Intel Core i7-12700KF vs Intel Core Ultra 5 336H Comparison

The Verdict

The Intel Core i7-12700KF is the clear performance winner in this comparison, taking 13 of 17 head-to-head benchmark victories. It leads by a decisive 20.2% across every Cinebench test, both single-core and multi-core, and dominates integer math by 82.9%. The Intel Core Ultra 5 336H is not without merit: it wins in PassMark physics, prime number finding, and single-thread tests by a narrow margin. However, those wins are isolated to specialized workloads. For users building a desktop system that prioritizes raw compute throughput, the i7-12700KF is the data-backed choice. The Ultra 5 336H belongs in a mobile context, where its 25 W TDP and integrated graphics make it a sensible fit for laptops, but the benchmark record shows it trails the desktop part in almost every measurable category.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from entirely different Intel design eras and target different platforms. The Core i7-12700KF is an Alder Lake-S desktop chip on the Intel Socket 1700, built on a 10 nm process with a 215 mm² die. It packs 12 cores and 20 threads, which indicates a hybrid layout of performance and efficiency cores. The Core Ultra 5 336H is a Panther Lake-H mobile processor on Intel BGA 2540, fabricated on a 3 nm node. It features 16 cores and 16 threads, suggesting a different core mix without hyper-threading across all cores. The Ultra 5 336H also includes Intel Xe3 Graphics, while the i7-12700KF has no integrated graphics at all.

Cache configurations differ substantially. The i7-12700KF has 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 25 MB of shared L3. The Ultra 5 336H offers larger per-core cache: 192 KB L1 per core and 2.5 MB L2 per core, but only 18 MB of shared L3. Memory support reflects their platforms: the desktop part supports DDR4 and DDR5, while the mobile part supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X with a recorded memory bandwidth of 115.2 GB/s. PCIe connectivity also splits, with the i7-12700KF providing Gen 4 with 20 lanes and the Ultra 5 336H providing Gen 5 with 12 lanes. The Ultra 5 336H has a locked multiplier, whereas the i7-12700KF is multiplier unlocked.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking pattern is the uniform 20.2% lead for the i7-12700KF across all six Cinebench tests. Starting with Cinebench R15, the desktop chip scores 2906 multi-core versus 2418 for the Ultra 5 336H, and 410 single-core versus 341. In Cinebench R20, the gap remains identical: 12111 versus 10076 multi-core, 1709 versus 1422 single-core. Cinebench R23 follows the same script with 28838 versus 23991 multi-core and 4071 versus 3387 single-core. This consistency suggests the i7-12700KF holds a structural advantage in CPU rendering workloads that the Ultra 5 336H cannot overcome despite its newer process node.

PassMark results show where each processor excels. The i7-12700KF crushes integer math with a score of 113521 against 62070, a 82.9% advantage. Data compression also heavily favors the desktop chip: 441960 versus 280340, a 57.7% lead. Random string sorting goes to the i7-12700KF by 31.2% (45150 versus 34402). Extended instructions favor the i7-12700KF by 16.7% (28650 versus 24542). Even floating point math, a closer contest, goes to the i7-12700KF by 6.1% (87449 versus 82415). Multithread performance via PassMark shows a 19.4% lead (34092 versus 28545), and data encryption is closer at 8.9% (23181 versus 21291).

The Ultra 5 336H wins four tests, and three of them are notable for different reasons. PassMark find prime numbers is a landslide for the mobile chip: 299 versus 112, a 62.5% advantage. PassMark physics also goes to the Ultra 5 336H by 33.6% (2682 versus 1780). The remaining wins are narrow: single-thread PassMark shows 4013 versus 3984, a 0.7% edge for the Ultra 5 336H. Those single-thread results are effectively a statistical tie, but the prime number and physics wins are large enough to suggest specific workload affinities.

