AMD Ryzen AI 7 345 vs Intel Core i5-12600H Comparison

# AMD Ryzen AI 7 345 vs Intel Core i5-12600H

The recorded data presents a clear matchup between two mobile processors with different design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen AI 7 345, built on a 4 nm TSMC process with Krackan Point architecture, faces the Intel Core i5-12600H, a 10 nm Alder Lake-H part with a hybrid core layout. Across 15 head-to-head benchmark comparisons, Intel secures 12 wins while AMD claims 3, but the margin of victory varies dramatically by workload type. The Intel chip holds a decisive lead in most multi-threaded and integer-heavy tasks, while AMD demonstrates superiority in single-threaded PassMark testing and extended instruction throughput. The average benchmark scores place AMD at 29461 against Intel's 28882, a 2% overall advantage for the Ryzen part despite losing most individual tests.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most significant divergence appears in Cinebench multi-core results. The Intel Core i5-12600H scores 20072 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, compared to the AMD Ryzen AI 7 345's 11461, a delta of -42.9% for AMD. This is the largest gap in the entire comparison set. The single-core Cinebench R23 test shows a similar pattern, with Intel scoring 2833 against AMD's 1818, a -35.8% difference. These results indicate that the Intel processor's 12 cores and 16 threads provide substantial parallel processing capability that AMD's 6 cores and 12 threads cannot match in heavily threaded rendering workloads.

The Cinebench R15 results tell a comparable story, though with smaller margins. Intel scores 2023 in multi-core versus AMD's 1712, a -15.4% delta. The single-core R15 test shows Intel ahead at 285 against 271, a narrower -4.9% margin. This suggests that at lower thread counts and older benchmark versions, the performance gap narrows considerably.

PassMark results reveal a more nuanced picture. AMD wins the extended instructions test decisively, scoring 17003 against Intel's 14508, a 17.2% advantage. The Ryzen AI 7 345 also takes the PassMark single-thread test with 3875 versus Intel's 3453, a 12.2% lead. These two victories highlight AMD's strength in per-thread execution and specialized instruction handling.

Intel dominates the remaining PassMark categories. Data encryption shows Intel at 14799 versus AMD's 11814, a -20.2% delta for AMD. Floating point math favors Intel with 51264 against 42621, a -16.9% gap. Integer math sees Intel scoring 71168 versus AMD's 63475, a -10.8% difference. Physics tests show Intel at 1262 against AMD's 1089, a -13.7% margin. The multithread test is closer, with Intel at 21128 and AMD at 19927, a -5.7% delta. Data compression shows Intel at 247404 versus AMD's 237484, a -4% difference. Random string sorting favors Intel 27653 to 25435, an -8% gap. Prime number finding shows Intel at 71 against AMD's 62, a -12.7% margin.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i5-12600H establishes its dominance in scenarios requiring sustained multi-core throughput. The Cinebench R23 multi-core result demonstrates a 42.9% advantage, making this processor the clear choice for CPU-bound rendering, video encoding, and compilation workloads that scale across many threads. The floating point math score of 51264, which is 20.3% higher than AMD's 42621, indicates strong performance in scientific computing and numerical simulation tasks. Data encryption at 14799, a 25.3% advantage over AMD, positions Intel well for security applications and encrypted storage workloads. The physics score of 1262, 15.9% ahead of AMD's 1089, suggests better performance in simulation engines and game physics calculations.

The AMD Ryzen AI 7 345 wins in areas where single-thread efficiency and specialized instruction execution matter most. The PassMark single-thread score of 3875, a 12.2% lead over Intel, indicates superior per-core performance for lightly threaded applications such as legacy software, scripting, and interactive response. The extended instructions result of 17003, a 17.2% advantage, shows AMD's strength in workloads that utilize SIMD and vector processing extensions, including multimedia encoding, cryptography, and certain AI inference tasks. The data compression score of 237484, while losing to Intel, remains within 4% of the rival, suggesting competitive performance in file archiving and data transfer tasks.

AMD's multithread score of 19927, only 5.7% behind Intel's 21128, represents a smaller deficit than the Cinebench results would suggest. This indicates that the Ryzen AI 7 345 handles thread scheduling and workload distribution more efficiently in certain PassMark scenarios, partially compensating for its lower core count. The 89.6 GB/s memory bandwidth, available through DDR5 or LPDDR5X support, helps sustain memory-intensive operations despite the smaller L3 cache.

Architecture Differences

The architectural divergence between these processors is substantial. The AMD Ryzen AI 7 345 employs a 4 nm TSMC fabrication process, while the Intel Core i5-12600H uses Intel's 10 nm node. This process advantage allows AMD to achieve a base clock of 2.00 GHz and boost clock of 4.60 GHz, compared to Intel's 2.70 GHz base and 4.50 GHz boost. Despite the lower base clock, AMD reaches a higher maximum frequency.

