Core i9-12900vsRyzen Threadripper 9980X
The Core i9-12900 is a mainstream desktop chip built for everyday gaming and productivity, while the Ryzen Threadripper 9980X is a workstation monster aimed at professionals who need massive multi-threaded power.
Core i9-12900
Alder Lake-S · Intel 7 nm · 2022
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Ryzen Threadripper 9980X
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 9980X wins overall for its vastly higher core count and performance in demanding workloads.
For budget/value buyers, the Core i9-12900 is the smarter pick, offering solid everyday performance at a fraction of the power and cost.
The Core i9-12900 is the right choice for a quiet home office PC where low heat and moderate multitasking matter more than extreme processing muscle.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Core i9-12900 better than the Ryzen Threadripper 9980X?
Overall the Ryzen Threadripper 9980X is the stronger processor: it ranks higher in our aggregate performance score (86 vs 20 out of 100), so it leads the Core i9-12900 in most workloads.
How much faster is the Ryzen Threadripper 9980X than the Core i9-12900?
Based on our aggregated benchmark scores the Ryzen Threadripper 9980X is roughly 330% 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 9980X?
If you want the most performance, pick the Ryzen Threadripper 9980X. 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.