Intel Core i9-12900F vs AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3970X

Comparative analysis of Intel Core i9-12900F and AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3970X 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 i9-12900F

AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3970X

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i9-12900F

CPU is newer: launch date 2 year(s) 1 month(s) later
Around 13% higher clock speed: 5.10 GHz vs 4.5 GHz
Around 47% higher maximum core temperature: 100°C vs 68 °C
Around 25% more L2 cache; more data can be stored in the L2 cache for quick access later
4.3x lower typical power consumption: 65 Watt vs 280 Watt
Around 51% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 4035 vs 2665

Specifications (specs)
Launch date	4 Jan 2022 vs 25 Nov 2019
Maximum frequency	5.10 GHz vs 4.5 GHz
Maximum core temperature	100°C vs 68 °C
L2 cache	20 MB vs 16 MB
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	65 Watt vs 280 Watt
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	4035 vs 2665

Reasons to consider the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3970X

Processor is unlocked, an unlocked multiplier allows for easier overclocking
16 more cores, run more applications at once: 32 vs 16
40 more threads: 64 vs 24
Around 60% more L1 cache; more data can be stored in the L1 cache for quick access later
4.3x more L3 cache, more data can be stored in the L3 cache for quick access later
4x more maximum memory size: 512 GB vs 128 GB
Around 73% better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 63140 vs 36441
Around 59% better performance in 3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score: 16672 vs 10516

Specifications (specs)
Unlocked	Unlocked vs Locked
Number of cores	32 vs 16
Number of threads	64 vs 24
L1 cache	2 MB vs 1280 KB
L3 cache	128 MB vs 30 MB
Maximum memory size	512 GB vs 128 GB
Benchmarks
PassMark - CPU mark	63140 vs 36441
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score	16672 vs 10516

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Core i9-12900F
CPU 2: AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3970X

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

4035

2665

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

36441

63140

3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score

CPU 1

CPU 2

10516

16672

Name	Intel Core i9-12900F	AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3970X
PassMark - Single thread mark	4035	2665
PassMark - CPU mark	36441	63140
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score	10516	16672
Geekbench 4 - Single Core		1264
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core		22457

Compare specifications (specs)

	Intel Core i9-12900F	AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3970X
Essentials
Architecture codename	Alder Lake	Zen 2
Launch date	4 Jan 2022	25 Nov 2019
Launch price (MSRP)	$540	$1999
Place in performance rating	192	194
Processor Number	i9-12900F
Series	12th Generation Intel Core i9 Processors
Vertical segment	Desktop	Desktop
Performance
64 bit support
L1 cache	1280 KB	2 MB
L2 cache	20 MB	16 MB
L3 cache	30 MB	128 MB
Manufacturing process technology	7 nm	7 nm
Maximum core temperature	100°C	68 °C
Maximum frequency	5.10 GHz	4.5 GHz
Number of cores	16	32
Number of threads	24	64
Base frequency		3.7 GHz
Unlocked
Memory
Max memory channels	2	4
Maximum memory bandwidth	76.8 GB/s
Maximum memory size	128 GB	512 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 Design Power (TDP)	65 Watt	280 Watt
Thermal Solution	PCG 2020C
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
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™)