Core i5-12600vsRyzen Threadripper 9970X
The Core i5-12600 is a sensible, everyday chip for mainstream builders and gamers, while the Ryzen Threadripper 9970X is a workstation monster aimed at pros running heavy multi-threaded tasks.
Core i5-12600
Alder Lake-S · Intel 7 nm · 2022
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Ryzen Threadripper 9970X
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 9970X wins overall for heavy multitasking and professional workloads, while the Core i5-12600 is a sensible choice for everyday computing.
For budget buyers, the Core i5-12600 offers a lower-cost, energy-efficient option, whereas the Threadripper 9970X costs more but provides many more cores.
The Core i5-12600 is the right pick for a home office PC where quiet operation and low power draw matter more than extreme multi-threaded speed.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Core i5-12600 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 13 out of 100), so it leads the Core i5-12600 in most workloads.
How much faster is the Ryzen Threadripper 9970X than the Core i5-12600?
Based on our aggregated benchmark scores the Ryzen Threadripper 9970X is roughly 392% 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 9970X?
If you want the most performance, pick the Ryzen Threadripper 9970X. 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.