Intel Core i5-12600H vs Intel Core i9-11950H Comparison

The Intel Core i5-12600H and Intel Core i9-11950H represent two distinct Intel mobile philosophies: the former is a newer hybrid design from the 12th Gen Alder Lake family, while the latter is a legacy 11th Gen Tiger Lake part. Based on the recorded benchmark data, the i5-12600H is the stronger overall performer, winning 13 of 17 head-to-head tests, including every Cinebench multi-core and single-core test. The i9-11950H retains narrow victories in specific integer-heavy and instruction-level workloads, but its overall average benchmark score of 28332 trails the i5-12600H's 28882. The data clearly favors the i5-12600H for most users, particularly those running rendering or physics-based applications, while the i9-11950H's remaining wins point to niche strengths in prime number finding, integer math, and extended instruction processing.

The Verdict

The benchmark results indicate that the Intel Core i5-12600H is the superior choice for the vast majority of workloads. Its wins are decisive in the most demanding tests: Cinebench R23 multi-core shows a 16.2% advantage (20072 vs 17279), and the single-core test shows a 16.2% lead (2833 vs 2439). The i5-12600H also dominates in PassMark physics (1262 vs 1013, a 24.6% delta) and floating-point math (51264 vs 44137, a 16.1% delta). For users running video encoding, 3D rendering, scientific simulations, or any software that leverages multi-threading, the i5-12600H is the clear pick.

The i9-11950H, however, is not without merit. Its data shows a 23.7% advantage in PassMark find prime numbers (93 vs 71) and an 11.3% lead in extended instructions (16361 vs 14508). It also wins in integer math (74649 vs 71168, a 4.7% delta) and random string sorting (29375 vs 27653, a 5.9% delta). These results suggest the i9-11950H handles specific integer-heavy or specialized instruction workloads slightly better. The i5-12600H is the better all-rounder, but the i9-11950H may be preferable for software that is explicitly optimized for its architecture or that relies on the larger 24 MB L3 cache for certain data patterns.

The overall percentile rankings confirm this split: the i5-12600H sits at the 81st percentile among all CPUs, while the i9-11950H sits at the 80th. The i5-12600H's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i9-13900H (delta 0%) and the AMD Ryzen 5 5600XT (delta -0.2%), placing it in strong company. The i9-11950H's nearest rivals, such as the Intel Xeon 6337P (delta 0%) and AMD Ryzen 7 7735U (delta -0.1%), show it is competitive but not leading its class.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on fundamentally different architectures. The i5-12600H uses Alder Lake-H, which is a hybrid design, while the i9-11950H uses Tiger Lake-H, a traditional monolithic layout. Both are fabricated on a 10 nm process at Intel, but the die sizes differ: the i5-12600H measures 217 mm², while the i9-11950H is smaller at 190 mm².

Core counts are a major differentiator. The i5-12600H has 12 cores and 16 threads, while the i9-11950H has 8 cores and 16 threads. The i5-12600H achieves its multi-core advantage not through higher thread count (both are 16 threads) but through the hybrid core arrangement, which allows more physical cores to handle parallel tasks. The i9-11950H compensates with a higher boost clock of 5.00 GHz versus the i5-12600H's 4.50 GHz, but its base clock is lower at 2.10 GHz versus 2.70 GHz.

Cache configurations also differ. The i5-12600H has 18 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i9-11950H has a larger 24 MB shared L3 cache. Both have identical L1 (80 KB per core) and L2 (1.25 MB per core) configurations. The larger L3 on the i9-11950H likely explains its wins in integer math and random string sorting, where larger data sets can be held closer to the cores.

Memory support is another notable split. The i5-12600H supports both DDR4 and DDR5, while the i9-11950H supports only DDR4. Both run dual-channel memory buses. The i9-11950H is listed with a memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s, while the i5-12600H does not have a recorded bandwidth figure. The i5-12600H's integrated graphics is Iris Xe 80EU, while the i9-11950H uses UHD Graphics 750. Both are mobile processors, but the i5-12600H uses the Intel BGA 1744 socket, while the i9-11950H uses Intel BGA 1787.

Where Each One Wins

The i5-12600H wins where raw throughput and modern instruction efficiency matter. In Cinebench R15, R20, and R23, it wins every single-core and multi-core test by approximately 16.1% to 16.3%. This consistency indicates a broad architectural advantage in rendering and general compute. The PassMark physics test is its largest win at 24.6%, suggesting superior handling of physics calculations, likely aided by the hybrid core design. It also wins in floating-point math (16.1%), data encryption (16.9%), and data compression (0.5%), the latter being a near tie. The single-thread tests show a 9.9% lead (3453 vs 3141), confirming that even single-core performance favors the i5-12600H despite the i9-11950H's higher boost clock.

The i9-11950H's wins are concentrated in specific algorithmic tasks. The largest is PassMark find prime numbers, where it beats the i5-12600H by 23.7% (93 vs 71). This suggests its architecture handles iterative integer loops more efficiently. It also wins extended instructions by 11.3% (16361 vs 14508), indicating better support for specialized instruction sets like AVX-512 or similar extensions. Integer math shows a 4.7% lead (74649 vs 71168), and random string sorting shows a 5.9% lead (29375 vs 27653). These wins point to workloads that are not heavily multi-threaded but rely on high clock speeds and a larger cache for data manipulation.

