Intel Core i5-12600KF vs AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3960X

Processor comparisons 11-01-2022

   Let's say there are difficulties with the choice of a processor, you will solve them by reading the comprehensive tests Intel Core i5-12600KF vs AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3960X and decide which is better for games or normal use for programming, rendering, video editing, machine learning, streaming. Here you can find all information from real streaming and video editing tests or different benchmarks. A careful analysis of all the technical characteristics, to make it easier to understand, is summarized in the table.
   From the comparison video, you can get the results of joint testing in software tests such as Blender, Dolphin Emulator, Gears 5, RealBench, 7zip, Furmark, SuperPi, PCMark 10, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, Handbrake, Prime95, VeraCrypt, DaVinci Resolve Studio, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), WPrime, 3DMark, UserBenchmark, PassMark, MATLAB, Blender, GeekBench 6, 5.2, AIDA64.
   Gaming performance of processors in:

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

After reading the results of joint benchmarks and videos, you already be able to figure out which processor is better to buy for gaming AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3960X or Intel Core i5-12600KF.

Summary benchmark results

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

Core i5-12600KF

61%

Ryzen Threadripper 3960X

66%

This parameter shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Ryzen Threadripper 3960X is 7% better than Core i5-12600KF. The data source is several popular tests. More detailed information of the benchmarks is below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Core i5-12600KF

58%

Ryzen Threadripper 3960X

64%

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

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	102.9	113.6
Valorant	117.0	129.1
Cyberpunk 2077	65.5	72.3
Apex Legends	110.0	121.3
Call of Duty Warzone	87.7	96.8
Overwatch	94.8	104.5
Red Dead Redemption 2	80.7	89.1
DOOM Eternal	58.5	64.5
Warzone	91.2	100.7
Assassin's Creed	98.3	108.4
Valheim	97.1	107.1

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 participating in the comparing not only were the equipped with different amounts of RAM and different video cards. But users also tested them at different screen resolutions: 2K, 4K or FullHD. Therefore, 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 compare it in one assembly with the video card that is installed in your computer.

Power consumption

Core i5-12600KF

57%

Ryzen Threadripper 3960X

15%

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 i5-12600KF is more energy efficient than the Ryzen Threadripper 3960X as it consumes less power: 125W vs. 280W. 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

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

	Intel Core i5-12600KF	AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3960X
Cinbench 15 Single-core	485	209
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	3543	5933
Cinbench 20 Single-core	1161	509
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	8045	13552
Cinbench 23 Single-core	2715	1270
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	26517	34255

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

	Intel Core i5-12600KF	AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3960X
Single-Core	6362	2663
Multi-Core	37124	54830

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

	Intel Core i5-12600KF	AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3960X
Single-Core	2144	1306
Multi-Core	14653	25072

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the processor release date and overclocking capability will be the most helpful. The later the processor is released, the longer it will last in your computer. 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, increasing its performance, then it will continue to maintain maximum FPS in the newest games. Accordingly, there is no longer a need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer. The savings are obvious!

	Intel Core i5-12600KF	AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3960X
Announcement date	January 07, 2022	November 25, 2019
Type	Desktop	Desktop
Socket	FCLGA1700	sTRX4
Core name	Alder Lake	Castle Peak
Architecture	x86	Zen 2
Generation	12	3
Turbo Frequency	4.9 MHz	4.5 MHz
Frequency	3.6 MHz	3.8 MHz
Cores	10	24
Threads	16	48
Bus rate	8 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	7 nm	7 nm
Transistors count	10200 millions	22600 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	125 W	280 W
Memory type	Up to DDR5 4800 MT/s Up to DDR4 3200 MT/s	DDR4
Max. Memory	128 Gb
Memory Frequency		3200
Memory bandwidth	76.8 GB/s
L1 cache		1.5MB
L2 cache	9.5 MB	12MB
L3 cache	20 MB	128MB
Overclocking	No	Yes
Supports ECC	No	No
Part number		100-000000010 100-100000010WOF

In this comparison block, you should pay attention to the differences in clock speed and the number of cores. Here Ryzen Threadripper 3960X is 5% better than Core i5-12600KF in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that Ryzen Threadripper 3960X has 14 more core than Core i5-12600KF. Also keep in mind that high CPU frequency affects battery life through power consumption (relevant for laptops).

Result:
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i5-12600KF is better: 14
The number of parameters for which AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3960X is better: 23
However, it should be understood that the summary data in the table above do not mean that you should be guided entirely by them and trust a simple comparison of these figures. Better to watch benchmarks video and read the reviews of of people who bought Intel Core i5-12600KF and AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3960X before making a selection which of the CPUs to buy for gaming.

Intel Core i5-12600KF - all data

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

• Intel Core i5-12600KF specs and review.

• AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3960X specs and review.