Intel Core i5-12600HX vs Intel Core i7-12700 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark database records 17 head-to-head comparisons between these two Alder Lake parts, and the result is a clear split that favors the desktop chip in almost every metric. The Intel Core i7-12700 takes 15 of the 17 tests, while the Intel Core i5-12600HX manages only 2 wins. The most dramatic victory for the i7 comes in Cinebench R15 multicore, where it scores 3151 against the mobile chip's 2087, a 33.8% advantage. That gap shrinks in Cinebench R20 multicore to 18.2%, with the i7 posting 10639 versus 8699, and narrows further in Cinebench R23 multicore to just 4.8%, where the i7 leads 21751 to 20714.

The i5-12600HX's two wins are both in single-core Cinebench tests, and they are not subtle. In Cinebench R15 single-core, the mobile chip scores 294 against 272 for the i7, an 8.1% edge. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the i5 stretches that lead to 54.4%, scoring 2924 versus 1894. That is a massive single-threaded advantage, and it suggests the mobile part's boost behavior in short, lightly threaded workloads is exceptional. However, the i7 answers back in Cinebench R20 single-core, where it wins 1501 to 1228, an 18.2% margin. The single-core picture is therefore inconsistent across Cinebench versions, with the i5 winning two of three but losing the third by a wide margin.

Moving to PassMark tests, the i7 dominates across the board. In data compression, it scores 375950 against 292256, a 22.3% lead. Data encryption goes to the i7 at 20143 versus 17506, a 13.1% margin. Extended instructions favor the i7 at 24184 versus 17328, a 28.3% gap. Find prime numbers shows the i7 ahead at 101 versus 83, a 17.8% difference. Floating point math is a 28.1% win for the i7, 81191 to 58378. Integer math follows with a 25.5% edge, 106554 to 79339. The multithread PassMark test lands at 30273 for the i7 versus 24681 for the i5, an 18.5% margin. Physics is the closest PassMark result, with the i7 winning by only 3.5%, 1558 to 1504. Random string sorting goes to the i7 by 15%, 38970 to 33110. Finally, single-thread PassMark shows the i7 ahead at 3864 versus 3623, a 6.2% edge.

The pattern is consistent: the i7-12700 wins nearly every multicore and throughput-oriented test, often by double-digit margins, while the i5-12600HX counters with a decisive win in one specific single-core benchmark. The i7's 20 threads versus the i5's 16 threads likely explain much of the multicore advantage, though the i5 does hold a notable single-core crown in R23.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins the majority of head-to-head benchmarks?

A: The Intel Core i7-12700 wins 15 of the 17 recorded comparisons. The Intel Core i5-12600HX wins only 2, both in Cinebench single-core tests.

Q: How large is the i7-12700's multicore advantage?

A: In Cinebench R15 multicore, the i7 leads by 33.8%. In R20 multicore, the lead is 18.2%. In R23 multicore, the margin shrinks to 4.8%. PassMark multithread shows an 18.5% advantage for the i7.

Q: Where does the i5-12600HX perform better?

A: The i5 wins Cinebench R15 single-core by 8.1% (294 vs 272) and Cinebench R23 single-core by 54.4% (2924 vs 1894). In Cinebench R20 single-core, however, the i7 wins by 18.2%.

Q: How do the two compare in average benchmark score?

A: The i5-12600HX has an average benchmark score of 33375, while the i7-12700 sits at 32942. Both land in the 83rd percentile of all CPUs in the database.

Q: What are the nearest rivals for each chip?

A: For the i5-12600HX, the closest rival is the AMD Ryzen 5 8645HS with an average score of 33244, a 0.4% delta. For the i7-12700, the closest is the Intel Core 5 213PTE at 32924, a 0.1% delta.

Q: Do both processors have the same integrated graphics?

