Intel Core i9-12900K vs AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Processor comparisons 22-07-2021

   For example you can't decide which processor to buy, you can make a decision by looking at the Intel Core i9-12900K vs AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3990X tests and decide which is better for games or simple use for rendering, streaming, programming, machine learning, video editing. Here you can find useful information from various benchmarks or real streaming and video editing tests. A thorough analysis of all the specifications, to make it easier to read, is summarized in the table.
   From the video comparison, you can get the results of joint testing in special testing software like Blender, 7zip, 3DMark, GeekBench 6, 5.2, SuperPi, MATLAB, DaVinci Resolve Studio, Gears 5, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), UserBenchmark, Handbrake, Prime95, VeraCrypt, Furmark, Dolphin Emulator, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, Blender, AIDA64, RealBench, PCMark 10, PassMark, WPrime.
   And how good the processors are in games:

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

After looking at the data of parallel benchmarks and videos, you can already make an informed decision about which processor is better to buy for gaming AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3990X 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%

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

74%

The number of this parameter shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Ryzen Threadripper 3990X is 9% 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%

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

71%

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

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	113.8	126.3
Valorant	129.3	143.5
Cyberpunk 2077	72.4	80.4
Apex Legends	121.5	134.9
Call of Duty Warzone	97.0	107.6
Overwatch	104.7	116.2
Red Dead Redemption 2	89.2	99.0
DOOM Eternal	64.6	71.8
Warzone	100.8	111.9
Assassin's Creed	108.6	120.6
Valheim	107.3	119.1

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 video cards and different amounts of RAM. But users also tested them at different screen resolutions: 2K, 4K 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

Core i9-12900K

97%

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

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 i9-12900K is more energy efficient than the Ryzen Threadripper 3990X since it has less power consumption: 125W vs. 280W. Power consumption is especially 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

Let's say you plan to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for machine learning, video editing or video rendering, streaming, programming, then the main parameter for you is its performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, to reach maximum efficiency, the processor includes 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 find out whether the program 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 run, and all the advantages 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 Ryzen Threadripper 3990X
Cinbench 15 Single-core	489	200
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	5150	10542
Cinbench 20 Single-core	816	495
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	11450	24763
Cinbench 23 Single-core	2896	1254
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	32950	74422

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

	Intel Core i9-12900K	AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3990X
Single-Core	7546	2528
Multi-Core	56332	81559

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

	Intel Core i9-12900K	AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3990X
Single-Core	3641	1341
Multi-Core	25262	37544

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 can be said about overclocking. If the processor can be overclocked, increasing its performance, then it will continue to maintain maximum FPS in new 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 i9-12900K	AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3990X
Announcement date	July 21, 2021	February 07, 2020
Type	Desktop	Desktop
Socket	FCLGA1700	sTRX4
Core name	Alder Lake	Castle Peak
Architecture	x86	Zen 2
Generation	12	3
Turbo Frequency	5.2 MHz	4.3 MHz
Frequency	3.9 MHz	2.9 MHz
Cores	16	64
Threads	24	128
Bus rate	16 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	7 nm	7 nm
Transistors count	12400 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	6400	3200
Memory bandwidth	76.8 GB/s
L1 cache	2 MB	4MB
L2 cache	14 MB	32MB
L3 cache	30 MB	256MB
Overclocking	No	Yes
Supports ECC	No	No
Part number		100-000000163 100-100000163WOF

In this comparison block, you should pay attention to the differences in clock speed and the number of cores. Here Core i9-12900K is 25% better than Ryzen Threadripper 3990X in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that Ryzen Threadripper 3990X has 48 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: 15
The number of parameters for which AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3990X is better: 22
Although it should be understood that all the number in the text above do not mean that taking them into account you should fully trust a simple comparison of these numbers. Be sure to watch the video tests and read the opinion of real owners of Intel Core i9-12900K and AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3990X before making a decision 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 Ryzen Threadripper 3990X specs and review.