AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS vs Intel Core i7-12850HX Comparison

The benchmark data reveals a clear split between the AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS and the Intel Core i7-12850HX: AMD dominates in single-threaded and extended instruction workloads, while Intel counters with decisive wins in floating-point math and physics simulations. The AMD chip secures 9 head-to-head victories against Intel’s 8, but the magnitude of the losses on each side tells a more nuanced story than the raw win count.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most dramatic separation occurs in Cinebench R23. The AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS posts a multicore score of 25165, which is 54.4% ahead of the Intel Core i7-12850HX’s 16301.5. The single-core gap is even more extreme: AMD’s 3552 score beats Intel’s 1720.5 by 106.5% — a more than two-fold advantage. These are not marginal differences; they represent a generational leap in per-core efficiency that reshapes the comparison.

However, the older Cinebench R15 and R20 multicore tests tell the opposite story. Intel wins R15 multicore with 2679 versus AMD’s 2536, a 5.3% lead, and takes R20 multicore with 10907 against 10569, a 3.1% margin. The pattern suggests that Intel’s hybrid architecture performs better in certain legacy rendering workloads, even though AMD’s newer Zen 4 design dominates the more demanding R23 test.

In PassMark workloads, Intel’s strengths are concentrated in mathematical operations. The i7-12850HX leads floating-point math with 79337 versus AMD’s 63490, a 20% advantage. Physics simulations also favor Intel: 1813 versus 1430, a 21.1% lead. Integer math goes to Intel by a narrower 4.3% margin (108076 versus 103390), and prime number finding favors Intel by 18% (111 versus 91). These results indicate that for pure computational throughput, Intel’s 16-core configuration provides tangible benefits.

AMD’s PassMark wins are more varied. Extended instructions show a 24.7% lead (27714 versus 22227), and random string sorting goes to AMD by 10.8% (44668 versus 40327). Data compression is nearly tied, with AMD ahead by just 0.8% (368884 versus 365829), and encryption favors AMD by 3.3% (21820 versus 21120). The single-thread PassMark score also belongs to AMD: 3920 versus 3683, a 6.4% edge.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS is the clear choice for workloads that depend on single-core performance and modern instruction sets. Its 106.5% lead in Cinebench R23 single-core and 24.7% advantage in extended instructions indicate superior per-thread execution. This translates directly to responsiveness in everyday applications, software compilation with heavy branching, and any task that cannot fully utilize all cores. The 54.4% margin in Cinebench R23 multicore further suggests that AMD’s 8 cores with 16 threads scale more efficiently than Intel’s 16 cores with 24 threads in modern rendering engines.

The Intel Core i7-12850HX wins where raw core count and thread throughput matter most. Its 20% lead in floating-point math and 21.1% advantage in physics simulations point to scientific computing and engineering simulation workloads. The 18% edge in prime number finding indicates strength in cryptography-related integer operations. Intel also edges out AMD in the aggregate PassMark multithread score, 30627 versus 30378, though the 0.8% margin is nearly negligible. For users running heavily parallelized calculations that do not rely on the latest SIMD instructions, the Intel chip’s additional cores provide measurable benefit.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher single-core performance?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS wins decisively, with a 106.5% lead in Cinebench R23 single-core (3552 versus 1720.5) and a 6.4% advantage in PassMark single-thread (3920 versus 3683).

Q: Is the Intel Core i7-12850HX faster in any multicore test?

A: Yes. Intel wins Cinebench R15 multicore (2679 versus 2536, 5.3% ahead) and Cinebench R20 multicore (10907 versus 10569, 3.1% ahead), but AMD wins Cinebench R23 multicore by 54.4% (25165 versus 16301.5).

Q: How do the two chips compare in data compression and encryption?

A: AMD leads in both, but narrowly. Data compression favors AMD by 0.8% (368884 versus 365829), and data encryption favors AMD by 3.3% (21820 versus 21120).

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i7-12850HX has 16 cores and 24 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS has 8 cores and 16 threads.

