CPU Showdown

Core i9-12900FvsRyzen Threadripper 9960X

The Core i9-12900F is a high-end desktop chip for gamers and everyday creators, while the Ryzen Threadripper 9960X is a workstation monster built for heavy rendering and multi-tasking pros.

Intel Core i9-12900F
16C / 24T · 65W
VS
AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9960X
24C / 48T · 350W
Intel

Core i9-12900F

Alder Lake-S · Intel 7 nm · 2022

21score
4.2/ 5
0 votes
Cores / Threads
16 / 24
TDP
65W
Boost Clock
5.1 GHz
L3 Cache
30 MB

As an Amazon Associate we may earn from qualifying purchases.

AMD

Ryzen Threadripper 9960X

Shimada Peak · 4 nm · 2025

56score
4.9/ 5
0 votes
Cores / Threads
24 / 48
TDP
350W
Boost Clock
5.3 GHz
L3 Cache
128 MB

As an Amazon Associate we may earn from qualifying purchases.

Aggregate Performance

Overall Performance Score

A unified score from combined synthetic and real-world benchmarks. 100 represents the fastest desktop CPU available.

Core i9-12900F
21
Ryzen Threadripper 9960XWinner
56
Ryzen Threadripper 9960X leads by 166.7% in aggregate performance.
Where they rank overall
#5Ryzen Threadripper 7970X60
#6Ryzen Threadripper 9960X56
#7Ryzen Threadripper 7960X50
#77Core i5-1460022
#78Core i9-12900F21
#79Ryzen 7 7700X21
Technical Specifications

Side-by-Side Specs

Every detail compared. Highlighted cells indicate the leading value for that metric.

SpecsCore i9-12900FRyzen Threadripper 9960X
Cores
Total Cores1624
Threads2448
Base Clock2.4 GHz4.2 GHz
Boost Clock5.1 GHz5.3 GHz
Cache
L2 Cache20 MB24 MB
L3 Cache30 MB128 MB
Platform
PCIePCIe 5.0 and 4.0PCIe 5.0
Power
Base TDP65W350W
General
Verdict

Which should you buy?

Winner overall

The Ryzen Threadripper 9960X wins overall for heavy multitasking and professional workloads with far more cores and cache.

Best value

For budget buyers, the Core i9-12900F offers a more affordable, efficient entry into high-performance computing.

When the other wins

The Core i9-12900F is the right choice for a quiet, low-power home office build where extreme multi-core speed isn't needed.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is the Core i9-12900F 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 21 out of 100), so it leads the Core i9-12900F in most workloads.

How much faster is the Ryzen Threadripper 9960X than the Core i9-12900F?

Based on our aggregated benchmark scores the Ryzen Threadripper 9960X is roughly 167% faster than the Core i9-12900F overall. The real-world gap varies by game, resolution and settings.

Which should you buy, the Core i9-12900F or the Ryzen Threadripper 9960X?

If you want the most performance, pick the Ryzen Threadripper 9960X. If the Core i9-12900F 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.