Intel Core i9-14900HX vs Intel Core i7-12650H

Intel Core i9-14900HX

The Intel Core i9-14900HX is a high-end CPU based on the Raptor Lake architecture for large and heavy notebooks. The CPU was introduced at the beginning of 2024 and is a slightly higher clocked variant of the older Core i9-13980HX.

The total of 32 threads are divided into P-cores and E-cores, which we already know from Alder-Lake. Here, 8 performance cores (P-cores) with hyperthreading are used and 16 efficiency cores, so that a total of 32 threads can be processed simultaneously. The P-cores clock from 2.2 GHz (base clock) to 5.8 GHz (single-core turbo) and the E-cores from 1.6 GHz to 4.1 GHz.

Performance

Due to the slightly higher maximum clock rates, the single-core performance of the 14900HX in particular increases slightly compared to the 13980HX. Compared to AMD's top model, the Ryzen 9 7945HX or 7945HX3D the 14900HX comes in just behind (on average in our benchmarks). However, the performance depends on the benchmark and the cooling and is usually very comparable.

Graphics

Like the Intel Core i9-12900HX, the Intel Core i9-14900HX offers an integrated graphics unit. The Intel Iris XE architecture continues to serve as the basis. In terms of performance, however, not much has changed with the Intel UHD Graphics 770.

The 14900HX is manufactured on the improved 10nm FinFET process at Intel (Intel 7 process) and is specified with 55 watts of base power and 157 watts of turbo power.

Intel Core i7-12650H

The Intel Core i7-12650H 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 4 of the 8 efficient cores (E-cores, Gracemont architecture). The P-cores support Hyper-Threading leading to 16 supported threads when combined with the E-cores. The clock rate ranges from 2.3 to 4.7 GHz on the performance cluster and 1.7 to 3.5 GHz on the efficient cluster. The performance of the E-cores should be similar to old Skylake cores (compare to the Core i7-6700HQ). All cores can use up to 24 MB L3 cache. Compared to the 12700H, the 12650H offers only 4 instead of 8 E-cores, a slower iGPU and no vPro features (for remote management).

Performance

The average 12650H in our database is in the same league as the Core i9-11950H, Ryzen 5 7640HS, Ryzen 9 5900HS, as far as multi-thread benchmark scores are concerned. This is a very good result, as of early 2023.

Thanks to its decent cooling solution and a long-term CPU power limit of 80 W, the TUF Dash F15 FX517ZR is among the fastest laptops built around the 12650H that we know of. It can be more than 25% 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 64 of the 96 EUs (Execution Units) operating at up to 1.4 GHz.

Power consumption

This Core i7 has a "minimum assured" power consumption of 35 W, with 45 W being its Base power consumption. The processor's maximum Intel-recommended Turbo power consumption sits at 115 W. It would take at least two fans to cool such a beast.

Last but not the least, Intel Core i7-12650H is built with Intel's fourth-generation 10 nm process marketed as Intel 7 for OK, as of early 2023, energy efficiency.