Ryzen 7 9700X against Core i9-12900K
Level on the overall index; the details below decide it. Typical prices, not live ones.
The verdict
- The Ryzen 7 9700X leads in games by 6%.
- The Core i9-12900K has 36% more all-core throughput for renders, compiles and exports.
- The Ryzen 7 9700X is 11% quicker in single-threaded work, which is most of what a desktop does.
Head to head
| Measure | Ryzen 7 9700X | Core i9-12900K | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spec score | 70 | 71 | 1 ptsright |
| Gaming | 70 | 66 | 4 ptsleft |
| Multi-core | 50 | 68 | 18 ptsright |
| Single-core | 91 | 82 | 9 ptsleft |
| Value, points per $100 | 25.1 | 25.4 | 1%right |
| Typical price | $279 | $279 | level |
| Cores | 8 | 16 | 100%right |
| Threads | 16 | 24 | 50%right |
| Boost clock | 5.5 GHz | 5.2 GHz | 6%left |
| Turbo power | 88 W | 241 W | 174%left |
Which one for what
| Use | Pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Office & everyday | Either | Within 1 points; buy on price. |
| Coding & development | Core i9-12900K | 70 vs 74 on the coding & development blend. |
| Light gaming | Ryzen 7 9700X | 74 vs 71 on the light gaming blend. |
| Gaming | Ryzen 7 9700X | 72 vs 69 on the gaming blend. |
| Heavy gaming | Ryzen 7 9700X | 71 vs 69 on the heavy gaming blend. |
| Content creation | Core i9-12900K | 64 vs 71 on the content creation blend. |
| 3D & rendering | Core i9-12900K | 60 vs 71 on the 3d & rendering blend. |
| Gaming & streaming | Core i9-12900K | 67 vs 70 on the gaming & streaming blend. |
| AI & local models | Core i9-12900K | 64 vs 72 on the ai & local models blend. |
Specifications
| Spec | Ryzen 7 9700X | Core i9-12900K |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Zen 5 | Alder Lake |
| Socket | AM5 | LGA1700 |
| Cores / threads | 8 / 16 | 16 / 24 |
| Base clock | 3.8 GHz | 3.2 GHz |
| Boost clock | 5.5 GHz | 5.2 GHz |
| TDP / turbo power | 65 / 88 W | 125 / 241 W |
| Memory | DDR5 | DDR4 or DDR5 |
| Built-in graphics | Yes | Yes |
| Cooler in the box | No | No |
| Brand | AMD | Intel |
| Released | 2024 | 2021 |
| Typical price | $279 | $279 |