Intel Core i9-12900 vs Intel Core Ultra 7 265H Comparison

The Verdict

The benchmark data splits these two processors into distinct personalities. The Intel Core i9-12900 is a desktop part built for raw multi-threaded throughput in legacy workloads, while the Intel Core Ultra 7 265H is a mobile chip that dominates in single-threaded performance and modern instruction efficiency. Out of 17 head-to-head tests, the Core Ultra 7 265H wins 13, while the Core i9-12900 wins only 4. The average benchmark score for the Core i9-12900 is 42906, placing it in the 88th percentile of all CPUs, while the Core Ultra 7 265H scores 41621 on average, also in the 88th percentile.

For users building a desktop workstation that prioritizes integer math and data compression, the Core i9-12900 is the clear choice. It leads the Core Ultra 7 265H by 49.2% in PassMark integer math and by 21.9% in data compression. However, for anyone seeking a mobile processor with superior single-core responsiveness and higher floating-point throughput, the Core Ultra 7 265H is the better fit, especially given its 28W TDP versus the 65W TDP of the desktop chip.

The nearest rival data shows the Core i9-12900 sits within 1% of the Core i9-12900KF (0.2% higher), the Core Ultra 9 386H (0.7% lower), the Core i9-12950HX (1% higher), and the AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 385 (1% lower). The Core Ultra 7 265H is within 0.6% of the AMD Ryzen 9 5900X, 0.1% of the Core i7-14650HX, 0.4% of the Core i7-12850HX, and 0.1% of the Core 7 251TE. Neither chip has a decisive average-score advantage over its closest competitors.

Where Each One Wins

The Core i9-12900 wins in scenarios that demand heavy integer processing and data manipulation. Its PassMark integer math score of 127512 dwarfs the 85479 of the Core Ultra 7 265H, a 49.2% lead. Data compression is another stronghold, with the desktop part scoring 407899 against 334711, a 21.9% advantage. It also wins random string sorting, posting 44070 versus 40742, an 8.2% edge. The only other win for the Core i9-12900 comes in Cinebench R15 multicore, where it scores 3299 against 2989, a 10.4% margin. These results indicate the Alder Lake desktop chip retains an advantage in legacy x86 integer workloads that do not fully utilize newer instruction sets.

The Core Ultra 7 265H wins in nearly every other category, particularly in single-threaded tasks and modern compute. It leads by 14.7% in Cinebench R15 singlecore (307 versus 262), by 12.3% in Cinebench R23 singlecore (2080 versus 1825), and by 7.6% in PassMark single-thread (4334 versus 4003). The mobile chip also excels in physics simulation, scoring 2497 versus 1730, a 30.7% advantage. Floating-point math goes to the Core Ultra 7 265H at 109123 versus 91514, a 16.1% lead. Prime number finding is a massive win, with the Core Ultra 7 265H scoring 335 versus 121, a 63.9% gap. Data encryption also favors the mobile part, 26005 versus 23203, a 10.8% edge. Extended instructions, multithread, and Cinebench R20 multicore and singlecore all go to the Core Ultra 7 265H, with margins ranging from 1.1% to 7.6%.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel design eras. The Core i9-12900 uses the Alder Lake architecture on a 10 nm process fabricated by Intel, with a die size of 215 mm². It is a desktop part on the Intel Socket 1700 platform. The Core Ultra 7 265H uses the Arrow Lake architecture on a 3 nm process from TSMC, and it is a mobile part on the Intel BGA 2049 socket.

Both chips have 16 cores, but the Core i9-12900 supports 24 threads via Hyper-Threading, while the Core Ultra 7 265H has only 16 threads, indicating a different core topology without simultaneous multithreading. The base clock of the Core i9-12900 is 2.40 GHz, and its boost clock reaches 5.10 GHz. The Core Ultra 7 265H has a lower base clock of 2.20 GHz but a higher boost clock of 5.30 GHz. The desktop part has a 65W TDP, while the mobile chip is rated at just 28W.

Cache configurations differ substantially. The Core i9-12900 has 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 30 MB of shared L3 cache. The Core Ultra 7 265H has 192 KB of L1 per core, 3 MB of L2 per core, and 24 MB of shared L3. Despite the smaller L3, the mobile chip's larger per-core L1 and L2 likely contribute to its single-threaded wins.

