AMD Ryzen 9 3900X vs Intel Core i9-12900K

Processor comparisons 05-02-2023

   Let's say you have difficulties with the choice of a processor, you will solve them by reading the detailed tests AMD Ryzen 9 3900X vs Intel Core i9-12900K and understand which is better for games or normal use for machine learning, rendering, programming, video editing, streaming. Here you can find all information from different benchmarks or real streaming and video editing tests. A thorough review of all the specifications, to make it easier to understand, is summarized in the table.
   From the comparison video, you can get the results of joint testing in special test applications like World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, RealBench, UserBenchmark, PCMark 10, AIDA64, SuperPi, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), WPrime, MATLAB, Blender, 7zip, VeraCrypt, Furmark, Gears 5, GeekBench 6, 5.2, Dolphin Emulator, DaVinci Resolve Studio, 3DMark, PassMark, Handbrake, Prime95, Blender.
   Gaming performance of CPUs in:

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

After looking at the data of parallel 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 3900X.

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 3900X

60%

Core i9-12900K

67%

This value shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Core i9-12900K is 10% better than Ryzen 9 3900X. The data source is several popular tests. Detailed information can be found below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Ryzen 9 3900X

57%

Core i9-12900K

64%

The maximum result in this parameter is 100 percent, which is the performance of the most powerful processor at the moment. And it is clear that this is a server processor, on which no one will play games. Because this processor costs several tens of thousands of dollars. Therefore, if you think 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 less popular games in which processors were compared: Microsoft Flight Simulator, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), Horizon Zero Dawn, DOTA 2A, Ghostrunner, Half-Life: Alyx, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Hitman 3, Monster Hunter World, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), Forza Horizon 4, Metro Exodus, NBA 2K20, League of Legends (LOL), Battlefield V, Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, Control.

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	101.5	113.8
Valorant	115.4	129.3
Cyberpunk 2077	64.6	72.4
Apex Legends	108.5	121.5
Call of Duty Warzone	86.5	97.0
Overwatch	93.5	104.7
Red Dead Redemption 2	79.6	89.2
DOOM Eternal	57.7	64.6
Warzone	90.0	100.8
Assassin's Creed	96.9	108.6
Valheim	95.8	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 video cards and different amounts of RAM. 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. To be sure exactly how much performance 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 3900X

42%

Core i9-12900K

97%

To make a finishing resolution on which processor is better, you should also consider the generation of its core. It is clear that the newer the generation, the better the performance of the processor 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 3900X as it consumes less power: 105W vs. 125W. Power consumption is particularly important for laptops. Also, when choosing a processor cooling system, it will be useful to know its TDP. It is necessary to count so that the TDP data specified in the cooler specification is greater than the TDP of the compared processor.

Software benchmarks

For example you plan to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for programming, streaming, machine learning, video editing or video rendering, then the main parameter for you is its performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, the CPU includes all threads and cores that it has to the maximum to achieve maximum efficiency. You will find out this data from the benchmark tables below. Before using the data from these tests, be sure to find out whether the software that you are going to use on your computer can work in multi-threaded mode. Because there are still many programs that use only one core to work, and all the benefit of multi-core mode are unused.

Cinebench 23, 20 an 15
The results of this benchmark show Single-threaded and Multi-threaded CPU performance

	AMD Ryzen 9 3900X	Intel Core i9-12900K
Cinbench 15 Single-core	214	489
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	3168	5150
Cinbench 20 Single-core	521	816
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	7178	11450
Cinbench 23 Single-core	1342	2896
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	18424	32950

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

	AMD Ryzen 9 3900X	Intel Core i9-12900K
Single-Core	2758	7546
Multi-Core	32949	56332

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

	AMD Ryzen 9 3900X	Intel Core i9-12900K
Single-Core	1335	3641
Multi-Core	13268	25262

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the processor release date and overclocking capability will be the most useful. 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. When the processor can be overclocked, thereby increasing its performance, then it will still be able to produce maximum FPS even in new games. The economy are obvious! Accordingly, there is no longer a need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer.

	AMD Ryzen 9 3900X	Intel Core i9-12900K
Announcement date	July 07, 2019	July 21, 2021
Type	Desktop	Desktop
Socket	AM4	FCLGA1700
Core name	Matisse	Alder Lake
Architecture	Zen 2	x86
Generation	3	12
Turbo Frequency	4.6 MHz	5.2 MHz
Frequency	3.8 MHz	3.9 MHz
Cores	12	16
Threads	24	24
Bus rate		16 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	7 nm	7 nm
Transistors count	7800 millions	12400 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	105 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	768KB	2 MB
L2 cache	6MB	14 MB
L3 cache	64MB	30 MB
Overclocking	Yes	No
Supports ECC	No	No
Part number	100-000000023 100-100000023BOX 100-100000023MPK

In this comparison block, you should pay attention to the differences in clock speed and the number of cores. Here Core i9-12900K is 2% better than Ryzen 9 3900X in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that Core i9-12900K has 4 more core than Ryzen 9 3900X. 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 3900X is better: 5
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i9-12900K is better: 31
Although it should be realized that all the number in the table above do not mean that taking them into account you should fully trust a simple comparison of these numbers. Better to watch benchmarks video and read the reviews of of people who bought AMD Ryzen 9 3900X and Intel Core i9-12900K before deciding which CPU to buy for gaming and which not.

• AMD Ryzen 9 3900X 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.