Intel Core i7-12700 vs AMD Ryzen 7 6800H vs AMD Ryzen 9 6980HX

Intel Core i7-12700

The Intel Core i7-12700F is a fast eight-core desktop processor based on the Alder Lake architecture, which was introduced in November 2021. The processor offers a base clock of 3.3 GHz and reaches up to 4.9 GHz in Turbo. In the same way, the Intel Core i7-12700K the Core i7-12700F is based on a hybrid architecture of 8P and 4E cores. The innovations of the Alder Lake-S processor compared to Rocket Lake, together with the smaller 10 nm manufacturing process, are clearly noticeable. The Intel Core i7-12700 does not offer a free multiplier, which means that overclocking is not possible.

Performance

Compared to the Intel Core i7-11700 , performance has been increased with a better IPC. The additional e-cores are also clearly noticeable in multi-threaded applications. Overall, this provides a noticeable performance boost, which also has an effect on all application areas. The 4 E-Cores provide the P-Cores with significantly more power. If all requirements are met, Intel Turbo Boost 3.0can increase the clock rate of the P-Cores to up to 4.9 GHz. The E-cores also offer a turbo and clock up to 3.6 GHz.

Graphics unit

The Intel Core i7-12700 is a processor with an integrated graphics unit. However, with the Intel UHD Graphics 770 there is only a simple iGPU which is only suitable for office use.

Power consumption

The TDP of the Intel Core i7-12700 is 65 watts, with the option to consume up to 180 watts in Turbo mode. If all restrictions are deactivated in the BIOS, the PL2 value can be achieved permanently. However, a high-quality and powerful cooling unit should be used for this.

AMD Ryzen 7 6800H

The AMD Ryzen 7 6800H is a processor for big (gaming) laptops based on the Rembrandt generation. The R7 6800H integrates all eight cores based on the Zen 3+ microarchitecture. They are clocked at 3.2 (guaranteed base clock) to 4.7 GHz (Turbo) and support SMT / Hyperthreading (16 threads). The chip is manufactured on the modern 6 nm TSMC process.

The new Zen 3+ is a refresh of the Zen 3 architecture and should not offer a lot of changes. The chip itself however, offers a lot of new features, like support for USB 4 (40 Gbps), PCI-E Gen 4, DDR5-4800MT/s or LPDDR5-6400MT/s, WiFi 6E, Bluetooth LE 5.2, DisplayPort 2, and AV1 decode.

A big novelty is the integrated GPU Radeon 680M that is now based on the RDNA2 architecture and offers 12 CUs at up to 2.2 GHz. It should be the fastest iGPU of all at the time of announcement.

Performance

The average 6800H in our database is in the same league as the Core i5-12500H and the Core i7-12650H, as far as multi-thread benchmark scores are concerned. The Ryzen 9 5900HX is found close nearby as well.

Thanks to its decent cooling solution and a long-term CPU power limit of 90 W, the Legion 5 Pro 16ARH7H is among the fastest systems built around the 6800H that we know of. It can be about 60% faster in CPU-bound workloads than the slowest system featuring the same chip in our database, as of August 2023.

Power consumption

This Ryzen 7 series chip has a default TDP, also known as the long-term power limit, of 45 W. An active cooling solution is a must for a CPU like this.

The R7 6800H is built with TSMC's 6 nm manufacturing process for above average, as of mid 2023, energy efficiency.

AMD Ryzen 9 6980HX

The AMD Ryzen 9 6980HX is a processor for big (gaming) laptops based on the Rembrandt generation. The R9 6980HX integrates all eight cores based on the Zen 3+ microarchitecture. They are clocked at 3.3 (guaranteed base clock) to 5 GHz (Turbo) and support SMT / Hyperthreading (16 threads). The chip is manufactured on the modern 6 nm TSMC process. The "X" in the name indicates the overclocking capabilities of the CPU.

The new Zen 3+ is a refresh of the Zen 3 architecture and should not offer a lot of changes. The chip itself however, offers a lot of new features, like support for USB 4 (40 Gbps), PCI-E Gen 4, DDR5-4800MT/s or LPDDR5-6400MT/s, WiFi 6E, Bluetooth LE 5.2, DisplayPort 2, and AV1 decode.

A big novelty is the integrated GPU Radeon 680M, that is now based on the RDNA2 architecture and offers 12 CUs at up to 2.4 GHz. It should be the fastest iGPU of all at the time of announcement.

Performance

While we have not tested a single system built around the 6980HX as of August 2023, we have tested at least one laptop featuring the 6950HS, a chip with very similar specs (8 cores, 16 threads, up to 4.9 GHz, Zen 3+). Based on that, expect the 6980HX to be up to 10% faster than the Ryzen 7 5800H, Ryzen 9 4900H, Ryzen 5 PRO 7640HS and also the Core i7-11800H. In other words, this is an impressive laptop CPU that will handle almost any task with ease, as of mid 2023.

Your mileage may vary depending on how high the CPU power limits are, and how competent the cooling solution of your system is.

Power consumption

This Ryzen 9 series APU has a default TDP, also known as the long-term power limit, of 45 W, with the letter X indicating that the chip is ready for some healthy bit of overclocking - which will lead to much higher power consumption, naturally.

The R9 6980HX is manufactured on a 6 nm process for higher-than-average, as of early 2023, energy efficiency.