AMD Ryzen AI 7 445 vs Intel Core i5-12600K Comparison

The Intel Core i5-12600K and AMD Ryzen AI 7 445 represent two distinct philosophies in processor design: one is a high-power desktop part aimed at maximum throughput, the other a low-power mobile chip built for efficiency. The benchmark data shows a decisive performance gap, with the Intel part winning all 15 recorded head-to-head comparisons. However, the context of their respective market segments is crucial, as the Ryzen AI 7 445 operates in a completely different power envelope and form factor. This analysis breaks down the architectural differences, benchmark results, and specification disparities to clarify which processor serves which purpose.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i5-12600K has 10 cores and 16 threads, while the AMD Ryzen AI 7 445 has 6 cores and 12 threads.

Q: What is the performance difference in multi-core workloads?

A: In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Intel Core i5-12600K scores 17491 compared to the AMD Ryzen AI 7 445's 10590, a 65.2% advantage for Intel.

Q: How do they compare in single-core performance?

A: The Intel Core i5-12600K leads in Cinebench R23 single-core with a score of 1907 versus 1806 for the AMD Ryzen AI 7 445, a 5.6% difference. In PassMark single-thread, Intel scores 3926 against 3591, a 9.3% lead.

Q: What is the average benchmark score for each processor?

A: The Intel Core i5-12600K has an average benchmark score of 27578, while the AMD Ryzen AI 7 445 has an average score of 26936. Both are in the 79th percentile of all CPUs.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core i5-12600K has a boost clock of 4.90 GHz, whereas the AMD Ryzen AI 7 445 boosts to 4.60 GHz.

Q: Are there any benchmark categories where the AMD Ryzen AI 7 445 wins?

A: No. The recorded data shows the Intel Core i5-12600K winning all 15 head-to-head benchmark comparisons, with no wins recorded for the AMD Ryzen AI 7 445.

Architecture Differences

The fundamental architectural divide is between Intel's Alder Lake and AMD's Zen 5. The Intel Core i5-12600K, released on 2021-11-03, uses the Alder Lake-S codename and is built on a 10 nm process at Intel's own foundry. It employs a hybrid architecture with 10 cores and 16 threads, running on the Intel Socket 1700 with a 125 W thermal design power (TDP). The die size is listed at 215 mm².

The AMD Ryzen AI 7 445, with a release date of 2026-01-04, uses the Gorgon Point codename and a Zen 5 architecture, fabricated by TSMC on a 4 nm process. It is a mobile part on the AMD Socket FP8 with a significantly lower 28 W TDP. The generation is listed as "Ryzen AI 400 (Zen 5 / Zen 5c)", indicating a heterogeneous core layout, though the total core count is 6 with 12 threads.

Cache hierarchies differ notably. Both have 80 KB of L1 cache per core. The Intel part has 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core and 20 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD part has 1 MB of L2 per core and only 4 MB of L3 cache, which is a substantial reduction in total cache capacity. This difference helps explain the Intel part's advantage in cache-sensitive workloads.

Memory support also diverges. The Intel Core i5-12600K supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory, while the AMD Ryzen AI 7 445 supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X. The AMD part has explicit memory bandwidth listed at 89.6 GB/s, whereas the Intel part does not have a bandwidth figure in the database. Both use dual-channel memory buses. The AMD part supports ECC memory, while the Intel part does not.

PCIe lane counts differ, with the Intel part providing Gen 4 with 20 lanes (CPU only) and the AMD part offering Gen 4 with 14 lanes (CPU only). Integrated graphics also differ: Intel uses UHD Graphics 770, while AMD uses Radeon 840M. The Intel part has an unlocked multiplier, whereas the AMD part is locked.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark results are overwhelmingly in favor of the Intel Core i5-12600K. Across all 15 recorded head-to-head tests, the Intel part wins every single one. The largest deltas appear in multi-threaded and math-heavy workloads.

In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Intel part scores 17491 against the AMD's 10590, a 65.2% lead. This is the largest single-core-to-multi-core gap in the data. The Cinebench R15 multi-core test shows a similar trend: Intel scores 2555 versus 1723, a 48.3% advantage. The PassMark multi-thread test reinforces this pattern, with Intel at 27608 and AMD at 18115, a 52.4% delta.

