CPU Showdown

Core i5-12500EvsRyzen Threadripper 9970X

The Core i5-12500E is a practical, low-power chip for compact office builds, while the Ryzen Threadripper 9970X is a workstation monster built for heavy multi-threaded tasks.

Intel Core i5-12500E
6C / 12T · 65W
VS
AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9970X
32C / 64T · 350W
Intel

Core i5-12500E

Alder Lake-S · 10 nm · 2022

12score
2.7/ 5
0 votes
Cores / Threads
6 / 12
TDP
65W
Boost Clock
4.5 GHz
L3 Cache
18 MB

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AMD

Ryzen Threadripper 9970X

Shimada Peak · 4 nm · 2025

64score
4.4/ 5
0 votes
Cores / Threads
32 / 64
TDP
350W
Boost Clock
5.4 GHz
L3 Cache
128 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 i5-12500E
12
Ryzen Threadripper 9970XWinner
64
Ryzen Threadripper 9970X leads by 433.3% in aggregate performance.
Where they rank overall
#3Ryzen Threadripper 7980X82
#4Ryzen Threadripper 9970X64
#5Ryzen Threadripper 7970X60
#221Ryzen 7 4700G12
#222Core i5-12500E12
#223Core i5-1250012
Technical Specifications

Side-by-Side Specs

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

SpecsCore i5-12500ERyzen Threadripper 9970X
Cores
Total Cores632
Threads1264
Base Clock2.9 GHz4.0 GHz
Boost Clock4.5 GHz5.4 GHz
Cache
L2 Cache7.5 MB32 MB
L3 Cache18 MB128 MB
Platform
Socket1700sTR5
MemoryDDR4DDR5
PCIePCIe 5.0PCIe 5.0
iGPUIntel UHD Graphics 770
Power
Base TDP65W350W
General
Process10 nm4 nm
Verdict

Which should you buy?

Winner overall

The Ryzen Threadripper 9970X wins overall for high-end workstation users needing massive multi-core performance.

Best value

The Core i5-12500E is the smarter pick for budget buyers seeking a capable, low-power CPU for everyday tasks.

When the other wins

The Core i5-12500E is the right choice for a compact office PC where low heat and quiet operation matter more than raw power.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is the Core i5-12500E better than the Ryzen Threadripper 9970X?

Overall the Ryzen Threadripper 9970X is the stronger processor: it ranks higher in our aggregate performance score (64 vs 12 out of 100), so it leads the Core i5-12500E in most workloads.

How much faster is the Ryzen Threadripper 9970X than the Core i5-12500E?

Based on our aggregated benchmark scores the Ryzen Threadripper 9970X is roughly 433% faster than the Core i5-12500E overall. The real-world gap varies by game, resolution and settings.

Which should you buy, the Core i5-12500E or the Ryzen Threadripper 9970X?

If you want the most performance, pick the Ryzen Threadripper 9970X. If the Core i5-12500E 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.