Another high-end mobile CPU for laptops is the Intel Core i5-12450H, based on the Alder Lake architecture. This new processor offers 8 cores in total, with 4 of the 6 performance cores (P-cores, Golden Cove architecture) and 4 of the 8 efficient cores (E-cores, Gracemont architecture) combined with support for Hyper-Threading, leading to 12 supported threads. This results in improved performance compared to the previous models.
The clock rate of the performance cluster ranges from 2 to 4.4 GHz and the clock rate of the efficient cluster ranges from 1.5 to 3.3 GHz. The performance of the E-cores is similar to old Skylake cores (compare to the Core i7-6700HQ). All cores can use up to 12 MB L3 cache.
Compared to the 12500H, the 12450H offers fewer E-cores, lower clock rates, a slower integrated GPU, and no vPro support. However, due to the combination of P-cores and E-cores, the combined multi-threaded performance should be similar to a Tiger Lake-H octa core with similar clock speed. Therefore, the Core i5-11500H with six cores should be slower. Due to the architectural improvements, single-core performance is also better than similar or higher clocked Tiger Lake CPUs.
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 48 of the 96 EUs (Execution Units) operating at up to 1.2 GHz.
The CPU is rated at 45 W base power (95 W PL2), but most laptops will use a PL1 of around 60 Watt. The SoC is manufactured in a 10nm process at Intel, which is known as Intel 7.
Intel has been constantly improving the performance of its processors with the introduction of new architectures and innovations. Alder Lake architecture is one such innovation, which has helped Intel improve the performance of its processors while keeping the power consumption in check. The combination of P-cores and E-cores has resulted in improved multi-threaded performance, which is essential for modern-day computing.
The integrated memory controller, Thread Director, and support for AI tasks, make the Intel Core i5-12450H a great choice for high-end laptops. The Quick Sync in version 8, which supports hardware decoding for various formats, and the support for PCIe 4.0, make this processor a great choice for content creators and gamers. The integrated graphics card based on the Xe-architecture is also a great improvement over the previous models, making it easier for users to enjoy high-end graphics-intensive applications.
