Intel Core i7-12650H vs Intel Core i9-11950H Comparison

The Intel Core i7-12650H and Intel Core i9-11950H represent two different generations of Intel mobile processors. The i7-12650H comes from the Core 12th Gen Alder Lake-H family, while the i9-11950H belongs to the Core 11th Gen Tiger Lake-H family. Both are mobile processors with 16 threads, but the i7 packs 10 cores against 8 for the i9. The recorded benchmark data shows the i7 winning 11 of 17 head-to-head tests, with the i9 taking 6. The i7 also holds a higher average benchmark score of 28815 versus 28332, and both sit at the 80th percentile among all CPUs.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins more head-to-head benchmark comparisons?

A: The Intel Core i7-12650H wins 11 of the 17 recorded head-to-head tests, while the Intel Core i9-11950H wins 6. The i7 also holds a higher average benchmark score of 28815 compared to 28332 for the i9.

Q: How do the two chips compare in core and thread counts?

A: The i7-12650H has 10 cores and 16 threads, while the i9-11950H has 8 cores and 16 threads. Both use a dual-channel memory bus and neither has an unlocked multiplier.

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The i9-11950H boosts to 5.00 GHz, while the i7-12650H reaches 4.70 GHz. The i7 has a higher base clock at 2.30 GHz versus 2.10 GHz for the i9.

Q: What memory types does each support?

A: The i7-12650H supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, while the i9-11950H supports DDR4 only. The i9 records a memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s, a figure not listed for the i7.

Q: What is the production status of each processor?

A: The i7-12650H is listed as Active in production, while the i9-11950H is End-of-life. The i9 was released on 2021-05-10.

Q: How do the two compare in the Passmark physics test?

A: The i7-12650H scores 1430 in Passmark physics, a 41.2% advantage over the i9-11950H's 1013. This is the largest single-test margin in the comparison.

Architecture Differences

The i7-12650H is built on Alder Lake-H architecture, while the i9-11950H uses Tiger Lake-H. Both are manufactured by Intel on a 10 nm process, but the design priorities differ. The Alder Lake part packs 10 cores and 16 threads, while the Tiger Lake part has 8 cores and 16 threads. The extra two cores in the i7 come with a larger die at 217 mm² versus 190 mm² for the i9.

Cache hierarchies are identical in structure: 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 24 MB of shared L3. The i7 supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, while the i9 is limited to DDR4. The i9 records a memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s, a figure not listed for the i7.

The i7 has a higher base clock at 2.30 GHz but a lower boost clock at 4.70 GHz. The i9 starts at 2.10 GHz and boosts to 5.00 GHz. The i7 carries a 45 W TDP, while the i9 is rated at 35 W. The two use different sockets: Intel BGA 1744 for the i7 and Intel BGA 1787 for the i9.

Integrated graphics differ as well. The i7 ships with UHD Graphics, while the i9 includes UHD Graphics 750. Both support PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes from the CPU. The i7 is in active production, while the i9 is end-of-life, with a release date of 2021-05-10 and a launch MSRP of $556. The part numbers are SRLD0 for the i7 and SRKT6 for the i9.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a split picture. The i7-12650H dominates in several categories, while the i9-11950H has its own strongholds.

The largest win for the i7 comes in Passmark physics, where it scores 1430 against 1013 for the i9, a 41.2% margin. Floating point math also favors the i7 heavily: 54934 versus 44137, a 24.5% advantage. In Passmark single-thread, the i7 leads 3539 to 3141, a 12.7% edge. Data encryption shows a 10.9% win for the i7 (14041 versus 12658).

Cinebench results are mixed. In R15 multicore, the i7 scores 1851.5 against 1741, a 6.3% win. In R20 multicore, the i7 leads 7608 to 7257, a 4.8% margin. Single-core R15 and R20 both go to the i7 by 2% and 4.8% respectively. Passmark multithread favors the i7 at 21962 versus 20900, a 5.1% edge. Data compression is close, with the i7 at 250026 versus 246195, a 1.6% win.

