Intel Core i7 12700K
Rated: 8/10
AMD Ryzen 9 5900X
Rated: 9/10
Pros And Cons
| Graphics Card | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Ryzen 9 5900X | ✅ Strong %1 Lows ✅ Higher Application Performance | ❌ Higher Temperatures ❌ Higher Power Draws |
| Core i7-12700K | ✅ Higher Overall Gaming Performance ✅ More Power-Efficient | ❌ Lower %1 Lows ❌ No CPU Cooler |
- In our Intel i7-12700K Vs Ryzen 9 5900X benchmarks, the Intel core i7-12700K was dominant on the Ryzen 9 5900X with an 8.9% superior gaming performance than the Ryzen 9 5900X.
- The TDP and maximum working temperature of the Intel Core i7-12700K are 190 W and 100°C, respectively, compared to 105 W power and 90°C max temperature of the AMD Ryzen 9 5900X.
- The price of the Intel i7-12700K at the time of writing this article is around 20% less than the price tag of the AMD Ryzen 9 5900X, indicating its economical range.
- We recommend the Intel Core i7-1700K as it offers more framerates with a massive drop in the power and thermal ratings. It is also available at a similar price as the Ryzen 9 5900X.
Comparison Table
| Feature | Intel Core i7-12700K | AMD Ryzen 9 5900X |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Intel Alder Lake | AMD Zen 3 core architecture |
| Socket | FCLGA1700 | AM4 |
| Threads | 20 | 24 |
| Base Clock | P-Core: 3.60 GHz E-Core: 2.70 GHz | 3.7 GHz |
| Boost Clock | P-Core: 4.9 GHz E-Core: 3.8 GHz Max Turbo Clock: 5.00 GHz | 4.8 GHz |
| Memory | DDR4 + DDR5 | Only DDR4 |
| Cache | 25MB Intel Smart Cache | 64MB L3 |
| Integrated Graphics | Intel UHD Graphics 770 | NA |
| PCI Version | 5.0 and 4.0 | Only 4.0 |
| Best Motherboard | Best Motherboards for i7-12700K | Best Motherboards For Ryzen 9 5900x |
| Best Cooler | Best CPU Coolers for i7-12700K | Best CPU Coolers for Ryzen 9 5900X |
Architectural Differences
- CPU Core Count: The Ryzen 9 5900 consists of 12 cores, with no division of performance or efficiency. This is contrary to the 12 cores of the Intel i7-12700K, which are distributed into 8 performance cores and 4 efficiency cores.
- TDP: The Ryzen 9 5900X offers a maximum TDP of 105W to its users. Meanwhile, the Intel i7-12700K has a base TDP of 125W and a Turbo TDP of 190W, substantially greater than the Ryzen 9 5900X.
- Processing Node: The AMD Ryzen 9 5900X takes a dominant position with a later 7nm processing FinFET based on TSMC technology. This is rivaled by Intel’s i7-12700K much older 10nm FinFET at TSMC technology.
- Thread Count: The Ryzen 9 5900X has 24 threads, compared to the 20 threads of the Intel i7-12700K.
- Maximum Temperature: the Intel i7-12700K reaches a maximum temperature of 100°C despite being equipped with PCG 2020A thermal solution. While the Ryzen 9 5900X attains a maximum temperature of 90°C.
The Core i7-12700K is among the highly demanded processors of Intel. It delivers a very good performance in typical and demanding applications and gaming. On the other hand, the Ryzen 9 5900X is one of the successful processors of AMD. The two processors are well known for their brilliant performance. In this guide, we will cover Intel i7-12700K Vs Ryzen 9 5900X.
Intel i7-12700K Vs Ryzen 9 5900X – Gaming Benchmarks
Let us kick off the benchmarks by discussing the testing rig and the results of our gaming tests.
Test PC Specs
- OS: Windows 10 Pro
- GPU: MSI GeForce RTX 3090
- Motherboard 1: GIGABYTE X570 Aorus Pro Wifi
- RAM 1: Patriot Viper LED DDR4-3600 16GB RAM
- Motherboard 2: GIGABYTE Z690 AERO G
- RAM 2: Corsair Vengeance DDR-5 32GB RAM 5600Mhz (2X 16GB)–CL36
- CPU Cooler: Arctic Liquid Freezer II 360mm
- PSU: ENERMAX REVOLUTION D.F. X 1050W
- Storage: Sabrent Rocket 4 Plus G 2TB
- Resolution: 1080p
Age Of Empires IV
- In CPU-intensive Age of Empires IV, the Intel i7-12700K delivered 204 FPS which is a substantial lead of ~6% more than the AMD Ryzen 9 5900X’s 192 FPS.
- Conversely, the %1 lows obtained using the AMD Ryzen 9 5900X were 91 FPS, which was 18 FPS lesser than the recorded %1lows of the Intel i7-12700K i.e. 109 FPS.
Far Cry 6
- During our Far Cry 6 benchmark, the Intel Core i7-12700K outperformed the AMD Ryzen 9 5900X with an average performance advantage of ~6%. The former delivered 116 FPS, while the latter could only muster up to 109 FPS.
- The %1 lows for the AMD R9 5900X and the Intel Core i7-12700K were recorded as 24 FPS apart. The R9 scored 69 FPS while the Intel i7 delivered 45 FPS on %1low performance.
