CPU Showdown

Core i9-12900TEvsRyzen Threadripper 9980X

The Core i9-12900TE is a low-power, space-saving CPU for compact office PCs and home servers, while the Ryzen Threadripper 9980X is a high-core-count monster built for heavy workstation tasks like 3D rendering and video encoding.

Intel Core i9-12900TE
16C / 24T · 35W
VS
AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9980X
64C / 128T · 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 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 i9-12900TE
12
Ryzen Threadripper 9980XWinner
86
Ryzen Threadripper 9980X leads by 616.7% in aggregate performance.
Where they rank overall
#1EPYC 9755100
#2Ryzen Threadripper 9980X86
#3Ryzen Threadripper 7980X82
#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 9980X
Cores
Total Cores1664
Threads24128
Base Clock1.1 GHz3.2 GHz
Boost Clock4.8 GHz5.4 GHz
Cache
L2 Cache20 MB64 MB
L3 Cache30 MB256 MB
Platform
Socket1700sTR5
MemoryDDR4DDR5
PCIePCIe 5.0PCIe 5.0
iGPUIntel UHD Graphics 770
Power
Base TDP35W350W
General
Process10 nm4 nm
Verdict

Which should you buy?

Winner overall

The Ryzen Threadripper 9980X wins overall for heavy multi-threaded workloads, far outpacing the Core i9-12900TE.

Best value

For budget/value buyers, the Core i9-12900TE is the smarter pick if power efficiency and low heat matter more.

When the other wins

Choose the Core i9-12900TE for a compact, quiet home server where low power draw is key.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is the Core i9-12900TE 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 12 out of 100), so it leads the Core i9-12900TE in most workloads.

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

Based on our aggregated benchmark scores the Ryzen Threadripper 9980X is roughly 617% 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 9980X?

If you want the most performance, pick the Ryzen Threadripper 9980X. 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.