Intel Core i5-14500HX vs Intel Core i9-12900HX Comparison

The Intel Core i5-14500HX and Intel Core i9-12900HX are two mobile processors that land within 0.3% of each other in average benchmark score, yet they achieve that parity through very different means. The i5-14500HX posts an average score of 35,094 against the i9-12900HX’s 35,003, a razor-thin margin that places both at the 84th percentile among all CPUs. The head-to-head data reveals a split personality: the i9-12900HX dominates 14 of the 17 benchmark comparisons, while the i5-14500HX counters with decisive wins in specific single-core and rendering workloads.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most dramatic divergence appears in Cinebench R23 single-core, where the i5-14500HX scores 3,421 against the i9-12900HX’s 1,912.5, a 78.9% advantage. This is not a marginal edge but a generational gap in single-thread performance, and it carries over to Cinebench R15 single-core, where the i5 wins 344 to 278, a 23.7% lead. The i5-14500HX also takes Cinebench R23 multi-core with 24,234 points versus 23,150, a 4.7% win that suggests its newer architecture extracts more from each core even with fewer total threads.

The i9-12900HX answers in older Cinebench versions. In R15 multi-core it scores 3,566 against the i5’s 2,442, a 31.5% blowout. The R20 results are also lopsided: the i9 wins multi-core 11,764 to 10,178 (13.5% ahead) and single-core 1,660 to 1,436 (13.5% ahead). The inconsistency across Cinebench versions is striking — the i5’s R23 single-core score is nearly double the i9’s, yet the i9 leads R20 single-core. This points to different optimization levels in the benchmark suite rather than a straightforward architectural superiority.

Outside Cinebench, the i9-12900HX’s extra cores and threads (16 cores/24 threads versus 14/20) translate into consistent wins across PassMark workloads. Data compression favors the i9 by 16.7% (400,636 vs 333,851), data encryption by 15% (22,932 vs 19,502), and extended instructions by 17.7% (24,315 vs 20,019). Floating-point math shows a 17.7% gap (84,410 vs 69,442), integer math a 15.7% gap (113,416 vs 95,584), and multithread performance a 14% gap (33,158 vs 28,508). Random string sorting is 17.5% faster on the i9 (43,877 vs 36,219).

The closest contests are in prime number finding, where the i9 wins by just 1.5% (132 vs 130), and PassMark single-thread, where the i9 leads by 3.1% (3,745 vs 3,629). Physics simulation also favors the i9, but by only 5% (2,012 vs 1,911). The i5-14500HX wins exactly three comparisons: both R23 tests and R15 single-core. The i9-12900HX wins the remaining 14, yet the overall average scores remain nearly identical because the i5’s R23 single-core victory is so large it offsets multiple narrow defeats.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i5-14500HX averages 35,094 points, while the Intel Core i9-12900HX averages 35,003. The i5 leads by 0.3%, a difference small enough that both CPUs sit at the 84th percentile among all processors.

Q: How much faster is the i5-14500HX in Cinebench R23 single-core?

A: The i5-14500HX scores 3,421 points, which is 78.9% higher than the i9-12900HX’s 1,912.5 points. This is the largest single benchmark gap in the entire head-to-head comparison.

Q: In which benchmark does the i9-12900HX have its biggest advantage?

A: The i9-12900HX leads by 31.5% in Cinebench R15 multi-core, scoring 3,566 points versus the i5-14500HX’s 2,442 points. It also holds a 17.7% edge in both extended instructions and floating-point math.

Q: Do both CPUs support the same memory types?

A: Yes, both the i5-14500HX and the i9-12900HX support DDR4 and DDR5 memory with dual-channel memory buses. Both also support ECC memory.

Q: What is the difference in core and thread counts?

A: The i9-12900HX has 16 cores and 24 threads, while the i5-14500HX has 14 cores and 20 threads. The i9 also has a larger shared L3 cache at 30 MB compared to the i5’s 24 MB.

Q: Which CPU has a higher boost clock?

A: The i9-12900HX boosts to 5.00 GHz, while the i5-14500HX boosts to 4.90 GHz. However, the i5 has a higher base clock at 2.60 GHz versus the i9’s 2.30 GHz.

The Verdict

The data supports a clear split based on workload type. For users running Cinebench R23 workloads — particularly single-threaded rendering tasks — the i5-14500HX is the stronger choice. Its 78.9% lead in R23 single-core and 4.7% lead in R23 multi-core are substantial enough to matter in daily rendering work. The i5 also wins R15 single-core by 23.7%, showing that its single-thread advantage is not limited to one benchmark version.