Math workloads show some of the most extreme differences. PassMark floating point math sees Intel at 67217 versus AMD's 39362, a 70.8% lead. Integer math follows with Intel at 87776 and AMD at 58332, a 50.5% delta. Data encryption is the largest relative gap: Intel scores 18485 against AMD's 10519, a 75.7% advantage. Data compression also favors Intel heavily, at 344071 versus 215812, a 59.4% delta.

The single-core tests show a much narrower, but still consistent, Intel lead. In Cinebench R23 single-core, Intel scores 1907 versus 1806, a 5.6% delta. Cinebench R15 single-core is closer, with Intel at 275 and AMD at 254, an 8.3% delta. PassMark single-thread confirms the trend with Intel at 3926 and AMD at 3591, a 9.3% difference. The 3DMark tests, available only for the Intel part, show scores of 7975 for 16 threads and 1016 for single-thread, but no AMD comparison data exists for those tests.

The physics test shows Intel at 1525 and AMD at 976, a 56.3% delta. Random string sorting has Intel at 35704 and AMD at 23488, a 52% delta. Find prime numbers shows Intel at 91 and AMD at 56, a 62.5% delta. Extended instructions follow suit with Intel at 22002 and AMD at 15826, a 39% delta.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every major specification field. The process node is a clear distinction: Intel uses 10 nm, while AMD uses 4 nm. The foundry is also different (Intel versus TSMC). The Intel part has a die size of 215 mm², while the AMD part has no recorded die size.

The core and thread counts are 10/16 for Intel versus 6/12 for AMD. Base clock speeds are 3.70 GHz for Intel and 2.00 GHz for AMD. Boost clocks are 4.90 GHz for Intel and 4.60 GHz for AMD. The TDP is drastically different: 125 W for Intel versus 28 W for AMD, reflecting their desktop versus mobile market segments.

Cache configurations diverge in L2 and L3. The Intel part has 1.25 MB of L2 per core and 20 MB of shared L3. The AMD part has 1 MB of L2 per core and 4 MB of L3. L1 cache is identical at 80 KB per core.

Memory support differs, with Intel supporting DDR4 and DDR5, while AMD supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X. ECC memory is supported on the AMD part but not on the Intel part. PCIe lanes are 20 for Intel and 14 for AMD, both Gen 4. The integrated graphics are UHD Graphics 770 for Intel and Radeon 840M for AMD.

The sockets are entirely different: Intel Socket 1700 versus AMD Socket FP8. The Intel part has an unlocked multiplier, while the AMD part is locked. The Intel part has a launch MSRP of $289, while the AMD part has no recorded launch MSRP. The release dates are also far apart, with Intel on 2021-11-03 and AMD on 2026-01-04.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: the Intel Core i5-12600K is the superior performer in every recorded benchmark. It leads by wide margins in multi-core and math-heavy workloads, with deltas ranging from 39% to 75.7%. Even in single-core tests, where the gap is smallest, the Intel part maintains a 5.6% to 9.3% advantage. With 10 cores versus 6, a higher boost clock of 4.90 GHz versus 4.60 GHz, and a much larger 20 MB L3 cache versus 4 MB, the Intel part is built for raw compute throughput.

The AMD Ryzen AI 7 445, however, operates in a completely different context. Its 28 W TDP is less than a quarter of Intel's 125 W TDP, making it suitable for thin-and-light mobile devices where power consumption and thermals are primary constraints. Its 4 nm process node and support for LPDDR5X memory indicate a focus on efficiency rather than peak performance. The AMD part also includes ECC memory support, a feature absent on the Intel part.

For a desktop user seeking maximum benchmark scores in applications like Cinebench and PassMark, the Intel Core i5-12600K is the clear choice. Its average benchmark score of 27578 places it in the 79th percentile, with its closest rivals including the AMD Ryzen 7 5700X (0% delta), AMD Ryzen 7 5800 (0.2% delta), and Intel Core Ultra 5 125H (0.3% delta). The AMD Ryzen AI 7 445, with an average score of 26936, also sits in the 79th percentile, but its nearest rivals are the Intel Core i7-1370P (0.1% delta), AMD Ryzen 5 7545U (0.3% delta), and AMD Ryzen 7 5700G (-0.4% delta). This places the AMD part in the same performance percentile, but the benchmark data shows a consistent performance deficit on every shared test. The choice ultimately comes down to platform: the Intel part is for desktop systems where power is not a constraint, while the AMD part is for mobile systems where efficiency is paramount.