Intel Core i9-12900K vs AMD EPYC 7663

Processor comparisons 22-07-2021

   If you have difficulties with the choice of a CPU, you will solve them by reading the full tests Intel Core i9-12900K vs AMD EPYC 7663 and see which is better for games or simple use for video editing, streaming, rendering, machine learning, programming. Here is useful information from real streaming and video editing tests or various benchmarks. A step-by-step analysis of all the technical characteristics, to make it easier to understand, is summarized in the table.
   From the video comparison, you can get the results of joint testing in synthetic type tests like 3DMark, UserBenchmark, PCMark 10, Blender, VeraCrypt, GeekBench 6, 5.2, Dolphin Emulator, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, PassMark, AIDA64, WPrime, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), Blender, Furmark, SuperPi, 7zip, RealBench, Handbrake, DaVinci Resolve Studio, Prime95, MATLAB, Gears 5.
   And how good the processors are in games:

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

After looking at the data these benchmarks and videos, you can already make an briefed decision about which CPU is better to buy for gaming AMD EPYC 7663 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

67%

EPYC 7663

68%

This parameter shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, EPYC 7663 is 1% better than Core i9-12900K. The data source is several popular tests. More detailed information of the benchmarks is below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Core i9-12900K

64%

EPYC 7663

76%

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 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 small game result, just 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: Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, Hitman 3, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), Forza Horizon 4, Metro Exodus, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), Microsoft Flight Simulator, Horizon Zero Dawn, NBA 2K20, Half-Life: Alyx, Ghostrunner, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, League of Legends (LOL), Control, Monster Hunter World, DOTA 2A, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Battlefield V.

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	113.8	135.1
Valorant	129.3	153.5
Cyberpunk 2077	72.4	86.0
Apex Legends	121.5	144.3
Call of Duty Warzone	97.0	115.1
Overwatch	104.7	124.3
Red Dead Redemption 2	89.2	105.9
DOOM Eternal	64.6	76.8
Warzone	100.8	119.7
Assassin's Creed	108.6	128.9
Valheim	107.3	127.4

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: 2K, FullHD or 4K. 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 compare it in one assembly with the video card that is installed in your computer.

Power consumption

Core i9-12900K

97%

EPYC 7663

12%

To make a finishing resolution 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 7663 as it consumes less power: 125W vs. 240W. 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

For example you plan to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for video editing or video rendering, machine learning, programming, streaming, then the main parameter for you is its performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, the CPU turns on 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 you take into account the data from these tests, be sure to make sure that the program 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 7663
Cinbench 15 Single-core	489	184
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	5150	7606
Cinbench 20 Single-core	816	347
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	11450	16121
Cinbench 23 Single-core	2896	852
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	32950	41920

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

	Intel Core i9-12900K	AMD EPYC 7663
Single-Core	7546	1794
Multi-Core	56332	61492

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

	Intel Core i9-12900K	AMD EPYC 7663
Single-Core	3641	874
Multi-Core	25262	46160

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 in your computer. And the easier it will be to upgrade the system in the future. The same benefits from the presence of overclocking. When the processor can be overclocked, thereby increasing its performance, then it will continue to maintain maximum FPS in new games. The economy are obvious! Accordingly, you do not need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer.

	Intel Core i9-12900K	AMD EPYC 7663
Announcement date	July 21, 2021	March 15, 2021
Type	Desktop	Server
Socket	FCLGA1700	SP3
Core name	Alder Lake	Milan
Architecture	x86	Zen 3
Generation	12	3
Turbo Frequency	5.2 MHz	3.5 MHz
Frequency	3.9 MHz	2 MHz
Cores	16	56
Threads	24	112
Bus rate	16 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	7 nm	7 nm
Transistors count	12400 millions	78000 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	125 W	240 W
Memory type	Up to DDR5 4800 MT/s Up to DDR4 3200 MT/s	DDR4
Max. Memory	128 Gb
Memory Frequency	6400	3200
Memory bandwidth	76.8 GB/s	204.8 GB/s
L1 cache	2 MB
L2 cache	14 MB
L3 cache	30 MB	256MB
Overclocking	No	No
Supports ECC	No	No
Part number		100-000000318 100-100000318WOF

In this comparison block, you should pay attention to the differences in clock speed and the number of cores. Here Core i9-12900K is 48% better than EPYC 7663 in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that EPYC 7663 has 40 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: 17
The number of parameters for which AMD EPYC 7663 is better: 19
However, it should be realized that all the data in the table above do not mean that taking them into account you should completely trust a simple quantitative comparison. Better to watch benchmarks video and read the opinion of of people who bought Intel Core i9-12900K and AMD EPYC 7663 before making a selection which of the processors to buy for gaming.

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.

AMD EPYC 7663 - all data

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

• AMD EPYC 7663 specs and review.