Intel Core i9-12900K vs AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3960X

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Combined performance score

Ryzen Threadripper 3960X
35.73
+32.6%

Ryzen Threadripper 3960X outperforms Core i9-12900K by 33% in our combined benchmark results.

General info

Comparing Ryzen Threadripper 3960X and Core i9-12900K processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in performance ranking83150
Place by popularitynot in top-10040
Value for money19.2556.54
Market segmentDesktop processorDesktop processor
SeriesAMD Ryzen ThreadripperIntel Core i9
Architecture codenameMatisse (2019−2020)Alder Lake-S (2022)
Release date25 November 2019 (4 years old)4 November 2021 (2 years old)
Launch price (MSRP)$1,399$589
Current price$1800 (1.3x MSRP)$478 (0.8x MSRP)
Value for money

Performance per price, higher is better.

i9-12900K has 194% better value for money than Ryzen Threadripper 3960X.

Technical specs

Ryzen Threadripper 3960X and Core i9-12900K 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 cores24 (Tetracosa-Core)16 (Hexadeca-Core)
Threads4824
Base clock speed3.8 GHz3.2 GHz
Boost clock speed4.5 GHz5.2 GHz
Bus support8 × 16 GT/sno data
L1 cache96K (per core)80K (per core)
L2 cache512K (per core)1.25 MB (per core)
L3 cache128 MB30 MB (shared)
Chip lithography7 nm, 12 nm10 nm
Die sizeno data215.25 mm2"20.5 mm × 10.5 mm
Maximum core temperatureno data100 °C
Maximum case temperature (TCase)no data72 °C
Number of transistors19,200 millionno data
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibility++
Unlocked multiplierYesYes

Compatibility

Information on Ryzen Threadripper 3960X and Core i9-12900K 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 configuration1 (Uniprocessor)1
SocketTR4FCLGA1700
Power consumption (TDP)280 Watt125 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Ryzen Threadripper 3960X and Core i9-12900K. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensionsno dataIntel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2
AES-NI++
AVX++
vProno data+
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)no data+
Speed Shiftno data+
Turbo Boost Technologyno data2.0
Hyper-Threading Technologyno data+
Idle Statesno data+
Thermal Monitoringno data+
SIPPno data+
Turbo Boost Max 3.0no data+
Statusno dataLaunched

Security technologies

Ryzen Threadripper 3960X and Core i9-12900K technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXTno data+
EDBno data+
Secure Keyno data+
OS Guardno data+

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Ryzen Threadripper 3960X and Core i9-12900K are enumerated here.

AMD-V+no data
VT-dno data+
VT-xno data+
EPTno data+

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Ryzen Threadripper 3960X and Core i9-12900K. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesDDR4 Eight-channelDDR4, DDR5
Maximum memory size256 GB128 GB
Max memory channels42
Maximum memory bandwidth102.403 GB/s76.8 GB/s
ECC memory support++

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics card-Intel UHD Graphics 770
Quick Sync Video-+
Clear Video HD-+
Graphics max frequency-1.55 GHz
Execution Units-32

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Ryzen Threadripper 3960X and Core i9-12900K integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supported-4

Graphics image quality

Maximum display resolutions supported by Ryzen Threadripper 3960X and Core i9-12900K integrated GPUs, including resolutions over different interfaces.

Max resolution over HDMI 1.4-4096 x 2160 @ 60Hz
Max resolution over eDP-5120 x 3200 @ 120Hz
Max resolution over DisplayPort-7680 x 4320 @ 60Hz

Graphics API support

APIs supported by Ryzen Threadripper 3960X and Core i9-12900K integrated GPUs, sometimes API versions are included.

DirectX-12
OpenGL-4.5

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Ryzen Threadripper 3960X and Core i9-12900K.

PCIe versionno data5.0 and 4.0
PCI Express lanesno data20

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.

Ryzen Threadripper 3960X 35.73
+32.6%
i9-12900K 26.94

Ryzen Threadripper 3960X outperforms Core i9-12900K by 33% in our combined benchmark results.


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.

Benchmark coverage: 68%

Ryzen Threadripper 3960X 54872
+32.6%
i9-12900K 41371

Ryzen Threadripper 3960X outperforms Core i9-12900K by 33% in Passmark.

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.

Benchmark coverage: 42%

Ryzen Threadripper 3960X 1667
i9-12900K 2621
+57.2%

Core i9-12900K outperforms Ryzen Threadripper 3960X by 57% in GeekBench 5 Single-Core.

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.

Benchmark coverage: 42%

Ryzen Threadripper 3960X 13318
i9-12900K 15452
+16%

Core i9-12900K outperforms Ryzen Threadripper 3960X by 16% in GeekBench 5 Multi-Core.

Gaming performance

Advantages and disadvantages


Performance score 35.73 26.94
Recency 25 November 2019 4 November 2021
Physical cores 24 16
Threads 48 24
Cost $1399 $589
Chip lithography 7 nm 10 nm
Power consumption (TDP) 280 Watt 125 Watt

The Ryzen Threadripper 3960X is our recommended choice as it beats the Core i9-12900K in performance tests.


Should you still have questions on choice between Ryzen Threadripper 3960X and Core i9-12900K, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

User ratings

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


AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3960X
Ryzen Threadripper 3960X
Intel Core i9-12900K
Core i9-12900K

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