Ryzen 9 7900X against Core i5-12600K
Ryzen 9 7900X leads on the overall index. Typical prices, not live ones.
The verdict
- The Ryzen 9 7900X leads in games by 13%.
- The Ryzen 9 7900X has 67% more all-core throughput for renders, compiles and exports.
- The Ryzen 9 7900X is 9% quicker in single-threaded work, which is most of what a desktop does.
- The Core i5-12600K typically costs $18 less.
- Per dollar, the Ryzen 9 7900X is the better buy: 23.8 points per $100 against 20.5.
Head to head
| Measure | Ryzen 9 7900X | Core i5-12600K | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spec score | 75 | 61 | 14 ptsleft |
| Gaming | 69 | 61 | 8 ptsleft |
| Multi-core | 72 | 43 | 29 ptsleft |
| Single-core | 86 | 79 | 7 ptsleft |
| Value, points per $100 | 23.8 | 20.5 | 16%left |
| Typical price | $315 | $297 | $18right |
| Cores | 12 | 10 | 20%left |
| Threads | 24 | 16 | 50%left |
| Boost clock | 5.6 GHz | 4.9 GHz | 14%left |
| Turbo power | 230 W | 150 W | 53%right |
Which one for what
| Use | Pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Office & everyday | Ryzen 9 7900X | 80 vs 66 on the office & everyday blend. |
| Coding & development | Ryzen 9 7900X | 78 vs 61 on the coding & development blend. |
| Light gaming | Ryzen 9 7900X | 74 vs 65 on the light gaming blend. |
| Gaming | Ryzen 9 7900X | 73 vs 63 on the gaming blend. |
| Heavy gaming | Ryzen 9 7900X | 72 vs 62 on the heavy gaming blend. |
| Content creation | Ryzen 9 7900X | 75 vs 56 on the content creation blend. |
| 3D & rendering | Ryzen 9 7900X | 75 vs 52 on the 3D & rendering blend. |
| Gaming & streaming | Ryzen 9 7900X | 73 vs 58 on the gaming & streaming blend. |
| AI & local models | Ryzen 9 7900X | 76 vs 56 on the AI & local models blend. |
Specifications
| Spec | Ryzen 9 7900X | Core i5-12600K |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Zen 4 | Alder Lake |
| Socket | AM5 | LGA1700 |
| Cores / threads | 12 / 24 | 10 / 16 |
| Base clock | 4.7 GHz | 3.7 GHz |
| Boost clock | 5.6 GHz | 4.9 GHz |
| TDP / turbo power | 170 / 230 W | 125 / 150 W |
| Memory | DDR5 | DDR4 or DDR5 |
| Built-in graphics | Yes | Yes |
| Cooler in the box | No | No |
| Brand | AMD | Intel |
| Released | 2022 | 2021 |
| Typical price | $315 | $297 |