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Intel Core i5-1250P vs Intel Core i9-12900HK

Intel Core i5-1250P

► remove from comparison Intel i5-1250P

The Intel Core i5-1250P is a mid-range Alder Lake-P family SoC designed for use in ultra-light, ultra-thin (yet actively cooled) laptops. It was announced in early 2022 and it has 4 performance cores, as opposed to the 6 cores of the top-of-the-line i7-1280P (P-cores, Golden Cove architecture) mated to 8 efficient cores (E-cores, Gracemont architecture). The i5's P-cores are Hyper-Threading-enabled for a total of 16 threads when combined with its E-cores. The clock speeds range from 1.7 GHz to 4.4 GHz for the performance cluster and 1.2 GHz to 3.3 GHz for the efficient cluster. The shortcomings of this processor as compared with the slightly faster Core i5-1260P include the smaller L3 cache, slower iGPU model, lower clock speeds. Full vPro feature set is enabled in the case of this i5, though ("Enterprise" tier, allowing for remote device management).

Architecture

The i5 is a continuation of Intel's efforts to use the ARM-developed big.LITTLE technology for its own benefit. A single "little" Alder Lake core is supposed to be as fast as a Skylake core (as found in the venerable Core i7-6700HQ among other options) which is six years old at this point. All of Core i5-1250P's CPU cores enjoy access to 12 MB of L3 cache. The integrated memory controller supports various memory types up to LPDDR5-5200, DDR5-4800, LPDDR4x-4267 or DDR4-3200; Intel recommends using no more than 64 GB, for reference. Just like the other 12th Gen Intel Core processors, this Core i5 comes with the Thread Director which is a new functionality designed to help Windows 11 decide which cores to use for what workload for best performance and efficiency possible. Hardware acceleration of AI algorithms is supported via GNA 3.0 and DL Boost (via AVX2). The alluringly fast PCI-Express 5.0 spec has not found its way into Alder Lake P processors, so users will have to be content with PCI-Express 4.0 for the time being. Four PCI-Express 4 lanes allow for a read/write rate of up to 7.9 GB/s, provided a suitably fast NVMe SSD is used.

Please note this is not a user-replaceable CPU. It gets permanently soldered on to the motherboard (FCBGA1744 socket interface).

Performance

The average 1250P in our database nearly matches the Ryzen 5 5500U and the Ryzen 5 PRO 6650U in multi-thread performance, trailing behind the Core i5-1240P just slightly. This is a great CPU for nearly all tasks imaginable, as long as one does not expect it to be as fast as the mighty Core i7-12700H.

Your mileage may vary depending on how high the Power Limits are and how competent the cooling solution of your system is. The latter is really important as a single Golden Cove core can eat more than 20 W when under heavy load.

Graphics

The built-in graphics adapter in the form of the 80 EU Iris Xe running at up to 1.4 GHz has seen little change from what was built into certain 11th Gen Tiger Lake UP3 processors, like a Core i5-1135G7, which is hardly a downside as this iGPU is loaded with modern features, AV1 video decoding capability and SUHD 4320p monitor support included. The Xe isn't a stranger to a bit of casual gaming; that said, your mileage may vary depending on how high the Power Limits are and how capable the cooling solution of a laptop is. Expect something close to NVIDIA's MX250 or in other words, acceptable framerates in most games when playing at 1080p / Low settings. Fast RAM is a prerequisite for decent performance as the Xe has to make do with no dedicated video memory.

Power consumption

The i5's base power consumption (also known as the default TDP or Power Limit 1) is 28 W; its maximum Turbo power consumption (also known as the PL2) is not supposed to exceed 64 W. As for the "Minimum Assured" power consumption, Intel's guidelines mention 20 W. All in all, an active cooling solution is a must for a CPU like this.

The i5-1250P is built with Intel's fourth-gen 10 nm manufacturing process marketed as Intel 7 for decent, as of late 2022, energy efficiency. Despite that, the i5 is more power-hungry than certain 7 nm U-class AMD Ryzen 5000 chips delivering similar, or even higher, performance.

