Intel Core i5-14450HX vs Intel Core i7-12650HX Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark comparison between the Intel Core i5-14450HX and the Intel Core i7-12650HX is dominated by the newer part, but not uniformly. Across the 17 recorded head-to-head tests, the i5-14450HX wins 14, while the i7-12650HX takes 3. The overall average benchmark score for the i5-14450HX is 32040, compared to 31290 for the i7-12650HX, a gap of roughly 2.4% in favor of the i5.

The most decisive victories for the i5-14450HX come in specific compute workloads. In the PassMark find prime numbers test, the i5 scores 98 against 74 for the i7, a 32.4% advantage. This is the single largest delta in the entire comparison. Similarly, the PassMark physics test shows the i5 at 1475 versus 1152, a 28% lead. The extended instructions workload also favors the i5 significantly: 17207 versus 15856, an 8.5% edge. These are not marginal differences; they indicate that the i5-14450HX handles certain integer and SIMD-heavy tasks with substantially more efficiency.

The Cinebench suite tells a consistent story. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the i5 scores 2026 against 1919, a 5.6% win. The single-core R15 test also goes to the i5 at 285 versus 270, again 5.6%. The same 5.6% delta repeats across Cinebench R20 multicore (8445 vs 7998), R20 single-core (1191 vs 1128), R23 multicore (20108 vs 19043), and R23 single-core (2838 vs 2688). That uniform 5.6% across all six Cinebench variants suggests the i5-14450HX has a consistent clock-for-clock advantage in both lightly threaded and fully threaded rendering workloads.

In PassMark multithread, the i5-14450HX scores 23680 versus 22573 for the i7, a 4.9% win. Data compression also favors the i5: 278538 versus 266700, a 4.4% edge. Data encryption is closer, with the i5 at 15574 and the i7 at 15325, a 1.6% margin. Single-thread PassMark results are nearly identical: 3643 for the i5 and 3637 for the i7, a razor-thin 0.2% difference.

The i7-12650HX does not go down without a fight. Its wins include PassMark floating point math, where it scores 58426 against 58037, a 0.7% edge. In integer math, the i7 is more clearly ahead: 81810 versus 78330, a 4.3% advantage. And in random string sorting, the i7 edges out the i5 by 0.4%, scoring 29692 versus 29565. These three wins share a theme: the i7-12650HX has more physical cores and threads, and it leverages them in workloads that scale well with parallel integer and floating point throughput.

Where Each One Wins

The data points to a clear split. The i5-14450HX wins in every rendering benchmark, every single-core benchmark, and most PassMark subtests. Its strengths are most pronounced in prime number computation, physics simulation, extended instruction sets, and the entire Cinebench family. If the workload involves ray tracing, video encoding, or any task that relies on Cinebench-style rendering, the i5-14450HX is the better choice, and by a meaningful margin.

The i7-12650HX takes its wins in three specific PassMark subtests: floating point math, integer math, and random string sorting. The integer math result is the most significant of the three, with the i7 leading by 4.3%. This suggests that for certain number-crunching tasks, particularly those that are not latency-sensitive but benefit from a higher core count, the i7-12650HX retains a measurable advantage. The floating point and string sorting wins are narrow, under 1%, and may not translate into perceptible real-world differences.

For users who prioritize single-core responsiveness, the i5-14450HX is ahead in Cinebench R23 single-core by 5.6% and in PassMark single-thread by 0.2%. The single-core delta in Cinebench is consistent and meaningful. For users who prioritize raw multi-threaded throughput in integer-heavy workloads, the i7-12650HX offers a counterpoint with its 4.3% integer math win.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different generations and microarchitectures. The i5-14450HX is based on Raptor Lake, specifically the Raptor Lake-HX refresh, and belongs to the Core 14th Gen lineup. The i7-12650HX is based on Alder Lake, specifically Alder Lake-HX, and belongs to the Core 12th Gen lineup. Both are built on a 10 nm process at Intel, but the die sizes differ: the i5 measures 257 mm², while the i7 is smaller at 215 mm².

Core counts diverge notably. The i5-14450HX has 10 cores and 16 threads. The i7-12650HX has 14 cores and 20 threads. Despite having fewer cores and threads, the i5-14450HX still wins most multi-threaded benchmarks, which points to a significant per-core performance advantage from the newer Raptor Lake architecture and a higher boost clock. The i5 boosts to 4.80 GHz, while the i7 boosts to 4.70 GHz. The base clock difference is stark: the i5 runs at 2.40 GHz, while the i7's base is listed at 2000.00 MHz, which is 2.00 GHz. Both have a TDP of 55.