For everything else, the i9-12900HX is the workhorse. Across PassMark’s suite of compression, encryption, math, and sorting tests, the i9 leads by margins ranging from 1.5% to 17.7%. Its 14% advantage in multithread performance and 16.7% lead in data compression make it better suited for file archiving, database operations, and parallel computing tasks. The i9 also wins both PassMark single-thread tests, albeit narrowly at 3.1%.

The average scores tell a story of near-parity: 35,094 vs 35,003. The percentile ranking confirms this, with both CPUs at the 84th percentile. Choosing between them depends entirely on whether the user prioritizes the i5’s exceptional R23 single-core performance or the i9’s broad, consistent lead across most other benchmarks. The i9-12900HX’s launch MSRP is $606, but the i5-14500HX has no listed launch MSRP.

Specification Differences

The core counts differ: the i9-12900HX offers 16 cores and 24 threads, the i5-14500HX has 14 cores and 20 threads. Clock speeds also diverge, with the i5’s base clock at 2.60 GHz versus the i9’s 2.30 GHz, while the boost clocks reverse the order — the i9 reaches 5.00 GHz, the i5 tops out at 4.90 GHz. Both have a TDP of 55 watts and use the same Intel BGA 1964 socket.

The L3 cache is larger on the i9 at 30 MB shared, compared to the i5’s 24 MB. The L2 cache differs per core: the i5 has 2 MB per core, the i9 has 1.25 MB per core. Both share the same 80 KB L1 cache per core. PCIe lane counts differ, with the i9 providing Gen 5 with 20 lanes (CPU only) versus the i5’s Gen 5 with 16 lanes. Both use UHD Graphics 770 integrated graphics and support DDR4/DDR5 memory with dual-channel buses.

The die size also differs: the i5-14500HX measures 257 mm² while the i9-12900HX is smaller at 215 mm². Both are built on Intel’s 10 nm process at Intel foundries. The i5 was released on 2024-01-07, the i9 on 2022-05-09. Both have unlocked multipliers and are currently marked as Active in production.

Architecture Differences

The i5-14500HX is built on Raptor Lake architecture, specifically the Raptor Lake-HX refresh, while the i9-12900HX uses the older Alder Lake architecture with the Alder Lake-HX codename. Both use the same 10 nm process node from Intel, but the Raptor Lake design is a refresh of the Alder Lake blueprint. The part numbers confirm the generation gap: the i5 carries the SRMXJ identifier, the i9 has SRLGK.

The cache hierarchy reveals architectural choices. The i5’s 2 MB L2 per core is larger than the i9’s 1.25 MB per core, which may contribute to the i5’s superior single-core performance in R23. Conversely, the i9’s 30 MB L3 cache is 25% larger than the i5’s 24 MB, helping the i9 in multi-threaded workloads that benefit from a larger shared pool. The i5’s larger die size (257 mm² vs 215 mm²) suggests more complex logic per area, even though it has fewer cores.

Both CPUs integrate the same UHD Graphics 770, support ECC memory, and use dual-channel memory buses. The i9 offers more PCIe lanes (20 versus 16), which could matter for systems with multiple NVMe drives or external GPU enclosures. The i5’s newer generation is also reflected in its generation label: the i5 is listed as “Core i5 (Raptor Lake-HX Refresh)” while the i9 is “Core i9 (Alder Lake-HX)”.

Where Each One Wins

The i5-14500HX wins decisively in single-core rendering workloads. Cinebench R23 single-core is its crown jewel with a 78.9% lead, and R15 single-core adds another 23.7% win. The R23 multi-core test also goes to the i5 by 4.7%, making it the better choice for modern renderers that scale well with per-core efficiency. Users running Cinebench R23 as a primary benchmark should choose the i5 without hesitation.

The i9-12900HX wins in every PassMark test and in the older Cinebench versions. Its biggest margins are in R15 multi-core (31.5%), extended instructions (17.7%), and floating-point math (17.7%). It also leads in data compression by 16.7% and random string sorting by 17.5%. For any workload involving encryption (15% lead), integer math (15.7% lead), or multithread operations (14% lead), the i9 is the stronger performer. The i9’s wins in prime number finding (1.5%) and PassMark single-thread (3.1%) are narrow but consistent.

The practical split is clear: the i5-14500HX is for users whose primary benchmark is Cinebench R23, especially single-threaded tasks, while the i9-12900HX suits general-purpose computing with a broad lead across encryption, compression, and math operations. The i9’s extra cores and threads (16/24 vs 14/20) plus its larger L3 cache give it the edge in sustained multi-threaded workloads, while the i5’s newer Raptor Lake architecture with larger L2 per core delivers superior single-thread performance in the latest benchmark versions. Both CPUs sit at the 84th percentile, but they reach that ranking through opposite strengths.