Core i9-12900vsRyzen Threadripper 9960X
The Core i9-12900 is a mainstream desktop chip for gamers and general users, while the Ryzen Threadripper 9960X is a workstation beast for heavy multitasking and content creation.
Core i9-12900
Alder Lake-S · Intel 7 nm · 2022
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Ryzen Threadripper 9960X
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 9960X wins overall for its much higher performance and more cores, leaving the Core i9-12900 behind.
For budget buyers, the Core i9-12900 is the smarter pick due to its far lower power draw and cost.
The Core i9-12900 is the right choice for a quiet, energy-efficient office PC where raw multi-threaded power isn't needed.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Core i9-12900 better than the Ryzen Threadripper 9960X?
Overall the Ryzen Threadripper 9960X is the stronger processor: it ranks higher in our aggregate performance score (56 vs 20 out of 100), so it leads the Core i9-12900 in most workloads.
How much faster is the Ryzen Threadripper 9960X than the Core i9-12900?
Based on our aggregated benchmark scores the Ryzen Threadripper 9960X is roughly 180% 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 9960X?
If you want the most performance, pick the Ryzen Threadripper 9960X. 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.