Intel Core i5-12500 vs Intel Core i5-1335U Comparison

The Intel Core i5-12500 and Intel Core i5-1335U are both 12th and 13th generation Intel parts, but they serve completely different markets. The i5-12500 is a desktop processor built for sustained performance, while the i5-1335U is a mobile processor designed for power efficiency in thin laptops. Benchmark data from the database shows a one-sided contest: the i5-12500 wins all 17 recorded head-to-head tests, with margins ranging from 9.9% to 88.5%. However, the i5-1335U is not without its own strengths, particularly in power consumption and integrated graphics, which are not captured by raw performance scores. This analysis breaks down where each chip wins, the architectural differences that explain the results, and who should choose which based on measured data.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i5-12500 is the clear winner in every single benchmark category recorded in the database. Its largest advantage comes in multi-threaded workloads, where it outperforms the i5-1335U by 88.5% in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 79.3% in PassMark extended instructions. This makes the i5-12500 the obvious choice for CPU-intensive tasks like video rendering, 3D modeling, software compilation, and any workload that can utilize all available threads. The desktop part also leads by 42.6% in Cinebench R20 multi-core and 42.7% in Cinebench R20 single-core, showing that its advantage is not limited to heavily threaded tasks.

The i5-1335U, despite losing every benchmark, wins in the areas that matter for mobile use. It has a 15 watt TDP compared to the i5-12500's 65 watts, meaning it draws far less power and generates less heat. This allows it to fit into thin-and-light laptops where the desktop i5-12500 would be physically impossible to install. The i5-1335U also features Iris Xe Graphics 80EU, which is a more capable integrated GPU than the UHD Graphics 770 found in the i5-12500, though the database does not include graphics benchmarks to quantify the difference. For users who prioritize battery life, portability, and adequate performance for everyday tasks like web browsing, office work, and media playback, the i5-1335U is the appropriate choice. But for anyone who needs maximum computational throughput, the i5-12500 wins decisively.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different generations and are built for different sockets. The i5-12500 uses the Alder Lake architecture and is part of the Core 12th Gen series, while the i5-1335U uses the Raptor Lake architecture and belongs to the Core i5 (Raptor Lake-U) generation. Both are manufactured on Intel's 10 nm process node, but the similarities end there.

The i5-12500 has 6 cores and 12 threads, with a base clock of 3.00 GHz and a boost clock of 4.60 GHz. It uses the Intel Socket 1700 and has a die size of 163 mm². The i5-1335U has 10 cores and 12 threads, with a base clock of 1300.00 MHz (1.30 GHz) and the same 4.60 GHz boost clock. It uses the Intel BGA 1744 socket and its die size is not recorded in the database. The i5-1335U has more cores but the same thread count, indicating that some of its cores are efficiency cores that do not add additional threads. This hybrid design is common in mobile processors to balance performance and power consumption.

Cache configurations also differ. Both have 80 KB of L1 cache per core and 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core, but the i5-12500 has 18 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i5-1335U has only 12 MB of shared L3 cache. The larger L3 cache on the desktop part likely contributes to its performance advantage in memory-heavy workloads.

The i5-12500 supports PCIe Gen 5 with 20 lanes (CPU only), while the i5-1335U supports PCIe Gen 4 with 8 lanes (CPU only). The desktop processor also has a higher TDP of 65 watts versus 15 watts, which allows it to sustain higher clock speeds under load. Both support DDR4 and DDR5 memory in dual-channel configuration, and neither supports ECC memory. The i5-12500 was released on 2022-01-03, while the i5-1335U was released one year later on 2023-01-03. The i5-1335U also has a launch MSRP of $340, while the i5-12500 has a launch MSRP of $212.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database records 17 head-to-head benchmark comparisons, and the i5-12500 wins all of them. The smallest margin is in Cinebench R15 single-core, where both chips score exactly 238, resulting in a 0% delta. The largest margin is in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where the i5-12500 scores 16759 against the i5-1335U's 8889.5, a difference of 88.5%. This is a massive gap that highlights the desktop part's ability to sustain high clocks across all cores.

In Cinebench R20 multi-core, the i5-12500 scores 7038 versus 4935, a 42.6% advantage. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the scores are 993 versus 696, a 42.7% advantage. Cinebench R23 single-core shows 2366 versus 1684.5, a 40.5% lead. These single-core results are particularly telling because they show that the i5-12500 is faster even when only one thread is active, suggesting its higher base clock and larger cache are significant factors.