For users, this means the i5-12600H is better for video editing, 3D modeling, software compilation, and gaming (where physics and single-thread performance dominate). The i9-11950H is better for financial modeling, cryptography-related integer operations, or any task that uses extended instructions like AVX-512, which the i5-12600H may not handle as effectively. The i9-11950H's lower TDP of 35 W versus the i5-12600H's 45 W also suggests it may be more power-efficient for sustained loads, though the data does not include power consumption measurements.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has higher multi-core performance?

A: The Intel Core i5-12600H. It wins all three Cinebench multi-core tests: R15 (2023 vs 1741, 16.2% delta), R20 (8430 vs 7257, 16.2% delta), and R23 (20072 vs 17279, 16.2% delta). It also wins PassMark multithread by 1.1% (21128 vs 20900).

Q: Does the i9-11950H's higher boost clock help in single-core tests?

A: No. Despite a boost clock of 5.00 GHz versus the i5-12600H's 4.50 GHz, the i9-11950H loses all single-core Cinebench tests. For example, Cinebench R23 single-core shows the i5-12600H winning by 16.2% (2833 vs 2439). PassMark single-thread also favors the i5-12600H by 9.9% (3453 vs 3141).

Q: In which tests does the i9-11950H win?

A: The i9-11950H wins four tests: PassMark extended instructions (16361 vs 14508, 11.3% delta), find prime numbers (93 vs 71, 23.7% delta), integer math (74649 vs 71168, 4.7% delta), and random string sorting (29375 vs 27653, 5.9% delta). These are all PassMark-specific workloads, not Cinebench rendering tests.

Q: What is the cache difference between the two?

A: Both have 80 KB L1 per core and 1.25 MB L2 per core. The L3 cache differs: the i5-12600H has 18 MB shared, while the i9-11950H has 24 MB shared. The larger L3 on the i9-11950H may explain its wins in integer math and string sorting.

Q: How do their overall benchmark scores compare?

A: The i5-12600H has an average benchmark score of 28882, while the i9-11950H has 28332. The i5-12600H sits at the 81st percentile of all CPUs, and the i9-11950H at the 80th.

Q: Which processor supports DDR5 memory?

A: Only the i5-12600H. It supports both DDR4 and DDR5, while the i9-11950H supports only DDR4. Both use dual-channel memory buses.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest wins for the i5-12600H are in PassMark physics (24.6% delta, 1262 vs 1013) and PassMark data encryption (16.9% delta, 14799 vs 12658). These are followed by the consistent Cinebench wins: R15 multi-core (16.2%, 2023 vs 1741), R15 single-core (16.3%, 285 vs 245), R20 multi-core (16.2%, 8430 vs 7257), R20 single-core (16.1%, 1189 vs 1024), R23 multi-core (16.2%, 20072 vs 17279), and R23 single-core (16.2%, 2833 vs 2439). Floating-point math also shows a 16.1% delta (51264 vs 44137). The PassMark multithread test is close, with only a 1.1% delta (21128 vs 20900). Data compression is the narrowest i5 win at 0.5% (247404 vs 246195).

The i9-11950H's biggest win is PassMark find prime numbers, with a 23.7% delta (93 vs 71). This is followed by extended instructions (11.3% delta, 16361 vs 14508). Random string sorting shows a 5.9% delta (29375 vs 27653), and integer math shows a 4.7% delta (74649 vs 71168). None of these wins come close to the magnitude of the i5-12600H's Cinebench leads, and they are confined to specialized PassMark sub-tests rather than general-purpose rendering or compute benchmarks.

The overall win count is 13 for the i5-12600H and 4 for the i9-11950H. The i5-12600H's single-thread win of 9.9% (3453 vs 3141) is particularly telling, as it shows the newer architecture delivers better per-core performance even with a lower boost clock.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key specification fields. The i5-12600H has 12 cores and 16 threads, while the i9-11950H has 8 cores and 16 threads. Base clocks are 2.70 GHz for the i5-12600H and 2.10 GHz for the i9-11950H. Boost clocks are 4.50 GHz for the i5-12600H and 5.00 GHz for the i9-11950H. Thermal design power is 45 W for the i5-12600H and 35 W for the i9-11950H.

Sockets differ: the i5-12600H uses Intel BGA 1744, while the i9-11950H uses Intel BGA 1787. The i5-12600H is built on Alder Lake architecture (codename Alder Lake-H), while the i9-11950H uses Tiger Lake (Tiger Lake-H). Both are 10 nm process from Intel, but die sizes are 217 mm² for the i5-12600H and 190 mm² for the i9-11950H.

L3 cache is 18 MB shared on the i5-12600H and 24 MB shared on the i9-11950H. Memory support: the i5-12600H supports DDR4 and DDR5, while the i9-11950H supports only DDR4. The i9-11950H has a recorded memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s; the i5-12600H has no bandwidth figure listed. Integrated graphics are Iris Xe 80EU on the i5-12600H and UHD Graphics 750 on the i9-11950H.

PCIe configuration is identical: Gen 4, 20 Lanes (CPU only) for both. Neither has an unlocked multiplier. The i5-12600H is listed as Active production status, while the i9-11950H is End-of-life. The i9-11950H has a launch date of 2021-05-10 and a launch MSRP of $556. The i5-12600H has no recorded launch MSRP or release date. Both have part numbers: SRLCZ for the i5-12600H and SRKT6 for the i9-11950H.