AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS vs Intel Core i7-12700F Comparison

The Intel Core i7-12700F and AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS sit at opposite ends of the computing spectrum, yet their average benchmark scores are nearly identical. The overall average scores are 31081 for the Intel part and 31074 for the AMD part, a difference of just 7 points. This makes their head-to-head comparison a study in how different architectural approaches can produce similar aggregate results, even when the individual workload profiles diverge sharply.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most decisive victory in this matchup belongs to the Intel Core i7-12700F in floating-point math. Its score of 81804 is a massive 32.3% higher than the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS’s 61821. This is the single largest performance gap in either direction across all tests, indicating a clear advantage for Intel in scientific and engineering workloads that rely heavily on floating-point calculations. The Intel chip also takes the crown in the 3DMark max-thread test, scoring 9403 against AMD’s 7775, a 20.9% lead. This pattern continues in the 3DMark 16-thread test, where Intel wins with 8733 versus 7774, a 12.3% advantage, and in the 3DMark 8-thread test, where Intel leads 6667 to 6385, a 4.4% margin.

The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS fights back in other areas. Its most significant win comes in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where it scores 16795 versus Intel’s 15291, a 9% lead. This is a notable reversal, as the Intel chip has more cores and threads (12 cores/20 threads versus 8 cores/16 threads). AMD also wins in Cinebench R15 multi-core, scoring 2640 against Intel’s 2610, a 1.1% margin. In single-core tests, the results are split: AMD wins Cinebench R15 single-core with 281 versus 271 (3.6% lead), while Intel wins Cinebench R23 single-core with 1898 versus 1805 (5.2% lead). The 3DMark single-thread test goes to AMD by a hair, 1013 to 1005, a 0.8% margin.

Memory and data-heavy tasks show another split. Intel wins Geekbench multi-core with 13039 against AMD’s 12276, a 6.2% lead, and also wins Geekbench single-core with 2169 versus 2116, a 2.5% margin. In PassMark’s data compression test, Intel scores 384463 against AMD’s 356508, a 7.8% lead. However, AMD takes the data encryption test, scoring 21323 versus Intel’s 20185, a 5.3% lead, and dominates random string sorting with 43202 against Intel’s 39852, a 7.8% margin. AMD also wins the extended instructions test, scoring 26964 versus Intel’s 24783, an 8.1% lead. Intel wins the integer math test 107013 to 101226 (5.7% lead) and the find prime numbers test 98 to 92 (6.5% lead). The single-thread PassMark scores are exactly tied at 3850 each. Overall, the Intel chip wins 15 of the head-to-head tests, while AMD wins 8.

Architecture Differences

The fundamental design philosophies are clear from the specifications. The Intel Core i7-12700F is a desktop part built on Intel’s 10 nm process with a 215 mm² die size, while the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS is a mobile chip built on TSMC’s 4 nm process with a 178 mm² die size. The AMD chip packs 25,000 million transistors into that smaller space, highlighting the density advantage of the newer process node. The Intel chip uses the Alder Lake architecture with a hybrid design that pairs performance cores with efficiency cores, which is why it has 12 cores and 20 threads. The AMD chip, in contrast, uses Zen 4 architecture with a more uniform 8-core, 16-thread layout.

Cache layouts also differ substantially. The Intel chip has 80 KB of L1 cache per core and 1.25 MB of L2 per core, with a large 25 MB shared L3 cache. The AMD chip has 64 KB of L1 per core and 1 MB of L2 per core, with a smaller 16 MB shared L3 cache. The Intel chip’s larger L3 cache likely contributes to its wins in data compression and multi-threaded 3DMark tests. The AMD chip has a higher base clock (4.00 GHz versus 2.10 GHz) and a higher boost clock (5.20 GHz versus 4.90 GHz), which explains its strong single-core Cinebench R15 result. The TDP is another major difference: the Intel chip has a 65 W TDP, while the AMD chip is rated at 45 W, reflecting the mobile target for the Ryzen part.

Memory support is a key differentiation. The Intel chip supports both DDR4 and DDR5, while the AMD chip supports only DDR5. The AMD chip has a rated memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s, a figure not provided for the Intel part. PCIe connectivity differs as well: the Intel chip offers Gen 5 with 16 lanes, while the AMD chip offers Gen 4 with 20 lanes. The AMD chip includes integrated Radeon 780M graphics, whereas the Intel chip has no integrated graphics listed. The Intel chip uses Socket 1700, and the AMD chip uses Socket FP8.

