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Core i9-12900K vs Ryzen 9 7900X: Which is Better?

Nov 2021 Alder Lake vs Sep 2022 Ryzen 7000

The verdict

Ryzen 9 7900X wins

Ryzen 9 7900X comes out ahead of Core i9-12900K on overall performance, while the rest of the picture is more nuanced. Core i9-12900K runs 11.8% more efficient under the same productivity load than Ryzen 9 7900X. Ryzen 9 7900X leads in gaming workloads by 6.4% over Core i9-12900K. Use the interactive comparison tool above to weigh the trade-offs against your own workload mix.

Dimension-by-dimension

Tune this comparison to your own priorities

Adjust gaming, productivity, value, and efficiency weights and watch the verdict recompute live.

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Specifications

Spec Core i9-12900K Ryzen 9 7900X
Cores 16 12
Threads 24 24
Boost clock 5.2 GHz 5.6 GHz
Base clock 3.2 GHz 4.7 GHz
TDP 125 W 170 W
L2 cache 14 MB 12 MB
L3 cache 30 MB 64 MB
MSRP $589 $549
Process node Intel 7 TSMC N5
Socket LGA1700 AM5
Memory DDR5-4800 / DDR4-3200 DDR5-5200
Launched Nov 2021 Sep 2022

Benchmarks

BenchmarkCore i9-12900KRyzen 9 7900X
  • Multi-coreCinebench 2024· Cinebench 2024 nT
    +12.3%
    Core i9-12900K
    1,812
    Ryzen 9 7900X
    1,614
  • Single-coreCinebench 2024· Cinebench 2024 1T
    −7.0%
    Core i9-12900K
    119
    Ryzen 9 7900X
    128
  • Multi-coreGeekbench 6
    −5.8%
    Core i9-12900K
    18,256
    Ryzen 9 7900X
    19,385
  • Single-coreGeekbench 6
    −5.8%
    Core i9-12900K
    2,742
    Ryzen 9 7900X
    2,912

Bars are normalized to the highest score in our catalog for each metric. Hover any row for the source attribution.

Price analysis

Core i9-12900K MSRP
$589
Difference
+$40

Core i9-12900K costs more.

Ryzen 9 7900X MSRP
$549

Frequently asked

Is the Core i9-12900K better than the Ryzen 9 7900X?
Ryzen 9 7900X comes out ahead in our weighted scoring under default priorities (50% gaming, 50% productivity, 25% value, 25% efficiency). Use the comparison tool to weight by your own workload mix.
Which is better for gaming, the Core i9-12900K or the Ryzen 9 7900X?
Ryzen 9 7900X leads in gaming workloads by 6.4% over Core i9-12900K.
Which is faster for productivity, the Core i9-12900K or the Ryzen 9 7900X?
Productivity throughput is a wash between the two chips.
What is the price difference between the Core i9-12900K and the Ryzen 9 7900X?
The Core i9-12900K launched at $589, $40 more than the Ryzen 9 7900X at $549.

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