Intel Core 5 210H vs Intel Core i5-12450HX Comparison

The Intel Core 5 210H and Intel Core i5-12450HX are both 8-core, 12-thread mobile processors aimed at high-performance laptops, yet they deliver distinctly different performance profiles. The benchmark data shows the Core 5 210H takes 11 of the 17 head-to-head tests, including decisive victories in Cinebench R15 and PassMark integer math, while the i5-12450HX counters with a massive win in Cinebench R23 single-core and several smaller PassMark wins. These results paint a picture of two chips optimized for different workloads, with the newer Raptor Lake part generally leading in multi-threaded and general compute tasks, while the older Alder Lake part excels in specific single-threaded and instruction-heavy scenarios.

The Verdict

The data suggests a clear split in workload suitability. For users prioritizing multi-threaded rendering and integer-heavy productivity, the Intel Core 5 210H is the stronger choice. Its 16.2% lead in Cinebench R15 multi-core (1757 vs 1512) and 7.5% advantage in PassMark integer math (61503 vs 57189) indicate superior throughput in content creation and compilation tasks. The 3.9% win in Cinebench R23 multi-core (11830 vs 11390) reinforces this trend, though the margin narrows in newer benchmark versions.

Conversely, the Intel Core i5-12450HX is the pick for single-thread performance, where it delivers a remarkable 16.4% advantage in Cinebench R23 single-core (2119 vs 1771). This is the single largest performance gap in the entire comparison. The i5-12450HX also wins in PassMark extended instructions (13832 vs 13370, a 3.3% edge) and physics (1086 vs 1040, a 4.2% edge), suggesting it may be better suited for legacy single-threaded applications, certain scientific workloads, and older games that rely heavily on a single core.

In aggregate, the Core 5 210H holds a higher average benchmark score at 24872 compared to 24576 for the i5-12450HX, representing a 1.2% overall advantage. Both chips sit at the 77th percentile of all CPUs, indicating they belong to the same general performance tier. The choice ultimately hinges on whether the user's primary applications favor the Core 5 210H's multi-core dominance or the i5-12450HX's exceptional single-core speed. Given that modern workloads are increasingly multi-threaded, the Core 5 210H is the safer default recommendation, but the i5-12450HX is the specialist for single-thread-sensitive tasks.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel architectures. The Core 5 210H is built on Raptor Lake, specifically the Raptor Lake-H refresh, while the i5-12450HX uses Alder Lake from the Alder Lake-HX family. Both are fabricated on Intel's 10 nm process at Intel's own foundry, so the underlying transistor technology is identical.

The most significant architectural divergence is in the cache hierarchy. The Core 5 210H features 2 MB of L2 cache per core, while the i5-12450HX has 1.25 MB per core. This larger per-core L2 cache on the Raptor Lake part likely contributes to its superior integer math and floating-point performance, as more data can be stored closer to the execution units. Both share the same 80 KB L1 cache per core and 12 MB of shared L3 cache.

Platform support differs substantially. The Core 5 210H uses the Intel BGA 1744 socket, while the i5-12450HX uses Intel BGA 1964. PCIe connectivity is a major differentiator: the i5-12450HX provides 20 PCIe Gen 5 lanes from the CPU, whereas the Core 5 210H offers only 8 lanes. This makes the i5-12450HX more suitable for systems requiring extensive high-bandwidth I/O, such as multiple NVMe drives or discrete GPUs with wider interconnects. The integrated graphics also differ, with the Core 5 210H featuring Iris Xe Graphics with 48 execution units, while the i5-12450HX is limited to the more basic UHD Graphics 710.