Fortnite
- The Intel Core i7-12700K outscored the AMD Ryzen 9 5900X with an advantage of 3% in our Fortnite benchmark. During the game, the AMD Ryzen 9 5900X managed 174 FPS compared to the Intel Core i7-12700 K’s 179 FPS.
- Meanwhile, the %1 low-performance score by the Intel i7-12700K (90 FPS) again dominated the score by 40 FPS against the Ryzen 9 5900X (50 FPS).
GTA V
- There was a large performance gap of 17% average, led by the Intel Core i7-12700K in GTA V. The Intel Core i7-12700K managed 148 FPS, whereas the AMD Ryzen 9 5900X only managed 126 FPS.
- The %1low score of 110 FPS of the Intel i7-12700K beat the Ryzen 9 5900X’s 92 FPS score for %1low performance.
New World
- The performance disparity between the two processors in the CPU-intensive New World was 13%. The AMD Ryzen 9 5900X produced 188 FPS, while the Intel Core i7-12700K delivered 212 FPS.
- Regarding %1lows, the Ryzen 9 5900X took the lead with 113 FPS, which was followed by the Intel i7-12700K’s 83 FPS.
Intel i7-12700K Vs Ryzen 9 5900X – Overall Gaming Performance
| Processor | Average FPS | 1% Lows |
|---|---|---|
| Intel Core i7-12700K | 📈 157.8 | 📉 52.6 |
| AMD Ryzen 9 5900X | 📈 171.5 | 📉 42.4 |
| Winner | AMD Ryzen 9 5900X | Intel Core i7-12700K |
We found that the average frame rates delivered by Core i7-12700K had ~8.9% overall higher performance. Whereas, the %1 lows of the processors were 6FPS apart only, with the Ryzen 9 5900X taking the lead. In terms of relative performance, the Intel Core i7-12700K deserves to be declared the winner, as predicted by the results.
Power Consumption
| Games | AMD Ryzen 9 5900X (W) | Intel Core i7-12700K (W) |
|---|---|---|
| Age Of Empires IV | 89.8 | 42.2 |
| Far Cry VI | 95.7 | 72.2 |
| GTA V | 88.9 | 75.5 |
| Fortnite | 86.8 | 58.4 |
| New World | 111.7 | 79.8 |
| Average Power Consumption | 95.6⚡️ | 65.6⚡️ |
| Winner: Intel Core i7-12700K | ||
Regarding power consumption, there is a massive distinction in power consumed by the two CPUs. The Ryzen 9 5900X consumed ~45.7% more electric power than the Intel Core i7-12700K. So, the Core i7-12700K is cost-efficient for gaming users aiming for lower electric bills.
Overall Thermal Efficiency
| Games | Intel Core i7-12700K (°C) | AMD Ryzen 9 5900X (°C) |
|---|---|---|
| Age Of Empires IV | 48 | 59 |
| Far Cry VI | 49 | 55 |
| GTA V | 52 | 62 |
| Fortnite | 55 | 58 |
| New World | 55 | 65 |
| Average Thermal Efficiency | 55.5 🌡️ | 59.4 🌡️ |
| Winner: Intel Core i7-12700K | ||
The temperature of the AMD R9 5900X was 4.9°C higher. Thus, overall an 8.8% thermal efficiency was furnished by the Intel Core i7-12700K. The overall temperatures of both CPUs stayed much lower than their maximum operating temperatures. They have outstanding heating capacities and are excellent gaming processors.
Price & Availability
| Processor | Launch MSRP | Current Price |
|---|---|---|
| AMD Ryzen 9 5900X | 💲549 | 💲360 |
| Intel Core i7-12700K | 💲450 | 💲350 |
| Price Difference | 33.3% | 43.9% |
You can buy a Ryzen 9 5900X at a 20% lower price in the markets today, while the current market price of the Core i7-12700K is $40 higher than its competitor. Both the Intel Core i7-12700K and AMD Ryzen 9 5900X are easily accessible in both the online and the offline markets.
Final Comments – Our Recommendations
Intel Core i7-12700K: The Intel Core i7-12700K is a powerful processor, which has several advantages in the shape of lesser thermal levels and power consumption. Moreover, the processor is available for a lower price than the Ryzen 9 5900X.
AMD Ryzen 9 5900X: The reason we won’t recommend the AMD Ryzen 9 5900X is because it draws more power and excretes more temperature than the Intel i7 12700K. Moreover, its price is too high for a subpar performance as compared to the Intel i7-12700K.
We would advise you to go for the Intel Core i7-12700K because it is more up-to-date than the AMD Ryzen 9 5900X, has wonderful features, and has a very good overall gaming performance
The Core i7-12700K is based on the Alder Lake architecture of Intel, and the Ryzen 9 5900X offers AMD Zen 3 core architecture. The Intel i7-12700K supports DDR5 memory, but the AMD Ryzen 9 5900X does not support DDR5. The R9 5900X supports only DDR4 memory. The Core i7-12700K offers Intel UHD Graphics 770, while there are no integrated graphics in AMD Ryzen 9 5900X.Common Questions Answered
Related Ryzen 9 5900X Articles:
Related Core i7-12700K Articles:
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[Comparisons Expert]
Ali Tauseef is an experienced writer and computer enthusiast with a passion for graphics cards and processors. With a wealth of knowledge in the field of computer technology, he regularly publishes blogs and in-depth comparisons on Tech4Gamers.
Get In Touch: ali@tech4gamers.com
