Intel Core i5-12450H vs Intel Core Ultra 5 115U Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded benchmark data paints a clear picture of two processors with different priorities. The Intel Core i5-12450H dominates the head-to-head results, securing 14 wins out of 17 tests, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 115U takes three wins. The margin of victory for the Core i5-12450H is often substantial, particularly in memory-intensive and multi-threaded workloads.

The largest gap appears in Cinebench R15 single-core, where the Core i5-12450H scores 238 versus 154 for the Core Ultra 5 115U, a 35.3% advantage. This pattern repeats in Cinebench R20 single-core, with the Core i5-12450H leading 800 to 643, a 19.6% difference. Even in Cinebench R23 single-core, where the gap narrows, the Core i5-12450H still wins by 7.8%, scoring 1661 against 1532.

Multi-core results are more nuanced. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Core i5-12450H leads 1350 to 1094, a 19% edge. Cinebench R20 multicore shows a similar story: 5671 versus 4559, a 19.6% margin. However, Cinebench R23 multicore flips the script entirely. The Core Ultra 5 115U scores 10855, which is 23% ahead of the Core i5-12450H's 8822.5. This is the single largest win for the Core Ultra 5 115U and suggests that under sustained heavy multi-threaded loads, the newer architecture holds an advantage.

The PassMark suite reinforces the Core i5-12450H's dominance in most integer and floating-point work. Data compression shows a 27.3% lead for the Core i5-12450H (195132 versus 141945), and integer math follows with a 25.1% advantage (54782 versus 41043). Floating-point math also favors the Core i5-12450H by 24.7% (40568 versus 30538). Extended instructions, a measure of SIMD and specialized workload performance, shows a 28.1% gap in favor of the Core i5-12450H (11992 versus 8620).

The Core Ultra 5 115U's wins are smaller but meaningful. In PassMark find prime numbers, it scores 53 versus 46, a 15.2% advantage. PassMark physics shows a narrow 1.7% win (898 versus 883). These two wins, combined with the Cinebench R23 multicore result, indicate that the Core Ultra 5 115U excels in specific computational patterns rather than broad general-purpose throughput.

Overall average benchmark scores place the Core i5-12450H at 17239, slightly above the Core Ultra 5 115U's 16753. The percentile rankings are close: the Core i5-12450H sits at the 71st percentile of all CPUs, while the Core Ultra 5 115U sits at the 70th. Among nearest rivals, the Core Ultra 5 115U is nearly identical to the Intel Core i5-1235U (16770, a 0.1% difference) and the AMD Ryzen 3 7335U (16827, a 0.4% difference). The Core i5-12450H's nearest rival is the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 8300G, which scores 17278, a 0.2% difference, meaning the Core i5-12450H is effectively at parity with that chip.

The Verdict

The data indicates that the Intel Core i5-12450H is the stronger all-around performer. Its 19% to 35% leads in Cinebench single-core tests and its 20% to 28% advantages across most PassMark workloads make it the clear choice for users who prioritize raw speed in everyday applications, content creation, and general productivity. The 12 threads versus 10 threads advantage helps in heavily threaded tasks, and the higher base clock of 2.00 GHz versus 1.50 GHz contributes to its responsiveness.

However, the Core Ultra 5 115U is not without merit. Its 23% victory in Cinebench R23 multicore is a strong signal that for sustained all-core rendering, the Meteor Lake architecture with its 10 MB of shared L3 cache can outperform the older Alder Lake design despite fewer threads. The wins in prime number finding and physics suggest that certain mathematical workloads favor its design.

Users should choose the Core i5-12450H for general purpose computing, gaming, and most professional workloads where single-threaded speed and broad multi-threaded performance matter. The Core Ultra 5 115U makes sense for scenarios where the Cinebench R23 multicore result is more representative, such as long-duration rendering or simulation tasks, and where the lower 15 W TDP versus 45 W TDP might be a factor in thermal-constrained systems.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i5-12450H has an average benchmark score of 17239, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 115U scores 16753, a difference of about 2.9% in favor of the Core i5-12450H.

Q: Where does the Core Ultra 5 115U beat the Core i5-12450H?

A: The Core Ultra 5 115U wins in three tests: Cinebench R23 multicore (10855 versus 8822.5, a 23% lead), PassMark find prime numbers (53 versus 46, a 15.2% lead), and PassMark physics (898 versus 883, a 1.7% lead).

Q: How large is the single-core performance gap?

