Intel Core i5-12450HX vs Intel Core i7-13620H Comparison

The Verdict

The benchmark data is unambiguous: the Intel Core i7-13620H wins 16 of 17 head-to-head comparisons against the Intel Core i5-12450HX, with the only loss coming in a single-core rendering test. The i7-13620H is the stronger mobile processor for nearly every workload category measured, from multi-threaded rendering to encryption and integer math. It posts the higher average benchmark score (24911 vs 24576), though both chips sit at the 77th percentile among all CPUs. The i5-12450HX remains a viable alternative only for users who prioritize raw single-core Cinebench performance or who require an unlocked multiplier for overclocking, as the data shows it is the only area where it leads. For all other tasks, the i7-13620H’s consistent double-digit percentage advantages make it the clear choice, provided the platform difference (Intel BGA 1744 vs Intel BGA 1964) is acceptable.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel generations. The i7-13620H is built on Raptor Lake architecture (Raptor Lake-H), while the i5-12450HX uses Alder Lake (Alder Lake-HX). Both are fabricated on Intel’s 10 nm process at Intel’s foundry, so the manufacturing node is identical. The core configurations differ significantly: the i7-13620H offers 10 cores and 16 threads, whereas the i5-12450HX provides 8 cores and 12 threads. That translates to two additional cores and four additional threads for the i7.

Cache hierarchies also diverge. Both chips share an L1 cache of 80 KB per core, but the L2 cache differs: the i7-13620H has 2 MB per core, while the i5-12450HX has 1.25 MB per core. The L3 cache is a major differentiator — the i7-13620H carries 24 MB shared, double the 12 MB shared on the i5-12450HX. The i5-12450HX does have a documented die size of 215 mm², a detail the i7-13620H lacks in the data.

Integrated graphics also separate the two. The i7-13620H ships with UHD Graphics 770, whereas the i5-12450HX uses UHD Graphics 710. Memory support is identical (DDR4 and DDR5, dual-channel), and neither supports ECC memory. PCIe lanes differ notably: the i7-13620H provides Gen 5 with 8 lanes (CPU only), while the i5-12450HX offers Gen 5 with 20 lanes (CPU only). The i5-12450HX has an unlocked multiplier, a feature absent on the i7-13620H. Their sockets are different (Intel BGA 1744 vs Intel BGA 1964), meaning they are not drop-in interchangeable. Release dates also differ, with the i7-13620H launching on 2023-01-03 and the i5-12450HX on 2022-05-09.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest margin in the entire comparison comes in the PassMark find prime numbers test, where the i7-13620H scores 99 versus 54 for the i5-12450HX — an 83.3% advantage. This is a workload that scales heavily with thread count and cache, and the i7-13620H’s extra cores and larger L3 cache deliver a near-doubling of performance. The physics test shows a similarly decisive gap: 1671 vs 1086, a 53.9% lead for the i7-13620H.

In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i7-13620H scores 2281 against 1512 for the i5-12450HX, a 50.9% advantage. That pattern repeats across other multi-threaded Cinebench versions. In R20 multi-core, the i7-13620H reaches 8305 versus 6304, a 31.7% lead. In R23 multi-core, the i7-13620H posts 15176 against 11390, a 33.2% advantage. The i7-13620H also leads in R20 single-core (1172 vs 889, 31.8%) and R15 single-core (263 vs 213, 23.5%).

The only benchmark where the i5-12450HX wins is Cinebench R23 single-core, where it scores 2119 versus 1833 for the i7-13620H — a 13.5% margin in favor of the i5-12450HX. This is an interesting outlier, as the i7-13620H wins both R15 and R20 single-core tests. The PassMark single-thread tests also go to the i7-13620H, though by a smaller margin: 3589 vs 3340, a 7.5% lead.

Integer math shows a 41.5% gap (80948 vs 57189), and floating-point math a 38.6% gap (59762 vs 43126). Data encryption favors the i7-13620H by 28.6% (15568 vs 12110), and data compression by 28.1% (281335 vs 219707). Extended instructions yield a 26.6% lead (17513 vs 13832), and random string sorting a 26.1% lead (29395 vs 23306). The PassMark multi-thread score is 24192 for the i7-13620H versus 18274 for the i5-12450HX, a 32.4% advantage.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in multi-threaded workloads?