Q: What is the difference in average benchmark scores?

A: The AMD chip averages 41963 across all benchmarks, while Intel averages 41779. AMD’s advantage is 0.4% (deltaPct of 0.4 in AMD’s nearestRivals data).

Q: Does Intel have any significant advantage in floating-point operations?

A: Yes, Intel leads floating-point math by 20% (79337 versus 63490) and physics simulations by 21.1% (1813 versus 1430), indicating strong performance in scientific workloads.

Specification Differences

The core configuration differs substantially: AMD provides 8 cores and 16 threads, while Intel provides 16 cores and 24 threads. Base clocks diverge sharply, with AMD at 4.00 GHz versus Intel at 2.10 GHz. Boost clocks also differ, with AMD reaching 5.20 GHz and Intel topping out at 4.80 GHz. The thermal design power reflects this: AMD is rated at 45W, Intel at 55W.

Memory support separates the two as well. AMD supports only DDR5 with dual-channel memory and a bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s, while Intel supports both DDR4 and DDR5 with dual-channel memory but lists no specific bandwidth figure. PCIe capabilities differ by generation: AMD uses Gen 4 with 20 CPU lanes, while Intel uses Gen 5 with 20 CPU lanes. Integrated graphics differ, with AMD featuring the Radeon 780M and Intel featuring UHD Graphics 770. The Intel chip has an unlocked multiplier, while AMD’s is locked. Intel carries a launch MSRP of $428, and AMD’s launch MSRP is not provided.

Architecture Differences

The fundamental architectural split is process node and design philosophy. AMD uses a 4nm process from TSMC with a 178 mm² die size containing 25,000 million transistors. Intel uses a 10nm process from its own foundry with a 215 mm² die size and no transistor count listed. AMD’s architecture is Zen 4 under the Hawk Point codename, while Intel uses Alder Lake under the Alder Lake-HX codename.

Cache hierarchies differ in both capacity and organization. AMD allocates 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3 cache. Intel allocates 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 25 MB of shared L3 cache. This gives Intel more total cache, particularly in L3, which may contribute to its multithreaded performance in certain workloads.

The socket platforms are incompatible: AMD uses AMD Socket FP7, while Intel uses Intel BGA 1964. Both support ECC memory, a feature relevant for professional workstation use. AMD’s release date is April 15, 2024, while Intel’s is May 9, 2022 — a nearly two-year gap that explains the architectural differences. Both processors target the mobile market segment, and both are listed as Active in production status.

The Verdict

The AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS is the superior processor for general productivity and modern application performance. Its 54.4% lead in Cinebench R23 multicore and 106.5% lead in single-core demonstrate that its 8 high-clocked Zen 4 cores deliver more usable performance than Intel’s 16 mixed cores in current software that is increasingly optimized for efficiency cores and high clock speeds. The 24.7% advantage in extended instructions further cements AMD’s position for developers and power users running AVX-512 or similar workloads. The lower 45W TDP also suggests better thermal efficiency for thin-and-light mobile workstations.

The Intel Core i7-12850HX remains the pick for specialized computational workloads that leverage raw core count and legacy optimizations. Its 20% lead in floating-point math and 21.1% advantage in physics simulations make it appropriate for engineering analysis, scientific modeling, and physics-based rendering. The 18% edge in prime number finding indicates suitability for certain cryptographic workloads. The 55W TDP and unlocked multiplier suggest it is designed for larger, performance-oriented laptops where additional power draw is acceptable.

Choose AMD if you value responsiveness, modern instruction support, and efficient multi-core scaling in current-generation software. Choose Intel if your workloads are dominated by floating-point calculations, physics simulations, or other highly parallel mathematical operations that benefit from 16 physical cores. The data shows AMD wins 9 of 17 head-to-head tests, but Intel wins the tests where core count is the primary factor. The average benchmark scores are nearly identical — 41963 for AMD versus 41779 for Intel — yet the distribution of wins across different workload types makes the choice dependent on your specific application mix.