Intel Core i5-13450HX vs Intel Core i7-12800HX Comparison

The Intel Core i5-13450HX and Intel Core i7-12800HX are both high-performance mobile processors, but the benchmark data separates them clearly. The Core i7-12800HX wins every single head-to-head comparison in the database, taking all 17 benchmark matchups. The Core i5-13450HX, despite being from the newer 13th Gen Raptor Lake series, cannot match the older Alder Lake part in any measured workload. The i7-12800HX holds an average benchmark score of 33875, while the i5-13450HX sits at 34333. The verdict from the data is straightforward: the i7-12800HX is the superior performer across the board, and the i5-13450HX only makes sense when the newer platform features or lower launch MSRP are decisive factors.

The Verdict

The data shows no ambiguity. The Intel Core i7-12800HX outperforms the Intel Core i5-13450HX in every one of the 17 head-to-head benchmark tests. The i7-12800HX leads by margins ranging from a narrow 3.6% in Cinebench R23 single-core to a commanding 26% in Cinebench R15 multi-core. For any workload where raw processing power is the priority, the i7-12800HX is the correct choice.

The i5-13450HX does carry a lower launch MSRP of $326 compared to the i7-12800HX’s $457. However, the performance gap is substantial. In multi-threaded tasks, the i7-12800HX is routinely 20-26% faster. The i5-13450HX also has a newer architecture, Raptor Lake versus Alder Lake, but this does not translate into any benchmark wins. The i7-12800HX wins all 17 tests, making it the default pick for anyone prioritizing performance. Buyers who must have the newer 13th Gen platform or who have a strict launch MSRP limit of $326 would choose the i5-13450HX, but they accept a clear performance deficit.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel generations and architectures. The i5-13450HX is built on Raptor Lake, specifically the Raptor Lake-HX codename, while the i7-12800HX uses Alder Lake, with the Alder Lake-HX codename. Both are manufactured on a 10 nm process node at Intel. The die sizes differ, with the i5-13450HX measuring 257 mm² and the i7-12800HX at 215 mm².

Core and cache configurations diverge significantly. The i5-13450HX has 10 cores and 16 threads, while the i7-12800HX offers 16 cores and 24 threads. The L1 cache is identical at 80 KB per core. The L2 cache differs: the i5-13450HX has 2 MB per core, whereas the i7-12800HX has 1.25 MB per core. The shared L3 cache favors the i7-12800HX with 25 MB, compared to 20 MB on the i5-13450HX.

Base clock speeds are reported differently in the data. The i5-13450HX has a base clock of 2.40 GHz, while the i7-12800HX lists a base clock of 2000.00 (interpreted as 2.00 GHz). Boost clocks favor the i7-12800HX at 4.80 GHz versus 4.60 GHz for the i5-13450HX. Both processors have a TDP of 55, use the Intel BGA 1964 socket, and support DDR4 and DDR5 memory in dual-channel mode. The i5-13450HX supports ECC memory, while the i7-12800HX does not. Both have PCIe Gen 5 with 20 lanes (CPU only). The integrated graphics differ, with the i5-13450HX featuring UHD Graphics 710 and the i7-12800HX featuring UHD Graphics 770.

Where Each One Wins

The i7-12800HX wins in every benchmark category recorded. This includes all Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 tests, both single-core and multi-core. It also wins every PassMark test, covering data compression, encryption, extended instructions, prime number finding, floating-point math, integer math, multithread performance, physics, random string sorting, and single-thread performance.

The i5-13450HX has zero wins. The data shows no workload where it surpasses the i7-12800HX. The closest margins for the i5-13450HX are in single-threaded tests. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the i7-12800HX leads by only 3.6%, and in PassMark single-thread, the lead is 4.3%. These are the least severe losses for the i5-13450HX.

The largest wins for the i7-12800HX come in multi-core heavy tests. Cinebench R15 multi-core shows a 26% lead, Cinebench R23 multi-core a 25.2% lead, and PassMark floating-point math a 24.8% lead. The i5-13450HX cannot claim any use-case advantage from the benchmark results. Its only potential benefits are non-performance related, such as the newer architecture generation and the lower launch MSRP.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i7-12800HX has 16 cores and 24 threads, while the Intel Core i5-13450HX has 10 cores and 16 threads.

