Intel Core i5-12600HE vs Intel Core i7-1375PRE Comparison

The Intel Core i7-1375PRE and Intel Core i5-12600HE are two mobile processors that land in the same performance tier, separated by a razor-thin 0.1% in average benchmark score. The data shows the i7-1375PRE winning every single head-to-head benchmark, but the margins are so small that the practical difference is almost negligible. This is a comparison of two chips that are effectively tied in raw output, yet achieve that parity through very different hardware configurations. The i7-1375PRE uses more cores and threads, while the i5-12600HE counters with a higher base clock and a lower core count. For buyers, the choice comes down to whether the slight edge in multi-threaded workloads justifies the architectural differences, or whether the i5-12600HE's higher thermal envelope and simpler design make it the more sensible pick.

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark results give the Intel Core i7-1375PRE a clean sweep, but the victory margins are minimal. In the Cinebench R15 multicore test, the i7-1375PRE scores 1737 against the i5-12600HE's 1735, a delta of just 0.1%. That pattern repeats across the entire benchmark suite. The i7-1375PRE takes Cinebench R20 multicore with 7239 versus 7231, and Cinebench R23 multicore with 17236 versus 17217. The single-core results follow the same story, with the i7-1375PRE leading by 0.4% in R15 single-core (245 vs 244) and 0.1% in both R20 single-core (1021 vs 1020) and R23 single-core (2433 vs 2430). The i5-12600HE does not win a single test.

That said, the i5-12600HE is not a loser in any meaningful sense. Its average benchmark score of 4980 sits just 5 points below the i7-1375PRE's 4985. Both processors occupy the 59th percentile among all CPUs, meaning they outperform roughly three-fifths of the market. The i5-12600HE's nearest rival list shows it within 0.3% of the AMD Ryzen Embedded V3C48 and 0.2% of the Intel Xeon W-2150B, confirming that it is a competitive mid-range mobile part. The i7-1375PRE's advantage is real but statistical; in day-to-day use, the difference would be imperceptible in most workloads.

For multi-threaded productivity, the i7-1375PRE is the nominal winner, but the i5-12600HE's higher base clock of 2.50 GHz suggests it may sustain heavy loads more consistently. The data does not include sustained-load tests, but the clock speed difference is the one clear specification where the i5-12600HE leads. For single-threaded responsiveness, the i7-1375PRE's 4.80 GHz boost clock edges out the i5-12600HE's 4.50 GHz, and that is reflected in the single-core benchmark wins.

Architecture Differences

The two chips come from different Intel microarchitecture generations. The i7-1375PRE is built on Raptor Lake, specifically the Raptor Lake-P variant, while the i5-12600HE uses Alder Lake-H. Both are fabricated on Intel's 10 nm process node and share the same 217 mm² die size, but the core designs differ. The i7-1375PRE packs 14 cores and 20 threads, while the i5-12600HE offers 12 cores and 16 threads. That two-core, four-thread advantage is the i7-1375PRE's primary architectural edge.

Cache configurations also diverge. The i7-1375PRE has 2 MB of L2 cache per core and 24 MB of shared L3 cache. The i5-12600HE drops to 1.25 MB of L2 per core and 18 MB of shared L3. The L1 cache is identical at 80 KB per core. This gives the i7-1375PRE a 6 MB L3 advantage and a larger per-core L2 allocation, which likely contributes to its slight benchmark lead despite the higher TDP of the i5-12600HE.

The integrated graphics differ as well. The i7-1375PRE features Iris Xe Graphics with 96 execution units, while the i5-12600HE uses Iris Xe with 80 EU. Both are adequate for basic display output and light media work, but the i7-1375PRE has a 20% advantage in EU count, which could matter for entry-level gaming or GPU-accelerated encoding. Neither chip supports ECC memory, and both use the same Intel BGA 1744 socket, so they are drop-in compatible in the same chassis designs.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench suite is the only benchmark data available, and it paints a consistent picture. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the i7-1375PRE scores 1737 versus 1735 for the i5-12600HE, a 0.1% lead. The single-core R15 result is the largest margin in the entire comparison: 245 versus 244, a 0.4% advantage for the i7-1375PRE. That is the only test where the delta exceeds 0.1%.

Cinebench R20 multicore shows 7239 for the i7-1375PRE against 7231 for the i5-12600HE, again a 0.1% gap. The R20 single-core test is 1021 versus 1020, another 0.1% edge. Cinebench R23 multicore delivers 17236 versus 17217, and R23 single-core lands at 2433 versus 2430, both with 0.1% deltas.

The i7-1375PRE wins all six head-to-head tests, but the aggregate picture is one of near-identical performance. The i5-12600HE's higher TDP of 45 watts versus 28 watts for the i7-1375PRE does not translate into a benchmark advantage; instead, the i7-1375PRE's extra cores and larger caches carry it to victory. The i5-12600HE's 4.50 GHz boost clock trails the i7-1375PRE's 4.80 GHz, and that 300 MHz gap shows up in the single-core results, albeit by less than half a percent.

Specification Differences

The two processors share several key attributes: both use the Intel BGA 1744 socket, support DDR4 and DDR5 memory in dual-channel mode, offer PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes from the CPU, and lack ECC memory support. Both are active production parts with locked multipliers. The differences are concentrated in core count, clocks, cache, graphics, and power.

The i7-1375PRE has 14 cores and 20 threads, while the i5-12600HE has 12 cores and 16 threads. Base clocks favor the i5-12600HE at 2.50 GHz versus 1.90 GHz for the i7-1375PRE. Boost clocks flip the advantage, with the i7-1375PRE reaching 4.80 GHz versus 4.50 GHz for the i5-12600HE. TDP is a significant differentiator: the i7-1375PRE is rated at 28 watts, while the i5-12600HE draws 45 watts. That 17-watt gap means the i5-12600HE will generate more heat and require more robust cooling, but it also suggests the i5-12600HE may have higher sustained performance headroom in well-cooled chassis.

Cache sizes favor the i7-1375PRE across the board. L2 cache is 2 MB per core versus 1.25 MB per core, and L3 cache is 24 MB shared versus 18 MB shared. The integrated GPU is also stronger on the i7-1375PRE, with 96 execution units versus 80 EU on the i5-12600HE. The i7-1375PRE has a release date of January 3, 2023, while the i5-12600HE has no listed release date. Neither processor has a launch MSRP listed in the data.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The Intel Core i7-1375PRE has 14 cores and 20 threads, while the Intel Core i5-12600HE has 12 cores and 16 threads.

Q: How much faster is the i7-1375PRE in single-core performance?

A: The i7-1375PRE wins all three single-core tests, with a 0.4% lead in Cinebench R15 single-core (245 vs 244) and 0.1% leads in both R20 single-core (1021 vs 1020) and R23 single-core (2433 vs 2430).

Q: Does the i5-12600HE have a higher boost clock?

A: No, the i7-1375PRE boosts to 4.80 GHz, while the i5-12600HE tops out at 4.50 GHz. The i5-12600HE does have a higher base clock of 2.50 GHz versus 1.90 GHz for the i7-1375PRE.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two chips?

A: The i7-1375PRE is rated at 28 watts, while the i5-12600HE is rated at 45 watts, making the i5-12600HE the more power-hungry part.

Q: Are these processors compatible with the same motherboards?

A: Yes, both use the Intel BGA 1744 socket, so they fit in the same mobile platform designs.

Q: Which chip has more L3 cache?

A: The i7-1375PRE has 24 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i5-12600HE has 18 MB. The i7-1375PRE also has 2 MB of L2 per core versus 1.25 MB per core on the i5-12600HE.