AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS vs Intel Core i9-12950HX Comparison

The Intel Core i9-12950HX and AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS are both high-end mobile processors aimed at professional laptops, yet the data reveals two distinctly different performance profiles. The Intel part, with 16 cores and 24 threads, wins 8 of the 17 head-to-head benchmarks, while the AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS, with 8 cores and 16 threads, takes 9. Their average benchmark scores are nearly identical—42487 for the Intel and 41963 for the AMD—and both sit at the 88th percentile among all CPUs. The deciding factor is not raw aggregate power but the nature of the workload: the Intel chip dominates in specific compute-heavy tasks like physics and prime number finding, while the AMD chip excels in single-threaded and modern multi-core rendering workloads. The data suggests these are complementary tools for different job profiles, not direct substitutes.

The Verdict

The benchmark results indicate that the AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS is the better choice for users whose primary workloads are single-threaded or rely on modern rendering engines. It delivers a massive 46.9% lead over the Intel Core i9-12950HX in Cinebench R23 single-core, and a 19.5% advantage in Cinebench R23 multi-core, which is the most demanding modern render test in the dataset. For professionals running current-generation CAD, 3D modeling, or code compilation, the AMD part's efficiency in these tasks is decisive.

The Intel Core i9-12950HX is the pick for legacy or specialized compute workloads that scale with raw core count and older instruction paths. It wins Cinebench R15 multi-core by 22.5% and R20 multi-core by 4.7%, along with dominant victories in PassMark physics (45.7% ahead) and prime number finding (48.4% ahead). If the software stack is older or heavily reliant on integer math and floating-point throughput, the Intel chip's 16 physical cores provide a tangible advantage.

There is no overall winner based on average score; the delta is just 1.2% (42487 vs 41963). The decision hinges on software compatibility. The AMD part is the modern choice for current-generation applications, while the Intel part is the safer bet for legacy multi-threaded code. The Intel launch MSRP is $590; the AMD part has no listed launch MSRP, so no direct price comparison is possible from the data.

Where Each One Wins

Intel Core i9-12950HX wins in: Cinebench R15 multi-core (3107 vs 2536, +22.5%), Cinebench R20 multi-core (11061 vs 10569, +4.7%), PassMark physics (2084 vs 1430, +45.7%), PassMark find prime numbers (135 vs 91, +48.4%), PassMark floating point math (80402 vs 63490, +26.6%), PassMark integer math (109586 vs 103390, +6%), and PassMark multi-thread (31673 vs 30378, +4.3%). It also wins Cinebench R20 single-core (1561 vs 1491, +4.7%).

AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS wins in: Cinebench R15 single-core (357 vs 274, +23.2% for AMD), Cinebench R23 multi-core (25165 vs 20263, +19.5% for AMD), Cinebench R23 single-core (3552 vs 1885, +46.9% for AMD), PassMark data compression (368884 vs 367930, +0.3%), PassMark data encryption (21820 vs 21395, +1.9%), PassMark extended instructions (27714 vs 22163, +20%), PassMark random string sorting (44668 vs 41209, +7.7%), and PassMark single-thread (3920 vs 3778, +3.6%).

The split is clear: Intel wins on raw computational throughput in older Cinebench versions and math-heavy PassMark tests. AMD wins on modern Cinebench R23, memory-related tasks like compression and sorting, and crypto-style encryption.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on fundamentally different design philosophies. The Intel Core i9-12950HX uses the Alder Lake architecture on a 10 nm Intel process, with a die size of 215 mm². It features a hybrid layout with 16 cores and 24 threads, supporting 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 30 MB of shared L3 cache. Its base clock is 2.30 GHz with a boost of 5.00 GHz, and it has a 55 W TDP. It supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory via dual channels, includes ECC memory support, and offers PCIe Gen 5 with 20 CPU lanes. Integrated graphics are the UHD Graphics 770.

The AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS uses the Zen 4 architecture on a 4 nm TSMC process, with 25,000 million transistors on a 178 mm² die. It has 8 cores and 16 threads, with smaller per-core caches: 64 KB L1 and 1 MB L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3. Its base clock is 4.00 GHz with a boost of 5.20 GHz, and it has a 45 W TDP. It supports only DDR5 memory, dual-channel, with a listed memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s. ECC memory is supported. PCIe is Gen 4 with 20 CPU lanes. Integrated graphics are the Radeon 780M.

