Core i5-12600vsRyzen Threadripper 7970X
The Core i5-12600 is a sensible, everyday CPU for general computing and light gaming, while the Ryzen Threadripper 7970X is a workstation monster built for heavy rendering and multi-threaded tasks.
Core i5-12600
Alder Lake-S · Intel 7 nm · 2022
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Ryzen Threadripper 7970X
Storm Peak · 5 nm · 2023
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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 7970X is the clear winner overall for heavy multithreaded workloads, leaving the Core i5-12600 far behind.
For budget buyers, the Core i5-12600 is the smarter pick, offering strong everyday performance at a fraction of the cost and power use.
If you're building a simple home office PC or light gaming rig, the Core i5-12600 is the right choice over the overpowered Threadripper.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Core i5-12600 better than the Ryzen Threadripper 7970X?
Overall the Ryzen Threadripper 7970X is the stronger processor: it ranks higher in our aggregate performance score (60 vs 13 out of 100), so it leads the Core i5-12600 in most workloads.
How much faster is the Ryzen Threadripper 7970X than the Core i5-12600?
Based on our aggregated benchmark scores the Ryzen Threadripper 7970X is roughly 362% faster than the Core i5-12600 overall. The real-world gap varies by game, resolution and settings.
Which should you buy, the Core i5-12600 or the Ryzen Threadripper 7970X?
If you want the most performance, pick the Ryzen Threadripper 7970X. If the Core i5-12600 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.