The i9-11950H strikes back in Cinebench R23. In multicore, it scores 17279 against 12074 for the i7, a 30.1% advantage. In R23 singlecore, the i9 leads 2439 to 1763, a 27.7% margin. These R23 results stand in contrast to the R15 and R20 outcomes, where the i7 wins. The data suggests the R23 workload behaves differently under the two architectures, and the i9's higher boost clock of 5.00 GHz may play a role in its R23 singlecore dominance.

Passmark random string sorting goes to the i9 at 29375 versus 26591, a 9.5% win. Extended instructions favor the i9 at 16361 versus 15438, a 5.6% margin. Find prime numbers is close: 93 for the i9 against 91 for the i7, a 2.2% edge. Integer math also goes to the i9 at 74649 versus 73641, a 1.4% win.

Overall, the i7 wins 11 tests and the i9 wins 6. The average benchmark score reflects this: 28815 for the i7 against 28332 for the i9. In the context of their nearest rivals, the i7's average score sits within 0.5% of the Intel Core i5-12600H, Intel Core i9-13900H, AMD Ryzen 5 5600XT, and Intel Core i5-13500T. The i9's average score sits within 0.5% of the Intel Xeon 6337P, AMD Ryzen 7 7735U, AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 6850U, and AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8640HS.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several recorded fields. Core count: 10 for the i7, 8 for the i9. Base clock: 2.30 GHz versus 2.10 GHz. Boost clock: 4.70 GHz versus 5.00 GHz. TDP: 45 W versus 35 W. Socket: Intel BGA 1744 versus Intel BGA 1787. Architecture: Alder Lake versus Tiger Lake. Codename: Alder Lake-H versus Tiger Lake-H. Die size: 217 mm² versus 190 mm².

Memory support: DDR4 and DDR5 for the i7, DDR4 only for the i9. The i9 lists a memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s, while the i7 does not have a recorded figure. Integrated graphics: UHD Graphics for the i7, UHD Graphics 750 for the i9. Production status: Active for the i7, End-of-life for the i9. The i9 has a release date of 2021-05-10; the i7 has no recorded release date. Part numbers: SRLD0 for the i7, SRKT6 for the i9.

Both share the same L1 cache of 80 KB per core, L2 of 1.25 MB per core, and L3 of 24 MB shared. Both use dual-channel memory, PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes, and neither supports ECC memory. Neither has an unlocked multiplier.

Where Each One Wins

The i7-12650H is the stronger choice for workloads that stress floating point math, physics simulation, and encryption. Its 41.2% lead in Passmark physics and 24.5% lead in floating point math suggest an advantage in scientific and simulation tasks. The 12.7% single-thread win in Passmark also points to strong general responsiveness. The i7's wins in Cinebench R15 and R20, both multicore and singlecore, reinforce its consistency across older Cinebench versions.

The i9-11950H wins in Cinebench R23 by substantial margins, 30.1% in multicore and 27.7% in singlecore. It also leads in random string sorting, extended instructions, prime number finding, and integer math. These wins suggest the i9 handles certain integer-heavy and instruction-heavy workloads better, despite its lower core count. The i9's higher boost clock of 5.00 GHz may contribute to its single-thread wins in R23.

The i7 wins the majority of tests, 11 out of 17, and holds a higher average benchmark score. The i9's wins are concentrated in specific areas, most notably the R23 tests where its margins are large.

The Verdict

The data points to the Intel Core i7-12650H as the more consistent performer. It wins 11 of 17 head-to-head tests, holds a higher average benchmark score of 28815 versus 28332, and is in active production. Its wins in physics, floating point math, and single-thread performance cover a broad range of common workloads.

The Intel Core i9-11950H remains competitive in specific areas. Its Cinebench R23 results are dramatically better, with a 30.1% multicore and 27.7% singlecore advantage. It also wins in integer math, extended instructions, and random string sorting. However, it is end-of-life.

For users prioritizing the majority of benchmark outcomes, the i7-12650H is the stronger pick. For those whose workloads align with the i9's specific wins, particularly the R23 tests, the i9 remains a viable option. The recorded data favors the i7 overall.