Intel Core i7-12650HX vs Intel Core i7-14650HX vs Intel Core i9-12900HX

Intel Core i7-12650HX

The Intel Core i7-12650HX is a high-end mobile CPU for laptops based on the Alder Lake architecture. It was announced in mid 2022 and offers 6 of the 8 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 2.0 to 4.7 GHz on the performance cluster and 1.5 to 3.3 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 25 MB L3 cache. The CPU offers an open multiplicator and therefore the possibility to overclock the CPU cores. Compared to the similar i7-12850HX, the 12800HX does not offer vPro or ECC memory support.

Performance

Due to the similar specs, the performance of the 12650HX should be similar to the Core i7-12700H (14 cores, max 4,7 GHz, 45 W TDP). Thanks to the higher TDP, the sustained performance could be better (if the cooling of the laptop is sufficient). 

Features

The integrated memory controller supports various memory types up to DDR5-4800 and DDR4-3200. 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 supports 48 PCIe lanes consisting of 16 Gen5 (x16 or 2x8), 20 Gen4 and 12 Gen3.

The integrated graphics card is based on the Xe-architecture and offers 32 EUs (Execution Units) operating at up to 1.45 GHz.

The CPU is rated at 55 W base power (157 W PL2). The SoC is manufactured on a 10nm process at Intel, which is known as Intel 7.

Intel Core i7-14650HX

The Intel Core i7-14650HX is a high-end CPU based on the new Raptor Lake architecture for large and heavy notebooks. The CPU was introduced at the beginning of 2024 and is similar to the older Core i7-13700HX except for slightly higher CPU clock rates (max 200 MHz).

The total of 24 threads are divided into P-cores and E-cores, which we already know from Alder-Lake. The 13700HX offers 8 performance cores (P-cores) with hyperthreading and 8 efficiency cores (E-cores) without hyperthreading. A total of 20 threads are therefore supported. The P-cores clock from 2.2 to 5.2 GHz (single core) or 4.5 GHz (all cores) and the E-cores from 1.6 to 3.7 GHz. The integrated memory controller supports a maximum of DDR5 with 4800 MHz (and not 5600 MHz like the i9 HX models).

Compared to Alder Lake, the new Raptor Lake architecture offers improved P-cores (Raptor Cove architecture with more cache), more E-cores (same Gracemont architecture) and higher clock rates thanks to the improved Intel 7 process. Furthermore, Intel now supports faster DDR5 main memory in the top models (up to 5600 MHz in the i9).

The performance should be slightly above the older Core i7-13700HX (with the same TDP settings and cooling). This makes the CPU ideal for demanding tasks and games.

The 14650HX continues to be manufactured using Intel's improved 10nm FinFET process (Intel 7 process) and is specified with 55 watts of base power and 157 watts of turbo power.

Intel Core i9-12900HX

The Intel Core i9-12900HX is a high-end mobile CPU for laptops based on the Alder Lake architecture. It was announced in mid 2022 and offers 8 performance cores (P-cores, Golden Cove architecture) and 8 efficient cores (E-cores, Gracemont architecture). The P-cores support Hyper-Threading leading to 24 supported threads when combined with the E-cores. The clock rate ranges from 2.3 to 5 GHz on the performance cluster and 1.7 to 3.6 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 30 MB L3 cache. As a HX-variant, the CPU offers an open multiplicator and therefore the possibility to overclock the CPU cores. Compared to the similar i9-12950HX, the 12900HX does not offer vPro or ECC memory support.

Features

The integrated memory controller supports various memory types up to DDR5-4800 and DDR4-3200. 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 supports 48 PCIe lanes consisting of 16 Gen5 (x16 or 2x8), 20 Gen4 and 12 Gen3.

The integrated graphics adapter is based on the Xe architecture and offers 32 EUs (Execution Units) operating at up to 1.55 GHz.

Performance

The average 12900HX in our database is, perhaps a little disappointingly, in the same league as the i7-12800HX and the i7-13700HX while outshining the Ryzen 7 7745HX by a significant margin.

The Legion 7 16IAX7 is among the fastest laptops built around the 12900HX that we know of. It is able to sustain CPU power consumption of around 90 W for long periods of time for up to 20% better multi-thread performance than the slowest system featuring the same chip in our database (as of August 2023).

Power consumption

The chip's "minimum assured" power consumption sits at 45 W. Its Turbo power consumption is not supposed to go over 157 W and its Base power consumption is supposed to be around 55 W. Most laptop makers will go for a value higher than 55 W to get better performance.

This Core i9 series processor is built with Intel's 4th generation 10 nm manufacturing process marketed as Intel 7 for average, as of early 2023, energy efficiency.