Core i7-12700K vs EPYC 9275F

CPU

GPU

Core i7-12700K

12 Cores20 Thrd125 WWMax: 5 GHz2021

Popular choices:

•••••••••

EPYC 9275F

24 Cores48 Thrd320 WWMax: 4.8 GHz2024

Popular choices:

••i7-12700K•••••••

Performance Spectrum - CPU

Core i7-12700K

12 / 20

34,347

0.0%

84,620

+146.4%

Ryzen 9 PRO 7945

Ryzen 9 9900X3D

Ryzen 9 9950X

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5975WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5995WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9975WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7985WX

Ryzen Threadripper 7980X

About PassMark

PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.

Head-to-Head Verdict, Benchmarks, Value & Long-Term Outlook

This comparison brings together gaming FPS, productivity performance, platform differences, power efficiency, pricing context, and upgrade path so you can see which CPU actually makes more sense.

Core i7-12700K

2021

Why buy it

✅Costs $3,030 less on MSRP ($409 MSRP vs $3,439 MSRP).
✅Delivers 241.3% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 84.0 vs 24.6 PassMark/$ ($409 MSRP vs $3,439 MSRP).
✅Draws 125W instead of 320W, a 195W reduction.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel UHD Graphics 770, while EPYC 9275F needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than EPYC 9275F across 3 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (34,347 vs 84,620).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than EPYC 9275F, which brings 24 cores / 48 threads and 128 PCIe lanes.

EPYC 9275F

2024

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +16.8% higher average FPS across 3 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 24 cores / 48 threads, plus 128 PCIe lanes vs 20.
✅540% more PCIe lanes (128 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 24.6 vs 84.0 PassMark/$ ($3,439 MSRP vs $409 MSRP).
❌156% higher power demand at 320W vs 125W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i7-12700K can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i7-12700K

2021

EPYC 9275F

2024

Why buy it

✅Costs $3,030 less on MSRP ($409 MSRP vs $3,439 MSRP).
✅Delivers 241.3% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 84.0 vs 24.6 PassMark/$ ($409 MSRP vs $3,439 MSRP).
✅Draws 125W instead of 320W, a 195W reduction.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel UHD Graphics 770, while EPYC 9275F needs a discrete GPU.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +16.8% higher average FPS across 3 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 24 cores / 48 threads, plus 128 PCIe lanes vs 20.
✅540% more PCIe lanes (128 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than EPYC 9275F across 3 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (34,347 vs 84,620).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than EPYC 9275F, which brings 24 cores / 48 threads and 128 PCIe lanes.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 24.6 vs 84.0 PassMark/$ ($3,439 MSRP vs $409 MSRP).
❌156% higher power demand at 320W vs 125W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i7-12700K can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is EPYC 9275F better than Core i7-12700K?

Not in a simple one-size-fits-all way. EPYC 9275F makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Core i7-12700K is the better mainstream desktop choice for gaming, platform cost, and day-to-day practicality.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, EPYC 9275F is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 16.8% more average FPS across 3 shared CPU game tests. It also has a big cache advantage at 256 MB vs 25 MB.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, EPYC 9275F is the better fit. You are getting 146.4% better PassMark, backed by 24 cores and 48 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 924% larger total L3 cache (256 MB vs 25 MB).

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

EPYC 9275F is still the faster CPU overall, but Core i7-12700K makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. EPYC 9275F is 740.8% more expensive on MSRP at $3,439 MSRP versus $409 MSRP, and it gives you a 16.8% average FPS lead across 3 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core i7-12700K is also 241.3% better value on MSRP (84.0 vs 24.6 PassMark/$), which is why it is easier to justify for price-conscious builds on paper.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

EPYC 9275F is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2024 vs 2021), 3D V-Cache and a much larger 256 MB L3 cache instead of 25 MB, more multi-core headroom with 24 cores / 48 threads instead of 12/20, and AVX-512 support for heavier modern compute workloads. That should give you a better long-term upgrade path for motherboard, RAM, and future CPU swaps.

Games Benchmarks

Paired with RTX 4090

To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.

Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.

Core i7-12700K Benchmark Check

EPYC 9275F Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i7-12700K	EPYC 9275F
1080p
low	314 FPS	315 FPS
medium	295 FPS	290 FPS
high	246 FPS	241 FPS
ultra	193 FPS	204 FPS
1440p
low	269 FPS	278 FPS
medium	225 FPS	230 FPS
high	182 FPS	178 FPS
ultra	145 FPS	159 FPS
4K
low	170 FPS	191 FPS
medium	142 FPS	157 FPS
high	109 FPS	120 FPS
ultra	96 FPS	107 FPS

Open Core i7-12700K Open EPYC 9275F

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i7-12700K	EPYC 9275F
1080p
low	630 FPS	725 FPS
medium	533 FPS	618 FPS
high	450 FPS	485 FPS
ultra	410 FPS	421 FPS
1440p
low	536 FPS	579 FPS
medium	475 FPS	510 FPS
high	403 FPS	419 FPS
ultra	349 FPS	341 FPS
4K
low	312 FPS	338 FPS
medium	280 FPS	300 FPS
high	266 FPS	270 FPS
ultra	234 FPS	239 FPS

