Intel Core i9-12900K vs AMD Ryzen 9 5950X

Processor comparisons 22-07-2021

   For example you are thinking about choosing a CPU, you will be able to make a choice by looking at the Intel Core i9-12900K vs AMD Ryzen 9 5950X tests and understand which is better for games or normal use for video editing, rendering, streaming, programming, machine learning. Here is all information from real video editing and streaming tests or various benchmarks. A step-by-step analysis of all the technical characteristics, to make it easier to understand, is made by the table.
   From the video comparison, you can get the results of parallel examination in special testing software like Furmark, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), Blender, Gears 5, MATLAB, Geekbench 5.2, PCMark 10, AIDA64, PassMark, Prime95, Dolphin Emulator, UserBenchmark, Blender, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, Handbrake, WPrime, VeraCrypt, 3DMark, 7zip, RealBench, SuperPi, DaVinci Resolve Studio.
   Gaming performance of processors in:

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

After looking at the data of parallel benchmarks and videos, you can already make an briefed decision about which processor is better to buy for gaming AMD Ryzen 9 5950X 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%

Ryzen 9 5950X

75%

This shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Core i9-12900K is 7% better than Ryzen 9 5950X. 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%

Ryzen 9 5950X

66%

The maximum result in this parameter is 100 percent, which is the performance of the most powerful processor at the moment. 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 little game result, just 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: The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Monster Hunter World, NBA 2K20, Battlefield V, Horizon Zero Dawn, Ghostrunner, Microsoft Flight Simulator, Metro Exodus, League of Legends (LOL), Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), Forza Horizon 4, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Control, DOTA 2A, Hitman 3, Half-Life: Alyx.

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	127.0	117.2
Valorant	144.4	133.1
Cyberpunk 2077	80.8	74.6
Apex Legends	135.7	125.1
Call of Duty Warzone	108.3	99.8
Overwatch	116.9	107.8
Red Dead Redemption 2	99.6	91.9
DOOM Eternal	72.2	66.6
Warzone	112.6	103.8
Assassin's Creed	121.3	111.8
Valheim	119.8	110.5

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 comparisons not only were the equipped with different video cards and different amounts of RAM. But users also tested them at different screen resolutions: 2K, FullHD or 4K. 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 i9-12900K

97%

Ryzen 9 5950X

57%

To make a final decision 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 5950X as it consumes less power: 125W vs. 105W. Power consumption is particularly 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

If you want to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for machine learning, programming, video editing or video rendering, streaming, then the main parameter for you is its performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, to achieve maximum efficiency, the processor uses all cores and threads that it has. You will learn this data from the benchmark tables below. Before you take into account the data from these tests, be sure to check whether the program 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

	Intel Core i9-12900K	AMD Ryzen 9 5950X
Cinbench 15 Single-core	489	277
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	5150	4569
Cinbench 20 Single-core	816	647
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	11450	10428
Cinbench 23 Single-core	2896	1639
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	32950	28641

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

	Intel Core i9-12900K	AMD Ryzen 9 5950X
Single-Core	7546	3455
Multi-Core	56332	46183

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

	Intel Core i9-12900K	AMD Ryzen 9 5950X
Single-Core	3641	1814
Multi-Core	25262	18863

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. When the processor can be overclocked, increasing its performance, then it will continue to maintain maximum FPS even in the newest games. The savings are obvious! Accordingly, you do not need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer.

	Intel Core i9-12900K	AMD Ryzen 9 5950X
Announcement date	July 21, 2021	November 05, 2020
Type	Desktop	Desktop
Socket	FCLGA1700	AM4
Core name	Alder Lake	Vermeer
Architecture	x86	Zen 3
Generation	12	5
Turbo Frequency	5.3 MHz	4.9 MHz
Frequency	3.9 MHz	3.4 MHz
Cores	16	16
Threads	32	32
Bus rate	16 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	10 nm	7 nm
Transistors count	12600 millions	9400 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	125 W	105 W
Memory type	DDR5-6400	DDR4
Max. Memory	256 Gb
Memory Frequency	6400	3200
Memory bandwidth	108 GB/s
L1 cache	2 MB
L2 cache	8 MB	8MB
L3 cache	30 MB	64MB
Overclocking	No	Yes
Supports ECC	No	No
Part number		100-000000059 100-100000059WOF

In this comparison block, you should pay attention to the differences in clock speed and the number of cores. Here Core i9-12900K is 12% better than Ryzen 9 5950X 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 Intel Core i9-12900K is better: 31
The number of parameters for which AMD Ryzen 9 5950X is better: 5
Although it should be understood that all the figures in the article above do not mean that taking them into account you should entirely trust a simple quantitative comparison. Better to watch the video tests and read the opinion of real owners of Intel Core i9-12900K and AMD Ryzen 9 5950X before deciding 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 Ryzen 9 5950X specs and review.