Intel Core i5-12600KF vs AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3960X

Comparative analysis of Intel Core i5-12600KF and AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3960X processors for all known characteristics in the following categories: Essentials, Performance, Memory, 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 i5-12600KF

AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3960X

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i5-12600KF

CPU is newer: launch date 1 year(s) 11 month(s) later
Around 9% higher clock speed: 4.90 GHz vs 4.5 GHz
Around 47% higher maximum core temperature: 100°C vs 68 °C
Around 47% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 3933 vs 2684

Specifications (specs)
Launch date	4 Nov 2021 vs 25 Nov 2019
Maximum frequency	4.90 GHz vs 4.5 GHz
Maximum core temperature	100°C vs 68 °C
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	3933 vs 2684

Reasons to consider the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3960X

Processor is unlocked, an unlocked multiplier allows for easier overclocking
4x more L1 cache, more data can be stored in the L1 cache for quick access later
Around 60% more L2 cache; more data can be stored in the L2 cache for quick access later
7.1x more L3 cache, more data can be stored in the L3 cache for quick access later
Around 97% better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 54864 vs 27900
Around 76% better performance in 3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score: 13972 vs 7960

Specifications (specs)
Unlocked	Unlocked vs Locked
L1 cache	1.5 MB vs 384 KB
L2 cache	12 MB vs 7.5 MB
L3 cache	128 MB vs 18 MB
Benchmarks
PassMark - CPU mark	54864 vs 27900
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score	13972 vs 7960

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Core i5-12600KF
CPU 2: AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3960X

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

3933

2684

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

27900

54864

3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score

CPU 1

CPU 2

7960

13972

Name	Intel Core i5-12600KF	AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3960X
PassMark - Single thread mark	3933	2684
PassMark - CPU mark	27900	54864
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score	7960	13972
Geekbench 4 - Single Core		1267
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core		19997

Compare specifications (specs)

	Intel Core i5-12600KF	AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3960X
Essentials
Architecture codename	Alder Lake	Zen 2
Launch date	4 Nov 2021	25 Nov 2019
Launch price (MSRP)	$264 - $274	$1399
Place in performance rating	328	289
Processor Number	i5-12600KF
Series	12th Generation Intel Core i5 Processors
Status	Launched
Vertical segment	Desktop	Desktop
Performance
64 bit support
L1 cache	384 KB	1.5 MB
L2 cache	7.5 MB	12 MB
L3 cache	18 MB	128 MB
Manufacturing process technology	Intel 7	7 nm
Maximum core temperature	100°C	68 °C
Maximum frequency	4.90 GHz	4.5 GHz
Base frequency		3.8 GHz
Number of cores		24
Number of threads		48
Unlocked
Memory
Max memory channels	2	4
Maximum memory bandwidth	76.8 GB/s	512 GB
Maximum memory size	128 GB
Supported memory types	Up to DDR5 4800 MT/s Up to DDR4 3200 MT/s	DDR4-3200
ECC memory support
Compatibility
Max number of CPUs in a configuration	1
Package Size	45.0 mm x 37.5 mm
Sockets supported	FCLGA1700	sTRX4
Thermal Solution	PCG 2020A
Thermal Design Power (TDP)		280 Watt
Peripherals
Max number of PCIe lanes	20	64
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
Mode-based Execute Control (MBE)
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
Fused Multiply-Add 3 (FMA3)
Intel® Advanced Vector Extensions (AVX)
Intel® Advanced Vector Extensions 2 (AVX2)
Virtualization
Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x)
Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d)
Intel® VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT)
AMD Virtualization (AMD-V™)