CPU Showdown

Core i9-12900TvsRyzen Threadripper 9980X

The Core i9-12900T is a low-power desktop chip for compact, quiet builds, while the Ryzen Threadripper 9980X is a high-core-count workstation monster for heavy multi-threaded tasks.

Intel Core i9-12900T
16C / 24T · 35W
VS
AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9980X
64C / 128T · 350W
Intel

Core i9-12900T

Alder Lake-S · Intel 7 nm · 2022

17score
4.5/ 5
0 votes
Cores / Threads
16 / 24
TDP
35W
Boost Clock
4.9 GHz
L3 Cache
30 MB

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AMD

Ryzen Threadripper 9980X

Shimada Peak · 4 nm · 2025

86score
3.9/ 5
0 votes
Cores / Threads
64 / 128
TDP
350W
Boost Clock
5.4 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 i9-12900T
17
Ryzen Threadripper 9980XWinner
86
Ryzen Threadripper 9980X leads by 405.9% in aggregate performance.
Where they rank overall
#1EPYC 9755100
#2Ryzen Threadripper 9980X86
#3Ryzen Threadripper 7980X82
#117Ryzen Threadripper 2950X18
#118Core i9-12900T17
#119Ryzen 7 PRO 8845HS17
Technical Specifications

Side-by-Side Specs

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

SpecsCore i9-12900TRyzen Threadripper 9980X
Cores
Total Cores1664
Threads24128
Base Clock1.4 GHz3.2 GHz
Boost Clock4.9 GHz5.4 GHz
Cache
L2 Cache20 MB64 MB
L3 Cache30 MB256 MB
Platform
PCIePCIe 5.0 and 4.0PCIe 5.0
iGPUIntel UHD Graphics 770
Power
Base TDP35W350W
General
Verdict

Which should you buy?

Winner overall

The Ryzen Threadripper 9980X wins overall for heavy workloads needing massive multi-core power, while the Core i9-12900T is a low-power alternative for basic tasks.

Best value

For budget buyers, the Core i9-12900T is the smarter pick due to its much lower power draw and adequate performance for everyday computing.

When the other wins

The Core i9-12900T is the right choice in a compact, quiet home server where energy efficiency and low heat output matter more than raw speed.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is the Core i9-12900T 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 17 out of 100), so it leads the Core i9-12900T in most workloads.

How much faster is the Ryzen Threadripper 9980X than the Core i9-12900T?

Based on our aggregated benchmark scores the Ryzen Threadripper 9980X is roughly 406% faster than the Core i9-12900T overall. The real-world gap varies by game, resolution and settings.

Which should you buy, the Core i9-12900T or the Ryzen Threadripper 9980X?

If you want the most performance, pick the Ryzen Threadripper 9980X. If the Core i9-12900T 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.