AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 vs Intel Core i5-12600HX Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data presents a split decision between the AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 and the Intel Core i5-12600HX, with the AMD processor taking 9 benchmark wins against 6 for the Intel part. The most dramatic single-core difference appears in Cinebench R23, where Intel wins by a substantial 33% margin (2924 vs 1958). This is one of the largest deltas in the entire comparison, and it establishes a clear pattern: the Intel chip holds a significant advantage in this particular multi-threaded rendering workload.

However, the AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 counters with its own decisive victory in Cinebench R15 multicore, scoring 2477 against Intel's 2087, a 18.7% advantage. This creates an interesting contradiction between the two Cinebench versions. The R15 result favors AMD heavily, while the R23 result favors Intel even more heavily. The R23 multicore gap is 22.7% in Intel's favor (20714 vs 16014.5), suggesting that the Intel processor scales better with the longer, more demanding workload.

In single-thread performance, the results are equally mixed. Cinebench R15 single-core shows both processors tied at 294, a rare dead heat in the data. Cinebench R23 single-core tells a different story, with Intel leading by 33% (2924 vs 1958). PassMark single-thread results flip the narrative, with AMD ahead by 5.8% (3834 vs 3623). This inconsistency across test suites indicates that neither processor has a universal single-thread advantage; the outcome depends heavily on the specific workload characteristics.

The PassMark suite provides a broader view of performance across different instruction types. AMD wins in data compression by 4% (304089 vs 292256), extended instructions by 25.1% (21678 vs 17328), and integer math by 8% (85651 vs 79339). Intel counters with wins in data encryption by 12.9% (17506 vs 15244), find prime numbers by 3.6% (83 vs 80), floating point math by 8.8% (58378 vs 53230), and physics by 10.3% (1504 vs 1349). The PassMark multithread aggregate shows AMD barely ahead at 24935 vs 24681, a 1% margin. Random string sorting also goes to AMD, but by a razor-thin 0.5% (33266 vs 33110).

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 demonstrates its strengths in integer-heavy and data-processing workloads. The 25.1% lead in extended instructions is particularly notable, as this suggests superior SIMD or specialized instruction handling. The 8% integer math advantage and 4% data compression edge point toward productivity tasks that involve number crunching, database operations, or file compression. The PassMark multithread aggregate, while only 1% ahead, indicates that the AMD processor maintains competitive overall throughput despite having fewer physical cores.

The Intel Core i5-12600HX excels in floating-point and encryption workloads. The 8.8% floating point math advantage and the 12.9% data encryption lead suggest that the Intel part handles scientific computing, financial modeling, or cryptographic operations with greater efficiency. The 10.3% physics score advantage points toward simulation workloads, and the 33% Cinebench R23 single-core lead indicates a strong showing in lightly-threaded rendering tasks. The Cinebench R23 multicore win, at 22.7%, is the single largest margin in the entire comparison, making the Intel chip the clear choice for extended CPU-bound rendering sessions.

The Cinebench R15 results complicate this picture. AMD wins that multicore test by 18.7%, and the single-core scores are identical at 294. This suggests that the Intel advantage in Cinebench R23 is workload-specific rather than a general multicore superiority. Users running shorter rendering tasks may see AMD ahead, while longer renders favor Intel.

Architecture Differences

The two processors take fundamentally different design approaches. The AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 uses a Zen 5 architecture on a 4 nm TSMC process, with a die size of 195 mm². It features 8 cores and 16 threads, with a base clock of 2.00 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. The TDP is rated at 28 watts, and it uses the AMD Socket FP8. Its cache layout includes 80 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 8 MB of L3 cache. Memory support covers DDR5 and LPDDR5X in a dual-channel configuration, with a memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s. The integrated graphics are the Radeon 860M, and PCIe support is Gen 4 with 16 lanes. The processor was released on 2025-01-05.