Core configuration differs fundamentally. The AMD part contains 6 cores and 12 threads, all based on the Zen 5 / Zen 5c architecture within the Krackan Point codename. The Intel part features 12 cores and 16 threads, using a hybrid Alder Lake design that combines performance and efficiency cores. This hybrid approach explains Intel's thread count advantage relative to its core count, as efficiency cores do not support simultaneous multithreading.

Cache hierarchies show notable differences. AMD allocates 80 KB of L1 cache per core, matching Intel's per-core L1 allocation. L2 cache differs slightly, with AMD providing 1 MB per core versus Intel's 1.25 MB per core. The L3 cache presents a major distinction: AMD offers only 4 MB, while Intel provides 18 MB of shared L3 cache. This 14 MB difference likely contributes to Intel's superior performance in cache-sensitive workloads.

Memory support varies in flexibility. AMD supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X memory with a dual-channel bus, achieving 89.6 GB/s bandwidth. Intel supports both DDR4 and DDR5, also dual-channel, but the recorded data does not specify its memory bandwidth. This absence of a bandwidth figure for Intel suggests that AMD's memory subsystem may offer higher theoretical throughput.

PCIe connectivity differs, with AMD providing Gen 4 with 14 lanes (CPU only) versus Intel's Gen 4 with 20 lanes (CPU only). This gives Intel additional expansion capacity for discrete GPUs, NVMe storage, and other peripherals. Integrated graphics also differ, with AMD using Radeon 840M and Intel using Iris Xe 80EU, though no benchmark comparison exists in the recorded data.

Power characteristics show AMD at 28W TDP versus Intel's 45W TDP. This 17W difference suggests AMD may offer better energy efficiency, though the recorded data does not include power consumption measurements. The physical size differs as well, with Intel's die measuring 217 mm² while AMD's die size is not recorded.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has higher single-thread performance?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI 7 345 scores 3875 in PassMark single-thread testing, a 12.2% advantage over the Intel Core i5-12600H's 3453. However, in Cinebench R23 single-core, Intel leads with 2833 against AMD's 1818, a -35.8% delta for AMD. The PassMark result and Cinebench result conflict, indicating that benchmark methodology significantly affects single-thread conclusions.

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

A: The largest gap appears in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where Intel scores 20072 versus AMD's 11461, a 42.9% advantage for Intel. The PassMark multithread test shows a smaller difference, with Intel at 21128 and AMD at 19927, a 5.7% margin.

Q: What is the core and thread configuration for each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI 7 345 has 6 cores and 12 threads. The Intel Core i5-12600H has 12 cores and 16 threads, featuring a hybrid Alder Lake design with performance and efficiency cores.

Q: Which processor has more L3 cache?

A: The Intel Core i5-12600H has 18 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD Ryzen AI 7 345 has only 4 MB of L3 cache, a substantial 14 MB difference.

Q: What are the process nodes for each chip?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI 7 345 is built on a 4 nm process by TSMC. The Intel Core i5-12600H uses a 10 nm process by Intel.

Q: How do the processors compare in encryption and floating point workloads?

A: Intel leads in data encryption with 14799 against AMD's 11814, a 20.2% advantage. Intel also wins floating point math with 51264 versus AMD's 42621, a 16.9% margin.

The Verdict

The recorded data supports different processor selections depending on workload priorities. The Intel Core i5-12600H is the stronger choice for multi-threaded rendering, scientific computing, and encryption-intensive tasks. Its 42.9% advantage in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 20.2% lead in data encryption make it the preferred option for content creators, engineers, and security-focused users. The 18 MB L3 cache and 12-core configuration provide substantial headroom for parallel workloads.

The AMD Ryzen AI 7 345 appeals to users prioritizing single-thread responsiveness and specialized instruction execution. The 12.2% PassMark single-thread advantage and 17.2% extended instructions lead indicate strengths in interactive applications, legacy software compatibility, and SIMD-heavy code. The lower 28W TDP suggests potential for thinner, more power-efficient laptops, though the recorded data does not include direct power measurements.

The average benchmark scores place AMD at 29461 against Intel's 28882, a 2% overall advantage for the Ryzen part. This aggregate metric reflects AMD's efficiency in certain PassMark tests despite losing 12 of 15 head-to-head comparisons. The percentile ranking against all CPUs is identical at 81 for both processors, indicating similar overall standing in the broader market.

Users seeking maximum multi-core throughput for rendering or compilation should select the Intel Core i5-12600H. Users prioritizing single-thread performance, extended instruction throughput, and potentially better energy efficiency should consider the AMD Ryzen AI 7 345. The choice ultimately depends on whether the workload favors Intel's core count advantage or AMD's per-thread efficiency and specialized instruction handling.