CPU Showdown

Core i9-12900KFvsRyzen Threadripper 7980X

The Core i9-12900KF is a mainstream gaming and productivity chip for enthusiasts, while the Ryzen Threadripper 7980X is a workstation monster for content creators and heavy multitaskers.

Intel Core i9-12900KF
16C / 24T · 125W
VS
AMD Ryzen Threadripper 7980X
64C / 128T · 350W
Intel

Core i9-12900KF

Alder Lake, Golden Cove, Gracemont · Intel 7 nm · 2021

24score
4.2/ 5
0 votes
Cores / Threads
16 / 24
TDP
125W
Boost Clock
5.2 GHz
L3 Cache
6 MB

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AMD

Ryzen Threadripper 7980X

Storm Peak · 5 nm · 2023

82score
3.7/ 5
0 votes
Cores / Threads
64 / 128
TDP
350W
Boost Clock
5.1 GHz
L3 Cache
256 MB

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Aggregate Performance

Overall Performance Score

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

Core i9-12900KF
24
Ryzen Threadripper 7980XWinner
82
Ryzen Threadripper 7980X leads by 241.7% in aggregate performance.
Where they rank overall
#2Ryzen Threadripper 9980X86
#3Ryzen Threadripper 7980X82
#4Ryzen Threadripper 9970X64
#56Core i9-12900K25
#57Core i9-12900KF24
#58Core i7-1470024
Technical Specifications

Side-by-Side Specs

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

SpecsCore i9-12900KFRyzen Threadripper 7980X
Cores
Total Cores1664
Threads24128
Base Clock3.2 GHz3.2 GHz
Boost Clock5.2 GHz5.1 GHz
Cache
L2 Cache4 MB64 MB
L3 Cache6 MB256 MB
Platform
PCIePCIe 5.0 and 4.0PCIe 5.0
Power
Base TDP125W350W
Verdict

Which should you buy?

Winner overall

The Ryzen Threadripper 7980X dominates the Core i9-12900KF overall for heavy multi-threaded tasks thanks to far more cores and cache.

Best value

For budget and value buyers, the Core i9-12900KF is the smarter pick, offering strong performance at a much lower cost.

When the other wins

The Core i9-12900KF is the right choice for a gaming-focused PC where single-threaded speed matters more than extreme multi-core power.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is the Core i9-12900KF better than the Ryzen Threadripper 7980X?

Overall the Ryzen Threadripper 7980X is the stronger processor: it ranks higher in our aggregate performance score (82 vs 24 out of 100), so it leads the Core i9-12900KF in most workloads.

How much faster is the Ryzen Threadripper 7980X than the Core i9-12900KF?

Based on our aggregated benchmark scores the Ryzen Threadripper 7980X is roughly 242% faster than the Core i9-12900KF overall. The real-world gap varies by game, resolution and settings.

Which should you buy, the Core i9-12900KF or the Ryzen Threadripper 7980X?

If you want the most performance, pick the Ryzen Threadripper 7980X. If the Core i9-12900KF 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.