Intel Core i9-12900HK

► remove from comparison Intel i9-12900HK

The Intel Core i9-12900HK is a high-end mobile CPU for laptops based on the Alder Lake architecture. It was announced in early 2022 and offers 6 performance cores (P-cores, Golden Cove architecture) and 8 efficient cores (E-cores, Gracemont architecture). The P-cores support Hyper-Threading leading to 20 supported threads when combined with the E-cores. The clock rate ranges from 2.5 to 5 GHz on the performance cluster and 1.8 to 3.8 GHz on the efficiency cluster. The performance of the E-cores should be similar to old Skylake cores (compare with the Core i7-6920HQ). All cores can use up to 24 MB L3 cache. As a K-variant, the CPU offers an open multiplicator and therefore the possibility to overclock the CPU cores. Compared to the similar i9-12900H, the 12900HK only offers the "Essentials" features of vPro.

Performance

The average 12900HK in our database is in the same as the Core i9-13900H, as far as multi-thread benchmark scores are concerned. It's also almost as fast as the Ryzen 7 7745HX and the Core i5-13500HX. This is a super-fast processor, as of mid 2023; it will have no issues running any app or any game for at least two more years.

Thanks to its decent cooling solution and a long-term CPU power limit of 134 W, the Alienware x17 R2 P48E is among the fastest laptops built around the 12900HK that we know of. It can be more than 40% faster in CPU-bound workloads than the slowest system featuring the same chip in our database, as of August 2023.

Features

The integrated memory controller supports various memory types up to DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200, LPDDR5-5200, and LPDDR4x-4267. The Thread Director (in hardware) can support the operating system to decide which thread to use on the performance or efficient cores for the best performance. For AI tasks, the CPU also integrates GNA 3.0 and DL Boost (via AVX2). Quick Sync in version 8 is the same as in the Rocket Lake CPUs and supports MPEG-2, AVC, VC-1 decode, JPEG, VP8 decode, VP9, HEVC, and AV1 decode in hardware. The CPU only supports PCIe 4.0 (x8 for a GPU and two x4 for SSDs).

The integrated graphics card is based on the Xe-architecture and offers 96 EUs (Execution Units) operating at up to 1.45 GHz.

Power consumption

This Core i9 series chip has a "minimum assured" power consumption of 35 W, with 45 W being its Base power consumption. The maximum Intel-recommended Turbo power consumption sits at 115 W.

The i9-12900HK is manufactured on Intel's 4th generation 10 nm process marketed as Intel 7 for lower-than-average, as of mid-2023, energy efficiency.