PassMark results follow a similar pattern. The i5-12500 leads by 49.6% in data compression (238753 versus 159593), 20.2% in data encryption (12033 versus 10009), 79.3% in extended instructions (16090 versus 8974), 56.3% in find prime numbers (75 versus 48), 36.5% in floating point math (48004 versus 35176), 20.3% in integer math (61626 versus 51244), 39.3% in multithread (19893 versus 14281), 48.4% in physics (1242 versus 837), and 31% in random string sorting (23523 versus 17953). In single-thread tests, the i5-12500 scores 3666 versus 3336, a 9.9% lead.

The average benchmark score for the i5-12500 is 19668, while the i5-1335U averages 18982. Both processors sit at the 73rd percentile among all CPUs in the database, meaning they are statistically in the same performance tier despite the i5-12500's clear head-to-head superiority. The i5-12500's nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen AI 5 430 (0.3% faster), Intel Core i5-11600KF (0.3% slower), AMD Ryzen 5 5500 (0.4% faster), and Intel Core i5-11600K (0.6% slower). The i5-1335U's nearest rivals include the AMD EPYC 7773X (0% difference), Intel Core i5-12400F (0.3% faster), AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS (0.3% faster), and Intel Core 3 201E (0.4% faster).

FAQ

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

A: The i5-12500 is significantly faster. It leads by 88.5% in Cinebench R23 multi-core, 42.6% in Cinebench R20 multi-core, and 15.4% in Cinebench R15 multi-core. PassMark multithread shows a 39.3% advantage for the i5-12500.

Q: Is the i5-1335U ever faster than the i5-12500?

A: No. In the 17 head-to-head benchmarks recorded in the database, the i5-12500 wins all of them. The closest result is Cinebench R15 single-core, where both score 238.

Q: Why does the i5-1335U have more cores but lose in performance?

A: The i5-1335U has 10 cores versus 6 on the i5-12500, but both have 12 threads. The i5-1335U's extra cores are likely efficiency cores that run at lower clocks. Its base clock is 1300.00 MHz compared to 3.00 GHz on the i5-12500, and its 15 watt TDP limits sustained performance.

Q: What is the difference in integrated graphics?

A: The i5-12500 uses UHD Graphics 770, while the i5-1335U uses Iris Xe Graphics 80EU. The database does not include graphics benchmarks, so the performance difference is not quantified, but the i5-1335U's graphics are branded as a higher-tier solution.

Q: Which processor has a larger L3 cache?

A: The i5-12500 has 18 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i5-1335U has 12 MB. The larger cache on the i5-12500 contributes to its performance in many workloads.

Q: Are these processors in the same performance percentile?

A: Yes. Both are at the 73rd percentile among all CPUs in the database. The i5-12500 has an average benchmark score of 19668, while the i5-1335U averages 18982.

The Verdict

The data supports a clear verdict: choose the i5-12500 if you need raw performance, and choose the i5-1335U if you need a mobile processor with low power consumption. The i5-12500 wins every benchmark by a wide margin, with its largest advantages in multi-core and extended instruction workloads. It is the better choice for desktop users who run demanding applications like video editors, 3D renderers, or data processing tools. Its 65 watt TDP is acceptable in a desktop chassis with adequate cooling, and its launch MSRP of $212 makes it a straightforward option for performance-focused builds.

The i5-1335U, on the other hand, is designed for laptops. Its 15 watt TDP allows for longer battery life and thinner designs, which are critical for mobile users. It loses every performance test, but it still delivers adequate performance for everyday tasks, as evidenced by its 73rd percentile ranking. Its launch MSRP of $340 reflects the additional engineering required for mobile integration, but the database does not include pricing analysis. For users who prioritize portability over performance, the i5-1335U is the only logical choice, since the i5-12500 cannot be installed in a laptop due to its desktop socket.

In summary, the i5-12500 is the superior processor in every measured metric, but the i5-1335U serves a different purpose. The choice depends entirely on the form factor and power constraints of the intended system.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i5-12500 | Intel Core i5-1335U |

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

| Cores | 6 | 10 |

| Threads | 12 | 12 |

| Base Clock | 3.00 GHz | 1300.00 MHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.60 GHz | 4.60 GHz |

| TDP | 65 W | 15 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1700 | Intel BGA 1744 |

| Architecture | Alder Lake | Raptor Lake |

| Codename | Alder Lake-S | Raptor Lake-U |

| Process Node | 10 nm | 10 nm |

| Die Size | 163 mm² | Not recorded |

| L3 Cache | 18 MB (shared) | 12 MB (shared) |

| PCIe | Gen 5, 20 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 4, 8 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | UHD Graphics 770 | Iris Xe Graphics 80EU |

| Market Segment | Desktop | Mobile |

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

| Launch MSRP | $212 | $340 |

| Part Number | SRL5V | SRMEX |