Intel Core i5-12500 vs AMD Ryzen 9 3950X

Comparative analysis of Intel Core i5-12500 and AMD Ryzen 9 3950X processors for all known characteristics in the following categories: Essentials, Performance, Memory, Graphics, Graphics interfaces, Graphics image quality, Graphics API support, Compatibility, Peripherals, Security & Reliability, Advanced Technologies, Virtualization. Benchmark processor performance analysis: PassMark - Single thread mark, PassMark - CPU mark, 3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score, Geekbench 4 - Single Core, Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core.

Intel Core i5-12500

AMD Ryzen 9 3950X

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i5-12500

CPU is newer: launch date 2 year(s) 1 month(s) later
Around 62% lower typical power consumption: 65 Watt vs 105 Watt
Around 36% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 3686 vs 2704

Specifications (specs)
Launch date	4 Jan 2022 vs 25 Nov 2019
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	65 Watt vs 105 Watt
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	3686 vs 2704

Reasons to consider the AMD Ryzen 9 3950X

Processor is unlocked, an unlocked multiplier allows for easier overclocking
10 more cores, run more applications at once: 16 vs 6
20 more threads: 32 vs 12
Around 2% higher clock speed: 4.7 GHz vs 4.60 GHz
2.1x more L1 cache, more data can be stored in the L1 cache for quick access later
Around 7% more L2 cache; more data can be stored in the L2 cache for quick access later
3.6x more L3 cache, more data can be stored in the L3 cache for quick access later
Around 94% better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 38716 vs 19914
Around 78% better performance in 3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score: 10742 vs 6036

Specifications (specs)
Unlocked	Unlocked vs Locked
Number of cores	16 vs 6
Number of threads	32 vs 12
Maximum frequency	4.7 GHz vs 4.60 GHz
L1 cache	1 MB vs 480 KB
L2 cache	8 MB vs 7.5 MB
L3 cache	64 MB vs 18 MB
Benchmarks
PassMark - CPU mark	38716 vs 19914
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score	10742 vs 6036

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Core i5-12500
CPU 2: AMD Ryzen 9 3950X

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

3686

2704

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

19914

38716

3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score

CPU 1

CPU 2

6036

10742

Name	Intel Core i5-12500	AMD Ryzen 9 3950X
PassMark - Single thread mark	3686	2704
PassMark - CPU mark	19914	38716
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score	6036	10742
Geekbench 4 - Single Core		1296
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core		14150

Compare specifications (specs)

	Intel Core i5-12500	AMD Ryzen 9 3950X
Essentials
Architecture codename	Alder Lake	Zen 2
Launch date	4 Jan 2022	25 Nov 2019
Launch price (MSRP)	$232	$749
Place in performance rating	563	579
Processor Number	i5-12500
Series	12th Generation Intel Core i5 Processors
Vertical segment	Desktop	Desktop
OPN PIB		100-100000051WOF
OPN Tray		100-000000051
Performance
64 bit support
L1 cache	480 KB	1 MB
L2 cache	7.5 MB	8 MB
L3 cache	18 MB	64 MB
Manufacturing process technology	7 nm	7 nm
Maximum core temperature	100°C
Maximum frequency	4.60 GHz	4.7 GHz
Number of cores	6	16
Number of threads	12	32
Base frequency		3.5 GHz
Unlocked
Memory
Max memory channels	2	2
Maximum memory bandwidth	76.8 GB/s
Maximum memory size	128 GB
Supported memory types	Up to DDR5 4800 MT/s Up to DDR4 3200 MT/s	DDR4-3200
Graphics
Device ID	0x4690
Execution Units	32
Graphics base frequency	300 MHz
Graphics max dynamic frequency	1.45 GHz
Intel® Clear Video HD technology
Intel® Quick Sync Video
Processor graphics	Intel UHD Graphics 770
Graphics interfaces
Number of displays supported	4
Graphics image quality
Max resolution over DisplayPort	7680 x 4320 @ 60Hz
Max resolution over eDP	5120 x 3200 @ 120Hz
Graphics API support
DirectX	12
OpenGL	4.5
Compatibility
Max number of CPUs in a configuration	1
Package Size	45.0 mm x 37.5 mm
Sockets supported	FCLGA1700	AM4
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	65 Watt	105 Watt
Thermal Solution	PCG 2020C
Peripherals
Max number of PCIe lanes	20	40
PCI Express revision	5.0 and 4.0	4.0
PCIe configurations	Up to 1x16+4, 2x8+4
Scalability	1S Only
Security & Reliability
Execute Disable Bit (EDB)
Intel® OS Guard
Intel® Secure Key technology
Intel® Trusted Execution technology (TXT)
Secure Boot
Advanced Technologies
Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® technology
Idle States
Instruction set extensions	Intel SSE4.1, Intel SSE4.2, Intel AVX2
Intel 64
Intel® AES New Instructions
Intel® Hyper-Threading technology
Intel® Optane™ Memory Supported
Intel® Turbo Boost technology
Intel® Volume Management Device (VMD)
Speed Shift technology
Thermal Monitoring
Virtualization
Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x)
Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d)
Intel® VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT)