AMD Ryzen 9 7950X vs Intel Core i9-12900K

Processor comparisons   28-09-2022
   Perhaps you are thinking about choosing a processor, you will be able to make a decision after reading the comprehensive tests AMD Ryzen 9 7950X vs Intel Core i9-12900K and see which is better for games or simple use for streaming, machine learning, video editing, programming, rendering. Here is all information from real streaming and video editing tests or different benchmarks. A thorough review of all the specifications, to make it easier to read, is summarized in the table.
   From the comparison video, you can get the results of parallel examination in synthetic type tests like SuperPi, VeraCrypt, Handbrake, Furmark, GeekBench 6, 5.2, Dolphin Emulator, DaVinci Resolve Studio, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, UserBenchmark, Blender, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), WPrime, 7zip, PCMark 10, MATLAB, AIDA64, 3DMark, RealBench, Blender, Prime95, Gears 5, PassMark.
   Gaming performance of processors in:

Assassin's Creed Valhalla
Watch Dogs Legion
Death Stranding
DOOM: Eternal
Grand Theft Auto V
Valorant
Overwatch
World of Warcraft: Shadowlands
Red Dead Redemption 2
Cyberpunk 2077
Borderlands 3
Valheim
Fortnite
Halo Infinite
Apex Legends
Rainbow Six Siege
Fallout 76
Last Man Standing
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare and Warzone

After reading the results of joint benchmarks and videos, you already be able to understand which CPU is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i9-12900K or AMD Ryzen 9 7950X.

Summary benchmark results

As a percentage of the maximum value based on a sample from the entire base of all processors
Processor Benchmark

Ryzen 9 7950X

69%

Core i9-12900K

67%

This shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Ryzen 9 7950X is 2% better than Core i9-12900K. The data source is several popular tests. Detailed information can be found below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Ryzen 9 7950X

65%

Core i9-12900K

64%

For the maximum in this test, the results of the most powerful processor in the site database are taken. And of course, this is a server processor, on which no one will run games. Because this processor costs several tens of thousands of dollars. And if it seems to you that the selected CPU has a small game result, look at the FPS that it produces in real games in the final table below.
List of other games in which processors were compared: Metro Exodus, Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, League of Legends (LOL), Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Ghostrunner, Microsoft Flight Simulator, Battlefield V, Control, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Horizon Zero Dawn, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), Monster Hunter World, DOTA 2A, Half-Life: Alyx, NBA 2K20, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), Forza Horizon 4, Hitman 3.

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	114.7	113.8
Valorant	130.3	129.3
Cyberpunk 2077	73.0	72.4
Apex Legends	122.5	121.5
Call of Duty Warzone	97.8	97.0
Overwatch	105.6	104.7
Red Dead Redemption 2	89.9	89.2
DOOM Eternal	65.2	64.6
Warzone	101.7	100.8
Assassin's Creed	109.5	108.6
Valheim	108.2	107.3

The numbers in this table indicate the maximum FPS that was received on the device with the corresponding processor. Depending on the configuration of the computer (RAM size and Video Card) and graphics quality settings (Ultra, Medium, Normal), the results may differ quite significantly. We recommend that you better study the results of the Cinebench, GeekBench and Passmark becnmarks.
The computers that were in the comparisons not only did they have different amounts of RAM and different video cards. But users also tested them at different screen resolutions: 4K, 2K or FullHD. So the game benchmark data is approximate. But all video cards met the average system requirements of games. You will get more accurate information about how powerful the processor will be in games, if you get acquainted with the benchmarks that are made with the same video card that is installed in your computer.

Power consumption

Ryzen 9 7950X

45%

Core i9-12900K

97%

To make a final decision on which processor is better, you should also consider the generation of its core. The newer the processor generation, the better its performance in games and benchmarks, as well as its energy efficiency. In this case the Core i9-12900K is more energy efficient than the Ryzen 9 7950X since it has less power consumption: 170W vs. 125W. Power consumption is especially important for laptops. And TDP should be taken into account when choosing a processor cooling system. You need to buy a cooler that has the TDP data specified in the specification was greater than the TDP of the compared processor.

Software benchmarks

Let's say you plan to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for programming, machine learning, video rendering or video editing, streaming, then the main parameter for you is its performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, the processor uses all cores and threads that it has to the maximum to achieve maximum efficiency. You will learn this data from the benchmark tables below. Before using the data from these tests, be sure to check whether the software you are going to use on your computer supports multi-threaded mode. Since there are still many programs that can use only one core to run, and all the advantages of multi-core mode turns out to be unnecessary.
Cinebench 23, 20 an 15
The results of this benchmark show Single-threaded and Multi-threaded CPU performance

	AMD Ryzen 9 7950X	Intel Core i9-12900K
Cinbench 15 Single-core	373	489
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	6089	5150
Cinbench 20 Single-core	895	816
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	14547	11450
Cinbench 23 Single-core	2277	2896
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	39973	32950

Passmark
This popular benchmark displays Multi-threaded and Single-threaded processor performance

	AMD Ryzen 9 7950X	Intel Core i9-12900K
Single-Core	4815	7546
Multi-Core	64460	56332

GeekBench 6, 5.2
This benchmark shows Multi-threaded and Single-threaded processor performance

	AMD Ryzen 9 7950X	Intel Core i9-12900K
Single-Core	2324	3641
Multi-Core	26184	25262

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the processor release date and overclocking capability will be the most helpful. The newer the processor, the longer it will last you. And the easier it will be to upgrade the system later. The same benefits from the presence of overclocking. If the processor can be overclocked, thereby increasing its performance, then it will still be able to produce maximum FPS in the newest games. Accordingly, you do not need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer. The economy are obvious!

	AMD Ryzen 9 7950X	Intel Core i9-12900K
Announcement date	September 27, 2022	July 21, 2021
Type	Desktop	Desktop
Socket	AM5	FCLGA1700
Core name	Raphael	Alder Lake
Architecture	Zen 4	x86
Generation	5	12
Turbo Frequency	5.7 MHz	5.2 MHz
Frequency	4.5 MHz	3.9 MHz
Cores	16	16
Threads	32	24
Bus rate		16 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	5 nm	7 nm
Transistors count	12600 millions	12400 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	170 W	125 W
Memory type	DDR4	Up to DDR5 4800 MT/s Up to DDR4 3200 MT/s
Max. Memory		128 Gb
Memory Frequency	3200	6400
Memory bandwidth		76.8 GB/s
L1 cache	1MB	2 MB
L2 cache	16MB	14 MB
L3 cache	64MB	30 MB
Overclocking	Yes	No
Supports ECC	No	No
Part number	100-000000514 100-100000514WOF

In this comparison block, you should pay attention to the differences in clock speed and the number of cores. Here Ryzen 9 7950X is 13% better than Core i9-12900K in terms of CPU frequency. Also keep in mind that high CPU frequency affects battery life through power consumption (relevant for laptops).

Result:
The number of parameters for which AMD Ryzen 9 7950X is better: 26
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i9-12900K is better: 11
Although it should be realized that all the figures that you have looked at here do not mean that taking them into account you should entirely trust a simple quantitative comparison. Be sure to watch the testing video and read the opinion of of people who bought AMD Ryzen 9 7950X and Intel Core i9-12900K before deciding which CPU to buy for gaming and which not.

AMD Ryzen 9 7950X - all data

• Cinebench r15 score
• Cinebench r20 score
• Cinebench r23 score
• GeekBench 6, 5.2 score

• AMD Ryzen 9 7950X specs and review.

Intel Core i9-12900K - all data

• Cinebench r20 score
• Cinebench r23 score
• GeekBench 6, 5.2 score
• Cinebench r15 score

• Intel Core i9-12900K specs and review.