Intel Core i5-12450H vs Intel Core i7-1255U Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data presents a clear and consistent picture, with the Intel Core i5-12450H dominating the benchmark suite. Out of 17 recorded comparisons, the i5-12450H claims victory in 16, while the Intel Core i7-1255U secures only a single win. This is not a close contest, but the nature of the wins and losses reveals important nuances about each processor's design priorities.

The sole victory for the i7-1255U comes in Cinebench R15 multi-core, where it scores 1387 against the i5-12450H's 1350, a margin of 2.7%. This is a narrow win in an older rendering test, and it stands in stark contrast to the results of newer Cinebench versions. In Cinebench R20 multi-core, the i5-12450H turns the tables decisively, scoring 5671 versus 4635, a gap of 18.3% in its favor. The pattern repeats in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where the i5-12450H scores 8822.5 against 8285, a 6.1% advantage. The data suggests that as the rendering workload becomes more demanding and modern, the i5-12450H's higher power envelope and core configuration pull ahead.

Single-core performance tells a more measured story. In Cinebench R15 single-core, the i5-12450H wins by a hair, scoring 238 against 237.5, a negligible 0.2% difference. The margin widens slightly in Cinebench R20 single-core, where the i5-12450H scores 800 versus 654, an 18.2% lead. However, in Cinebench R23 single-core, the gap shrinks to just 0.8%, with scores of 1661 and 1647. This inconsistency across versions suggests that the single-core advantage of the i5-12450H is real but workload-dependent, and it is not a universal truth across all tests.

The Passmark suite reinforces the i5-12450H's dominance, and the margins here are often larger than in the Cinebench tests. In data compression, the i5-12450H scores 195132 against 147320, a substantial 24.5% lead. Data encryption shows a 14.5% advantage (10832 versus 9262). Extended instructions, a test that leverages modern CPU instruction sets, shows the largest gap of all: the i5-12450H scores 11992 versus 8231, a 31.4% advantage. This is a significant finding, indicating that the i5-12450H's architecture handles complex, vectorized workloads far more efficiently. Floating-point math also favors the i5-12450H, with a score of 40568 against 32618, a 19.6% lead. Integer math is closer, with 54782 versus 48498, an 11.5% margin.

The remaining Passmark tests follow the same trajectory. The i5-12450H wins multithread performance with 16265 versus 13234, an 18.6% lead. Physics simulation favors the i5-12450H by 10.6% (883 versus 789). Random string sorting, a memory-latency-sensitive test, shows an 18.7% advantage for the i5-12450H (20838 versus 16934). Even the prime number finding test, often a measure of raw integer throughput, goes to the i5-12450H by 13% (46 versus 40). In single-thread Passmark tests, the i5-12450H leads by 3.4% (3306 versus 3192), a more modest but consistent margin.

It is importantly the i7-1255U's average benchmark score is 17656, while the i5-12450H's is 17239. This is a curious inversion: the i7-1255U has a higher average score across its full benchmark set, but it loses almost every head-to-head comparison. This is likely due to the fact that the i7-1255U's benchmark list includes a different mix of tests, and its average is pulled up by its performance in those specific workloads. When directly compared on identical tests, the i5-12450H is the clear winner. The percentile ranks for both CPUs are identical at 71, placing them in the same tier relative to all other processors in the database.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: the Intel Core i5-12450H is the superior performer in nearly every measurable workload. The only exception is the older Cinebench R15 multi-core test, where the i7-1255U ekes out a 2.7% win. For any user prioritizing rendering, data processing, encryption, or general multithreaded performance, the i5-12450H is the correct choice. Its leads range from 6.1% in Cinebench R23 multi-core to a massive 31.4% in extended instructions. Even in single-threaded tasks, where the two CPUs are expected to be close, the i5-12450H maintains a consistent, if sometimes small, edge.

The i7-1255U, despite its higher core count of 10 versus 8, cannot overcome the i5-12450H's fundamental advantage in this comparison. It is notably both processors share the same 12 threads, so the thread count is not a differentiating factor. The i5-12450H's higher base clock (2000 MHz versus 1700 MHz) and higher TDP (45 W versus 15 W) likely contribute to its sustained performance advantage. The i7-1255U is a 15 W part, clearly designed for power efficiency, while the i5-12450H is a 45 W part designed for performance. This is a classic trade-off, and the benchmark data reflects it: the i5-12450H spends more power to deliver more performance.

For a user building a system where battery life and thermals are paramount, the i7-1255U may still be the sensible pick, but the performance data cannot be ignored. The i5-12450H wins 16 of 17 head-to-head tests, and the margins are often substantial. The verdict is straightforward: if raw performance is the goal, the i5-12450H is the processor to choose. If power efficiency is the priority, the i7-1255U is the only option, but it comes with a measurable performance penalty.

Architecture Differences

Both processors are built on Intel's Alder Lake architecture and use the same 10 nm process node, manufactured by Intel. They share the same socket, Intel BGA 1744, meaning they are physically compatible with the same motherboards. The L1 cache is identical at 80 KB per core, and the L2 cache is also the same at 1.25 MB per core. The L3 cache is a shared 12 MB on both chips. Memory support is identical: both support DDR4 and DDR5 in a dual-channel configuration. Neither supports ECC memory. The PCIe implementation is the same: Gen 4 with 20 lanes from the CPU.

The key architectural difference lies in the codename and the specific implementation. The i7-1255U is part of the Alder Lake-U family, while the i5-12450H is part of the Alder Lake-H family. The "U" designation typically indicates an ultra-low-power design, while "H" indicates a high-performance mobile design. This is reflected in the TDP: 15 W for the i7-1255U versus 45 W for the i5-12450H. The die size is also a differentiating factor, with the i5-12450H having a die size of 217 mm², while the i7-1255U's die size is not recorded in the database.

