AMD Ryzen AI 5 330 vs Intel Core i5-12400 Comparison

The AMD Ryzen AI 5 330 and Intel Core i5-12400 occupy nearly identical positions in the overall performance hierarchy, with average benchmark scores of 18811 and 18683 respectively. That 0.7% gap places the AMD part marginally ahead in the aggregate, but the head-to-head data tells a far more lopsided story. Across the 15 shared benchmarks, Intel wins 13, with the Ryzen AI 5 330 taking only two narrow victories in single-threaded PassMark tests.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most decisive margin appears in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where the Intel Core i5-12400 scores 15989 against the Ryzen AI 5 330's 7840. That is a 51% deficit for the AMD part, the largest single delta in the comparison. The single-core result in the same test is closer but still firmly Intel's: 2257 versus 1812, a 19.7% lead. Cinebench R15 follows the same pattern, with Intel ahead by 26.1% in multi-core (1611 vs 1191) and 11.9% in single-core (227 vs 199.9).

PassMark's compute workloads reinforce the trend. The Intel part leads by 42.4% in floating point math (45494 vs 26196) and by 35.3% in integer math (58366 vs 37771). Data encryption shows a 36.5% gap (11418 vs 7251), while data compression is 33% higher for Intel (226908 vs 152012). Extended instruction throughput favors Intel by 27.8% (15399 vs 11124). The prime number search workload, which often stresses memory latency and core efficiency, gives Intel a 38.2% advantage (68 vs 42). Physics simulation scores 1105 for Intel versus 705 for AMD, a 36.2% delta. Random string sorting is 27.6% higher on Intel (22366 vs 16188).

The overall PassMark multi-thread score sits at 18747 for Intel versus 12797 for AMD, a 31.7% difference. Notably, the two benchmarks where AMD wins are both single-threaded PassMark runs: 3515 versus 3456, a 1.7% edge. These results indicate that while the Ryzen AI 5 330 has a slight per-thread performance advantage in one specific test suite, the Intel part's additional cores and threads overwhelm that advantage in every multi-threaded scenario.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The Ryzen AI 5 330 is a mobile-focused part built on the Zen 5 architecture, codenamed Krackan Point 2, using a 4 nm TSMC process. It packs 4 cores and 8 threads in a 28W TDP package. The Intel Core i5-12400 is a desktop Alder Lake-S design on Intel's 10 nm process, with 6 cores and 12 threads at a 65W TDP. The socket differences are absolute: AMD uses Socket FP8, while Intel uses Socket 1700.

Cache hierarchies diverge sharply. Both share 80 KB of L1 per core, but AMD allocates 1 MB of L2 per core for a total of 4 MB, while Intel provides 1.25 MB per core. The L3 cache is where the gap widens dramatically: AMD offers only 4 MB of L3, whereas Intel has 18 MB shared. This 14 MB difference in last-level cache likely contributes to Intel's strong showing in data-heavy workloads like compression and encryption.

Memory support also differs. AMD lists DDR5 and LPDDR5X with dual-channel operation and a memory bandwidth figure of 89.6 GB/s. Intel supports both DDR4 and DDR5, also dual-channel, though no bandwidth figure is provided in the data. PCIe connectivity favors Intel: Gen 5 with 16 lanes versus AMD's Gen 4 with 14 lanes. Integrated graphics are present on both, with AMD's Radeon 820M against Intel's UHD Graphics 730. Neither part supports ECC memory, and both have locked multipliers.

The die size tells part of the story: Intel's is listed at 163 mm². AMD's die size is not provided, but the 4 nm process node versus Intel's 10 nm node indicates a denser transistor layout for the AMD part. The Ryzen AI 5 330 also carries a 2025 release date versus Intel's 2022 launch, yet the newer, more efficient process does not translate into a benchmark advantage in this comparison.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI 5 330 has an average benchmark score of 18811, which is 0.7% higher than the Intel Core i5-12400's 18683. Both parts sit at the 72nd and 73rd percentile respectively among all CPUs.

Q: How large is the multi-core performance gap in Cinebench R23?

A: The Intel Core i5-12400 scores 15989 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, which is 51% higher than the Ryzen AI 5 330's 7840. This is the largest single benchmark delta between the two processors.

Q: Does the Ryzen AI 5 330 win any benchmarks?

A: Yes, it wins both PassMark single-thread tests, scoring 3515 against Intel's 3456. The margin is 1.7% in both cases. It also edges Intel in the overall average benchmark score by 0.7%.

Q: What are the core and thread counts for each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI 5 330 has 4 cores and 8 threads. The Intel Core i5-12400 has 6 cores and 12 threads. Intel's additional 2 cores and 4 threads are reflected in its multi-threaded benchmark dominance.

Q: How do the cache configurations compare?

A: Both have 80 KB of L1 per core. AMD provides 1 MB of L2 per core and 4 MB of L3 total. Intel provides 1.25 MB of L2 per core and 18 MB of shared L3. Intel's larger L3 cache is a substantive architectural advantage.

Q: What are the TDP ratings for each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI 5 330 is rated at 28W, while the Intel Core i5-12400 is rated at 65W. The AMD part is designed for mobile platforms, as indicated by its Socket FP8 and mobile market segment, whereas Intel targets desktops with Socket 1700.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear split based on workload type. For any multi-threaded task — rendering, encoding, compression, simulation — the Intel Core i5-12400 is the superior choice. Its 51% lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 42.4% lead in floating point math are decisive. The 6-core, 12-thread configuration with 18 MB of L3 cache consistently outpaces the 4-core, 8-thread AMD part in every parallel workload tested.

The Ryzen AI 5 330's only measurable wins are the two PassMark single-thread scores, where it leads by 1.7%. That margin is narrow enough to be within run-to-run variance, though it does suggest the Zen 5 architecture has competitive per-core performance. The AMD part's 28W TDP versus Intel's 65W TDP also indicates a power efficiency advantage, but no power consumption benchmarks are present in the data to quantify that difference.

The overall average benchmark scores place these chips within 0.7% of each other, but that aggregate hides the distribution. The Intel part wins 13 of 15 head-to-head benchmarks, and its victories are often by substantial margins. The AMD part wins 2, both by less than 2%. For buyers prioritizing raw throughput, the Intel Core i5-12400 is the evident choice. For those constrained to a mobile platform, the Ryzen AI 5 330 offers competitive single-thread performance in a lower-power envelope, but it cannot match Intel's multi-threaded output.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen AI 5 330 | Intel Core i5-12400 |

|---|---|---|

| Cores | 4 | 6 |

| Threads | 8 | 12 |

| Base Clock | 2.00 GHz | 2.50 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.50 GHz | 4.40 GHz |

| TDP | 28W | 65W |

| Socket | AMD Socket FP8 | Intel Socket 1700 |

| Architecture | Zen 5 | Alder Lake |

| Codename | Krackan Point 2 | Alder Lake-S |

| Process Node | 4 nm | 10 nm |

| Foundry | TSMC | Intel |

| Die Size | Not specified | 163 mm² |

| L2 Cache | 1 MB (per core) | 1.25 MB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 4 MB | 18 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR5, LPDDR5X | DDR4, DDR5 |

| Memory Bandwidth | 89.6 GB/s | Not specified |

| PCIe | Gen 4, 14 Lanes | Gen 5, 16 Lanes |

| Integrated Graphics | Radeon 820M | UHD Graphics 730 |

| Market Segment | Mobile | Desktop |

| Release Date | 2025-07-15 | 2022-01-03 |

| Launch MSRP | Not specified | $199 |