Core i9-12900KSvsRyzen Threadripper 9960X
The Core i9-12900KS is a fast gaming and everyday desktop chip for mainstream builders, while the Ryzen Threadripper 9960X is a workstation monster for heavy multitasking and content creation.
Core i9-12900KS
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 heavy multi-threaded workloads with far more cores and cache.
For budget buyers, the Core i9-12900KS is the smarter pick offering strong single-core performance at a lower platform cost.
The Core i9-12900KS is the right choice for a gaming-focused build where high clock speeds matter more than extreme multi-threading.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Core i9-12900KS 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 26 out of 100), so it leads the Core i9-12900KS in most workloads.
How much faster is the Ryzen Threadripper 9960X than the Core i9-12900KS?
Based on our aggregated benchmark scores the Ryzen Threadripper 9960X is roughly 115% faster than the Core i9-12900KS overall. The real-world gap varies by game, resolution and settings.
Which should you buy, the Core i9-12900KS or the Ryzen Threadripper 9960X?
If you want the most performance, pick the Ryzen Threadripper 9960X. If the Core i9-12900KS 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.