Specification Differences

The recorded data shows clear contrasts between the two processors. Core count differs: 12 cores for the i7-12700KF versus 16 cores for the Ultra 5 336H. Thread count reverses the trend, with 20 threads for the desktop part versus 16 for the mobile part. Base clocks are 3.60 GHz versus 1.90 GHz, and boost clocks are 5.00 GHz versus 4.60 GHz. TDP is a major differentiator: 125 W for the i7-12700KF versus 25 W for the Ultra 5 336H. The socket is Intel Socket 1700 versus Intel BGA 2540. Process node is 10 nm versus 3 nm. Die size is 215 mm² for the i7-12700KF, with no recorded die size for the Ultra 5 336H.

Cache sizes differ as detailed above, with the i7-12700KF having more L3 (25 MB versus 18 MB) but the Ultra 5 336H having larger L1 and L2 per core. Memory support shows DDR4 and DDR5 for the desktop part versus DDR5 and LPDDR5X for the mobile part. PCIe generation and lane counts differ: Gen 4 with 20 lanes versus Gen 5 with 12 lanes. The Ultra 5 336H has integrated Intel Xe3 Graphics; the i7-12700KF has none. Market segments are desktop versus mobile. Release dates are November 2021 for the i7-12700KF and January 2026 for the Ultra 5 336H. The i7-12700KF has a launch MSRP of $384 and an unlocked multiplier; the Ultra 5 336H has no recorded launch MSRP and a locked multiplier.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has higher multi-core performance in Cinebench R23?

A: The Intel Core i7-12700KF scores 28838 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 336H scores 23991, giving the i7-12700KF a 20.2% lead.

Q: Does the Intel Core Ultra 5 336H win any benchmark by a large margin?

A: Yes, it wins PassMark find prime numbers by 62.5% (299 versus 112) and PassMark physics by 33.6% (2682 versus 1780), both substantial advantages.

Q: Are the single-thread performances similar between the two chips?

A: In PassMark single-thread, the Ultra 5 336H scores 4013 versus 3984 for the i7-12700KF, a 0.7% difference. However, in Cinebench R23 single-core, the i7-12700KF leads by 20.2% (4071 versus 3387).

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

A: The i7-12700KF has 12 cores and 20 threads, while the Ultra 5 336H has 16 cores and 16 threads.

Q: Does the i7-12700KF have integrated graphics?

A: No, the i7-12700KF has no integrated graphics. The Ultra 5 336H includes Intel Xe3 Graphics.

Q: How do the TDP ratings compare?

A: The i7-12700KF has a TDP of 125 W, while the Ultra 5 336H has a TDP of 25 W, reflecting their desktop and mobile design targets.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i7-12700KF wins across the majority of recorded workloads. Its 20.2% advantage in every Cinebench test makes it the stronger choice for rendering, video encoding, and any multi-threaded CPU-intensive application. The 82.9% lead in integer math and 57.7% lead in data compression point to productivity tasks like compilation, spreadsheet calculations, and file archiving. The 31.2% edge in random string sorting reinforces this profile. Even in floating point math, where the gap narrows to 6.1%, the desktop chip still comes out ahead. For desktop users who have a discrete GPU, the lack of integrated graphics is irrelevant, and the unlocked multiplier allows overclocking potential, though the data does not include overclocked results. The launch MSRP of $384 places it in a specific tier, but the benchmark record justifies its performance position.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 336H wins in a narrower set of scenarios. Its 62.5% advantage in PassMark find prime numbers suggests strength in certain mathematical or cryptographic workloads that rely on prime generation. The 33.6% win in PassMark physics indicates a potential edge in physics simulation or gaming physics calculations, though this is a specialized metric. The 0.7% single-thread PassMark win is marginal and should not be overstated, especially given the 20.2% single-core deficit in Cinebench R15, R20, and R23. The Ultra 5 336H also brings integrated Xe3 graphics, making it viable for compact or mobile systems without a discrete GPU, and its 25 W TDP is a fraction of the desktop chip's 125 W. For a laptop platform where power efficiency and integrated graphics matter, the Ultra 5 336H is the logical pick. For raw performance on a desktop, the data clearly favors the i7-12700KF.