AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5845 vs Intel Core i7-12700K Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5845 and Intel Core i7-12700K represent two very different philosophies for desktop computing, with the AMD chip leaning on efficient Zen 3 cores and the Intel part using a hybrid design to push raw performance. Benchmark data shows a clear split: the Intel Core i7-12700K wins the majority of head-to-head tests, but the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5845 takes decisive victories in some of the most demanding single-threaded workloads. The data shows a 13-to-4 win record in favor of Intel across the tested benchmarks, yet the AMD part’s wins are often by a wider margin, making the choice highly dependent on the specific application.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking result in the entire comparison is in the Cinebench R23 single-core test. Here, the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5845 scores 3126 against the Intel Core i7-12700K’s 1850.5, a massive 68.9% advantage. This is not a marginal lead; it is a dominant performance in a test that is highly sensitive to core architecture and boost behavior. Similarly, in Cinebench R15 single-core, the AMD chip wins with a score of 314 versus Intel’s 272, a 15.4% lead. These results suggest that for lightly-threaded tasks, the Zen 3 architecture has a significant edge in this comparison.

However, the Intel Core i7-12700K strikes back with equally decisive wins in multi-threaded benchmarks. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, Intel scores 3325 against AMD’s 2232, a 32.9% advantage. The gap narrows but remains substantial in Cinebench R20 multi-core, where Intel’s 12229 beats AMD’s 9300 by 24%. These results reflect the Intel part’s higher core count and thread count, which allow it to pull ahead when all cores are active.

The Cinebench R23 multi-core test breaks the pattern, however. Here, the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5845 wins with 22145 points versus Intel’s 19784, an 11.9% lead. This is a notable reversal from the R15 and R20 results, suggesting that the AMD processor sustains its performance better under the longer R23 workload.

Outside of Cinebench, the Intel part dominates the PassMark suite. The largest gap is in floating-point math, where Intel scores 88035 against AMD’s 52105, a 40.8% deficit for AMD. Intel also wins heavily in physics (1790 vs 1109, a 38% gap), data compression (446595 vs 314363, a 29.6% gap), and extended instructions (28885 vs 21117, a 26.9% gap). The Intel chip also leads in integer math (114264 vs 94884, a 17% gap) and multithread (34404 vs 26054, a 24.3% gap). Even in single-thread PassMark tests, Intel wins with 4013 against AMD’s 3442, a 14.2% lead.

The AMD processor manages only one other win besides the Cinebench single-core tests: in the PassMark find prime numbers test, it scores 115 versus Intel’s 114, a marginal 0.9% lead. While a win, the difference is statistically negligible.

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark split points to clear use-case scenarios. The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5845 is the better choice for applications that are heavily dependent on single-core performance. The 68.9% lead in Cinebench R23 single-core is a strong indicator that tasks like legacy software, certain scientific simulations, or lightly-threaded game engines that rely on a single primary thread will see a distinct advantage. The consistent wins in R15 and R23 single-core tests reinforce this position.

The Intel Core i7-12700K is the clear winner for multi-threaded and throughput-heavy workloads. Its wins in Cinebench R15 and R20 multi-core, alongside PassMark tests for data compression, encryption, and floating-point math, make it the better fit for video rendering, code compilation, and data processing tasks that can utilize all available cores and threads. The 40.8% lead in floating-point math is particularly significant for scientific computing and financial modeling.

There is a nuance in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where AMD wins. This suggests that for sustained all-core loads, the AMD processor may throttle less or scale more efficiently, but this is an exception rather than the rule. The Intel part’s strength in PassMark multithread (24.3% lead) and physics (38% lead) shows it generally handles parallel workloads better.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on fundamentally different architectures. The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5845 uses the Zen 3 architecture, codenamed Vermeer, and is part of the 5000 series. It is fabricated on a 7 nm process at TSMC, with a die size of 74 mm² and 4,150 million transistors. The Intel Core i7-12700K uses the Alder Lake architecture, codenamed Alder Lake-S, and is part of the Core 12th Gen. It uses a 10 nm process at Intel, with a much larger die size of 215 mm².

The core configurations differ significantly. The AMD chip has 8 cores and 16 threads, all using the same Zen 3 design. The Intel chip has 12 cores and 20 threads, which implies a hybrid configuration of performance and efficiency cores typical of Alder Lake. This hybrid design is a key architectural difference, allowing the Intel part to offer more total threads.

Cache hierarchies also differ. The AMD processor has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 cache per core, and a 32 MB shared L3 cache. The Intel processor has 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core, and a 25 MB shared L3 cache. The larger L3 cache on the AMD part may contribute to its strong single-core performance, while the larger per-core L2 cache on Intel could help with certain workloads.

Memory support is another differentiator. The AMD chip supports only DDR4 memory with a dual-channel bus and a memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s. The Intel chip supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, also with a dual-channel bus, although no memory bandwidth figure is available for it. This gives the Intel platform more flexibility for future upgrades or higher bandwidth configurations.

Specification Differences

The specification sheets show several key differences beyond the core architecture. The Intel Core i7-12700K has a higher base clock of 3.60 GHz and a higher boost clock of 5.00 GHz, compared to the AMD’s 3.40 GHz base and 4.60 GHz boost. This gives Intel a clock speed advantage on paper.

The processors use different sockets: the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5845 uses AMD Socket AM4, while the Intel Core i7-12700K uses Intel Socket 1700. They are not interchangeable.

Power draw is a major differentiator. The AMD chip has a TDP of 65 watts, while the Intel chip has a TDP of 125 watts. This suggests the AMD part is significantly more power-efficient, which could be relevant for system cooling and power supply requirements.

The Intel chip includes integrated graphics in the form of UHD Graphics 770, while the AMD chip has no integrated graphics. This means a discrete GPU is mandatory for the AMD system, while the Intel system can operate without one for basic display output.

The Intel chip has an unlocked multiplier, indicated by `multiplierUnlocked: true`, while the AMD chip does not. This means the Intel part is designed for overclocking, while the AMD part is locked.

The release dates differ, with the Intel chip released on 2021-11-03 and the AMD chip on 2022-04-03. The Intel part has a launch MSRP of $409. The AMD part has no listed launch MSRP.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in single-core performance?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5845 is faster. It wins Cinebench R23 single-core with a score of 3126 versus Intel’s 1850.5, a 68.9% lead, and also wins Cinebench R15 single-core with 314 versus 272, a 15.4% lead.

Q: Which processor is better for multi-threaded workloads?

A: The Intel Core i7-12700K generally wins. It leads in Cinebench R15 multi-core (3325 vs 2232, a 32.9% gap) and Cinebench R20 multi-core (12229 vs 9300, a 24% gap). However, the AMD wins in Cinebench R23 multi-core (22145 vs 19784, an 11.9% lead).

Q: Does the Intel Core i7-12700K have integrated graphics?

A: Yes, it includes UHD Graphics 770. The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5845 has no integrated graphics, so it requires a discrete graphics card for display output.

Q: What is the difference in power draw between the two?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5845 has a TDP of 65 watts, while the Intel Core i7-12700K has a TDP of 125 watts. The AMD part is rated for significantly lower power consumption.

Q: Can the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5845 be overclocked?

A: No, its multiplier is locked (`multiplierUnlocked: false`). The Intel Core i7-12700K has an unlocked multiplier (`multiplierUnlocked: true`), allowing for overclocking.

Q: Which processor uses more modern memory technology?

A: The Intel Core i7-12700K supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory. The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5845 supports only DDR4 memory. The AMD chip has a listed memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s, while no bandwidth figure is provided for the Intel chip.