The Verdict

The data indicates a clear choice for specific workloads. The Intel Core i7-12700F is the stronger processor for raw computational throughput in multi-threaded scenarios, winning the majority of the head-to-head tests. Its 32.3% lead in floating-point math and 20.9% lead in 3DMark max-thread performance make it the pick for heavy number-crunching and physics simulation. The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS, however, is the better choice for tasks that favor its higher clock speeds and memory bandwidth. Its 9% lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core, 7.8% lead in random string sorting, and 8.1% lead in extended instructions suggest it handles certain integer-heavy and SIMD workloads more efficiently. For a desktop system where power draw is less critical, the Intel part’s 15 wins out of 23 tests make it the more versatile performer. For a laptop or a system where the 45 W TDP is a hard constraint, the AMD part offers competitive performance in a more power-efficient package.

Specification Differences

The two CPUs differ in nearly every core specification. The Intel Core i7-12700F has 12 cores and 20 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS has 8 cores and 16 threads. The Intel chip has a base clock of 2.10 GHz and a boost clock of 4.90 GHz; the AMD chip has a base clock of 4.00 GHz and a boost clock of 5.20 GHz. The TDP is 65 W for Intel and 45 W for AMD. The Intel chip uses Intel Socket 1700, while the AMD chip uses AMD Socket FP8. The process node is 10 nm for Intel and 4 nm for AMD, with die sizes of 215 mm² and 178 mm², respectively. Cache configurations differ: Intel has 80 KB L1 per core, 1.25 MB L2 per core, and 25 MB shared L3; AMD has 64 KB L1 per core, 1 MB L2 per core, and 16 MB shared L3. Memory support is DDR4 and DDR5 for Intel, but only DDR5 for AMD, which also lists a memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s. PCIe is Gen 5 with 16 lanes for Intel and Gen 4 with 20 lanes for AMD. The Intel chip has no integrated graphics, while the AMD chip includes Radeon 780M. The Intel chip has a launch MSRP of $324; the AMD chip has no launch MSRP listed. The Intel chip was released on 2022-01-03, while the AMD chip was released on 2023-12-05.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i7-12700F has an average benchmark score of 31081, while the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS has an average benchmark score of 31074. The difference is negligible at 0% deltaPct.

Q: In which test does the Intel chip have its largest lead over the AMD chip?

A: The Intel chip’s largest lead is in PassMark floating-point math, where it scores 81804 against AMD’s 61821, a 32.3% advantage.

Q: In which test does the AMD chip have its largest lead over the Intel chip?

A: The AMD chip’s largest lead is in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where it scores 16795 against Intel’s 15291, a 9% advantage.

Q: Do the two processors have identical single-thread performance?

A: In the PassMark single-thread and single-thread tests, both processors score exactly 3850. However, in other single-thread tests, the results vary: AMD wins 3DMark single-thread (1013 vs 1005) and Cinebench R15 single-core (281 vs 271), while Intel wins Cinebench R23 single-core (1898 vs 1805) and Geekbench single-core (2169 vs 2116).

Q: Which processor supports a wider range of memory types?

A: The Intel Core i7-12700F supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, while the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS supports only DDR5.

Q: Which processor includes integrated graphics?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS includes Radeon 780M integrated graphics. The Intel Core i7-12700F has no integrated graphics listed in its specifications.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i7-12700F is the clear winner in general multi-threaded computing. It takes 15 of the 23 head-to-head tests, including all four 3DMark multi-threaded tests (16-thread, 8-thread, 4-thread, and max-thread) and both Geekbench tests. Its 32.3% lead in floating-point math makes it the go-to choice for scientific computing, financial modeling, or any workload that uses heavy FPU operations. It also wins in data compression (7.8% lead), integer math (5.7% lead), and physics calculations (3.8% lead). For desktop users who need a jack-of-all-trades CPU that can handle gaming, content creation, and productivity, the Intel part’s higher core count and larger L3 cache give it the edge.

The AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS wins in specific areas that favor its higher clock speeds and smaller process node. Its 9% lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core suggests it is more efficient at rendering tasks that use that specific workload. The 7.8% lead in random string sorting makes it better for database operations and text-processing tasks. Its 8.1% lead in extended instructions is relevant for workloads that leverage SIMD extensions. The 5.3% lead in data encryption means it is better for security-related tasks like VPNs or full-disk encryption. For mobile users who need a laptop that can do serious work while maintaining a 45 W TDP, the AMD chip is the stronger choice, particularly when its integrated Radeon 780M graphics are considered.