Intel Core i9-12900KF vs AMD Ryzen 9 3950X

Processor comparisons 10-01-2022

   Let's say you can't decide which CPU to buy, you can make a choice after reading the detailed tests Intel Core i9-12900KF vs AMD Ryzen 9 3950X and decide which is better for games or simple use for machine learning, video editing, programming, streaming, rendering. Here is useful information from different benchmarks or real video editing and streaming tests. A step-by-step analysis of all the technical characteristics, to make it easier to understand, is presented in the form of the table.
   From the video comparison, you can get the results of joint testing in synthetic type tests like WPrime, Gears 5, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), RealBench, PCMark 10, UserBenchmark, AIDA64, 3DMark, MATLAB, VeraCrypt, PassMark, Blender, Handbrake, SuperPi, Blender, Prime95, Dolphin Emulator, 7zip, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, DaVinci Resolve Studio, GeekBench 6, 5.2, Furmark.
   And how good the processors are in games:

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

After looking at the data of joint benchmarks and videos, you already be able to understand which processor is better to buy for gaming AMD Ryzen 9 3950X or Intel Core i9-12900KF.

Summary benchmark results

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

Core i9-12900KF

66%

Ryzen 9 3950X

61%

The number of this parameter shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Core i9-12900KF is 7% better than Ryzen 9 3950X. The data source is several popular tests. More detailed information of the benchmarks is below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Core i9-12900KF

61%

Ryzen 9 3950X

58%

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 this processor costs several tens of thousands of dollars. Therefore, if you think that the selected CPU has a small 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: 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	108.9	103.7
Valorant	123.8	117.9
Cyberpunk 2077	69.3	66.0
Apex Legends	116.4	110.8
Call of Duty Warzone	92.8	88.4
Overwatch	100.3	95.5
Red Dead Redemption 2	85.4	81.3
DOOM Eternal	61.9	58.9
Warzone	96.5	91.9
Assassin's Creed	104.0	99.0
Valheim	102.7	97.8

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 that were in the comparisons not only did they have different video cards and different amounts of RAM. 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 get acquainted with the benchmarks that are made with the same video card that is installed in your computer.

Power consumption

Core i9-12900KF

52%

Ryzen 9 3950X

40%

To make a finishing choice 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 i9-12900KF is more energy efficient than the Ryzen 9 3950X since it has less power consumption: 125W vs. 105W. Power consumption is particularly important for laptops. Also, when choosing a processor cooling system, you must 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 streaming, machine learning, video editing or video rendering, programming, then the main parameter for you is its performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, to achieve maximum efficiency, the CPU turns on all cores and threads that it has. 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 run, 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 i9-12900KF	AMD Ryzen 9 3950X
Cinbench 15 Single-core	474	217
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	4996	3897
Cinbench 20 Single-core	792	531
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	11107	9148
Cinbench 23 Single-core	2809	1371
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	31962	24050

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

	Intel Core i9-12900KF	AMD Ryzen 9 3950X
Single-Core	7320	2718
Multi-Core	54642	39170

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

	Intel Core i9-12900KF	AMD Ryzen 9 3950X
Single-Core	1967	1286
Multi-Core	20514	15407

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the most helpful will be the release date of the processor and the possibility of overclocking it. The newer the processor, the longer it will last you. 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 the newest 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 i9-12900KF	AMD Ryzen 9 3950X
Announcement date	July 21, 2021	October 01, 2019
Type	Desktop	Desktop
Socket	FCLGA1700	AM4
Core name	Alder Lake	Matisse
Architecture	x86	Zen 2
Generation	12	3
Turbo Frequency	5.2 MHz	4.7 MHz
Frequency	3.9 MHz	3.5 MHz
Cores	16	16
Threads	24	32
Bus rate	16 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	7 nm	7 nm
Transistors count	12600 millions	7800 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	125 W	105 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	1MB
L2 cache	14 MB	8MB
L3 cache	30 MB	64MB
Overclocking	No	Yes
Supports ECC	No	No
Part number		100-000000051 100-100000051WOF

In this comparison block, you should pay attention to the differences in clock speed and the number of cores. Here Core i9-12900KF is 10% better than Ryzen 9 3950X 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 i9-12900KF is better: 31
The number of parameters for which AMD Ryzen 9 3950X is better: 5
Although it should be understood that all the data in the table above do not mean that taking them into account you should fully trust a simple comparison of these numbers. Be sure to watch benchmarks video and read the reviews of of people who bought Intel Core i9-12900KF and AMD Ryzen 9 3950X before making a selection which of the CPUs to buy for gaming.

Intel Core i9-12900KF - all data

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

• Intel Core i9-12900KF specs and review.

• AMD Ryzen 9 3950X specs and review.