ModelIntel Core i5-1250PIntel Core i9-12900HK
SeriesIntel Alder Lake-PIntel Alder Lake-P
CodenameAlder Lake-PAlder Lake-H
Series: Alder Lake-P Alder Lake-H
Intel Core i7-1280P compare1.3 - 4.8 GHz14 / 20 cores24 MB L3
Intel Core i7-1270P compare1.6 - 4.8 GHz12 / 16 cores18 MB L3
Intel Core i7-1260P compare1.5 - 4.7 GHz12 / 16 cores18 MB L3
Intel Core i5-1250P « 1.2 - 4.4 GHz12 / 16 cores12 MB L3
Intel Core i5-1240P compare1.2 - 4.4 GHz12 / 16 cores12 MB L3
Intel Core i3-1220P compare1.1 - 4.4 GHz10 / 12 cores12 MB L3
Intel Core i9-12900HK « 1.8 - 5 GHz14 / 20 cores24 MB L3
Intel Core i9-12900H compare1.8 - 5 GHz14 / 20 cores24 MB L3
Intel Core i7-12800H compare1.8 - 4.8 GHz14 / 20 cores24 MB L3
Intel Core i7-12650H compare1.7 - 4.7 GHz10 / 16 cores24 MB L3
Intel Core i5-12600H compare2 - 4.5 GHz12 / 16 cores18 MB L3
Intel Core i5-12500H compare1.8 - 4.5 GHz12 / 16 cores18 MB L3
Intel Core i5-12450H compare1.5 - 4.4 GHz8 / 12 cores12 MB L3
Clock1200 - 4400 MHz1800 - 5000 MHz
L1 Cache1.1 MB1.2 MB
L2 Cache10 MB11.5 MB
L3 Cache12 MB24 MB
Cores / Threads12 / 1614 / 20
TDP28 Watt45 Watt
Technology10 nm10 nm
max. Temp.100 °C100 °C
SocketBGA1744BGA1744
FeaturesDDR4-3200/LPDDR4x-4266/DDR5-4800/LPDDR5-5200, PCIe 4, Thr. Director, DL Boost, GNA, Remote Platform Erase, MMX, SSE, SSE2, SSE3, SSSE3, SSE4.1, SSE4.2, AVX, AVX2, BMI2, ABM, FMA, ADX, SMEP, SMAP, EIST, TM1, TM2, HT, Turbo, SST, AES-NI, RDRAND, RDSEED, SHADDR4-3200/LPDDR4x-4266/DDR5-4800/LPDDR5-5200 RAM, PCIe 4, Thr. Director, DL Boost, GNA, vPro Ess., MMX, SSE, SSE2, SSE3, SSSE3, SSE4.1, SSE4.2, AES, AVX, AVX2, FMA3, SHA
iGPUIntel Iris Xe Graphics G7 80EUs ( - 1400 MHz)Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 96EUs ( - 1450 MHz)
Architecturex86x86
Announced
Manufacturerark.intel.comark.intel.com

Benchmarks

Performance Rating - CB R15 + R20 + 7-Zip + X265 + Blender + 3DM11 CPU - i5-1250P
32 pt (44%)
Performance Rating - CB R15 + R20 + 7-Zip + X265 + Blender + 3DM11 CPU - i9-12900HK
43.8 pt (61%)
Cinebench 2024 - CB24 CPU Single Core
105 Points (73%)
Cinebench 2024 - CB24 CPU Multi Core
876 Points (16%)
Cinebench R23 - Cinebench R23 Multi Core
7282 Points (7%)
min: 13410     avg: 18038     median: 18621.5 (17%)     max: 19282 Points
Cinebench R23 - Cinebench R23 Single Core
1521 Points (65%)
min: 1586     avg: 1785     median: 1789 (76%)     max: 1940 Points
Cinebench R20 - Cinebench R20 CPU (Single Core)
536 Points (60%)
min: 596     avg: 672     median: 664 (74%)     max: 739 Points
Cinebench R20 - Cinebench R20 CPU (Multi Core)
2334 Points (6%)
min: 5168     avg: 6874     median: 7104.5 (17%)     max: 7366 Points
Cinebench R15 - Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64 Bit
1528 Points (10%)
min: 1975     avg: 2750     median: 2845 (18%)     max: 2944 Points
Cinebench R15 - Cinebench R15 CPU Single 64 Bit
201 Points (61%)
min: 226     avg: 256.6     median: 257 (77%)     max: 279 Points
Cinebench R11.5 - Cinebench R11.5 CPU Multi 64 Bit
9.7 Points (13%)
min: 23.44     avg: 28.2     median: 28.2 (37%)     max: 33 Points
Cinebench R11.5 - Cinebench R11.5 CPU Single 64 Bit
2.7 Points (68%)
min: 2.69     avg: 3     median: 3 (74%)     max: 3.28 Points
Cinebench R10 - Cinebench R10 Rend. Single (32bit)
7918 Points (48%)
min: 7710     avg: 8561     median: 8561 (52%)     max: 9412 Points
Cinebench R10 - Cinebench R10 Rend. Multi (32bit)
38277 Points (28%)
min: 48838     avg: 53020     median: 53020 (38%)     max: 57202 Points
Cinebench R10 - Cinebench R10 Rend. Multi (64bit)
75223 Points (52%)
Cinebench R10 - Cinebench R10 Rend. Single (64bit)
12378 Points (15%)
wPrime 2.10 - wPrime 2.0 1024m *
340 s (4%)
201.1 s (2%)
wPrime 2.10 - wPrime 2.0 32m *
9.6 s (2%)
3.4 s (1%)
WinRAR - WinRAR 4.0
5561 Points (9%)
min: 7387     avg: 8480     median: 8480 (13%)     max: 9573 Points
7-Zip 18.03 - 7-Zip 18.03 Multli Thread 4 runs
24625 MIPS (14%)
min: 56455     avg: 70492     median: 72874 (42%)     max: 75564 MIPS
7-Zip 18.03 - 7-Zip 18.03 Single Thread 4 runs
3532 MIPS (42%)
min: 5257     avg: 5723     median: 5622.5 (67%)     max: 6186 MIPS
X264 HD Benchmark 4.0 - x264 Pass 2
79.6 fps (28%)
min: 113.7     avg: 136.7     median: 136.7 (48%)     max: 159.6 fps
X264 HD Benchmark 4.0 - x264 Pass 1
201.1 fps (46%)
min: 276     avg: 288.2     median: 288.2 (66%)     max: 300.4 fps
HWBOT x265 Benchmark v2.2 - HWBOT x265 4k Preset
6.8 fps (12%)
min: 15.7     avg: 19.9     median: 20.6 (36%)     max: 21.6 fps
TrueCrypt - TrueCrypt Serpent
1 GB/s (0%)
min: 1.3     avg: 1.4     median: 1.4 (0%)     max: 1.5 GB/s
TrueCrypt - TrueCrypt Twofish
1.9 GB/s (33%)
min: 2.3     avg: 2.5     median: 2.5 (42%)     max: 2.6 GB/s
TrueCrypt - TrueCrypt AES
9.5 GB/s (25%)
min: 14.1     avg: 15.2     median: 15.2 (40%)     max: 16.3 GB/s
Blender - Blender 2.79 BMW27 CPU *
511 Seconds (4%)
min: 172.5     avg: 186.6     median: 178.4 (1%)     max: 232 Seconds
R Benchmark 2.5 - R Benchmark 2.5 *
0.6 sec (13%)
min: 0.4155     avg: 0.5     median: 0.5 (10%)     max: 0.4997 sec
3DMark 06 - CPU - 3DMark 06 - CPU
11842 Points (25%)
min: 13096     avg: 15572     median: 16756 (36%)     max: 16864 Points
Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 1M - Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 1M *
8.4 s (2%)
min: 7.3     avg: 7.9     median: 7.9 (2%)     max: 8.438 s
Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 2M - Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 2M *
18.5 s (1%)
min: 16.1     avg: 17.5     median: 17.5 (1%)     max: 18.844 s
Super Pi Mod 1.5 XS 32M - Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 32M *
461.5 s (2%)
min: 383.9     avg: 409.9     median: 409.9 (2%)     max: 435.936 s
3DMark Vantage - 3DM Vant. Perf. CPU no Physx
min: 59882     avg: 68634     median: 68634 (60%)     max: 77386 Points
