Intel Core i7-12700H vs Intel Core i7-13700H Comparison

The Verdict

The Intel Core i7-13700H and Intel Core i7-12700H are both 14-core, 20-thread mobile processors aimed at high-performance laptops. The benchmark data shows a clear overall winner in the newer part: the i7-13700H takes 21 of the 23 head-to-head tests, while the i7-12700H manages only 2 wins. The average benchmark score for the i7-13700H is 27355, versus 26717 for the i7-12700H, a difference of roughly 2.4% across all recorded tests.

However, the verdict is not a simple sweep. The i7-12700H wins the two Cinebench multicore tests where it appears, specifically Cinebench R15 multicore by 4.2% and Cinebench R23 multicore by 5.1%. This means for workloads that scale heavily across all cores and are sensitive to sustained multicore throughput, the older chip can sometimes edge ahead. The i7-13700H, meanwhile, dominates in 3DMark threaded tests and single-core Cinebench, with its largest win coming in PassMark physics at 14.1% ahead.

For most users, the i7-13700H is the safer recommendation. It wins every single-thread test, every 3DMark test, and nearly all PassMark workloads. The i7-12700H only makes sense if the specific Cinebench multicore pattern in the database (R15 and R23) represents the primary workload, and even then the margins are modest. The i7-13700H carries a launch MSRP of $502; the i7-12700H has no recorded launch MSRP in the database. Both chips sit at the 79th percentile among all CPUs, meaning they occupy the same performance tier overall, but the i7-13700H does so with more consistent wins.

Where Each One Wins

The i7-13700H wins across the broad spectrum of workload types. In 3DMark, it leads all six tests: 16-thread by 6.6%, 2-thread by 7.2%, 4-thread by 10.6%, 8-thread by 8.4%, max-thread by 8.1%, and single-thread by 7%. These results indicate that for gaming, physics simulation, and general parallel rendering, the newer architecture delivers a meaningful uplift.

In PassMark, the i7-13700H wins 11 out of 11 tests. The largest margin is in physics at 14.1%, followed by find prime numbers at 9.6%, integer math at 3%, and multithread at 3.1%. Smaller wins appear in data compression (2.4%), data encryption (2.3%), extended instructions (2.3%), floating point math (1.9%), random string sorting (0.4%), and single-thread (1.7%). These results suggest the i7-13700H is better for scientific computing, encryption tasks, and general productivity.

The i7-12700H wins only two tests, both in Cinebench multicore: R15 multicore at 2604.6 versus 2496, and R23 multicore at 16307.5 versus 15474. The deltas are 4.2% and 5.1% respectively. These are the only places where the older chip shows a clear advantage, and they point to a specific pattern: sustained, fully-threaded rendering workloads in Cinebench's older versions favor the i7-12700H. Notably, Cinebench R20 multicore goes the other way, with the i7-13700H winning by 3.5%. So the i7-12700H's wins are not across all Cinebench versions, only R15 and R23.

Architecture Differences

Both processors are built on Intel's 10 nm process node and share the same socket, Intel BGA 1744. The i7-13700H uses the Raptor Lake architecture (Raptor Lake-H), while the i7-12700H uses Alder Lake (Alder Lake-H). The core count is identical at 14 cores and 20 threads, and both have a 45 W TDP. The integrated graphics are also the same: Iris Xe Graphics 96EU.

The key differences lie in clock speeds and cache. The i7-13700H has a base clock of 2.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz, while the i7-12700H runs at 2.30 GHz base and 4.70 GHz boost. This 0.30 GHz boost advantage for the newer chip explains much of its single-thread and lightly-threaded performance lead.

Cache configurations differ, particularly in L2. The i7-13700H has 2 MB of L2 per core, while the i7-12700H has 1.25 MB per core. Both share 24 MB of L3 cache, and both have 80 KB of L1 per core. The larger L2 on the i7-13700H likely contributes to its wins in data compression, encryption, and random string sorting, all of which benefit from faster access to working sets.

The memory support is identical: DDR4 and DDR5, dual-channel, with no ECC support. The PCIe implementation differs significantly. The i7-13700H offers Gen 5 with 8 lanes (CPU only), while the i7-12700H offers Gen 4 with 20 lanes (CPU only). This means the i7-13700H has faster per-lane bandwidth but fewer lanes, whereas the i7-12700H has more lanes at a slower generation. The die size is recorded only for the i7-12700H at 217 mm²; the i7-13700H's die size is not listed in the database. The i7-13700H was released on 2023-01-03, while the i7-12700H has no recorded release date. The i7-13700H's part number is SRMJ1, and the i7-12700H's is SRLD1. Both are locked multipliers (not unlocked).

