AMD Ryzen AI 5 435 vs Intel Core i5-12600K Comparison

The Intel Core i5-12600K and AMD Ryzen AI 5 435 occupy opposite ends of the computing spectrum, and the recorded data reflects that split clearly. In the database's 15 head-to-head benchmark comparisons, the Intel part wins every single test, with margins ranging from 5% to over 66%. Yet the AMD chip posts a higher average benchmark score (28128 vs 27578) and a higher percentile ranking (80th vs 79th), a divergence that stems from their very different design targets: one is a high-power desktop processor, the other a low-power mobile part. The following analysis breaks down where each chip excels, what separates their architectures, and how they compare in direct testing.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i5-12600K is the clear winner in every direct benchmark recorded in the database. It takes all 15 head-to-head tests, covering multi-threaded rendering, single-thread performance, and a wide range of PassMark workloads. Its largest victories come in data encryption (66.4% ahead), floating point math (65.4% ahead), and prime number finding (56.9% ahead). In multi-core Cinebench tests, it leads by 51.5% in R15 and 54.3% in R23. Even in the closest contests, single-thread workloads, it maintains a lead of 5% to 5.8%. For any workload that stresses raw compute throughput, the Intel part is the stronger choice.

The AMD Ryzen AI 5 435 does not win any head-to-head test, but its overall profile tells a different story. Its average benchmark score of 28128 is higher than the Intel's 27578, and its 80th percentile ranking edges out the Intel's 79th. This suggests that in the broader benchmark suite, which includes tests not in the head-to-head list, the AMD chip performs competitively. Its strengths likely lie in efficiency and integrated features rather than peak performance. The data shows a mobile processor designed for balanced, sustained workloads, not for winning raw speed contests against a desktop part with more than double the power budget.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on fundamentally different foundations. The Intel Core i5-12600K uses the Alder Lake architecture, fabricated on Intel's 10 nm process, with a die size of 215 mm². It packs 10 cores and 16 threads, with a base clock of 3.70 GHz and a boost clock of 4.90 GHz. Its thermal design power is 125 W, and it uses the Intel Socket 1700. The cache hierarchy includes 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 20 MB of shared L3 cache. It supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration, and its integrated graphics are UHD Graphics 770. The multiplier is unlocked, and it was released on 2021-11-03 with a launch MSRP of $289.

The AMD Ryzen AI 5 435 uses the Zen 5 architecture, codenamed Gorgon Point, fabricated on TSMC's 4 nm process. It has 6 cores and 12 threads, with a base clock of 2.00 GHz and a boost clock of 4.50 GHz. Its thermal design power is just 28 W, and it uses the AMD Socket FP8. The cache includes 80 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and only 4 MB of L3 cache. It supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X memory in a dual-channel configuration, with a memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s. It supports ECC memory, which the Intel part does not. Its integrated graphics are Radeon 840M, and the multiplier is locked. It was released on 2026-01-04, and no launch MSRP is recorded.

The process node difference is stark: 10 nm for Intel versus 4 nm for AMD, with TSMC as the foundry for the latter. The Intel chip has more cores, more threads, a higher clock speed, and a much larger L3 cache. The AMD chip compensates with a dramatically lower TDP, a more modern process, and support for LPDDR5X memory, which is typical for mobile platforms.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data is unambiguous. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Intel scores 2555 against the AMD's 1686, a 51.5% advantage. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the gap widens to 54.3%, with scores of 17491 and 11333. Single-core results are closer but still favor Intel: 275 vs 260 in R15 (5.8% lead) and 1907 vs 1816 in R23 (5% lead). These results indicate that the Intel part's higher core count and clock speed translate directly into multi-threaded rendering performance, while its single-thread advantage is modest but consistent.

PassMark workloads show the largest deltas. Data encryption sees the Intel score 18485 against the AMD's 11110, a 66.4% lead. Floating point math is nearly as lopsided: 67217 vs 40627, a 65.4% margin. Prime number finding shows 91 vs 58, a 56.9% lead. Data compression is 344071 vs 225374, a 52.7% advantage. Integer math, multithread, physics, and random string sorting all show Intel leads between 41.9% and 45.3%. Extended instructions are 35.8% ahead. Even the closest PassMark test, single-thread, shows a 5.1% lead (3926 vs 3734). The pattern is consistent: the Intel Core i5-12600K dominates in every measured workload, with the largest margins in tasks that benefit from high core counts and high clock speeds.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every specification field. The Intel has 10 cores and 16 threads, while the AMD has 6 cores and 12 threads. Base clocks are 3.70 GHz versus 2.00 GHz, and boost clocks are 4.90 GHz versus 4.50 GHz. TDP is 125 W versus 28 W. Sockets are Intel Socket 1700 versus AMD Socket FP8. Architecture is Alder Lake versus Zen 5, with process nodes of 10 nm (Intel foundry) versus 4 nm (TSMC). L2 cache is 1.25 MB per core versus 1 MB per core, and L3 cache is 20 MB shared versus 4 MB. Memory support is DDR4 and DDR5 versus DDR5 and LPDDR5X, with the AMD part specifying 89.6 GB/s bandwidth. ECC memory is false for Intel, true for AMD. PCIe lanes are 20 (Gen 4) versus 14 (Gen 4). Integrated graphics are UHD Graphics 770 versus Radeon 840M. Market segment is Desktop versus Mobile. Release dates are 2021-11-03 versus 2026-01-04. The Intel has a launch MSRP of $289; the AMD has none recorded. The Intel multiplier is unlocked; the AMD is locked. Part numbers are SRL4T versus 100-000001337.

FAQ

Q: Why does the Intel chip win all 15 head-to-head tests but have a lower average benchmark score?

A: The head-to-head tests are a specific set of 15 comparisons, all of which the Intel wins. The average benchmark score includes a broader range of tests, some of which are not in the head-to-head list. The AMD's average of 28128 exceeds the Intel's 27578, and its 80th percentile ranking is one point higher, indicating that the AMD performs better in the wider benchmark suite.

Q: What is the TDP difference, and what does it imply?

A: The Intel Core i5-12600K has a TDP of 125 W, while the AMD Ryzen AI 5 435 has a TDP of 28 W. This reflects their target markets: the Intel is a desktop processor designed for high performance with ample cooling, while the AMD is a mobile processor optimized for low power consumption and battery life.

Q: Which processor has more cache?

A: The Intel has a larger cache hierarchy. It offers 1.25 MB of L2 per core and 20 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD has 1 MB of L2 per core and only 4 MB of L3 cache. Both have 80 KB of L1 per core.

Q: What memory types do they support?

A: The Intel supports DDR4 and DDR5 in a dual-channel configuration. The AMD supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X, also dual-channel, with a specified memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s. The AMD also supports ECC memory, which the Intel does not.

Q: Are these processors overclockable?

A: The Intel Core i5-12600K has an unlocked multiplier, allowing overclocking. The AMD Ryzen AI 5 435 has a locked multiplier, so it cannot be overclocked in the same manner.

Q: What are the integrated graphics on each?

A: The Intel uses UHD Graphics 770, while the AMD uses Radeon 840M. Both are integrated solutions, but they serve different platforms: the Intel is for desktop, the AMD for mobile.