Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus vs Intel Core i5-12500H
79Single-core55.3
86.8Multi-core44.1
44.4Efficiencyspec-based40.5
60.5iGPU50.3
73.9Platformspec-based53.8
17 spec wins — Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus1 spec wins — Intel Core i5-12500H
InnoReviews verdict
Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus wins this laptop processor face-off, 73.9 to 48.4, pulling ahead mainly in multi-core (+43) and single-core (+24). Intel Core i5-12500H still makes sense if its price or standout specs fit your needs better.
Which would you pick?
Key differences
Reasons to pick the Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus
- Stronger single-core score: 79 vs 55
- Stronger multi-core score: 87 vs 44
- Stronger iGPU score: 61 vs 50
- 300% higher Max memory: 256 GB vs 64 GB
- 193% higher Cinebench R23 (multi): 39,617 vs 13,500
Reasons to pick the Intel Core i5-12500H
- 18% lower Base TDP: 45 W vs 55 W
General
| Spec | Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus | Intel Core i5-12500H |
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2026 | 2022 |
| Process | 3 nm+70% | 10 nm |
| Base TDP | 55 W | 45 W+18% |
| Max TDP | 160 W+68% | 95 W |
Cores & Clocks
| Spec | Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus | Intel Core i5-12500H |
|---|---|---|
| Cores | 24+100% | 12 |
| Performance cores | 8+100% | 4 |
| Efficiency cores | 16+100% | 8 |
| Threads | 24+50% | 16 |
| Base clock | 2.7 GHz+8% | 2.5 GHz |
| Boost clock | 5.5 GHz+22% | 4.5 GHz |
| L3 cache | 36 MB+100% | 18 MB |
Integrated GPU
| Spec | Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus | Intel Core i5-12500H |
|---|---|---|
| iGPU | Intel Graphics (4 Xe-cores) | Intel Iris Xe (80 EU) |
| iGPU clock | 2,000 MHz | 1,300 MHz |
Memory
| Spec | Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus | Intel Core i5-12500H |
|---|---|---|
| Memory support | DDR5-6400 | DDR5-4800 / LPDDR5-5200 / DDR4-3200 |
| Max memory | 256 GB+300% | 64 GB |
Benchmarks
| Spec | Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus | Intel Core i5-12500H |
|---|---|---|
| Geekbench 6 (single) | 3,198+42%Top 9% | 2,250Bottom 28% |
| Geekbench 6 (multi) | 21,581+106%Top 7% | 10,500Bottom 42% |
| Cinebench R23 (single) | 2,340+41%Top 2% | 1,655Bottom 41% |
| Cinebench R23 (multi) | 39,617+193%Top 1% | 13,500Top 46% |
| PassMark | 58,672+190%Top 1% | 20,236Top 50% |
| 3DMark Time Spy Graphics (iGPU) | 1,855+58%Top 37% | 1,175Bottom 42% |
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