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core i7-13700H has a boost clock of 5.00 GHz, while the Intel Core i7-12700H reaches 4.70 GHz. The base clocks are 2.40 GHz and 2.30 GHz respectively.

Q: Do both processors have the same core and thread counts?

A: Yes, both the i7-13700H and the i7-12700H have 14 cores and 20 threads. Both are mobile parts with a 45 W TDP.

Q: Which chip wins in single-threaded workloads?

A: The i7-13700H wins every single-thread test in the database. In 3DMark single-thread it leads by 7%, in Cinebench R15 single-core by 5.1%, in Cinebench R20 single-core by 3.5%, in Cinebench R23 single-core by 4.2%, and in PassMark single-thread by 1.7%.

Q: Are there any tests where the i7-12700H comes out ahead?

A: Yes, the i7-12700H wins two tests: Cinebench R15 multicore by 4.2% (2604.6 vs 2496) and Cinebench R23 multicore by 5.1% (16307.5 vs 15474). These are the only two wins out of 23 head-to-head comparisons.

Q: What is the difference in L2 cache between the two?

A: The i7-13700H has 2 MB of L2 cache per core, while the i7-12700H has 1.25 MB per core. Both have 80 KB of L1 per core and 24 MB of shared L3 cache.

Q: How do the PCIe capabilities differ?

A: The i7-13700H supports PCIe Gen 5 with 8 lanes (CPU only), while the i7-12700H supports PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes (CPU only). The newer chip uses faster lanes but fewer of them.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data shows a consistent pattern: the i7-13700H wins 21 tests, the i7-12700H wins 2. The largest margin for the i7-13700H is in PassMark physics, where it scores 1725 versus 1512, a 14.1% advantage. This is a substantial gap and suggests the newer architecture handles physics calculations far more efficiently. The second-largest win is in 3DMark 4-thread, where the i7-13700H leads by 10.6% (3616 vs 3268), followed closely by PassMark find prime numbers at 9.6% (103 vs 94).

In 3DMark, the i7-13700H wins all six tests with margins ranging from 6.6% to 10.6%. The 2-thread test shows a 7.2% lead (1947 vs 1817), the 8-thread test an 8.4% lead (5369 vs 4951), the max-thread test an 8.1% lead (7502 vs 6941), and the 16-thread test a 6.6% lead (6885 vs 6460). These results indicate that the i7-13700H scales better across both few and many threads, which is a strong sign for gaming and content creation workloads that use mixed thread counts.

In Cinebench, the results are split. The i7-13700H wins single-core in all three versions: R15 by 5.1% (269 vs 256), R20 by 3.5% (1303 vs 1259), and R23 by 4.2% (1856 vs 1782). For multicore, the i7-13700H wins R20 by 3.5% (9231 vs 8921), but loses R15 by 4.2% (2496 vs 2604.6) and R23 by 5.1% (15474 vs 16307.5). This inconsistency is notable: the newer chip wins one multicore Cinebench version, the older chip wins the other two. The average benchmark score difference (27355 vs 26717) still favors the i7-13700H overall, but the Cinebench multicore results are a caveat for users who rely heavily on those specific benchmarks.

In PassMark, the i7-13700H wins every test. Beyond the physics and prime number tests, the margins are smaller but still positive: integer math by 3% (92811 vs 90106), multithread by 3.1% (26399 vs 25615), data compression by 2.4% (307791 vs 300594), data encryption by 2.3% (17971 vs 17575), extended instructions by 2.3% (18303 vs 17886), floating point math by 1.9% (66322 vs 65075), random string sorting by 0.4% (33595 vs 33449), and single-thread by 1.7% (3594 vs 3535). The narrowest margin is random string sorting, where the two chips are nearly identical, suggesting that this workload is not sensitive to the architectural changes.

The percentile ranking for both is 79th among all CPUs, which places them in the same tier. The nearest rivals for the i7-13700H include the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 5355G (0.1% lower average score), Intel Core Ultra 5 125H (0.6% lower), AMD Ryzen 7 5800 (0.7% lower), and Intel Core i5-14400T (0.7% higher). For the i7-12700H, the nearest rivals are the AMD EPYC 9554 (0.1% lower), AMD Ryzen 5 5500GT (0.1% lower), Intel Core i9-11900K (0.3% higher), and AMD Ryzen 5 7545U (0.5% lower). These rival deltas are all within 1%, meaning both chips sit in a tightly contested performance cluster around their respective average scores. The i7-13700H's 2.4% higher average score over the i7-12700H is enough to secure more head-to-head wins, but both remain competitive within their price tier.