Memory support also separates them. The Core i9-12900 supports DDR4 and DDR5 with dual-channel memory and a bandwidth of 76.8 GB/s. The Core Ultra 7 265H supports DDR5 and LPDDR5X, also dual-channel, but with a higher bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s. Both support ECC memory. PCIe connectivity differs: the Core i9-12900 offers Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the Core Ultra 7 265H offers Gen 5 with 8 lanes (CPU only). Integrated graphics are UHD Graphics 770 for the desktop part and Arc Graphics 140T for the mobile part. The Core i9-12900 has an unlocked multiplier and a launch MSRP of $519, while the Core Ultra 7 265H is locked.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 265H has a boost clock of 5.30 GHz, while the Intel Core i9-12900 reaches 5.10 GHz.

Q: Does the Core i9-12900 support more threads than the Core Ultra 7 265H?

A: Yes. The Core i9-12900 has 16 cores and 24 threads, while the Core Ultra 7 265H has 16 cores and 16 threads.

Q: Which chip has the larger L3 cache?

A: The Intel Core i9-12900 has 30 MB of shared L3 cache, whereas the Intel Core Ultra 7 265H has 24 MB.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference?

A: The Core Ultra 7 265H provides 102.4 GB/s of memory bandwidth, which is higher than the 76.8 GB/s of the Core i9-12900.

Q: Which processor wins in Cinebench R23 multicore?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 265H scores 19940 in Cinebench R23 multicore, beating the Core i9-12900's 18628 by 6.6%.

Q: How does the TDP compare between the two?

A: The Core i9-12900 has a TDP of 65W, while the Core Ultra 7 265H has a TDP of 28W.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest win for the Intel Core Ultra 7 265H is in PassMark find prime numbers, where it scores 335 against the Core i9-12900's 121. This 63.9% margin is the most decisive result in the entire comparison. The mobile chip's advantage in this test suggests a much more efficient integer and branch-prediction pipeline on the Arrow Lake architecture.

The Core i9-12900 counters with its own massive victory in PassMark integer math. A score of 127512 versus 85479 gives the desktop part a 49.2% lead. This result is consistent with the Core i9-12900 having 24 threads versus 16, allowing it to process more integer operations concurrently despite the Core Ultra 7 265H's architectural advantages.

In Cinebench R23 singlecore, the Core Ultra 7 265H posts 2080 versus 1825, a 12.3% advantage. This is mirrored by the Cinebench R15 singlecore result, where the mobile chip wins 307 to 262, a 14.7% margin. The higher boost clock of 5.30 GHz and larger per-core L1/L2 caches likely drive these wins.

PassMark physics heavily favors the Core Ultra 7 265H, with a score of 2497 versus 1730, a 30.7% gap. Floating-point math follows the same pattern: 109123 versus 91514, a 16.1% advantage for the mobile part. Data encryption also goes to the Core Ultra 7 265H, 26005 versus 23203, a 10.8% edge.

The Core i9-12900 wins data compression decisively, scoring 407899 against 334711, a 21.9% lead. This is likely due to its higher thread count and larger L3 cache, which benefits compression algorithms that use shared data structures. Random string sorting also goes to the desktop chip, 44070 versus 40742, an 8.2% margin.

Cinebench R15 multicore is the only Cinebench test the Core i9-12900 wins, taking it 3299 to 2989, a 10.4% advantage. However, in the newer R20 and R23 multicore tests, the Core Ultra 7 265H leads by 1.1% and 6.6%, respectively. This suggests the mobile chip's efficiency scales better with newer rendering workloads.

PassMark multithread is a near tie, with the Core Ultra 7 265H scoring 34027 against 33608, a 1.2% margin. Extended instructions also favor the mobile part, 26805 versus 24777, a 7.6% difference. The single-thread PassMark results are consistent: the Core Ultra 7 265H leads 4334 to 4003 in both single_thread and singlethread tests, a 7.6% advantage.

Overall, the Core Ultra 7 265H dominates in modern, frequency-sensitive, and efficiency-oriented benchmarks, while the Core i9-12900 holds ground in older and thread-heavy integer tasks. The data shows a generational shift: Arrow Lake's 3 nm process and architectural refinements deliver superior per-thread performance and power efficiency, but Alder Lake's extra threads still matter for specific workloads.