Intel Core i7-12850HX vs Intel Core Ultra 7 265H Comparison

The Intel Core Ultra 7 265H and Intel Core i7-12850HX are both 16-core mobile processors, but they represent two very different design philosophies from Intel. The data shows the Ultra 7 265H, built on the newer Arrow Lake architecture, is the faster chip in the vast majority of tests, while the i7-12850HX holds onto a few specific workloads where its older design still excels. This comparison uses benchmark scores to show where each part dominates, what the architectural changes mean, and which processor is the better pick for a given workload.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking result is the consistency of the Ultra 7 265H’s victory in CPU rendering tests. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Ultra 7 scores 28956 against the i7-12850HX’s 26025, a lead of 11.3%. This pattern repeats across every Cinebench version tested. In R20 multi-core, the margin is 12161 vs 10930, another 11.3% win. Even in single-core Cinebench tests, the Ultra 7 maintains a nearly identical advantage: R23 single-core shows 4088 vs 3674, an 11.3% lead, and R15 single-core shows 411 vs 370, an 11.1% lead. The consistency of this 11% delta across the entire Cinebench suite suggests a fundamental per-clock advantage for the Arrow Lake design, not just a multi-threading quirk.

The single-threaded performance gap widens considerably in PassMark’s tests. The Ultra 7 265H scores 4432 in PassMark single-thread, while the i7-12850HX manages 3683. That is a 20.3% advantage for the newer chip. This is a significant margin and indicates that the Ultra 7’s higher boost clock of 5.30 GHz, combined with its newer architecture, delivers substantially better performance in lightly-threaded applications. The i7-12850HX’s boost clock of 4.80 GHz is lower, but the raw clock speed difference alone does not account for the full 20% gap.

In multi-threaded workloads beyond Cinebench, the Ultra 7 also wins. PassMark’s multi-thread test shows 34067 for the Ultra 7 against 30627 for the i7-12850HX, an 11.2% margin. The physics test is another clear win: 2569 vs 1813, a massive 41.7% delta in favor of the Ultra 7. Floating-point math also heavily favors the Ultra 7, with a score of 109673 versus 79337, a 38.2% advantage. The data encryption test shows a 23% win (25983 vs 21120), and extended instructions show an 18.4% win (26325 vs 22227).

The i7-12850HX does have its own victories, though they are fewer. Its most decisive win is in PassMark integer math, where it scores 108076 against the Ultra 7’s 85662, a 20.7% advantage. This is a notable reversal, suggesting that the i7’s older, higher-clocked performance cores are better suited to certain integer-heavy calculations. The i7 also wins in data compression, scoring 365829 versus 328727, a 10.1% lead. The remaining tests are either narrow Ultra 7 wins or ties. Random string sorting goes to the Ultra 7 by a hair, 40508 vs 40327, a 0.4% delta. In the overall head-to-head tally, the Ultra 7 265H wins 15 of 17 benchmark comparisons, while the i7-12850HX wins only 2.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on fundamentally different foundations. The Ultra 7 265H uses the Arrow Lake architecture, specifically the Arrow Lake-H variant, and is fabricated on a 3 nm process at TSMC. The i7-12850HX uses the older Alder Lake architecture (Alder Lake-HX) on Intel’s 10 nm process. This process node difference is a major factor in performance and efficiency; the newer 3 nm node allows for higher clock speeds at lower power draw.

The core configuration is where the most interesting divergence occurs. Both chips have 16 cores, but they implement them differently. The Ultra 7 265H has 16 threads, meaning it does not support hyper-threading; every core is a physical core. The i7-12850HX has 16 cores and 24 threads, which means it uses a hybrid configuration of 8 performance cores with hyper-threading and 8 efficiency cores without it. This means the i7 has 8 extra logical threads available for parallel workloads.

Cache hierarchies also differ. The Ultra 7 has 192 KB of L1 cache per core and 3 MB of L2 cache per core, with 24 MB of shared L3 cache. The i7-12850HX has a smaller 80 KB L1 cache per core and 1.25 MB of L2 per core, but a slightly larger 25 MB of shared L3. The larger per-core L2 cache on the Ultra 7 likely contributes to its superior performance in latency-sensitive tasks.

Memory support is another key difference. The Ultra 7 supports only DDR5 and LPDDR5X, while the i7-12850HX supports both DDR4 and DDR5. The Ultra 7 also has a listed memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s, whereas the i7 does not have a bandwidth figure in the data. Both support ECC memory. PCIe capabilities differ as well: the Ultra 7 offers Gen 5 with 8 lanes (CPU only), while the i7 offers Gen 5 with 20 lanes (CPU only). The i7 provides significantly more PCIe lanes for expansion.

The integrated graphics are different generations. The Ultra 7 uses Arc Graphics 140T, while the i7 uses the older UHD Graphics 770. The Ultra 7’s TDP is rated at 28 W, versus 55 W for the i7, a substantial difference that impacts cooling requirements and battery life. The i7 has an unlocked multiplier, while the Ultra 7 does not. The i7 is also the older part, with a release date of 2022-05-09, compared to the Ultra 7’s 2025-01-12 release.