The integrated graphics differ significantly. The i7-1255U features Iris Xe 96EU graphics, which is a more capable integrated GPU. The i5-12450H features UHD Graphics, which is a less powerful integrated solution. This is a notable trade-off: the i7-1255U sacrifices CPU performance but offers a better integrated graphics experience, while the i5-12450H prioritizes CPU performance at the expense of integrated graphics quality.

The core counts also differ. The i7-1255U has 10 cores, while the i5-12450H has 8 cores. However, both have 12 threads, indicating a different mix of performance and efficiency cores. The i7-1255U's higher core count does not translate to a performance advantage in the benchmarks, which suggests that the i5-12450H's cores are either clocked higher or are more efficient in execution. The base clock of the i5-12450H is 2000 MHz versus 1700 MHz for the i7-1255U, and the boost clock is 4.40 GHz versus 4.70 GHz. The i5-12450H has a lower boost clock but a higher base clock, which may contribute to its sustained performance in longer workloads.

Specification Differences

The following specifications differ between the two processors, based solely on the recorded data:

• Cores: The i7-1255U has 10 cores, while the i5-12450H has 8 cores.
• Base Clock: The i7-1255U has a base clock of 1700.00 MHz, while the i5-12450H has a base clock of 2000.00 MHz.
• Boost Clock: The i7-1255U has a boost clock of 4.70 GHz, while the i5-12450H has a boost clock of 4.40 GHz.
• TDP: The i7-1255U has a TDP of 15 W, while the i5-12450H has a TDP of 45 W.
• Codename: The i7-1255U is Alder Lake-U, while the i5-12450H is Alder Lake-H.
• Generation: The i7-1255U is listed as Core i7 (Alder Lake-U), while the i5-12450H is listed as Core i5 (Alder Lake-H).
• Die Size: The i5-12450H has a die size of 217 mm², while the i7-1255U's die size is not recorded.
• Integrated Graphics: The i7-1255U has Iris Xe 96EU, while the i5-12450H has UHD Graphics.
• Part Number: The i7-1255U is SRLFP, while the i5-12450H is SRLCX.
• Release Date: The i7-1255U was released on 2022-02-22, while the i5-12450H has no recorded release date.

All other fields, including manufacturer, socket, architecture, process node, foundry, cache sizes, memory support, memory bus, ECC support, PCIe lanes, market segment, production status, and multiplier unlock status, are identical.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The Intel Core i7-1255U has 10 cores, while the Intel Core i5-12450H has 8 cores. However, both processors have 12 threads.

Q: Which processor performs better in multi-core rendering?

A: The Intel Core i5-12450H is consistently faster in multi-core rendering. It leads by 18.3% in Cinebench R20 multi-core and by 6.1% in Cinebench R23 multi-core. The only exception is Cinebench R15 multi-core, where the i7-1255U wins by 2.7%.

Q: How do the single-core performances compare?

A: The Intel Core i5-12450H wins every recorded single-core test, but the margins vary. It leads by 0.2% in Cinebench R15, 18.2% in Cinebench R20, 0.8% in Cinebench R23, and 3.4% in Passmark single-thread tests.

Q: What is the difference in integrated graphics?

A: The Intel Core i7-1255U features Iris Xe 96EU graphics, while the Intel Core i5-12450H features UHD Graphics. The Iris Xe 96EU is generally a more capable integrated GPU.

Q: Do both processors use the same socket?

A: Yes, both the Intel Core i7-1255U and the Intel Core i5-12450H use the Intel BGA 1744 socket.

Q: Which processor has a higher TDP?

A: The Intel Core i5-12450H has a TDP of 45 W, while the Intel Core i7-1255U has a TDP of 15 W. This reflects their different design targets: performance versus power efficiency.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i5-12450H is the clear winner for performance-oriented users. Its victories span nearly every benchmark category. In rendering, it wins Cinebench R20 and R23 multi-core by 18.3% and 6.1%, respectively. In data processing, it wins Passmark data compression by 24.5% and data encryption by 14.5%. The largest gap is in extended instructions, where it leads by 31.4%, making it the better choice for workloads that leverage advanced CPU instruction sets, such as certain scientific computing or media encoding tasks. It also wins all math-related tests, including floating-point math (19.6% lead) and integer math (11.5% lead). For multithreaded applications, the Passmark multithread score shows an 18.6% advantage. Even in single-threaded tasks, it maintains a lead, though the margin is smaller. This processor is the pick for any user who needs maximum CPU throughput in a mobile form factor.

The Intel Core i7-1255U has a single benchmark win, but it is not without its merits. Its victory in Cinebench R15 multi-core, while narrow at 2.7%, shows that it can hold its own in certain legacy workloads. More importantly, its specification sheet reveals its intended use case. With a TDP of 15 W, it is designed for power efficiency, making it suitable for thin-and-light laptops where battery life is critical and sustained performance under load is less important. Its Iris Xe 96EU integrated graphics are more capable than the UHD Graphics in the i5-12450H, making it the better choice for light gaming or GPU-accelerated tasks without a discrete graphics card. The i7-1255U also has a higher boost clock of 4.70 GHz, which may provide brief bursts of performance for short, bursty tasks.

The data shows that the i5-12450H is the superior CPU in almost every measurable way. The i7-1255U is the reasonable choice only when power efficiency and integrated graphics quality are the primary concerns, and the user is willing to accept a significant performance penalty in most compute-heavy workloads.