Open Core i7-12700K Open EPYC 9275F

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i7-12700K	EPYC 9275F
1080p
low	797 FPS	923 FPS
medium	633 FPS	748 FPS
high	556 FPS	675 FPS
ultra	472 FPS	572 FPS
1440p
low	704 FPS	724 FPS
medium	565 FPS	584 FPS
high	490 FPS	515 FPS
ultra	422 FPS	433 FPS
4K
low	510 FPS	511 FPS
medium	425 FPS	421 FPS
high	381 FPS	374 FPS
ultra	321 FPS	309 FPS

Open Core i7-12700K Open EPYC 9275F

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i7-12700K	EPYC 9275F
1080p
low	859 FPS	1141 FPS
medium	802 FPS	1015 FPS
high	699 FPS	902 FPS
ultra	628 FPS	813 FPS
1440p
low	760 FPS	891 FPS
medium	678 FPS	785 FPS
high	590 FPS	689 FPS
ultra	519 FPS	600 FPS
4K
low	535 FPS	650 FPS
medium	488 FPS	580 FPS
high	437 FPS	515 FPS
ultra	384 FPS	437 FPS

Open Core i7-12700K Open EPYC 9275F

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i7-12700K and EPYC 9275F

Core i7-12700K

The Core i7-12700K is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 4 November 2021 (4 years ago). It is based on the Alder Lake, Golden Cove, Gracemont (2021) architecture. It features 12 cores and 20 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 5 GHz. L3 cache: 25 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on 10 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1700. Thermal design power (TDP): 125 Watt. Memory support: DDR4, DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 34,347 points. Launch price was $409.

EPYC 9275F

The EPYC 9275F is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 10 October 2024 (1 year ago). It is based on the Turin (2024) architecture. It features 24 cores and 48 threads. Base frequency is 4.1 GHz, with boost up to 4.8 GHz. L3 cache: 256 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 4 nm process technology. Socket: SP5. Thermal design power (TDP): 320 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 84,620 points. Launch price was $3,439.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i7-12700K packs 12 cores / 20 threads, while the EPYC 9275F offers 24 cores / 48 threads — the EPYC 9275F has 12 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5 GHz on the Core i7-12700K versus 4.8 GHz on the EPYC 9275F — a 4.1% clock advantage for the Core i7-12700K (base: 3.6 GHz vs 4.1 GHz). The Core i7-12700K uses the Alder Lake, Golden Cove, Gracemont (2021) architecture (10 nm), while the EPYC 9275F uses Turin (2024) (4 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-12700K scores 34,347 against the EPYC 9275F's 84,620 — a 84.5% lead for the EPYC 9275F. L3 cache: 25 MB (total) on the Core i7-12700K vs 256 MB (total) on the EPYC 9275F.

Feature	Core i7-12700K	EPYC 9275F
Cores / Threads	12 / 20	24 / 48+100%
Boost Clock	5 GHz+4%	4.8 GHz
Base Clock	3.6 GHz	4.1 GHz+14%
L3 Cache	25 MB (total)	256 MB (total)+924%
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)+25%	1 MB (per core)
Process	10 nm	4 nm-60%
Architecture	Alder Lake, Golden Cove, Gracemont (2021)	Turin (2024)
PassMark	34,347	84,620+146%

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i7-12700K uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the EPYC 9275F uses SP5 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches 4800 on the Core i7-12700K versus 6000 on the EPYC 9275F — the EPYC 9275F supports 22.2% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The EPYC 9275F supports up to 6144 of RAM compared to 128 — 191.8% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Core i7-12700K) vs 12 (EPYC 9275F). PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i7-12700K) vs 128 (EPYC 9275F) — the EPYC 9275F offers 108 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Z690,B660 (Core i7-12700K) and SP5 (EPYC 9275F).

Feature	Core i7-12700K	EPYC 9275F
Socket	LGA1700	SP5
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0	PCIe 5.0
Max RAM Speed	4800	6000+25%
Max RAM Capacity	128	6144+4700%
RAM Channels	2	12+500%
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	20	128+540%

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Core i7-12700K has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Only the EPYC 9275F supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i7-12700K) vs VT-x, VT-d, SEV-SNP (EPYC 9275F). The Core i7-12700K includes integrated graphics (Intel UHD Graphics 770), while the EPYC 9275F requires a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: Core i7-12700K rivals Ryzen 7 5800X; EPYC 9275F rivals Xeon 6980P.

Feature	Core i7-12700K	EPYC 9275F
Integrated GPU	Yes	No
IGPU Model	Intel UHD Graphics 770	None
Unlocked	Yes	No
AVX-512	No	Yes
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	VT-x, VT-d, SEV-SNP

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i7-12700K launched at $409 MSRP, while the EPYC 9275F debuted at $3439. On MSRP ($409 vs $3439), the Core i7-12700K is $3030 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i7-12700K delivers 84.0 pts/$ vs 24.6 pts/$ for the EPYC 9275F — making the Core i7-12700K the 109.4% better value option.