The Intel Core i5-12600HX uses the Alder Lake architecture on a 10 nm Intel process, with a larger die size of 215 mm². It has 12 cores and 16 threads, with a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.60 GHz. The TDP is significantly higher at 55 watts, and it uses the Intel BGA 1964 socket. Its cache structure differs notably: 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 18 MB of shared L3 cache. Memory support includes DDR4 and DDR5 in dual-channel mode, and ECC memory is supported, a feature the AMD part lacks. PCIe support is Gen 5 with 20 lanes. The integrated graphics are UHD Graphics 770. This processor was released on 2022-05-09, with a launch MSRP of $284.

The core count discrepancy is noteworthy: Intel has 12 physical cores versus AMD's 8, yet both support 16 threads. This implies the Intel part relies on a hybrid core arrangement, likely combining performance and efficiency cores, while the AMD processor uses a more uniform core design. The Intel part's higher TDP of 55 watts versus AMD's 28 watts points toward a more power-hungry design, which may influence thermal and battery behavior in mobile systems.

The cache hierarchy favors Intel in L2 and L3 capacity. Intel's L2 cache is 1.25 MB per core versus AMD's 1 MB, and the shared L3 is 18 MB versus AMD's 8 MB. This larger cache pool may explain Intel's strength in Cinebench R23, where larger working sets benefit from more aggressive data retention. AMD counters with a higher boost clock of 5.00 GHz versus 4.60 GHz, which may contribute to its PassMark single-thread win.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The Intel Core i5-12600HX has 12 cores, while the AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 has 8 cores. Both processors support 16 threads.

Q: What is the performance difference in Cinebench R23 multicore?

A: The Intel Core i5-12600HX scores 20714 versus the AMD Ryzen AI 7 350's 16014.5, giving Intel a 22.7% advantage in this workload.

Q: Which processor is better for integer math?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 scores 85651 in PassMark integer math, which is 8% higher than the Intel Core i5-12600HX's score of 79339.

Q: Do both processors have the same single-core performance?

A: No, the results vary by test. Cinebench R15 single-core shows both at 294, but Cinebench R23 single-core shows Intel ahead by 33% (2924 vs 1958), while PassMark single-thread shows AMD ahead by 5.8% (3834 vs 3623).

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The Intel Core i5-12600HX supports ECC memory, while the AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 does not.

Q: What is the TDP difference?

A: The Intel Core i5-12600HX has a TDP of 55 watts, while the AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 has a TDP of 28 watts.

The Verdict

The data presents two distinct performance profiles. The AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 wins 9 of 15 head-to-head comparisons, with its most significant victories coming in extended instructions (25.1% ahead), Cinebench R15 multicore (18.7% ahead), and integer math (8% ahead). Its lower TDP of 28 watts and newer release date (2025-01-05) suggest a more modern, power-efficient design. The PassMark multithread aggregate, with AMD ahead by 1%, indicates that the AMD part can compete with the Intel chip in general throughput despite having fewer physical cores.

The Intel Core i5-12600HX, despite winning only 6 of 15 comparisons, secures the largest single victory in the entire dataset: a 33% lead in Cinebench R23 single-core. Its 22.7% multicore advantage in Cinebench R23 is also substantial, and it dominates in encryption (12.9% ahead) and physics (10.3% ahead). The higher TDP of 55 watts and larger L3 cache of 18 MB point toward a design optimized for sustained heavy workloads rather than efficiency.

For users prioritizing rendering workloads, especially extended Cinebench R23-style tasks, the Intel Core i5-12600HX is the clear choice based on the recorded data. The 33% single-core and 22.7% multicore margins in R23 are decisive. For users focused on data compression, integer math, or specialized instruction execution, the AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 offers measurable advantages. The 25.1% extended instructions lead is particularly compelling for workloads that leverage advanced CPU instructions.

The average benchmark scores reflect a close overall race: the AMD processor sits at 34222 with a percentile rank of 84, while the Intel part averages 33375 with a percentile rank of 83. The nearest rival comparisons confirm this proximity, with the AMD part trading places with the AMD EPYC 4244P (0% delta) and the Intel part matching the AMD Ryzen 5 8645HS (0.4% delta). Neither processor establishes dominance in the overall database ranking, but their workload-specific strengths are clear. The final choice depends entirely on which benchmark workloads match the user's actual usage patterns.