Intel Core 5 220H vs Intel Core i7-12650H Comparison

The Intel Core i7-12650H and Intel Core 5 220H are two mobile processors that deliver nearly identical average benchmark scores, yet they achieve those results through very different architectures and core configurations. The data shows the Core i7-12650H wins 10 of 17 head-to-head benchmark comparisons, while the Core 5 220H takes 7, but the margins are often tight. The Core 7-12650H edges out its rival in overall average score by a slight margin, posting 28,815 against the Core 5 220H’s 28,574, a difference of less than one percent.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most decisive victory in the entire comparison belongs to the Core i7-12650H in the Cinebench R23 multi-core test. The older Alder Lake chip scores 12,074, beating the Core 5 220H’s 11,198 by a substantial 7.8%. This is a significant margin in a demanding all-core workload, suggesting the i7’s larger 24 MB shared L3 cache helps in sustained multi-threaded rendering. Similarly, in PassMark’s find prime numbers test, the i7-12650H posts a score of 91 against 82 for the Core 5 220H, an 11% advantage that represents the largest percentage delta in any test.

The Core i7-12650H also shows clear strength in floating-point operations. It scores 54,934 in PassMark floating point math, beating the Core 5 220H’s 51,671 by 6.3%. Extended instruction performance also favors the i7, with a score of 15,438 versus 14,642, a 5.4% lead. Single-threaded PassMark results are close but favor the i7, with 3,539 points against 3,405, a 3.9% advantage. The i7 also wins narrowly in data compression (250,026 vs 247,921, up 0.8%) and integer math (73,641 vs 73,555, up 0.1%). Even the multithread score, a measure of raw throughput, goes to the i7 by a slim 0.4% margin, 21,962 to 21,884.

The Core 5 220H fights back primarily in single-core performance and specific PassMark workloads. The most striking win is in PassMark data encryption, where it scores 15,216 against the i7’s 14,041, a 7.7% advantage. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the Core 5 220H takes a 4.9% lead with 1,853 points versus 1,763. The newer chip also wins in random string sorting, posting 28,438 against 26,591, a 6.5% improvement. In the older Cinebench R20 multi-core test, the Core 5 220H wins by 2.6%, scoring 7,812 versus 7,608. Single-core R20 also goes to the Core 5 220H by the same 2.6% margin, 1,102 to 1,073. The Core 5 220H wins the R15 single-core test by 4.6% (262 vs 250) and PassMark physics by 3.2% (1,478 vs 1,430). The R15 multi-core test is the closest of all, with the i7 winning by just 0.9% (1,851.5 vs 1,835).

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i7-12650H is the stronger choice for sustained multi-core rendering and complex mathematical workloads. Its 7.8% lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core is the defining result of this comparison. The data also shows it is better suited for tasks that rely on extended CPU instruction sets, floating-point calculations, and prime number finding—workloads common in scientific computing and video encoding. The i7’s 11% advantage in prime number finding and 6.3% lead in floating-point math make it the clear pick for number-crunching applications.

The Intel Core 5 220H excels in encryption and single-core responsiveness. Its 7.7% victory in data encryption suggests better performance in security-related workloads like VPNs and disk encryption. The Core 5 220H’s consistent wins across all three Cinebench single-core tests (R15, R20, and R23) indicate a faster per-core architecture, which translates to snappier application launches and better performance in lightly-threaded software. The 6.5% win in random string sorting also points to an advantage in database-style operations and data shuffling tasks. For users who prioritize maximum single-thread speed or encryption throughput, the Core 5 220H is the better bet.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on fundamentally different Intel architectures. The Core i7-12650H uses Alder Lake architecture, codenamed Alder Lake-H, while the Core 5 220H uses Raptor Lake architecture, specifically Raptor Lake-H refresh. Both are fabricated on Intel’s 10 nm process node, so the manufacturing technology is identical. The core count differs: the i7-12650H has 10 cores and 16 threads, while the Core 5 220H has 12 cores and also 16 threads. This means the Core 5 220H packs two additional physical cores but relies on a different thread distribution to match the i7’s thread count.

Cache hierarchies are notably different. The L1 cache is identical at 80 KB per core for both. The L2 cache differs, with the i7-12650H offering 1.25 MB per core and the Core 5 220H offering a larger 2 MB per core. However, the L3 cache tells a different story: the i7-12650H has 24 MB shared, while the Core 5 220H has only 18 MB shared. This 6 MB difference in L3 cache likely explains the i7’s superior multi-core rendering performance, as more shared cache reduces memory access latency in heavily threaded workloads. The die size is only listed for the i7-12650H at 217 mm², with no figure provided for the Core 5 220H.

Specification Differences

The base and boost clocks are the most straightforward differentiators. The Core i7-12650H has a base clock of 2.30 GHz and a boost clock of 4.70 GHz. The Core 5 220H runs faster on both counts, with a base clock of 2.70 GHz and a boost clock of 4.90 GHz. This higher clock speed helps explain the Core 5 220H’s single-core benchmark wins. Both processors have a 45 W TDP and use the same Intel BGA 1744 socket.

PCIe support is a significant difference. The i7-12650H supports PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes (CPU only), while the Core 5 220H supports the newer PCIe Gen 5 with only 8 lanes (CPU only). The integrated graphics also differ: the i7-12650H uses UHD Graphics, while the Core 5 220H uses Iris Xe Graphics 80EU, which is a more capable GPU solution. Memory support is the same, with both supporting DDR4 and DDR5 in dual-channel mode, and neither supports ECC memory. Both have locked multipliers, meaning they are not unlocked for overclocking. The Core 5 220H has a listed release date of December 17, 2024, while the i7-12650H has no release date in the data. The Core 5 220H also carries a launch MSRP of $342, while the i7-12650H has no MSRP listed.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The Intel Core 5 220H has 12 cores, while the Intel Core i7-12650H has 10 cores. Both have 16 threads.

Q: Which processor is faster in single-core performance?

A: The Intel Core 5 220H wins all three Cinebench single-core tests, with a 4.9% lead in R23 (1,853 vs 1,763). However, the i7-12650H wins the PassMark single-thread test by 3.9% (3,539 vs 3,405).

Q: What is the biggest benchmark margin between the two?

A: The Intel Core i7-12650H wins PassMark find prime numbers by 11%, scoring 91 versus 82 for the Core 5 220H. The Core 5 220H’s largest win is 7.7% in PassMark data encryption (15,216 vs 14,041).

Q: Do both processors use the same socket?

A: Yes, both the Intel Core i7-12650H and the Intel Core 5 220H use the Intel BGA 1744 socket and have a 45 W TDP.

Q: Which processor has a larger L3 cache?

A: The Intel Core i7-12650H has a 24 MB shared L3 cache, while the Intel Core 5 220H has an 18 MB shared L3 cache. The Core 5 220H has a larger L2 cache at 2 MB per core versus 1.25 MB per core for the i7.

Q: What are the clock speed differences?

A: The Intel Core 5 220H has a higher base clock of 2.70 GHz and a higher boost clock of 4.90 GHz. The Intel Core i7-12650H has a 2.30 GHz base clock and a 4.70 GHz boost clock.

Q: How do their overall average benchmark scores compare?

A: The Intel Core i7-12650H has an average benchmark score of 28,815, which is slightly higher than the Core 5 220H’s 28,574. Both processors rank at the 80th percentile among all CPUs.