins Cinebench R23, while AMD’s monolithic Zen 4 design wins the majority of PassMark tests. AMD’s larger L1 and L2 cache per core (64 KB and 1 MB, though Intel has more L3 at 24 MB versus 16 MB) may explain its advantages in data compression and encryption. The memory bandwidth advantage for AMD (89.6 GB/s versus unspecified for Intel) likely contributes to its 31.3% lead in random string sorting, a memory-intensive workload.

Both processors are active in production and target the mobile market segment. Neither supports ECC memory. The generation labels confirm the age gap: Intel is 12th Gen Core, while AMD is 8000 series Ryzen. The architectural differences are stark enough that benchmark results vary wildly between test suites, making direct comparisons more about workload selection than overall superiority.