Intel Core i7-12650HX vs Intel Core i7-13700TE Comparison

The Intel Core i7-12650HX and Intel Core i7-13700TE represent two distinct approaches to Intel's hybrid x86 design, one aimed at high-performance mobile workstations and the other at power-efficient desktop systems. Benchmark data reveals a clear split: the i7-12650HX dominates in single-threaded and memory-sensitive workloads, while the i7-13700TE counters with substantial wins in math-heavy and physics-based tests. The overall average benchmark scores are close, with the i7-12650HX at 31290 and the i7-13700TE at 31028, a difference of less than 1%. However, the distribution of wins and the magnitude of deltas tell a more nuanced story about where each processor excels.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The i7-12650HX secures the majority of benchmark victories, winning 12 of the 17 head-to-head tests. Its most decisive triumph comes in PassMark's extended instructions test, where it scores 15856 against the i7-13700TE's 13750, a substantial 15.3% advantage. This suggests the Alder Lake mobile chip handles vectorized and specialized instruction sets more efficiently. Data compression also heavily favors the i7-12650HX, with scores of 266700 versus 243565, a 9.5% lead. Random string sorting follows a similar pattern, with the i7-12650HX ahead by 8.7% (29692 vs 27307). These wins point to superior memory subsystem performance and cache management in the mobile part.

In single-threaded workloads, the i7-12650HX is consistently ahead, albeit by smaller margins. PassMark single-thread shows a 6.3% advantage (3637 vs 3422), while Cinebench R23 single-core yields a 1.9% edge (2688 vs 2639). The Cinebench R15 and R20 single-core tests also show the i7-12650HX winning by 1.9% and 1.8%, respectively. This consistency across generations of Cinebench indicates a robust single-core performance foundation, likely driven by its higher base clock of 2000 MHz compared to the i7-13700TE's 1100 MHz.

The i7-12650HX also edges out the i7-13700TE in multi-core Cinebench tests, though the margins are slim. Cinebench R23 multi-core sees the i7-12650HX at 19043 versus 18698, a 1.8% lead. R20 and R15 multi-core results mirror this, with 1.8% and 1.9% deltas respectively. These small but consistent wins suggest that despite having fewer cores (14 vs 16) and threads (20 vs 24), the i7-12650HX's higher clock speeds compensate effectively in rendering workloads.

The i7-13700TE fights back in five tests, and its victories are decisive. Integer math is its strongest area, where it scores 97911 versus 81810, a massive 16.4% advantage. Floating-point math also goes to the i7-13700TE, with 66421 against 58426, a 12% lead. Prime number finding shows the largest relative gap, with the i7-13700TE scoring 101 versus the i7-12650HX's 74, a 26.7% difference. Physics simulations favor the i7-13700TE by 15.8% (1368 vs 1152). The only multi-threaded benchmark where the i7-13700TE wins is PassMark multithread, posting 22754 against 22573, a narrow 0.8% margin. These results indicate the i7-13700TE's additional cores and threads translate directly into raw computational throughput for parallelizable integer and floating-point tasks.

Architecture Differences

The two processors stem from different generations and microarchitectures. The i7-12650HX is built on Alder Lake, specifically the Alder Lake-HX variant, while the i7-13700TE uses Raptor Lake-S. Both are fabricated on Intel's 10 nm process node and use the same foundry. The die sizes differ notably, with the i7-12650HX measuring 215 mm² and the i7-13700TE larger at 257 mm². This size difference likely reflects the Raptor Lake design's expanded core configuration and increased cache.

Core counts diverge significantly. The i7-12650HX offers 14 cores and 20 threads, while the i7-13700TE provides 16 cores and 24 threads. This gives the desktop part two additional cores and four additional threads. Cache hierarchies also differ. Both share an 80 KB L1 cache per core, but the L2 cache per core is larger on the i7-13700TE at 2 MB versus 1.25 MB on the i7-12650HX. The shared L3 cache also favors the i7-13700TE, with 30 MB compared to 24 MB. This additional cache likely contributes to the i7-13700TE's strong performance in math-intensive workloads where data locality matters.

Clock speeds present a trade-off. The i7-12650HX has a base clock of 2000 MHz and a boost clock of 4.70 GHz. The i7-13700TE operates at a much lower 1100 MHz base but boosts slightly higher to 4.80 GHz. The power envelopes reflect their intended use cases: the i7-12650HX has a 55 W TDP, while the i7-13700TE is rated at 35 W. The i7-12650HX is an unlocked multiplier, allowing overclocking, whereas the i7-13700TE is locked.

Memory support is identical, with both supporting DDR4 and DDR5 in a dual-channel configuration. Neither supports ECC memory. PCIe connectivity matches as well, with both offering Gen 5 and 20 lanes from the CPU. Integrated graphics are the same UHD Graphics 770 on both chips. The sockets differ, with the i7-12650HX using Intel BGA 1964 and the i7-13700TE using Intel Socket 1700. Market segments also separate them: the i7-12650HX targets mobile platforms, while the i7-13700TE is a desktop processor.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher single-core score in Cinebench R23?

A: The Intel Core i7-12650HX wins in Cinebench R23 single-core with a score of 2688, compared to the Intel Core i7-13700TE's 2639, a 1.9% advantage.

Q: How do the two compare in PassMark integer math performance?

