Core i3-12300vsRyzen Threadripper 9980X
The Core i3-12300 is a simple, affordable chip for everyday computing and light gaming, while the Ryzen Threadripper 9980X is a workstation monster built for heavy rendering and massive multitasking.
Core i3-12300
Alder Lake-S · Intel 7 nm · 2022
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Ryzen Threadripper 9980X
Shimada Peak · 4 nm · 2025
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Overall Performance Score
A unified score from combined synthetic and real-world benchmarks. 100 represents the fastest desktop CPU available.
Side-by-Side Specs
Every detail compared. Highlighted cells indicate the leading value for that metric.
Which should you buy?
The Ryzen Threadripper 9980X wins overall for its vastly superior multi-core performance and massive memory cache, leaving the Core i3-12300 far behind for demanding tasks.
For budget buyers, the Core i3-12300 is the smarter pick with lower power draw and adequate performance for basic computing needs.
The Core i3-12300 is the right choice for a simple office PC where extreme processing power is unnecessary and efficiency matters.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Core i3-12300 better than the Ryzen Threadripper 9980X?
Overall the Ryzen Threadripper 9980X is the stronger processor: it ranks higher in our aggregate performance score (86 vs 9 out of 100), so it leads the Core i3-12300 in most workloads.
How much faster is the Ryzen Threadripper 9980X than the Core i3-12300?
Based on our aggregated benchmark scores the Ryzen Threadripper 9980X is roughly 856% faster than the Core i3-12300 overall. The real-world gap varies by game, resolution and settings.
Which should you buy, the Core i3-12300 or the Ryzen Threadripper 9980X?
If you want the most performance, pick the Ryzen Threadripper 9980X. If the Core i3-12300 is meaningfully cheaper where you shop, it can be the better value for similar real-world results — check current prices and the full spec comparison above before deciding.