Q: What is the performance difference in multi-core Cinebench R23?

A: The i7-12800HX scores 22456 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, which is 25.2% higher than the i5-13450HX’s score of 16797.

Q: Is the newer i5-13450HX ever faster than the i7-12800HX?

A: No. The i7-12800HX wins all 17 head-to-head benchmark tests, despite the i5-13450HX being from the newer Raptor Lake architecture.

Q: How do the single-core scores compare?

A: The i7-12800HX leads in single-core tests. In Cinebench R23 single-core, it scores 1812 versus 1746 for the i5-13450HX, a 3.6% difference. In PassMark single-thread, the scores are 3711 and 3553, a 4.3% difference.

Q: Do both processors support the same memory types?

A: Yes, both support DDR4 and DDR5 memory in dual-channel mode. The i5-13450HX additionally supports ECC memory, while the i7-12800HX does not.

Q: What is the difference in the shared L3 cache?

A: The i7-12800HX has 25 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i5-13450HX has 20 MB.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The i7-12800HX dominates the head-to-head results. The largest single win for the i7-12800HX is in Cinebench R15 multi-core, where it scores 3383 against the i5-13450HX’s 2503, a 26% advantage. Cinebench R23 multi-core shows a similar gap, with the i7-12800HX scoring 22456 versus 16797, a 25.2% lead. In Cinebench R20 multi-core, the i7-12800HX scores 11111, which is 21.4% higher than the i5-13450HX’s 8728.

PassMark results follow the same pattern. The i7-12800HX leads in floating-point math with 82122 versus 61776, a 24.8% margin. Integer math shows a 24.3% lead for the i7-12800HX, with scores of 109968 and 83209. Data compression favors the i7-12800HX at 387535 versus 305990, a 21% difference. Data encryption shows a 24.3% lead (21972 versus 16632).

The closest contests are in single-threaded workloads. Cinebench R23 single-core has the i7-12800HX at 1812 and the i5-13450HX at 1746, a 3.6% difference. PassMark single-thread shows 3711 versus 3553, a 4.3% gap. Cinebench R15 single-core is also close, with the i7-12800HX at 260 and the i5-13450HX at 248, a 4.6% difference.

The i7-12800HX also wins in other PassMark categories. It leads in extended instructions by 19.7% (23760 versus 19083), in prime number finding by 23.1% (108 versus 83), in physics by 13.7% (1743 versus 1504), in random string sorting by 24.8% (42453 versus 31940), and in multithread by 20.6% (31585 versus 25084). The data shows a consistent pattern: the i7-12800HX is faster in every workload, with the smallest margins in single-core tasks and the largest in multi-core and math-intensive tests.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key specification fields. The i5-13450HX has 10 cores and 16 threads, while the i7-12800HX has 16 cores and 24 threads. Base clocks are reported as 2.40 GHz for the i5-13450HX and 2000.00 (2.00 GHz) for the i7-12800HX. Boost clocks are 4.60 GHz and 4.80 GHz, respectively.

The L2 cache differs, with the i5-13450HX offering 2 MB per core and the i7-12800HX offering 1.25 MB per core. The shared L3 cache is 20 MB on the i5-13450HX and 25 MB on the i7-12800HX. Die sizes are 257 mm² for the i5-13450HX and 215 mm² for the i7-12800HX.

ECC memory support is exclusive to the i5-13450HX. The integrated graphics differ: UHD Graphics 710 on the i5-13450HX versus UHD Graphics 770 on the i7-12800HX. The architecture is Raptor Lake for the i5-13450HX and Alder Lake for the i7-12800HX. Release dates are 2023-01-03 for the i5-13450HX and 2022-05-09 for the i7-12800HX. The launch MSRP is $326 for the i5-13450HX and $457 for the i7-12800HX. Both share the same socket, TDP of 55, process node of 10 nm, memory support (DDR4, DDR5), dual-channel memory bus, PCIe Gen 5 with 20 lanes, and unlocked multipliers.