Intel Core i9-12900KF vs AMD Ryzen 9 5950X

Comparative analysis of Intel Core i9-12900KF and AMD Ryzen 9 5950X 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.

Intel Core i9-12900KF

AMD Ryzen 9 5950X

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i9-12900KF

CPU is newer: launch date 0 year(s) 11 month(s) later
Around 6% higher clock speed: 5.20 GHz vs 4.9 GHz
Around 5% higher maximum core temperature: 100°C vs 95 °C
Around 75% more L2 cache; more data can be stored in the L2 cache for quick access later
Around 40% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 4167 vs 2972
3.1x better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 41159 vs 13220

Specifications (specs)
Launch date	4 Nov 2021 vs 5 Nov 2020
Maximum frequency	5.20 GHz vs 4.9 GHz
Maximum core temperature	100°C vs 95 °C
L2 cache	14 MB vs 8 MB
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	4167 vs 2972
PassMark - CPU mark	41159 vs 13220

Reasons to consider the AMD Ryzen 9 5950X

Processor is unlocked, an unlocked multiplier allows for easier overclocking
2.1x more L3 cache, more data can be stored in the L3 cache for quick access later
Around 1% better performance in 3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score: 11823 vs 11666

Specifications (specs)
Unlocked	Unlocked vs Locked
L3 cache	64 MB vs 30 MB
Benchmarks
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score	11823 vs 11666

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Core i9-12900KF
CPU 2: AMD Ryzen 9 5950X

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

4167

2972

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

41159

13220

3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score

CPU 1

CPU 2

11666

11823

Name	Intel Core i9-12900KF	AMD Ryzen 9 5950X
PassMark - Single thread mark	4167	2972
PassMark - CPU mark	41159	13220
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score	11666	11823

Compare specifications (specs)

	Intel Core i9-12900KF	AMD Ryzen 9 5950X
Essentials
Architecture codename	Alder Lake	Zen 3
Launch date	4 Nov 2021	5 Nov 2020
Launch price (MSRP)	$564 - $574	$799
Place in performance rating	179	606
Processor Number	i9-12900KF
Series	12th Generation Intel Core i9 Processors
Status	Launched
Vertical segment	Desktop	Desktop
OPN PIB		100-100000059WOF
OPN Tray		100-000000059
Performance
64 bit support
L1 cache	1 MB	1 MB
L2 cache	14 MB	8 MB
L3 cache	30 MB	64 MB
Manufacturing process technology	Intel 7	7 nm
Maximum core temperature	100°C	95 °C
Maximum frequency	5.20 GHz	4.9 GHz
Base frequency		3.4 GHz
Number of cores		12
Number of threads		24
Unlocked
Memory
Max memory channels	2	2
Maximum memory bandwidth	76.8 GB/s	47.68 GB/s
Maximum memory size	128 GB	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	AM4
Thermal Solution	PCG 2020A
Thermal Design Power (TDP)		105 Watt
Peripherals
Max number of PCIe lanes	20	20
PCI Express revision	5.0 and 4.0	4.0
PCIe configurations	Up to 1x16+4, 2x8+4	1x16+x4, 2x8+x4, 1x8+2x4+x4
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
AMD SenseMI
AMD StoreMI technology
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™)