Intel Core i9-12900HK vs AMD Ryzen 9 3950X

Comparative analysis of Intel Core i9-12900HK 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 i9-12900HK

AMD Ryzen 9 3950X

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i9-12900HK

CPU is newer: launch date 2 year(s) 1 month(s) later
Around 6% higher clock speed: 5.00 GHz vs 4.7 GHz
Around 9% more L1 cache; more data can be stored in the L1 cache for quick access later
2.2x more L2 cache, more data can be stored in the L2 cache for quick access later
2.3x lower typical power consumption: 45 Watt vs 105 Watt
Around 32% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 3582 vs 2706

Specifications (specs)
Launch date	4 Jan 2022 vs 25 Nov 2019
Maximum frequency	5.00 GHz vs 4.7 GHz
L1 cache	1120 KB vs 1 MB
L2 cache	17.5 MB vs 8 MB
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	45 Watt vs 105 Watt
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	3582 vs 2706

Reasons to consider the AMD Ryzen 9 3950X

Processor is unlocked, an unlocked multiplier allows for easier overclocking
2 more cores, run more applications at once: 16 vs 14
12 more threads: 32 vs 20
2.7x more L3 cache, more data can be stored in the L3 cache for quick access later
Around 48% better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 38650 vs 26087
Around 54% better performance in 3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score: 10728 vs 6982

Specifications (specs)
Unlocked	Unlocked vs Locked
Number of cores	16 vs 14
Number of threads	32 vs 20
L3 cache	64 MB vs 24 MB
Benchmarks
PassMark - CPU mark	38650 vs 26087
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score	10728 vs 6982

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Core i9-12900HK
CPU 2: AMD Ryzen 9 3950X

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

3582

2706

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

26087

38650

3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score

CPU 1

CPU 2

6982

10728

Name	Intel Core i9-12900HK	AMD Ryzen 9 3950X
PassMark - Single thread mark	3582	2706
PassMark - CPU mark	26087	38650
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score	6982	10728
Geekbench 4 - Single Core		1296
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core		14150

Compare specifications (specs)

	Intel Core i9-12900HK	AMD Ryzen 9 3950X
Essentials
Architecture codename	Alder Lake	Zen 2
Launch date	4 Jan 2022	25 Nov 2019
Launch price (MSRP)	$697	$749
Place in performance rating	477	566
Processor Number	i9-12900HK
Series	12th Generation Intel Core i9 Processors
Vertical segment	Mobile	Desktop
OPN PIB		100-100000051WOF
OPN Tray		100-000000051
Performance
64 bit support
L1 cache	1120 KB	1 MB
L2 cache	17.5 MB	8 MB
L3 cache	24 MB	64 MB
Manufacturing process technology	7 nm	7 nm
Maximum core temperature	100°C
Maximum frequency	5.00 GHz	4.7 GHz
Number of cores	14	16
Number of threads	20	32
Base frequency		3.5 GHz
Unlocked
Memory
Max memory channels	2	2
Maximum memory size	64 GB
Supported memory types	Up to DDR5 4800 MT/s Up to DDR4 3200 MT/s Up to LPDDR5 5200 MT/s Up to LPDDR4x 4267 MT/s	DDR4-3200
Graphics
Device ID	0x46A6
Execution Units	96
Graphics max dynamic frequency	1.45 GHz
Intel® Quick Sync Video
Processor graphics	Intel Iris Xe Graphics eligible
Graphics interfaces
Number of displays supported	4
Graphics image quality
Max resolution over DisplayPort	7680 x 4320 @ 60Hz
Max resolution over eDP	4096 x 2304 @ 120Hz
Graphics API support
DirectX	12.1
OpenGL	4.6
Compatibility
Max number of CPUs in a configuration	1
Package Size	50 x 25
Sockets supported	FCBGA1744	AM4
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	45 Watt	105 Watt
Peripherals
Max number of PCIe lanes	28	40
PCI Express revision		4.0
Security & Reliability
Execute Disable Bit (EDB)
Intel® OS Guard
Intel® Secure Key technology
Intel® Trusted Execution technology (TXT)
Secure Boot
Advanced Technologies
Instruction set extensions	Intel SSE4.1, Intel SSE4.2, Intel AVX2
Intel® AES New Instructions
Intel® Flex Memory Access
Intel® Hyper-Threading 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)