A: The Intel Core i7-13620H. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 15176 versus 11390 for the i5-12450HX, a 33.2% advantage. PassMark multi-thread also favors the i7-13620H at 24192 versus 18274, a 32.4% lead.

Q: Is there any benchmark where the i5-12450HX beats the i7-13620H?

A: Yes, exactly one. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the i5-12450HX scores 2119 against 1833 for the i7-13620H, a 13.5% margin. The i7-13620H wins the other 16 head-to-head comparisons.

Q: How do the core and thread counts compare?

A: The i7-13620H has 10 cores and 16 threads. The i5-12450HX has 8 cores and 12 threads. That gives the i7-13620H two additional cores and four additional threads.

Q: Do these processors use the same socket?

A: No. The i7-13620H uses Intel BGA 1744, while the i5-12450HX uses Intel BGA 1964. They are not interchangeable on the same motherboard.

Q: What is the difference in integrated graphics?

A: The i7-13620H includes UHD Graphics 770, while the i5-12450HX includes UHD Graphics 710. Both support DDR4 and DDR5 memory in dual-channel mode.

Q: Can the i5-12450HX be overclocked?

A: Yes, the i5-12450HX has an unlocked multiplier. The i7-13620H does not have an unlocked multiplier, so it cannot be overclocked in the same manner.

Where Each One Wins

The i7-13620H is the winner in virtually every performance category measured. Its largest advantages appear in highly parallel workloads: prime number finding (83.3% lead), physics simulation (53.9%), and Cinebench R15 multi-core (50.9%). This makes it the better choice for rendering, scientific computing, and any task that can utilize its 10 cores and 16 threads. The 24 MB shared L3 cache versus 12 MB on the i5-12450HX likely contributes to its strong showing in data compression (28.1% lead) and encryption (28.6% lead), where larger working sets benefit from more cache.

The i5-12450HX is the better option only if the workload is specifically sensitive to Cinebench R23 single-core performance, where it holds a 13.5% advantage. It also offers an unlocked multiplier, which is a meaningful feature for users who plan to overclock. However, the i7-13620H still leads in PassMark single-thread tests (3589 vs 3340, 7.5%), so the i5-12450HX’s single-core win is isolated to that one benchmark. For mixed workloads, gaming (which often scales with multi-core performance in modern titles), and productivity, the i7-13620H’s consistent 26% to 54% leads across most tests make it the superior choice.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i7-13620H | Intel Core i5-12450HX |

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

| Cores | 10 | 8 |

| Threads | 16 | 12 |

| Boost Clock | 4.90 GHz | 4.40 GHz |

| TDP | 45 W | 55 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1744 | Intel BGA 1964 |

| Architecture | Raptor Lake | Alder Lake |

| Codename | Raptor Lake-H | Alder Lake-HX |

| Process Node | 10 nm | 10 nm |

| Die Size | Not specified | 215 mm² |

| L2 Cache | 2 MB (per core) | 1.25 MB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 24 MB (shared) | 12 MB (shared) |

| PCIe | Gen 5, 8 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 5, 20 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | UHD Graphics 770 | UHD Graphics 710 |

| Multiplier Unlocked | No | Yes |

| Launch MSRP | $502 | $284 |

| Release Date | 2023-01-03 | 2022-05-09 |

| Part Number | SRMJ0 | SRLGJ |

Base clock is identical at 2.40 GHz for both. Memory support (DDR4, DDR5), memory bus (dual-channel), and ECC support (false for both) are also identical. The i7-13620H has a higher boost clock (4.90 GHz vs 4.40 GHz) but a lower TDP (45 W vs 55 W). The i5-12450HX offers more PCIe lanes (20 vs 8) and an unlocked multiplier, while the i7-13620H counters with more cores, more threads, larger L2 and L3 caches, and a more capable integrated GPU.