CPU Showdown

Core i5-12490FvsRyzen Threadripper 7980X

The Core i5-12490F is a sensible, affordable 6-core gaming chip for everyday builders, while the Ryzen Threadripper 7980X is a monstrous 64-core workstation processor for professionals tackling massive rendering or simulation workloads.

Intel Core i5-12490F
6C / 12T · 65W
VS
AMD Ryzen Threadripper 7980X
64C / 128T · 350W
Intel

Core i5-12490F

Alder Lake-S · 10 nm · 2022

12score
4.5/ 5
0 votes
Cores / Threads
6 / 12
TDP
65W
Boost Clock
4.6 GHz
L3 Cache
20 MB

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AMD

Ryzen Threadripper 7980X

Storm Peak · 5 nm · 2023

82score
3.7/ 5
0 votes
Cores / Threads
64 / 128
TDP
350W
Boost Clock
5.1 GHz
L3 Cache
256 MB

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Aggregate Performance

Overall Performance Score

A unified score from combined synthetic and real-world benchmarks. 100 represents the fastest desktop CPU available.

Core i5-12490F
12
Ryzen Threadripper 7980XWinner
82
Ryzen Threadripper 7980X leads by 583.3% in aggregate performance.
Where they rank overall
#2Ryzen Threadripper 9980X86
#3Ryzen Threadripper 7980X82
#4Ryzen Threadripper 9970X64
#214Ryzen 5 PRO 5650G12
#215Core i5-12490F12
#216Ryzen 5 5500X3D12
Technical Specifications

Side-by-Side Specs

Every detail compared. Highlighted cells indicate the leading value for that metric.

SpecsCore i5-12490FRyzen Threadripper 7980X
Cores
Total Cores664
Threads12128
Base Clock3.0 GHz3.2 GHz
Boost Clock4.6 GHz5.1 GHz
Cache
L2 Cache7.5 MB64 MB
L3 Cache20 MB256 MB
Platform
Socket1700sTR5
MemoryDDR4DDR5
PCIePCIe 5.0PCIe 5.0
Power
Base TDP65W350W
General
Process10 nm5 nm
Verdict

Which should you buy?

Winner overall

The Ryzen Threadripper 7980X wins overall for heavy multitasking and professional workloads, while the Core i5-12490F is better for budget gaming and light tasks.

Best value

For budget or value buyers, the Core i5-12490F is the smarter pick due to its lower cost and sufficient speed for everyday use.

When the other wins

The weaker Core i5-12490F is the right choice for a basic office PC where extreme multi-core power is unnecessary.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is the Core i5-12490F better than the Ryzen Threadripper 7980X?

Overall the Ryzen Threadripper 7980X is the stronger processor: it ranks higher in our aggregate performance score (82 vs 12 out of 100), so it leads the Core i5-12490F in most workloads.

How much faster is the Ryzen Threadripper 7980X than the Core i5-12490F?

Based on our aggregated benchmark scores the Ryzen Threadripper 7980X is roughly 583% faster than the Core i5-12490F overall. The real-world gap varies by game, resolution and settings.

Which should you buy, the Core i5-12490F or the Ryzen Threadripper 7980X?

If you want the most performance, pick the Ryzen Threadripper 7980X. If the Core i5-12490F 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.