Intel Core 7 251TE vs Intel Core i9-12950HX Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core 7 251TE has 24 cores and 32 threads, while the Intel Core i9-12950HX has 16 cores and 24 threads. The Core 7 251TE holds a clear advantage in raw core and thread counts.

Q: What are the single-core performance differences in Cinebench?

A: The Intel Core 7 251TE wins Cinebench R23 single-core with a score of 3602, which is 47.7% ahead of the i9-12950HX’s 1885. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the i9-12950HX wins slightly with 1561 versus 1512, a 3.2% edge.

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core 7 251TE has a boost clock of 5.40 GHz, compared to the i9-12950HX’s 5.00 GHz. The base clock is also higher on the i9-12950HX at 2.30 GHz versus 1.40 GHz.

Q: How do they compare in multi-core workloads?

A: The Core 7 251TE wins Cinebench R23 multi-core with 25518 versus 20263, a 20.6% advantage. However, the i9-12950HX wins Cinebench R15 multi-core (3107 vs 2572, 20.8% ahead) and Cinebench R20 multi-core (11061 vs 10717, 3.2% ahead).

Q: What are the memory and PCIe specifications?

A: Both support DDR4 and DDR5 memory with dual-channel buses. The Core 7 251TE has a listed memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s, while the i9-12950HX does not have a bandwidth figure in the data. The i9-12950HX offers Gen 5 PCIe with 20 lanes, whereas the Core 7 251TE offers Gen 5 with 16 lanes.

Q: Which CPU has the larger L3 cache?

A: The Intel Core 7 251TE has 36 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i9-12950HX has 30 MB. Both have the same L1 cache (80 KB per core) and L2 cache (1.25 MB per core).

The Verdict

The benchmark data splits this matchup into two distinct use cases. The Intel Core i9-12950HX wins 10 of the 17 head-to-head benchmarks, including all three Cinebench multi-core tests except R23, plus PassMark multithread, physics, random string sorting, and single-thread tests. If you need consistent multi-threaded throughput across a broad suite, the i9-12950HX is the safer pick.

The Intel Core 7 251TE, however, dominates in the most modern and demanding single-thread and multi-core workloads. Its Cinebench R23 single-core score of 3602 is 47.7% higher, and its R23 multi-core score of 25518 is 20.6% higher. For applications that scale with the latest instruction sets and higher boost clocks, the Core 7 251TE is the clear winner. It also has more cores (24 vs 16) and more threads (32 vs 24), plus a larger L3 cache (36 MB vs 30 MB).

Pick the i9-12950HX if you prioritize older Cinebench versions, data compression (10% lead), extended instructions (30.6% lead), and overall multithread stability. Pick the Core 7 251TE if you want the best modern rendering performance, higher clock speeds, and a more future-proof core count. The Core 7 251TE also has a lower TDP of 45 W versus 55 W, making it more power-efficient on paper. Both CPUs sit at the 88th percentile among all CPUs, but their strengths are clearly split.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The biggest single-core gap is in Cinebench R23, where the Core 7 251TE scores 3602 against the i9-12950HX’s 1885 — a staggering 47.7% difference. This is not a marginal lead; it indicates a fundamentally better single-thread architecture or higher effective clock speed in this workload. In Cinebench R15 single-core, the Core 7 251TE also wins by 24.3% (362 vs 274). However, in Cinebench R20 single-core, the i9-12950HX flips the result with a 3.2% win (1561 vs 1512).

Multi-core results are similarly split. The Core 7 251TE wins Cinebench R23 multi-core by 20.6% (25518 vs 20263), leveraging its 24 cores. But the i9-12950HX wins Cinebench R15 multi-core by 20.8% (3107 vs 2572) and Cinebench R20 multi-core by 3.2% (11061 vs 10717). This inconsistency suggests the i9-12950HX performs better in older Cinebench versions, while the Core 7 251TE scales better in the latest R23 test.

In PassMark tests, the i9-12950HX wins data compression by 10% (367930 vs 334399), extended instructions by 30.6% (22163 vs 16974), multithread by 5.5% (31673 vs 30022), physics by 7.5% (2084 vs 1938), random string sorting by 4% (41209 vs 39643), and both single-thread tests by 5.9% (3778 vs 3568). The Core 7 251TE counters with wins in data encryption by 3.5% (22176 vs 21395), find prime numbers by 3.6% (140 vs 135), floating point math by 6.1% (85607 vs 80402), and integer math by 12.8% (125739 vs 109586).

