AMD Ryzen 9 9950X vs Intel Core i9-12900K
93Single-core72.2
99Multi-core70.4
85.2Gamingspec-based63.8
15 spec wins — AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3 spec wins — Intel Core i9-12900K
InnoReviews verdict
AMD Ryzen 9 9950X wins this desktop processor face-off, 93.7 to 69.3, pulling ahead mainly in multi-core (+29) and single-core (+21). Intel Core i9-12900K still makes sense if its price or standout specs fit your needs better.
Which would you pick?
Key differences
Reasons to pick the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X
- Stronger single-core score: 93 vs 72
- Stronger multi-core score: 99 vs 70
- 113% higher L3 cache: 64 MB vs 30 MB
- 100% higher Performance cores: 16 vs 8
- 62% higher PassMark: 66,500 vs 41,103
Reasons to pick the Intel Core i9-12900K
- 26% lower Base TDP: 125 W vs 170 W
General
| Spec | AMD Ryzen 9 9950X | Intel Core i9-12900K |
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2024 | 2021 |
| Socket | AM5 | LGA1700 |
| Process | 4 nm+60% | 10 nm |
| Base TDP | 170 W | 125 W+26% |
| Max turbo power | 230 W | 241 W+5% |
| Unlocked multiplier | Yes | Yes |
| Cooler included | No | No |
Cores & Clocks
| Spec | AMD Ryzen 9 9950X | Intel Core i9-12900K |
|---|---|---|
| Cores | 16 | 16 |
| Performance cores | 16+100% | 8 |
| Efficiency cores | 0 | 8 |
| Threads | 32+33% | 24 |
| Base clock | 4.3 GHz+34% | 3.2 GHz |
| Boost clock | 5.7 GHz+10% | 5.2 GHz |
| L2 cache | 16 MB+14% | 14 MB |
| L3 cache | 64 MB+113% | 30 MB |
Integrated GPU
| Spec | AMD Ryzen 9 9950X | Intel Core i9-12900K |
|---|---|---|
| iGPU | AMD Radeon Graphics (2 CU RDNA 2) | Intel UHD Graphics 770 |
| iGPU clock | 2,200 MHz | 1,550 MHz |
Memory
| Spec | AMD Ryzen 9 9950X | Intel Core i9-12900K |
|---|---|---|
| Memory support | DDR5-5600 | DDR5-4800 / DDR4-3200 |
| Max memory | 192 GB+50% | 128 GB |
| Memory channels | 2 | 2 |
Platform
| Spec | AMD Ryzen 9 9950X | Intel Core i9-12900K |
|---|---|---|
| PCIe version | 5 | 5 |
| CPU PCIe lanes | 28+40% | 20 |
Benchmarks
| Spec | AMD Ryzen 9 9950X | Intel Core i9-12900K |
|---|---|---|
| Geekbench 6 (single) | 3,400+25%Top 2% | 2,715Top 32% |
| Geekbench 6 (multi) | 23,000+32%Top 2% | 17,450Top 24% |
| Cinebench R23 (single) | 2,280+20%Top 4% | 1,903Top 30% |
| Cinebench R23 (multi) | 42,000+60%Top 5% | 26,229Top 19% |
| PassMark | 66,500+62%Top 4% | 41,103Top 24% |
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