The Verdict

From the benchmark data, the Intel Core Ultra 7 265H is the superior processor for the vast majority of workloads. Its wins in Cinebench multi-core, single-core, and PassMark multi-thread indicate it is faster for general productivity, rendering, and most multi-threaded applications. The 20.3% lead in single-thread performance is particularly important for everyday responsiveness and applications that rely on a few fast cores. The 41.7% lead in physics and 38.2% lead in floating-point math suggest it is also better for simulation and scientific computing tasks.

The i7-12850HX should only be considered if a specific workload aligns with its two wins. Its 20.7% advantage in integer math is substantial, and its 10.1% lead in data compression could matter for users who archive or compress large files regularly. The i7 also offers more threads (24 vs 16) and more PCIe lanes (20 vs 8), which could be relevant for certain professional workflows that need more expansion or are heavily threaded but not necessarily fast per-core. However, the data shows that the Ultra 7 wins the average benchmark score comparison, with an average score of 41939 versus 42470 for the i7, a -1.3% delta. This means the i7 has a slightly higher overall average, but the Ultra 7 wins the majority of individual tests. The Ultra 7’s lower TDP of 28 W versus 55 W makes it a more efficient choice for thin-and-light laptops, while the i7’s higher power draw is more suited for larger, workstation-class machines.

FAQ

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

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 265H is faster, scoring 28956 compared to the i7-12850HX’s 26025, a lead of 11.3%.

Q: Does the i7-12850HX have more threads than the Ultra 7 265H?

A: Yes. The i7-12850HX has 16 cores and 24 threads, while the Ultra 7 265H has 16 cores and 16 threads. The i7 supports hyper-threading, the Ultra 7 does not.

Q: Where does the i7-12850HX outperform the Ultra 7 265H?

A: The i7-12850HX wins in two tests: PassMark integer math (108076 vs 85662, a 20.7% advantage) and PassMark data compression (365829 vs 328727, a 10.1% advantage).

Q: What is the difference in single-thread performance?

A: The Ultra 7 265H is significantly faster, with a PassMark single-thread score of 4432 versus 3683 for the i7-12850HX, representing a 20.3% lead.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Ultra 7 265H has a higher boost clock of 5.30 GHz, while the i7-12850HX has a boost clock of 4.80 GHz.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: Yes, both the Intel Core Ultra 7 265H and the Intel Core i7-12850HX support ECC memory.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core Ultra 7 265H is the clear winner for most user scenarios. Its dominant performance in single-threaded tasks (20.3% lead) makes it the better choice for general desktop use, office productivity, and web browsing. Its strong multi-core scores (11.3% lead in Cinebench R23) mean it handles video editing, 3D rendering, and software compilation with ease. The substantial wins in floating-point math (38.2%) and physics (41.7%) point to advantages in engineering simulation, scientific analysis, and certain financial modeling workloads. For users who prioritize a balance of speed and efficiency, the Ultra 7’s 28 W TDP makes it a better fit for portable laptops without a dedicated cooling solution.

The Intel Core i7-12850HX has a narrower but specific set of use cases. Its 20.7% lead in integer math makes it a strong choice for database operations, cryptography, and other workloads that are heavily integer-based. The 10.1% advantage in data compression means it is better for file archiving, backup utilities, and some types of data transfer tasks. Additionally, the i7’s 24 threads and 20 PCIe Gen 5 lanes provide more parallel processing headroom and expansion capability, which can be beneficial for users running highly parallel server-style workloads or needing to connect multiple high-bandwidth devices like GPUs and NVMe SSDs. The i7’s higher 55 W TDP suggests it is intended for larger chassis where power draw is less of a concern.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every major specification category. The Ultra 7 265H has a base clock of 2.20 GHz and a boost clock of 5.30 GHz, while the i7-12850HX has a lower base of 2.10 GHz and a boost of 4.80 GHz. The Ultra 7 has a TDP of 28 W, while the i7 is rated at 55 W. The sockets are different: the Ultra 7 uses Intel BGA 2049, and the i7 uses Intel BGA 1964. The process nodes differ significantly, with the Ultra 7 on a 3 nm TSMC process and the i7 on Intel’s 10 nm process. Core counts are the same at 16, but thread counts differ (16 vs 24). Cache sizes differ per level: the Ultra 7 has 192 KB L1 per core and 3 MB L2 per core, while the i7 has 80 KB L1 and 1.25 MB L2; the i7 has 25 MB of L3 versus 24 MB for the Ultra 7. Memory support differs, with the Ultra 7 supporting DDR5/LPDDR5X and the i7 supporting DDR4/DDR5. The Ultra 7 has a listed memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s, while the i7 has no figure listed. PCIe support differs: Gen 5 with 8 lanes for the Ultra 7 versus Gen 5 with 20 lanes for the i7. Integrated graphics are Arc Graphics 140T on the Ultra 7 and UHD Graphics 770 on the i7. The Ultra 7 is not multiplier-unlocked, while the i7 is.