A: The Intel Core i7-13700TE is significantly ahead in PassMark integer math, scoring 97911 versus the Intel Core i7-12650HX's 81810, a 16.4% lead for the Raptor Lake part.

Q: What is the TDP difference between these two processors?

A: The Intel Core i7-12650HX has a TDP of 55 W, while the Intel Core i7-13700TE has a lower TDP of 35 W, making the desktop part more power-efficient in terms of rated thermal design power.

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i7-13700TE has more cores and threads, offering 16 cores and 24 threads, whereas the Intel Core i7-12650HX has 14 cores and 20 threads.

Q: Are both processors based on the same microarchitecture?

A: No, the Intel Core i7-12650HX uses the Alder Lake architecture, while the Intel Core i7-13700TE uses the Raptor Lake architecture, though both are built on a 10 nm process node.

Q: What is the largest benchmark delta between the two?

A: The largest delta is in PassMark's find prime numbers test, where the Intel Core i7-13700TE scores 101 against the Intel Core i7-12650HX's 74, a 26.7% difference in favor of the i7-13700TE.

Specification Differences

The two chips differ across several key specification fields. The core and thread counts are different, with the i7-13700TE having 16 cores and 24 threads versus the i7-12650HX's 14 cores and 20 threads. Base clocks vary substantially, with the i7-12650HX running at 2000 MHz and the i7-13700TE at 1100 MHz. Boost clocks are closer, but the i7-13700TE edges ahead at 4.80 GHz versus 4.70 GHz. TDP ratings differ, with the i7-12650HX at 55 W and the i7-13700TE at 35 W. The sockets are incompatible, as the i7-12650HX uses Intel BGA 1964 and the i7-13700TE uses Intel Socket 1700.

The architectures and codenames differ, with the i7-12650HX being Alder Lake (Alder Lake-HX) and the i7-13700TE being Raptor Lake (Raptor Lake-S). Die sizes are not the same, with the i7-12650HX at 215 mm² and the i7-13700TE at 257 mm². L2 cache per core differs, with the i7-12650HX having 1.25 MB and the i7-13700TE having 2 MB. L3 cache also differs, with the i7-12650HX at 24 MB and the i7-13700TE at 30 MB. The i7-12650HX has an unlocked multiplier, while the i7-13700TE does not. The i7-13700TE has a part number (SRMG4), while the i7-12650HX does not have a listed part number. Market segments differ, with the i7-12650HX being mobile and the i7-13700TE being desktop. Release dates also differ, with the i7-12650HX launching on 2022-05-09 and the i7-13700TE on 2023-01-03.

Where Each One Wins

The i7-12650HX is the clear winner in single-threaded performance and memory-sensitive operations. Its PassMark single-thread score of 3637 is 6.3% higher than the i7-13700TE's 3422. It also wins all Cinebench single-core tests by approximately 1.8-1.9%. For workloads involving data compression, the i7-12650HX is superior, with a 9.5% lead in PassMark data compression. Extended instructions and random string sorting also favor the mobile chip, with 15.3% and 8.7% advantages respectively. This makes the i7-12650HX a better choice for tasks like file archiving, encryption (2.1% lead in data encryption), and applications that rely heavily on single-core responsiveness.

The i7-13700TE dominates in raw computational throughput for parallelizable math. Its integer math score of 97911 is 16.4% higher, and its floating-point math score of 66421 is 12% higher. Physics simulations also go to the i7-13700TE by 15.8%. The massive 26.7% lead in prime number finding underscores its strength in iterative integer operations. Even the multi-threaded PassMark test, despite the i7-12650HX's Cinebench multi-core wins, goes to the i7-13700TE. This suggests the i7-13700TE is better suited for scientific computing, financial modeling, and other workloads that scale with core count and cache size.

The Verdict

The data presents a clear choice based on workload priorities. The Intel Core i7-12650HX is the pick for users prioritizing single-threaded performance, memory bandwidth efficiency, and tasks like data compression and encryption. Its 6.3% lead in PassMark single-thread and 9.5% lead in data compression make it a strong candidate for general productivity, software development, and everyday responsiveness. The mobile market segment and unlocked multiplier add flexibility, though the 55 W TDP is higher than the desktop part.

The Intel Core i7-13700TE is the choice for purely compute-intensive, parallel workloads. Its 16.4% lead in integer math and 12% lead in floating-point math are decisive for number-crunching applications. The 26.7% edge in prime number finding and 15.8% lead in physics simulations reinforce this. With a lower 35 W TDP, it offers better rated power efficiency for sustained compute tasks. The larger L3 cache of 30 MB and higher core count give it an architectural advantage in multi-threaded scenarios, despite the i7-12650HX winning all Cinebench multi-core tests by narrow margins.

Both processors sit at the 82nd percentile among all CPUs, indicating they are closely matched overall. The i7-12650HX's average benchmark score of 31290 is only 0.8% higher than the i7-13700TE's 31028. The nearest rivals for each further contextualize their standing: the i7-12650HX trades blows with the Intel Core 9 273PTE and Intel Core Ultra 3 205, while the i7-13700TE is nearly identical to the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS and Intel Core i7-12700F. Ultimately, neither is universally faster; the i7-12650HX wins 12 tests, and the i7-13700TE wins 5. The decision rests on whether the user needs single-thread finesse or multi-thread brute force.