The overall benchmark average tells a similar story: the i9-12950HX averages 42487, while the Core 7 251TE averages 41650. That is a 2% gap, but the distribution of wins is far more important than the average.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i9-12950HX | Intel Core 7 251TE |

|----------------|----------------------|--------------------|

| Cores | 16 | 24 |

| Threads | 24 | 32 |

| Base Clock | 2.30 GHz | 1.40 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 5.00 GHz | 5.40 GHz |

| TDP | 55 W | 45 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1964 | Intel Socket 1700 |

| Codename | Alder Lake-HX | Bartlett Lake |

| Generation | Core i9 (Alder Lake-HX) | Core 7 (Bartlett Lake) |

| L3 Cache | 30 MB (shared) | 36 MB (shared) |

| Memory Bandwidth | Not listed | 89.6 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 5, 20 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 5, 16 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Market Segment | Mobile | Desktop |

| Release Date | 2022-05-09 | 2025-01-12 |

| Launch MSRP | $590 | $384 |

| Part Number | SRLGG | SRQAXQ5ZG |

The i9-12950HX is a mobile chip on Intel BGA 1964, while the Core 7 251TE is a desktop part on Intel Socket 1700. The i9-12950HX has a higher base clock (2.30 vs 1.40 GHz), but the Core 7 251TE boosts higher (5.40 vs 5.00 GHz). The Core 7 251TE has more cores, threads, and L3 cache, plus a lower TDP (45 W vs 55 W). The i9-12950HX has more PCIe lanes (20 vs 16). Both support DDR4 and DDR5 memory, have dual-channel buses, and include UHD Graphics 770.

Architecture Differences

The i9-12950HX is based on Alder Lake-HX architecture, while the Core 7 251TE uses Bartlett Lake. Both are built on Intel’s 10 nm process node with a 215 mm² die size. Despite the different codenames, they share identical L1 cache (80 KB per core) and L2 cache (1.25 MB per core). The L3 cache differs: 30 MB shared on the i9-12950HX versus 36 MB shared on the Core 7 251TE.

The core counts are the biggest architectural divergence. The Core 7 251TE packs 24 cores and 32 threads, while the i9-12950HX has 16 cores and 24 threads. This is a 50% increase in cores and a 33% increase in threads, which explains the Core 7 251TE’s lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core. However, the i9-12950HX’s higher base clock (2.30 GHz vs 1.40 GHz) helps it win older multi-core tests like Cinebench R15 and R20.

Both CPUs have ECC memory support, dual-channel memory buses, and integrated UHD Graphics 770. The Core 7 251TE lists a memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s, a figure not provided for the i9-12950HX. The PCIe implementation differs: the i9-12950HX offers Gen 5 with 20 lanes, while the Core 7 251TE offers Gen 5 with 16 lanes. Neither has an unlocked multiplier, so overclocking is not an option for either.

The release dates are far apart: the i9-12950HX launched on 2022-05-09, while the Core 7 251TE launched on 2025-01-12. Both are listed as Active in production status. The Core 7 251TE’s newer architecture clearly benefits single-thread performance, as evidenced by its 47.7% lead in Cinebench R23 single-core.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i9-12950HX wins in data-heavy and legacy workloads. It leads data compression by 10% (367930 vs 334399) and extended instructions by 30.6% (22163 vs 16974). It also wins PassMark multithread by 5.5% (31673 vs 30022) and physics by 7.5% (2084 vs 1938). If your work involves compression, encryption-adjacent instruction sets, or older Cinebench versions (R15, R20), the i9-12950HX is the stronger choice. Its 20 PCIe lanes also give it an edge for multi-device setups.

The Intel Core 7 251TE wins in modern rendering and integer-heavy tasks. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 25518 is 20.6% higher, and its R23 single-core score of 3602 is 47.7% higher. It also wins integer math by 12.8% (125739 vs 109586) and floating point math by 6.1% (85607 vs 80402). For 3D rendering, video encoding, or scientific computing that uses the latest Cinebench version, the Core 7 251TE’s extra cores and higher boost clock deliver clear gains. Its data encryption win (22176 vs 21395, 3.5%) and find prime numbers win (140 vs 135, 3.6%) round out its advantages.

The split is clean: the i9-12950HX wins 10 benchmarks, the Core 7 251TE wins 7. The i9-12950HX is the all-rounder for older software, while the Core 7 251TE is the specialist for modern multi-core and single-thread performance. If you care about Cinebench R23 specifically, the Core 7 251TE is the obvious pick. If you care about PassMark multithread or data compression, the i9-12950HX is better. Both CPUs are in the 88th percentile, but they achieve that status through very different strengths.