AMD Ryzen 9 3900 vs Intel Core i5-12600K
43.1Single-core65.2
50.6Multi-core50.8
76.5Gamingspec-based52.1
6 spec wins — AMD Ryzen 9 39006 spec wins — Intel Core i5-12600K
InnoReviews verdict
This one is close to a dead heat: AMD Ryzen 9 3900 scores 54.8 against 55.4 for Intel Core i5-12600K. Pick by the categories that matter to you — Intel Core i5-12600K edges ahead in single-core and multi-core, or by price.
Which would you pick?
Key differences
Reasons to pick the AMD Ryzen 9 3900
- 220% higher L3 cache: 64 MB vs 20 MB
- 50% higher threads: 24 vs 16
- 48% lower Base TDP: 65 W vs 125 W
- 30% lower process: 7 nm vs 10 nm
- 20% higher cores: 12 vs 10
Reasons to pick the Intel Core i5-12600K
- Stronger single-core score: 65 vs 43
- 58% higher L2 cache: 10 MB vs 6 MB
- 50% higher PassMark (single thread): 3,917 vs 2,605
- 25% higher PCIe version: 5 vs 4
- 19% higher Base clock: 3.7 GHz vs 3.1 GHz
General
| Spec | AMD Ryzen 9 3900 | Intel Core i5-12600K |
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2019 | 2021 |
| Socket | AM4 | LGA1700 |
| Process | 7 nm+30% | 10 nm |
| Base TDP | 65 W+48% | 125 W |
| Max turbo power | — | 150 W |
| Unlocked multiplier | Yes | Yes |
| Cooler included | — | No |
Cores & Clocks
| Spec | AMD Ryzen 9 3900 | Intel Core i5-12600K |
|---|---|---|
| Cores | 12+20% | 10 |
| Performance cores | — | 6 |
| Efficiency cores | — | 4 |
| Threads | 24+50% | 16 |
| Base clock | 3.1 GHz | 3.7 GHz+19% |
| Boost clock | 4.3 GHz | 4.9 GHz+14% |
| L2 cache | 6 MB | 10 MB+58% |
| L3 cache | 64 MB+220% | 20 MB |
Integrated GPU
| Spec | AMD Ryzen 9 3900 | Intel Core i5-12600K |
|---|---|---|
| iGPU | — | Intel UHD Graphics 770 |
| iGPU clock | — | 1,450 MHz |
Memory
| Spec | AMD Ryzen 9 3900 | Intel Core i5-12600K |
|---|---|---|
| Memory support | DDR4-3200 | DDR5-4800 / DDR4-3200 |
| Max memory | — | 128 GB |
| Memory channels | 2 | 2 |
Platform
| Spec | AMD Ryzen 9 3900 | Intel Core i5-12600K |
|---|---|---|
| PCIe version | 4 | 5+25% |
| CPU PCIe lanes | — | 20 |
Benchmarks
| Spec | AMD Ryzen 9 3900 | Intel Core i5-12600K |
|---|---|---|
| Geekbench 6 (single) | 1,735Bottom 43% | — |
| Geekbench 6 (multi) | 9,504Bottom 50% | — |
| Cinebench R23 (single) | — | 1,809Top 41% |
| Cinebench R23 (multi) | — | 16,878Top 40% |
| PassMark | 30,545+11%Top 35% | 27,501Top 40% |
| PassMark (single thread) | 2,605Bottom 24% | 3,917+50%Top 33% |
Related comparisons
AMD Ryzen 9 3900vs AMD Ryzen 5 8400FVSAMD Ryzen 9 3900vs AMD Ryzen 7 5700X3DVSAMD Ryzen 9 3900vs AMD Ryzen 9 3900XVSAMD Ryzen 9 3900vs Intel Core i5-13500VSIntel Core i5-12600Kvs Intel Core i5-13500VSIntel Core i5-12600Kvs AMD Ryzen 9 3900XVSIntel Core i5-12600Kvs AMD Ryzen 5 8400FVSIntel Core i5-12600Kvs AMD Ryzen 7 5700X3DVS