A: The Core i5-12450H leads in all single-core tests. The largest gap is in Cinebench R15 single-core, where it scores 238 versus 154, a 35.3% advantage. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the gap narrows to 7.8% (1661 versus 1532).

Q: How do these processors compare to their nearest rivals?

A: The Core Ultra 5 115U is within 0.6% of its nearest rivals, including the Intel Core i3-12100E (16853, a 0.6% difference) and the AMD Ryzen 3 8440U (16663, a 0.5% difference). The Core i5-12450H is within 0.5% of its rivals, such as the AMD Ryzen 3 210 (17321, a 0.5% difference) and the AMD Ryzen 5 4500 (17333, a 0.5% difference).

Q: Which processor has more threads?

A: The Intel Core i5-12450H has 12 threads, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 115U has 10 threads. Both have 8 cores.

Q: What is the difference in integrated graphics?

A: The Core Ultra 5 115U features Arc Xe-LPG with 48 execution units, while the Core i5-12450H uses UHD Graphics. The data does not include comparative graphics benchmarks.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key specifications. The Intel Core i5-12450H has a base clock of 2.00 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 115U has a base clock of 1.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.20 GHz. The Core i5-12450H runs at a TDP of 45 W, compared to the Core Ultra 5 115U's 15 W.

The socket interface differs: the Core Ultra 5 115U uses Intel BGA 2049, while the Core i5-12450H uses Intel BGA 1744. The Core Ultra 5 115U is a Meteor Lake part released on December 13, 2023, whereas the Core i5-12450H is an Alder Lake-H part with no release date recorded.

Memory support also diverges. The Core Ultra 5 115U supports DDR5 with bandwidth dependent on the motherboard, while the Core i5-12450H supports both DDR4 and DDR5. The Core Ultra 5 115U has a recorded memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s, while no memory bandwidth figure is listed for the Core i5-12450H.

PCIe lane counts differ: the Core Ultra 5 115U provides 12 lanes of Gen 4, while the Core i5-12450H provides 20 lanes of Gen 4. The die size of the Core i5-12450H is recorded as 217 mm², while no die size is listed for the Core Ultra 5 115U.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap is significant. The Core Ultra 5 115U is built on Meteor Lake, a 7 nm process from Intel, while the Core i5-12450H uses Alder Lake on a 10 nm node. This process advantage likely contributes to the Core Ultra 5 115U's lower TDP and its 23% win in Cinebench R23 multicore.

Cache hierarchies differ substantially. The Core Ultra 5 115U has 112 KB of L1 cache per core and 2 MB of L2 cache per core, with 10 MB of shared L3 cache. The Core i5-12450H has 80 KB of L1 per core and 1.25 MB of L2 per core, but its shared L3 cache is larger at 12 MB. The larger L3 on the Core i5-12450H may explain its strong performance in data compression and random string sorting, where memory access patterns benefit from more shared cache.

The integrated graphics differ: the Core Ultra 5 115U uses Arc Xe-LPG with 48 execution units, a more modern GPU architecture, while the Core i5-12450H uses UHD Graphics. The part numbers also differ: SRN6F for the Core Ultra 5 115U and SRLCX for the Core i5-12450H. Both processors have locked multipliers and do not support ECC memory.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i5-12450H wins in the vast majority of workloads. Its 35.3% lead in Cinebench R15 single-core and 19.6% lead in Cinebench R20 single-core make it the better choice for applications that rely on quick single-threaded responses, such as web browsing, office productivity, and legacy software. The 27.3% advantage in data compression and 28.1% lead in extended instructions point to strength in file archiving, encryption, and SIMD-heavy code. The 25.1% lead in integer math and 24.7% lead in floating-point math cover general computational tasks ranging from spreadsheets to physics simulations. The 20.6% edge in data encryption makes it preferable for security-focused workloads.

The Core Ultra 5 115U wins in three specific areas. The 23% lead in Cinebench R23 multicore indicates that under prolonged multi-threaded rendering, the Meteor Lake architecture sustains higher throughput, making it suitable for video rendering and 3D modeling where the entire CPU is engaged for minutes or hours. The 15.2% win in prime number finding suggests an advantage in integer-heavy mathematical algorithms, and the 1.7% win in PassMark physics indicates slightly better performance in physics simulation tasks.

For users deciding between these two, the recorded data points to the Core i5-12450H for general purpose and performance-critical applications, while the Core Ultra 5 115U is the better pick for sustained multi-threaded rendering workloads and scenarios where its lower 15 W TDP is a system design constraint.