The process node difference is significant: TSMC's 4 nm versus Intel's 10 nm. The AMD part has a lower TDP (45 W vs 55 W) yet achieves higher boost clocks (5.20 GHz vs 5.00 GHz), which explains its single-thread dominance. The Intel part compensates for its older process with more than double the core count (16 vs 8) and larger L3 cache (30 MB vs 16 MB). The AMD part's higher memory bandwidth specification (89.6 GB/s) correlates with its wins in data compression and sorting tests.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU is faster in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS is significantly faster, scoring 25165 versus the Intel Core i9-12950HX's 20263, a 19.5% advantage for AMD in this modern render test.

Q: Does the Intel Core i9-12950HX have any clear wins?

A: Yes, it wins in older benchmarks and math-heavy tests. It is 22.5% ahead in Cinebench R15 multi-core, 48.4% ahead in PassMark find prime numbers, and 45.7% ahead in PassMark physics.

Q: Why does the AMD chip win so many single-thread tests?

A: The AMD part has a higher boost clock (5.20 GHz vs 5.00 GHz) and a more advanced 4 nm process node. This translates to a 46.9% lead in Cinebench R23 single-core and a 3.6% lead in PassMark single-thread.

Q: Which processor supports more memory types?

A: The Intel Core i9-12950HX supports both DDR4 and DDR5, while the AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS supports only DDR5. Both are dual-channel and both support ECC memory.

Q: What is the thermal design power difference?

A: The Intel part has a 55 W TDP, while the AMD part has a 45 W TDP. The AMD chip achieves higher performance in several tests despite the lower power envelope.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: They are nearly identical. The Intel Core i9-12950HX has an average score of 42487, and the AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS has an average score of 41963, a 1.2% difference in favor of Intel.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest win for the Intel Core i9-12950HX is in PassMark find prime numbers, where it scores 135 against the AMD's 91, a 48.4% margin. This is a pure integer throughput test that scales with core count, and the Intel's 16 cores crush the AMD's 8. Similarly, in PassMark physics, Intel scores 2084 versus 1430, a 45.7% lead. This test simulates rigid-body physics and heavily favors the Intel's hybrid core layout. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, Intel leads 3107 to 2536, a 22.5% advantage, showing that older render workloads are Intel-favorable. The Intel chip also leads in floating point math (80402 vs 63490, +26.6%) and integer math (109586 vs 103390, +6%). Even in PassMark multi-thread, Intel wins 31673 to 30378, a 4.3% margin, and in Cinebench R20 multi-core, 11061 to 10569, a 4.7% lead. Intel also takes Cinebench R20 single-core by 4.7% (1561 vs 1491).

The largest win for the AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS is in Cinebench R23 single-core, where it scores 3552 against Intel's 1885, a staggering 46.9% difference. This is the most telling result in the dataset: the AMD's Zen 4 architecture at 5.20 GHz boost is dramatically more efficient per core. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, AMD wins 25165 to 20263, a 19.5% lead, proving that its 8-core design with higher clocks outpaces Intel's 16-core hybrid design in modern, well-threaded workloads. In Cinebench R15 single-core, AMD leads 357 to 274, a 23.2% margin. In PassMark extended instructions, AMD wins 27714 to 22163, a 20% lead, indicating stronger SIMD and AVX-512-style performance. AMD also wins in memory-heavy tasks: random string sorting (44668 vs 41209, +7.7%) and data compression (368884 vs 367930, +0.3%). Data encryption goes to AMD (21820 vs 21395, +1.9%), and PassMark single-thread goes to AMD (3920 vs 3778, +3.6%).

The overall win count is 9 for AMD and 8 for Intel, but the magnitude of AMD's wins in modern Cinebench R23 tests is far larger than Intel's wins in older tests. Intel's biggest wins are in the 22-48% range, while AMD's biggest wins are in the 19-47% range, plus a series of smaller but consistent wins in single-thread and memory tasks. The data shows a generational shift: Intel's Alder Lake architecture from 2022 is competitive in legacy multi-core, but AMD's 2024 Zen 4 part is superior in the workloads that matter for current professional software.