Intel Core i9-12900K vs AMD EPYC 7502

Processor comparisons 22-07-2021

   Let's say you are thinking about choosing a CPU, you will be able to make a decision after reading the full tests Intel Core i9-12900K vs AMD EPYC 7502 and decide which is better for games or normal use for video editing, streaming, rendering, programming, machine learning. Here is all information from various benchmarks or real streaming and video editing tests. A step-by-step analysis of all the specifications, so that it can be easier to read, is summarized in the table.
   From the video comparison, you can get the results of parallel examination in special testing software such as Geekbench 5.2, WPrime, SuperPi, MATLAB, Prime95, PCMark 10, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), UserBenchmark, VeraCrypt, 7zip, Blender, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, AIDA64, Blender, 3DMark, DaVinci Resolve Studio, Furmark, Handbrake, RealBench, PassMark, Dolphin Emulator, Gears 5.
   And how good the processors are in games:

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

After reading the results of joint benchmarks and videos, you already be able to figure out which CPU is better to buy for gaming AMD EPYC 7502 or Intel Core i9-12900K.

Summary benchmark results

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

Processor Benchmark

Core i9-12900K

81%

EPYC 7502

79%

This shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Core i9-12900K is 2% better than EPYC 7502. The data source is several popular tests. Detailed information can be found below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Core i9-12900K

72%

EPYC 7502

86%

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 run games. Because the cost of this processor reaches several tens of thousands of dollars. Therefore, if you think that the selected CPU has a little game result, just look at the FPS that it produces in real games in the final table below.
List of other games in which CPU comparisons were performed: Control, DOTA 2A, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Metro Exodus, Microsoft Flight Simulator, NBA 2K20, Hitman 3, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), Half-Life: Alyx, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Monster Hunter World, Forza Horizon 4, Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, Ghostrunner, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), League of Legends (LOL), Horizon Zero Dawn, Battlefield V.

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	127.0	151.5
Valorant	144.4	172.2
Cyberpunk 2077	80.8	96.4
Apex Legends	135.7	161.9
Call of Duty Warzone	108.3	129.2
Overwatch	116.9	139.5
Red Dead Redemption 2	99.6	118.8
DOOM Eternal	72.2	86.1
Warzone	112.6	134.3
Assassin's Creed	121.3	144.7
Valheim	119.8	142.9

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

Power consumption

Core i9-12900K

97%

EPYC 7502

17%

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 EPYC 7502 since it has less power consumption: 125W vs. 180W. Power consumption is particularly important for laptops. Also, when choosing a processor cooling system, it will be useful to know its TDP. 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

If you plan to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for machine learning, programming, streaming, video rendering or video editing, then first of all you need to pay attention to the performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, the processor includes all threads and cores that it has to the maximum to achieve maximum performance. You will learn this data from the benchmark tables below. Before using the data from these tests, be sure to make sure that the software that you are going to use on your computer can work in multi-threaded mode. Since there are still many programs that can 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

	Intel Core i9-12900K	AMD EPYC 7502
Cinbench 15 Single-core	489	160
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	5150	6608
Cinbench 20 Single-core	816	391
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	11450	14007
Cinbench 23 Single-core	2896	740
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	32950	36424

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

	Intel Core i9-12900K	AMD EPYC 7502
Single-Core	7546	2094
Multi-Core	56332	53430

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

	Intel Core i9-12900K	AMD EPYC 7502
Single-Core	3641	939
Multi-Core	25262	41117

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the most useful will be the the possibility of overclocking it and release date of the processor. The later the processor is released, 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, increasing its performance, then it will still be able to produce maximum FPS even in new games. It turns out that there is no longer a need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer. The savings are obvious!

	Intel Core i9-12900K	AMD EPYC 7502
Announcement date	July 21, 2021	October 01, 2020
Type	Desktop	Server
Socket	FCLGA1700	SP3
Core name	Alder Lake	Rome
Architecture	x86	Zen 2
Generation	12	2
Turbo Frequency	5.3 MHz	3.4 MHz
Frequency	3.9 MHz	2.5 MHz
Cores	16	32
Threads	32	64
Bus rate	16 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	10 nm
Transistors count	12600 millions	64000 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	125 W	180 W
Memory type	DDR5-6400	DDR4
Max. Memory	256 Gb
Memory Frequency	6400
Memory bandwidth	108 GB/s
L1 cache	2 MB
L2 cache	8 MB
L3 cache	30 MB	128MB
Overclocking	No	Yes
Supports ECC	No	No
Part number		100-000000054 100-100000054WOF

In this comparison block, you should pay attention to the differences in clock speed and the number of cores. Here Core i9-12900K is 35% better than EPYC 7502 in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that EPYC 7502 has 16 more core than Core i9-12900K. 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 i9-12900K is better: 18
The number of parameters for which AMD EPYC 7502 is better: 20
Although it should be understood that all the data in the text above do not mean that taking them into account you should undividedly trust a simple quantitative comparison. Be sure to watch the video tests and read the opinion of real owners of Intel Core i9-12900K and AMD EPYC 7502 before making a decision which of the CPUs to buy for gaming.
• Cinebench r20 score
• Cinebench r23 score
• GeekBench 5 score
• Cinebench r15 score

Versus Battle of the Processors
• Vs Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3995WX
• Vs Ryzen Threadripper 3990X
• Vs EPYC 7702
• Vs EPYC 7763
• Vs EPYC 7713P
• Vs EPYC 75F3
• Vs EPYC 7713
• Vs EPYC 7742
• Vs Ryzen Threadripper 3970X
• Vs Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX
• Vs EPYC 7663

• Intel Core i9-12900K specs and review.

• AMD EPYC 7502 specs and review.