EPYC 9254 vs i9-12900K

VS

Aggregate performance score

Core i9-12900K
2021
16 cores / 24 threads, 125 Watt
27.10
EPYC 9254
2022
24 cores / 48 threads, 200 Watt
44.33
+63.6%

EPYC 9254 outperforms Core i9-12900K by an impressive 64% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

Comparing Core i9-12900K and EPYC 9254 processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking18252
Place by popularitynot in top-100not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluation37.6816.30
Market segmentDesktop processorServer
SeriesIntel Core i9AMD EPYC
Power efficiency19.7720.21
Architecture codenameAlder Lake, Golden Cove, Gracemont (2021)Genoa (2022−2023)
Release date27 October 2021 (3 years ago)10 November 2022 (1 year ago)
Launch price (MSRP)$589$2,299

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

i9-12900K has 131% better value for money than EPYC 9254.

Detailed specifications

Core i9-12900K and EPYC 9254 basic parameters such as number of cores, number of threads, base frequency and turbo boost clock, lithography, cache size and multiplier lock state. These parameters indirectly say of CPU speed, though for more precise assessment you have to consider their test results.

Physical cores16 (Hexadeca-Core)24 (Tetracosa-Core)
Threads2448
Base clock speed3.2 GHz2.9 GHz
Boost clock speed5.2 GHz2.9 GHz
Bus typeDMI 4.0no data
Bus rate8 × 16 GT/sno data
Multiplier3229
L1 cache768 KB1536 KB
L2 cache4 MB24 MB
L3 cache6 MB128 MB (shared)
Chip lithography10 nm5 nm, 6 nm
Die size215.25 mm2"4x 72 mm2
Maximum core temperature100 °Cno data
Maximum case temperature (TCase)72 °Cno data
Number of transistorsno data26,280 million
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibility+no data
Unlocked multiplier+-

Compatibility

Information on Core i9-12900K and EPYC 9254 compatibility with other computer components: motherboard (look for socket type), power supply unit (look for power consumption) etc. Useful when planning a future computer configuration or upgrading an existing one. Note that power consumption of some processors can well exceed their nominal TDP, even without overclocking. Some can even double their declared thermals given that the motherboard allows to tune the CPU power parameters.

Number of CPUs in a configuration12
SocketFCLGA1700SP5
Power consumption (TDP)125 Watt200 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i9-12900K and EPYC 9254. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensionsIntel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2no data
AES-NI++
AVX++
vPro+no data
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)+no data
Speed Shift+no data
Turbo Boost Technology2.0no data
Hyper-Threading Technology+no data
Idle States+no data
Thermal Monitoring+-
SIPP+-
Turbo Boost Max 3.0+no data
Precision Boost 2no data+
Deep Learning Boost+-

Security technologies

Core i9-12900K and EPYC 9254 technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXT+no data
EDB+no data
Secure Key+no data
OS Guard+no data

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i9-12900K and EPYC 9254 are enumerated here.

AMD-V-+
VT-d+no data
VT-x+no data
EPT+no data

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i9-12900K and EPYC 9254. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesDDR4, DDR5DDR5-4800
Maximum memory size128 GB6 TiB
Max memory channels2no data
Maximum memory bandwidth76.805 GB/s460.8 GB/s
ECC memory support+-

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics cardIntel UHD Graphics 770no data
Quick Sync Video+-
Clear Video HD+no data
Graphics max frequency1.55 GHzno data
Execution Units32no data

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core i9-12900K and EPYC 9254 integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supported4no data

Graphics image quality

Maximum display resolutions supported by Core i9-12900K and EPYC 9254 integrated GPUs, including resolutions over different interfaces.

Max resolution over HDMI 1.44096 x 2160 @ 60Hzno data
Max resolution over eDP5120 x 3200 @ 120Hzno data
Max resolution over DisplayPort7680 x 4320 @ 60Hzno data

Graphics API support

APIs supported by Core i9-12900K and EPYC 9254 integrated GPUs, sometimes API versions are included.

DirectX12no data
OpenGL4.5no data

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i9-12900K and EPYC 9254.

PCIe version5.0 and 4.05.0
PCI Express lanes20128

Synthetic benchmark performance

Various benchmark results of the processors in comparison. Overall score is measured in points in 0-100 range, higher is better.


Combined synthetic benchmark score

This is our combined benchmark performance rating. We are regularly improving our combining algorithms, but if you find some perceived inconsistencies, feel free to speak up in comments section, we usually fix problems quickly.

i9-12900K 27.10
EPYC 9254 44.33
+63.6%

Passmark

Passmark CPU Mark is a widespread benchmark, consisting of 8 different types of workload, including integer and floating point math, extended instructions, compression, encryption and physics calculation. There is also one separate single-threaded scenario measuring single-core performance.

i9-12900K 41473
EPYC 9254 67847
+63.6%

GeekBench 5 Single-Core

GeekBench 5 Single-Core is a cross-platform application developed in the form of CPU tests that independently recreate certain real-world tasks with which to accurately measure performance. This version uses only a single CPU core.

i9-12900K 2654
+24%
EPYC 9254 2140

GeekBench 5 Multi-Core

GeekBench 5 Multi-Core is a cross-platform application developed in the form of CPU tests that independently recreate certain real-world tasks with which to accurately measure performance. This version uses all available CPU cores.

i9-12900K 15564
EPYC 9254 17738
+14%

Gaming performance

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 27.10 44.33
Recency 27 October 2021 10 November 2022
Physical cores 16 24
Threads 24 48
Chip lithography 10 nm 5 nm
Power consumption (TDP) 125 Watt 200 Watt

i9-12900K has 60% lower power consumption.

EPYC 9254, on the other hand, has a 63.6% higher aggregate performance score, an age advantage of 1 year, 50% more physical cores and 100% more threads, and a 100% more advanced lithography process.

The EPYC 9254 is our recommended choice as it beats the Core i9-12900K in performance tests.

Note that Core i9-12900K is a desktop processor while EPYC 9254 is a server/workstation one.


Should you still have questions on choice between Core i9-12900K and EPYC 9254, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

Vote for your favorite

Do you think we are right or mistaken in our choice? Vote by clicking "Like" button near your favorite CPU.


Intel Core i9-12900K
Core i9-12900K
AMD EPYC 9254
EPYC 9254

Similar processor comparisons

We picked several similar comparisons of processors in the same market segment and performance relatively close to those reviewed on this page.

Community ratings

Here you can see how users rate the processors, as well as rate them yourself.


3.9 1580 votes

Rate Core i9-12900K on a scale of 1 to 5:

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5

No user ratings yet.

Rate EPYC 9254 on a scale of 1 to 5:

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5

Questions & comments

Here you can ask a question about Core i9-12900K or EPYC 9254, agree or disagree with our judgements, or report an error or mismatch.