CPU Showdown

Core i9-12900TEvsRyzen Threadripper 7970X

The Core i9-12900TE is a low-power, space-saving chip for compact office builds or always-on servers, while the Ryzen Threadripper 7970X is a high-core workstation monster for heavy rendering and multi-tasking pros.

Intel Core i9-12900TE
16C / 24T · 35W
VS
AMD Ryzen Threadripper 7970X
32C / 64T · 350W
Intel

Core i9-12900TE

Alder Lake-S · 10 nm · 2022

12score
4.1/ 5
0 votes
Cores / Threads
16 / 24
TDP
35W
Boost Clock
4.8 GHz
L3 Cache
30 MB

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AMD

Ryzen Threadripper 7970X

Storm Peak · 5 nm · 2023

60score
4/ 5
0 votes
Cores / Threads
32 / 64
TDP
350W
Boost Clock
5.3 GHz
L3 Cache
128 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 i9-12900TE
12
Ryzen Threadripper 7970XWinner
60
Ryzen Threadripper 7970X leads by 400.0% in aggregate performance.
Where they rank overall
#4Ryzen Threadripper 9970X64
#5Ryzen Threadripper 7970X60
#6Ryzen Threadripper 9960X56
#209Core i7-1170012
#210Core i9-12900TE12
#211Core i9-9820X12
Technical Specifications

Side-by-Side Specs

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

SpecsCore i9-12900TERyzen Threadripper 7970X
Cores
Total Cores1632
Threads2464
Base Clock1.1 GHz4.0 GHz
Boost Clock4.8 GHz5.3 GHz
Cache
L2 Cache20 MB32 MB
L3 Cache30 MB128 MB
Platform
Socket1700sTR5
MemoryDDR4DDR5
PCIePCIe 5.0PCIe 5.0
iGPUIntel UHD Graphics 770
Power
Base TDP35W350W
General
Process10 nm5 nm
Verdict

Which should you buy?

Winner overall

The Ryzen Threadripper 7970X wins overall for anyone needing extreme multi-core power, while the Core i9-12900TE is for ultra-low-power builds.

Best value

For budget/value buyers, the Core i9-12900TE is the smarter pick due to its drastically lower power draw and still capable performance for everyday tasks.

When the other wins

The Core i9-12900TE is the right choice if you need a silent, low-heat system for a compact home server or office PC.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is the Core i9-12900TE better than the Ryzen Threadripper 7970X?

Overall the Ryzen Threadripper 7970X is the stronger processor: it ranks higher in our aggregate performance score (60 vs 12 out of 100), so it leads the Core i9-12900TE in most workloads.

How much faster is the Ryzen Threadripper 7970X than the Core i9-12900TE?

Based on our aggregated benchmark scores the Ryzen Threadripper 7970X is roughly 400% faster than the Core i9-12900TE overall. The real-world gap varies by game, resolution and settings.

Which should you buy, the Core i9-12900TE or the Ryzen Threadripper 7970X?

If you want the most performance, pick the Ryzen Threadripper 7970X. If the Core i9-12900TE 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.