A: Yes, both feature UHD Graphics 770. They also share the same Alder Lake architecture, 10 nm process node, and 215 mm² die size.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear recommendation for most workloads: the Intel Core i7-12700 is the stronger processor. It wins 15 of 17 head-to-head tests, including all PassMark workload categories, and its multicore margins are substantial in several cases. The i7's 33.8% lead in Cinebench R15 multicore and its 28.3% edge in extended instructions make it the obvious choice for rendering, compression, encryption, and math-heavy tasks. The 20-thread configuration gives it a structural advantage over the 16-thread i5, and the PassMark multithread score of 30273 versus 24681 reflects that.

The Intel Core i5-12600HX is not without a niche. Its Cinebench R23 single-core score of 2924 is 54.4% higher than the i7's 1894, which is a remarkable result for a mobile chip. Anyone running lightly threaded workloads that rely heavily on that specific benchmark would see a clear benefit from the i5. The i5 also wins Cinebench R15 single-core by 8.1%. However, the i7 fights back in Cinebench R20 single-core, winning by 18.2%, and in PassMark single-thread by 6.2%. The i5's single-core advantage is therefore not universal across all tests.

For buyers choosing between a mobile and a desktop part, the i7-12700 is the safer bet for overall performance. The i5-12600HX targets a different form factor, and its win in R23 single-core is notable, but the breadth of the i7's wins across 15 tests makes it the superior choice for mixed or heavily threaded workloads. The i5's average benchmark score of 33375 is marginally higher than the i7's 32942, but that aggregate figure hides the i7's dominance in individual comparisons. The verdict: pick the i7-12700 for general compute, pick the i5-12600HX only if single-core Cinebench R23 performance is the priority.

Specification Differences

The two processors diverge in several key specifications. The i5-12600HX has 12 cores and 16 threads, while the i7-12700 has 12 cores and 20 threads. The i5's base clock is 2.50 GHz compared to the i7's 2.10 GHz, but the i7 boosts higher at 4.90 GHz versus the i5's 4.60 GHz. Thermal design power differs: the i5 is rated at 55 W, the i7 at 65 W. The socket is another major split, with the i5 using Intel BGA 1964 (mobile) and the i7 using Intel Socket 1700 (desktop). The market segment reflects this: the i5 is Mobile, the i7 is Desktop.

Cache configurations differ as well. Both share 80 KB L1 per core and 1.25 MB L2 per core, but the i5 has 18 MB of shared L3 cache while the i7 has 25 MB. PCIe support also varies: the i5 offers Gen 5 with 20 lanes (CPU only), while the i7 offers Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only). ECC memory support is present on the i5 but absent on the i7. The i5 has an unlocked multiplier, while the i7 does not. The i5's launch MSRP is $284, while the i7's is $349. The i5 carries part number SRLGJ, the i7 uses SRL4Q. The i5's release date is recorded as May 9, 2022; no release date is listed for the i7.

Architecture Differences

Both processors are built on Intel's Alder Lake architecture, fabricated on a 10 nm process at Intel's foundry, with a 215 mm² die size. The codenames differ: the i5-12600HX is Alder Lake-HX, while the i7-12700 is Alder Lake-S. This reflects their intended platforms, mobile versus desktop, but the underlying architecture is the same generation. The i5 is part of the Core i5 (Alder Lake-HX) generation, while the i7 belongs to the Core i7 (Alder Lake-S) generation.

The most significant architectural difference beyond the core and thread counts is the L3 cache. The i7's 25 MB shared L3 is 7 MB larger than the i5's 18 MB, which contributes to the i7's lead in cache-sensitive workloads like data compression and extended instructions. Both support DDR4 and DDR5 memory with dual-channel buses, and both integrate UHD Graphics 770. The i5 adds ECC memory support, a feature absent on the i7, which may appeal to specific reliability-focused use cases. The i5's 20 PCIe Gen 5 lanes exceed the i7's 16, giving the mobile chip more expansion headroom in its platform. The unlocked multiplier on the i5 is notable for a mobile part, while the i7 is locked. These architectural choices align with the two markets: the i5 leans toward flexible mobile deployments with ECC and more PCIe lanes, while the i7 focuses on raw desktop throughput with a larger cache and higher boost clock.