Intel Core i9-12950HX vs Intel Pentium 3556U

VS
Performance
Core i9-12950HX1,217% better
23,12963% of 36,991
Pentium 3556U
1,7565% of 36,991

The Core i9-12950HX has 1,217% better performance than the Pentium 3556U for the 3DMark 11 Performance Physics benchmark.

Performance per dollar
Core i9-12950HX
39.232% of 121.53
Pentium 3556U
No data available

The Core i9-12950HX has 32% of the performance per dollar compared to the leader for the 3DMark 11 Performance Physics benchmark: Intel Core i5-13400F.

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Summary

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About the Intel Core i9-12950HX CPU

The Intel Core i9-12950HX is a 16-core (24-thread) processor built for the mobile CPU market. It launched in Q2 2022 with a suggested retail price of $590. It is part of Intel's Core i9 lineup, which is based on the Alder Lake-HX microarchitecture. The i9-12950HX is compatible with Intel BGA 1964 motherboards and is fabricated on Intel's 10 nm manufacturing process. It features the UHD Graphics 770 integrated graphics solution.

Memory and Cache

The Core i9-12950HX supports DDR4-3200, DDR5-4800 memory and features a dual-channel memory controller, allowing it to utilize 2 memory modules simultaneously. In terms of cache, the Core i9-12950HX has multiple levels of cache. Its L1 cache, which is the smallest and fastest, is 80 KB in size, providing rapid access to crucial instructions. Its L2 cache, at 1.25 MB, is larger but slower than the L1. Its L3 cache, a shared resource among the CPU's cores, has a capacity of 30 MB.

Cores and Clock Speeds

The Core i9-12950HX features 16 total cores which can process 24 threads simultaneously. The multi-threading capability allows the CPU to execute multiple computational tasks in parallel. The 16 cores consist of 8 P-Cores and 8 E-Cores. P-Cores are designed for high-performance tasks and E-Cores are intended for efficiency and lighter tasks. The base clock speed of the CPU is 2.3 GHz, and it can boost up to 5.0 GHz under heavy workloads. Higher clock speeds result in better performance for the same microarchitecture. The multiplier is locked, making it incapable of overclocking for pushing performance further.

Integrated Graphics

The Core i9-12950HX includes an integrated graphics solution called UHD Graphics 770. This graphics processor is directly integrated into the CPU and is not as powerful as a dedicated graphics card. While integrated graphics can handle basic tasks like web browsing and office applications, it is not suitable for more demanding activities such as gaming or video editing, where a dedicated graphics card offers superior performance.

Benchmark Performance & Value

The Core i9-12950HX has the 44th best 3DMark 11 Performance Physics score among the 721 benchmarked CPUs in our database. It achieves 62.53% of the performance of the best benchmarked CPU, the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D. Its 23,129 score and $590 launch price (MSRP) gives it a performance per dollar of 39.2. This is the 81st best in value for the 3DMark 11 Perf. Physics benchmark.

About the Intel Pentium 3556U CPU

The Intel Pentium 3556U is a 2-core (2-thread) processor built for the mobile CPU market. It launched in Q3 2013. It is part of Intel's Pentium lineup, which is based on the Haswell microarchitecture. The 3556U is compatible with Intel BGA 1168 motherboards and is fabricated on Intel's 22 nm manufacturing process. It features the Intel HD integrated graphics solution.

Memory and Cache

The Pentium 3556U supports DDR3 memory. In terms of cache, the Pentium 3556U has multiple levels of cache. Its L1 cache, which is the smallest and fastest, is 64 KB in size, providing rapid access to crucial instructions. Its L2 cache, at 256 KB, is larger but slower than the L1. Its L3 cache, a shared resource among the CPU's cores, has a capacity of 2 MB.

Cores and Clock Speeds

The Pentium 3556U features 2 total cores which can process 2 threads simultaneously. The multi-threading capability allows the CPU to execute multiple computational tasks in parallel. The base clock speed of the CPU is 1700.0 MHz. Higher clock speeds result in higher performance for the same microarchitecture. The multiplier is locked, making it incapable of overclocking for pushing performance further.

Integrated Graphics

The Pentium 3556U includes an integrated graphics solution called Intel HD. This graphics processor is directly integrated into the CPU and is not as powerful as a dedicated graphics card. While integrated graphics can handle basic tasks like web browsing and office applications, it is not suitable for more demanding activities such as gaming or video editing, where a dedicated graphics card offers superior performance.

Benchmark Performance

The Pentium 3556U has the 640th best 3DMark 11 Performance Physics score among the 721 benchmarked CPUs in our database. It achieves 4.75% of the performance of the best benchmarked CPU, the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D.

General Info

General overview of the CPU, including details like its manufacturer, release date, launch price, and current production status.

InfoCore i9-12950HXPentium 3556U
ManufacturerIntelIntel
SeriesCore i9Pentium
Market SegmentMobileMobile
Release DateQ2 2022Q3 2013
Launch Price (MSRP)$590--
Production StatusActiveActive
ShopCheck PriceCheck Price

Benchmark Performance

#
Performance
Core i9-12950HX1,217% better
23,12963% of 36,991
Pentium 3556U
1,7565% of 36,991

The Core i9-12950HX has 1,217% better performance than the Pentium 3556U for the 3DMark 11 Performance Physics benchmark.

The Core i9-12950HX is ranked 44th with a score of 23,129, and the Pentium 3556U is ranked 640th with a score of 1,756.

Performance per dollar
Core i9-12950HX
39.232% of 121.53
Pentium 3556U
No data available

The Core i9-12950HX has 74% of the performance per dollar compared to the leader for the 3DMark 11 Performance Physics benchmark: AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D.

