Core i9-12900vsRyzen Threadripper 7970X
The Core i9-12900 is a mainstream desktop CPU for everyday computing and gaming, while the Ryzen Threadripper 7970X is a workstation monster built for heavy multi-threaded tasks like 3D rendering and video production.
Core i9-12900
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 wins overall for heavy multitasking and professional workloads, while the Core i9-12900 is better for everyday computing and gaming.
The Core i9-12900 is the smarter pick for budget/value buyers, offering solid performance at a much lower power draw.
The Core i9-12900 is the right choice for a quiet, energy-efficient home office PC where top-tier multi-core speed isn't needed.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Core i9-12900 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 20 out of 100), so it leads the Core i9-12900 in most workloads.
How much faster is the Ryzen Threadripper 7970X than the Core i9-12900?
Based on our aggregated benchmark scores the Ryzen Threadripper 7970X is roughly 200% faster than the Core i9-12900 overall. The real-world gap varies by game, resolution and settings.
Which should you buy, the Core i9-12900 or the Ryzen Threadripper 7970X?
If you want the most performance, pick the Ryzen Threadripper 7970X. If the Core i9-12900 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.