Cache configurations also differ. Each core in the i5 has 2 MB of L2 cache, while each core in the i7 has 1.25 MB. The shared L3 cache favors the i7: 24 MB versus 20 MB for the i5. L1 cache is identical at 80 KB per core. The larger per-core L2 on the i5 may contribute to its strong single-core and physics benchmark results, while the i7's larger L3 pool may help in cache-sensitive integer workloads.

Memory support is the same: both support DDR4 and DDR5 over a dual-channel bus. ECC memory is supported on the i5 but not on the i7. PCIe lanes differ: the i5 offers Gen 5 with 16 lanes from the CPU, while the i7 offers Gen 5 with 20 lanes. Integrated graphics differ as well: the i5 includes UHD Graphics 710, while the i7 includes UHD Graphics 770. Both processors are unlocked for overclocking, and both use the Intel BGA 1964 socket. The i5 was released in January 2024, while the i7 was released in May 2022.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i7-12650HX has 14 cores and 20 threads. The Intel Core i5-14450HX has 10 cores and 16 threads.

Q: Which processor scores higher in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The Intel Core i5-14450HX scores 20108 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, compared to 19043 for the Intel Core i7-12650HX. That is a 5.6% lead for the i5.

Q: In which benchmarks does the i7-12650HX outperform the i5-14450HX?

A: The i7-12650HX wins in PassMark floating point math, integer math, and random string sorting. Its largest win is in integer math, where it scores 81810 against 78330, a 4.3% advantage.

Q: What is the difference in boost clock between the two?

A: The i5-14450HX has a boost clock of 4.80 GHz. The i7-12650HX has a boost clock of 4.70 GHz.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No. The i5-14450HX supports ECC memory, while the i7-12650HX does not.

Q: Which processor has a larger L3 cache?

A: The i7-12650HX has 24 MB of shared L3 cache. The i5-14450HX has 20 MB.

The Verdict

The recorded data makes the choice straightforward for most workloads. The Intel Core i5-14450HX is the faster processor in the majority of tests, including all Cinebench rendering benchmarks, all single-core tests, and 14 of the 17 head-to-head comparisons. Its wins in physics simulation and prime number computation are particularly large, at 28% and 32.4% respectively. For users running rendering, compilation, or general productivity workloads, the i5-14450HX is the better pick.

The Intel Core i7-12650HX retains value for specific use cases. Its 4.3% lead in integer math and its wins in floating point math and random string sorting indicate that certain parallel integer-heavy tasks still favor the older part. Users whose workloads are dominated by these specific PassMark subtests may prefer the i7. Additionally, the i7 offers more PCIe lanes (20 versus 16) and a larger L3 cache (24 MB versus 20 MB), which could matter in niche scenarios.

The i5-14450HX also has the advantage of being a newer design with a smaller process node advantage in per-core efficiency, a higher boost clock, and ECC memory support. The i7-12650HX counters with more cores, more threads, and a larger shared cache. The average benchmark score difference, 32040 versus 31290, favors the i5 by about 2.4%. Both processors sit at the 82nd percentile among all CPUs, indicating they are closely matched in overall standing. The verdict, based strictly on the data, is that the i5-14450HX is the stronger all-around performer, while the i7-12650HX is the pick only for workloads that specifically reward its higher core count and integer throughput.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i5-14450HX | Intel Core i7-12650HX |

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

| Series | Core 14th Gen | Core 12th Gen |

| Architecture | Raptor Lake | Alder Lake |

| Codename | Raptor Lake-HX | Alder Lake-HX |

| Generation | Core i5 (Raptor Lake-HX Refresh) | Core i7 (Alder Lake-HX) |

| Cores | 10 | 14 |

| Threads | 16 | 20 |

| Base Clock | 2.40 GHz | 2000.00 MHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.80 GHz | 4.70 GHz |

| Die Size | 257 mm² | 215 mm² |

| L2 Cache | 2 MB (per core) | 1.25 MB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 20 MB (shared) | 24 MB (shared) |

| ECC Memory | Yes | No |

| PCIe | Gen 5, 16 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 5, 20 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | UHD Graphics 710 | UHD Graphics 770 |

| Release Date | 2024-01-07 | 2022-05-09 |

| Part Number | SRMXK | Not listed |