Core i9-12950HX's 39.2 performance per dollar ranks it 81st among the other benchmarked CPUs in our database.

Relative Performance

The average score in the benchmark test can be compared to similar CPUs to assess relative performance. Generally, powerful CPUs tend to have higher scores.

Choose Baseline CPU:Core i9-12950HX or
CPUBenchmark Performance
Core i7-13800H23,253+1%
Core i7-13705H23,213.5+0%
Core i9-12950HX23,129
Core i9-12900HX22,972-1%
Core i7-12800HX22,373-3%
Celeron 1000M1,779-92%
Pentium N37001,768-92%
Pentium 3556U1,756-92%
Pentium N37101,742.5-92%
Core M-5Y311,738.5-92%

Relative Value For Money

The average performance per dollar in the benchmark test can be compared to similar CPUs to assess relative value. A higher score implies a better value for your money.

Choose Baseline CPU:Core i9-12950HX orPentium 3556U
CPUPerformance Per Dollar
Core i5-1350P42.22+8%
Core i7-11850H40.9+4%
Core i7-13700H40.84+4%
Core i7-13620H40.81+4%
Core i9-13950HX40.61+4%
Core i9-12950HX39.2
Core i9-12900HX37.91-3%
Core i9-13980HX37.5-4%
Core i7-1370P37.17-5%
Core i7-10875H36.94-6%

Benchmark Scores

This table showcases the average performance scores achieved by both CPUs across industry-standard benchmark tests. These scores provide a valuable insight into overall performance. Powerful CPUs tend to have higher scores.

  • Popular
BenchmarkCore i9-12950HXPentium 3556U
3DMark 11 Performance Physics
23,129
(+1,217.14%)
1,756
3DMark Time Spy CPU
13,303
--
Cinebench R15 Multi-Core
3,107
(+2,375.7%)
125.5
Cinebench R15 Single-Core
274
(+318.32%)
65.5
Geekbench 6.2 Multi-Core
--
493
Geekbench 6.2 Single-Core
--
302
CPU Mark Multi-Thread
32,408
(+2,963.14%)
1,058
CPU Mark Single-Thread
3,828
(+302.52%)
951
Benchmarks Source: Notebookcheck

Technical Specs

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Manufacturing Details

Information about the CPU's manufacturing like its foundry, process size, and transistor count.

SpecCore i9-12950HXPentium 3556U
ManufacturerIntelIntel
FoundryIntelIntel
Process Size10 nm22 nm
Transistors--1,400 million

Architecture

CPU architecture specs like its memory channels, memory support, and microarchitecture. Newer CPU architectures can minimize bottlenecks and improve execution efficiency using more advanced techniques.

SpecCore i9-12950HXPentium 3556U
SeriesCore i9Pentium
MicroarchitectureAlder Lake-HXHaswell
CodenameAlder Lake-HXHaswell
Memory SupportDDR4-3200, DDR5-4800DDR3
Memory ChannelsDual-channel--
ECC MemoryYesNo

Cores & Clock Speeds

Processing power information like its cores and clock speed. These specs impact how fast they can handle instructions and tasks. These have a strong impact on the CPU's performance.

SpecCore i9-12950HXPentium 3556U
Cores162
Threads242
Performance Cores (P-cores)8--
Efficient Cores (E-cores)8--
Clock Speed2.3 GHz1700.0 MHz
Turbo Clock5.0 GHz--
P-core Clock2.3 GHz--
P-core Turbo Clock5.0 GHz--
E-core Clock Speed1700.0 MHz--
E-core Turbo Clock3.6 GHz--
Base Clock100 MHz100 MHz
Multiplier23.0x17.0x
Multiplier UnlockedNoNo

Cache

CPU cache specs like its L1 & L2 cache. These provide the CPU with a small, but super-fast memory access. A larger cache can improve a CPU's performance.

SpecCore i9-12950HXPentium 3556U
L1 Cache80 KB64 KB
L2 Cache1.25 MB256 KB
L3 Cache30 MB2 MB
E-core L1 Cache96 KB--
E-core L2 Cache2 MB--

Compatibility & Power Consumption

Compatibility and power consumption information like its socket type, thermal design power, power limits. These can help verify the CPU's compatibility with other PC components.

SpecCore i9-12950HXPentium 3556U
SocketIntel BGA 1964Intel BGA 1168
PCI ExpressPCIe 5.0 x20--
Thermal Design Power (TDP)55 W15 W
Power Limit 1 (PL1)55 W--
Power Limit 2 (PL2)157 W--
Tcase Max--105 °C
TJ Max100 °C100 °C

Graphics, Features, & Extensions

Additional CPU features like its bundled coolers, integrated graphics, and extensions/technologies.

SpecCore i9-12950HXPentium 3556U
Integrated GraphicsUHD Graphics 770Intel HD
Extensions / TechnologiesMMX, SSE, SSE2, SSE3, SSSE3, SSE4.2, AVX, AVX2, FMA3, SHA, EIST, Intel 64, XD bit, VT-x, VT-d, AES-NI, TSX, TXT, CLMUL, F16C, BMI1, BMI2, ABM, ADX, RdRand, TBT 2.0, TBT 3.0, vProMMX, SSE, SSE2, SSE3, SSSE3, SSE4.1, SSE4.2, EIST, 64-bit, XD bit, VT-x, Smart Cache

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* Performance rating, performance per dollar, and rankings are based on the 3DMark 11 Performance Physics benchmark and MSRP.