The i5-12450HX carries a larger die size at 215 mm², and its multiplier is unlocked, enabling overclocking on supported platforms. The Core 5 210H has a locked multiplier. The i5-12450HX also has a higher TDP at 55W compared to 45W for the Core 5 210H, though both are officially rated for mobile use. Neither chip supports ECC memory, and both support DDR4 and DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Core 5 210H dominates the older Cinebench R15 tests with commanding leads. In multi-core, it scores 1757 versus 1512, a 16.2% advantage, and in single-core it posts 247 versus 213, a 16% lead. These are the two largest wins for the Raptor Lake chip and suggest that its higher boost clock of 4.80 GHz, compared to 4.40 GHz on the i5-12450HX, provides a substantial edge in burst workloads. The gap narrows significantly in Cinebench R20, where the Core 5 210H leads by only 3.2% in multi-core (6504 vs 6304) and 3.3% in single-core (918 vs 889). This trend continues into Cinebench R23 multi-core, where the Core 5 210H's margin shrinks to 3.9% (11830 vs 11390).

The i5-12450HX's biggest triumph comes in Cinebench R23 single-core, where it scores 2119 against the Core 5 210H's 1771, a 16.4% reversal. This is an anomalous result given the i5-12450HX's lower boost clock, but the data is unambiguous. The Alder Lake chip also edges out the Core 5 210H in PassMark extended instructions (13832 vs 13370, 3.3% lead), PassMark physics (1086 vs 1040, 4.2% lead), and PassMark data compression (219707 vs 217805, 0.9% lead).

In the PassMark suite, the Core 5 210H shows consistent strength in math-oriented workloads. It leads in integer math by 7.5% (61503 vs 57189) and floating-point math by 4.5% (45057 vs 43126). The Core 5 210H also wins PassMark single-thread by 6% (3539 vs 3340) and PassMark data encryption by 0.6% (12187 vs 12110). The two chips are nearly tied in PassMark multithread, with the i5-12450HX ahead by just 0.1% (18274 vs 18252). The Core 5 210H also takes PassMark random string sorting by 0.6% (23451 vs 23306), while the i5-12450HX wins find prime numbers by 1.9% (54 vs 53).

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across several key specification fields:

• Architecture: Raptor Lake (Raptor Lake-H refresh) vs Alder Lake (Alder Lake-HX)
• Base Clock: 2.20 GHz vs 2.40 GHz
• Boost Clock: 4.80 GHz vs 4.40 GHz
• TDP: 45W vs 55W
• Socket: Intel BGA 1744 vs Intel BGA 1964
• L2 Cache: 2 MB per core vs 1.25 MB per core
• Die Size: Not specified vs 215 mm²
• PCIe Lanes: Gen 5, 8 lanes vs Gen 5, 20 lanes
• Integrated Graphics: Iris Xe Graphics 48EU vs UHD Graphics 710
• Multiplier Unlocked: No vs Yes
• Release Date: 2024-12-17 vs 2022-05-09
• Part Number: SRQ6RQ5MN vs SRLGJ
• Launch MSRP: $342 vs $284

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core 5 210H boosts to 4.80 GHz, which is higher than the i5-12450HX's 4.40 GHz. However, the i5-12450HX has a higher base clock at 2.40 GHz compared to 2.20 GHz.

Q: Which chip is better for multi-core rendering workloads?

A: The Core 5 210H leads in all Cinebench multi-core tests. Its advantages are 16.2% in R15 (1757 vs 1512), 3.2% in R20 (6504 vs 6304), and 3.9% in R23 (11830 vs 11390).

Q: Does the i5-12450HX win any single-core benchmark?

A: Yes, the i5-12450HX wins Cinebench R23 single-core by 16.4% (2119 vs 1771). However, the Core 5 210H wins Cinebench R15 single-core by 16% (247 vs 213) and PassMark single-thread by 6% (3539 vs 3340).

Q: What is the difference in PCIe connectivity?

A: The i5-12450HX provides 20 PCIe Gen 5 lanes from the CPU, while the Core 5 210H provides only 8 lanes. This makes the i5-12450HX more suitable for systems with multiple high-bandwidth devices.

Q: Which processor has more L2 cache?

A: The Core 5 210H has 2 MB of L2 cache per core, compared to 1.25 MB per core on the i5-12450HX. Both have 12 MB of shared L3 cache and 80 KB of L1 cache per core.

Q: What is the overall average benchmark score difference?

A: The Core 5 210H has an average benchmark score of 24872, which is 1.2% higher than the i5-12450HX's 24576. Both are at the 77th percentile of all CPUs.