3DMark 11 - 3DM11 Performance Physics
11666 Points (32%)
min: 17378     avg: 22490     median: 23447 (63%)     max: 25556 Points
3DMark - 3DMark Ice Storm Physics
min: 66129     avg: 69062     median: 69062 (56%)     max: 71995 Points
3DMark - 3DMark Ice Storm Extreme Physics
min: 65657     avg: 68856     median: 68856 (56%)     max: 72055 Points
3DMark - 3DMark Ice Storm Unlimited Physics
min: 75600     avg: 84380     median: 82935 (70%)     max: 94605 Points
3DMark - 3DMark Cloud Gate Physics
9084 Points (23%)
min: 16214     avg: 18928     median: 19475 (49%)     max: 21231 Points
3DMark - 3DMark Fire Strike Standard Physics
16016 Points (29%)
min: 23308     avg: 27964     median: 28717 (51%)     max: 31045 Points
3DMark - 3DMark Time Spy CPU
3227 Points (14%)
min: 9449     avg: 12451     median: 12649 (53%)     max: 14252 Points
Geekbench 5.5 - Geekbench 5.1 - 5.4 64 Bit Single-Core
1622 Points (68%)
min: 1596     avg: 1782     median: 1870 (79%)     max: 1918 Points
Geekbench 5.5 - Geekbench 5.1 - 5.4 64 Bit Multi-Core
7672 Points (14%)
min: 12559     avg: 13575     median: 13717 (25%)     max: 14294 Points
Geekbench 5.0 - Geekbench 5.0 64 Bit Single-Core
1583 Points (7%)
min: 1848     avg: 1854     median: 1853.5 (8%)     max: 1859 Points
Geekbench 5.0 - Geekbench 5.0 64 Bit Multi-Core
8778 Points (28%)
min: 13538     avg: 13648     median: 13647.5 (43%)     max: 13757 Points
Geekbench 4.4 - Geekbench 4.1 - 4.4 64 Bit Single-Core
7072 Points (71%)
min: 7925     avg: 7970     median: 7970 (80%)     max: 8015 Points
Geekbench 4.4 - Geekbench 4.1 - 4.4 64 Bit Multi-Core
35532 Points (40%)
min: 50218     avg: 50701     median: 50701 (57%)     max: 51184 Points
Mozilla Kraken 1.1 - Kraken 1.1 Total Score *
734 ms (1%)
min: 490     avg: 523     median: 508.5 (1%)     max: 582 ms
Sunspider - Sunspider 1.0 Total Score *
min: 102.4     avg: 107.1     median: 107.1 (1%)     max: 111.7 ms
Octane V2 - Octane V2 Total Score
94352 Points (85%)
WebXPRT 4 - WebXPRT 4 Score
249 Points (72%)
WebXPRT 3 - WebXPRT 3 Score
254 Points (53%)
min: 285     avg: 303.6     median: 299 (62%)     max: 331 Points
PCMark for Android - PCM f. Android Storage 2.0 random write internal
43.3 MB/s (32%)
PCMark for Android - PCM f. Android Storage 2.0 seq write internal
2539 MB/s (78%)
PCMark for Android - PCM f. Android Storage 2.0 random read internal
81.5 MB/s (100%)
PCMark for Android - PCM f. Android Storage 2.0 seq read internal
3600 MB/s (100%)
PCMark for Android - PCM f. Android Work Score 3.0
20584 Points (95%)
CrossMark - CrossMark Overall
1554 Points (60%)
min: 1727     avg: 1937     median: 1903 (73%)     max: 2138 Points
Power Consumption - Prime95 Power Consumption - external Monitor *
32.2 Watt (6%)
min: 83.8     avg: 123.9     median: 121 (21%)     max: 174.7 Watt
Power Consumption - Cinebench R15 Multi Power Consumption - external Monitor *
45.5 Watt (8%)
min: 77.7     avg: 137.2     median: 143 (26%)     max: 166 Watt
Power Consumption - Idle Power Consumption - external Monitor *
63 Watt (42%)
Power Consumption - Cinebench R15 Multi Power Efficiency - external Monitor
33.6 Points per Watt (25%)
min: 17.2     avg: 20.3     median: 19.4 (14%)     max: 25.4 Points per Watt

Average Benchmarks Intel Core i5-1250P → 100% n=40

Average Benchmarks Intel Core i9-12900HK → 160% n=40

- Range of benchmark values for this graphics card
- Average benchmark values for this graphics card
* Smaller numbers mean a higher performance
1 This benchmark is not used for the average calculation

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v1.26
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#3 did not recreate cache, as it is less than 5 days old! Created at Thu, 28 Mar 2024 05:35:32 +0100 +0.001s ... 0.001s

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#11 min, max, avg, median took s +0.305s ... 0.427s

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Redaktion, 2017-09- 8 (Update: 2023-07- 1)