Intel Core i7-12800H vs Intel Core i7-13705H Comparison

The Intel Core i7-12800H and Intel Core i7-13705H are two 14-core mobile processors that sit nearly identical in overall performance, yet their benchmark profiles diverge sharply depending on the workload. Both chips land in the 82nd percentile of all CPUs, and their average benchmark scores are separated by less than 0.2% — the i7-12800H averages 32121, while the i7-13705H averages 32076. The data shows a fascinating split: the older Alder Lake part dominates in older Cinebench versions, while the newer Raptor Lake chip wins in nearly every other category. This is not a simple generational upgrade; it is a trade-off between legacy rendering performance and modern efficiency.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most dramatic difference appears in Cinebench R15 and R20, where the i7-12800H is decisively faster. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i7-12800H scores 2222 against the i7-13705H’s 1612, a 37.8% advantage. The single-core R15 test shows a similar gap at 16.7%, with scores of 265 and 227 respectively. Moving to R20, the i7-12800H leads by 26% in multi-core (8463 vs 6719) and 25.9% in single-core (1194 vs 948). These are massive margins, suggesting the i7-12800H’s older architecture is better optimized for these specific rendering workloads, or that the i7-13705H’s power management is more conservative under these tests.

The tables turn completely in Cinebench R23. Here, the i7-13705H takes the lead with a multi-core score of 15998 versus 15283, a 4.5% win, and a single-core score of 2258 versus 1828, a 19% advantage. This reversal is significant — R23 is a newer, more demanding workload, and the Raptor Lake chip’s higher 5.00 GHz boost clock (versus 4.80 GHz) likely plays a role. The i7-13705H also wins in PassMark’s single-thread test, scoring 3483 against 3440, a 1.2% margin.

In the PassMark suite, the i7-13705H wins seven of ten tests, but the margins are mostly narrow. It leads in data compression (273720 vs 273247, +0.2%), data encryption (16324 vs 16234, +0.6%), find prime numbers (116 vs 102, +12.1%), floating point math (63064 vs 60961, +3.3%), multithread (24460 vs 24346, +0.5%), physics (1854 vs 1682, +9.3%), and single-thread (3483 vs 3440, +1.2%). The i7-12800H counters with wins in extended instructions (16408 vs 15810, +3.8%), integer math (86488 vs 85927, +0.7%), and random string sorting (30453 vs 29285, +4%). Overall, the i7-13705H wins 10 head-to-head comparisons, while the i7-12800H wins 7.

Where Each One Wins

The i7-12800H is the clear choice for legacy Cinebench workloads. Its 37.8% lead in R15 multi-core and 26% lead in R20 multi-core are not minor differences; they indicate that users running older rendering or 3D modeling software will see substantially better performance from the Alder Lake chip. The 25.9% single-core advantage in R20 reinforces this. For those who rely on older benchmark suites or software built around those rendering paths, the i7-12800H is the stronger processor.

The i7-13705H wins in modern workloads. Its 19% single-core lead in Cinebench R23 is the standout, making it better for tasks that rely on single-threaded performance, such as many games or lightly threaded productivity apps. The 4.5% multi-core win in R23 also suggests better scaling in newer rendering engines. In PassMark, the i7-13705H shows particular strength in physics (9.3% ahead) and prime number finding (12.1% ahead), which are compute-heavy integer tasks. Its 1.2% single-thread win in PassMark, while small, indicates a consistent edge in general everyday responsiveness.

The i7-12800H’s wins in extended instructions (3.8%) and random string sorting (4%) are niche but relevant for specific workloads like data processing or script execution. However, the i7-13705H’s wins in data compression and encryption, though marginal, cover more common file-handling and security tasks. The tie in average benchmark scores (32121 vs 32076, a 0.1% difference) means that for a mixed workload, you will not notice a difference in daily use.

The Verdict

Pick the Intel Core i7-12800H if your primary software is built around Cinebench R15 or R20. The 37.8% multi-core and 16.7% single-core leads in R15, plus the 26% multi-core and 25.9% single-core leads in R20, are too large to ignore for that specific use case. This chip is also the better choice for extended instruction workloads, where it leads by 3.8%, and random string sorting, where it leads by 4%.

Pick the Intel Core i7-13705H for everything else. It wins the more modern Cinebench R23 tests by 4.5% multi-core and 19% single-core, which is a significant edge for current software. Its PassMark wins in physics (9.3%), prime number finding (12.1%), and floating point math (3.3%) make it the more versatile processor for general computing, data processing, and even light scientific work. The 0.1% difference in average score between the two is negligible, but the i7-13705H’s wins in 10 out of 17 head-to-head tests give it the broader appeal. Both processors sit in the 82nd percentile of all CPUs, and the i7-13705H is the safer recommendation for a new laptop purchase.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The Intel Core i7-13705H is faster, scoring 15998 versus the i7-12800H’s 15283, a 4.5% advantage.

Q: How much faster is the i7-12800H in Cinebench R15 multi-core?

A: The i7-12800H scores 2222 versus the i7-13705H’s 1612, which is a 37.8% lead.

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

A: Yes, both have 14 cores and 20 threads.

Q: Which chip has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core i7-13705H has a boost clock of 5.00 GHz, while the i7-12800H boosts to 4.80 GHz.

Q: Are there any differences in PCIe support?

A: Yes, the i7-13705H supports PCIe Gen 5 with 8 lanes (CPU only), while the i7-12800H supports PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes (CPU only).

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

A: The i7-13705H wins 10 of the 17 head-to-head tests, while the i7-12800H wins 7.

Architecture Differences

The i7-12800H is built on Alder Lake architecture, codenamed Alder Lake-H, while the i7-13705H uses Raptor Lake, codenamed Raptor Lake-H. Both are manufactured on Intel’s 10 nm process node, but the die size differs: the i7-12800H measures 217 mm², while the i7-13705H is larger at 257 mm². The L1 cache is identical at 80 KB per core, but the L2 cache differs — the i7-12800H has 1.25 MB per core, while the i7-13705H has 2 MB per core. Both share 24 MB of L3 cache. The integrated graphics are similar, with the i7-12800H featuring Iris Xe 96EU and the i7-13705H featuring Iris Xe Graphics 96EU. Both support DDR4 and DDR5 memory in dual-channel mode, and neither supports ECC memory. The i7-13705H has a release date of January 3, 2023, while the i7-12800H has no listed release date. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier.

Specification Differences

The most notable specification difference is the boost clock: the i7-12800H boosts to 4.80 GHz, while the i7-13705H boosts to 5.00 GHz. Their base clocks are identical at 2.40 GHz, and both have a TDP of 45W. The socket is the same (Intel BGA 1744), as are the core count (14) and thread count (20). The PCIe support differs significantly: the i7-12800H uses Gen 4 with 20 lanes (CPU only), while the i7-13705H uses Gen 5 with 8 lanes (CPU only). The process node is the same (10 nm), but the die size differs as noted above. The L2 cache is larger on the i7-13705H (2 MB per core vs 1.25 MB per core). The i7-12800H has part number SRLD2, while the i7-13705H has part number SRMHV. The i7-13705H has a launch MSRP of $502. Both are active production mobile processors.