Core i7-12700K vs EPYC 9274F

CPU

GPU

Core i7-12700K

12 Cores20 Thrd125 WWMax: 5 GHz2021

Popular choices:

•••••••••

EPYC 9274F

24 Cores48 Thrd320 WWMax: 4.3 GHz2022

Popular choices:

••i7-12700K•••••••

Performance Spectrum - CPU

Core i7-12700K

12 / 20

34,347

0.0%

73,982

+115.4%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5955WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9945WX

Ryzen 9 9950X

Ryzen Threadripper 9960X

Ryzen Threadripper 7970X

Ryzen Threadripper 9970X

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7985WX

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 $2,651 less on MSRP ($409 MSRP vs $3,060 MSRP).
✅Delivers 247.3% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 84.0 vs 24.2 PassMark/$ ($409 MSRP vs $3,060 MSRP).
✅Draws 125W instead of 320W, a 195W reduction.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel UHD Graphics 770, while EPYC 9274F needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than EPYC 9274F across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (34,347 vs 73,982).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than EPYC 9274F, which brings 24 cores / 48 threads and 128 PCIe lanes.

EPYC 9274F

2022

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +13.2% higher average FPS across 50 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 24.2 vs 84.0 PassMark/$ ($3,060 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 9274F

2022

Why buy it

✅Costs $2,651 less on MSRP ($409 MSRP vs $3,060 MSRP).
✅Delivers 247.3% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 84.0 vs 24.2 PassMark/$ ($409 MSRP vs $3,060 MSRP).
✅Draws 125W instead of 320W, a 195W reduction.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel UHD Graphics 770, while EPYC 9274F needs a discrete GPU.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +13.2% higher average FPS across 50 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 9274F across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (34,347 vs 73,982).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than EPYC 9274F, which brings 24 cores / 48 threads and 128 PCIe lanes.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 24.2 vs 84.0 PassMark/$ ($3,060 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 9274F better than Core i7-12700K?

Not in a simple one-size-fits-all way. EPYC 9274F 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 9274F is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 13.2% more average FPS across 50 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 9274F is the better fit. You are getting 115.4% 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 9274F is still the faster CPU overall, but Core i7-12700K makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. EPYC 9274F is 648.2% more expensive on MSRP at $3,060 MSRP versus $409 MSRP, and it gives you a 13.2% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core i7-12700K is also 247.3% better value on MSRP (84.0 vs 24.2 PassMark/$), 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 9274F is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2022 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 extra cache should hold up really well in CPU-limited games and high-refresh builds.

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 9274F Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i7-12700K	EPYC 9274F
1080p
low	314 FPS	218 FPS
medium	295 FPS	180 FPS
high	246 FPS	154 FPS
ultra	193 FPS	111 FPS
1440p
low	269 FPS	191 FPS
medium	225 FPS	152 FPS
high	182 FPS	125 FPS
ultra	145 FPS	92 FPS
4K
low	170 FPS	88 FPS
medium	142 FPS	75 FPS
high	109 FPS	59 FPS
ultra	96 FPS	48 FPS

Open Core i7-12700K Open EPYC 9274F

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i7-12700K	EPYC 9274F
1080p
low	630 FPS	637 FPS
medium	533 FPS	556 FPS
high	450 FPS	449 FPS
ultra	410 FPS	392 FPS
1440p
low	536 FPS	538 FPS
medium	475 FPS	478 FPS
high	403 FPS	397 FPS
ultra	349 FPS	327 FPS
4K
low	312 FPS	334 FPS
medium	280 FPS	300 FPS
high	266 FPS	269 FPS
ultra	234 FPS	240 FPS

Open Core i7-12700K Open EPYC 9274F

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i7-12700K	EPYC 9274F
1080p
low	797 FPS	817 FPS
medium	633 FPS	690 FPS
high	556 FPS	624 FPS
ultra	472 FPS	545 FPS
1440p
low	704 FPS	616 FPS
medium	565 FPS	518 FPS
high	490 FPS	461 FPS
ultra	422 FPS	395 FPS
4K
low	510 FPS	441 FPS
medium	425 FPS	352 FPS
high	381 FPS	310 FPS
ultra	321 FPS	247 FPS

Open Core i7-12700K Open EPYC 9274F

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i7-12700K	EPYC 9274F
1080p
low	859 FPS	1138 FPS
medium	802 FPS	1015 FPS
high	699 FPS	875 FPS
ultra	628 FPS	784 FPS
1440p
low	760 FPS	881 FPS
medium	678 FPS	775 FPS
high	590 FPS	655 FPS
ultra	519 FPS	571 FPS
4K
low	535 FPS	624 FPS
medium	488 FPS	564 FPS
high	437 FPS	488 FPS
ultra	384 FPS	426 FPS

Open Core i7-12700K Open EPYC 9274F

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i7-12700K and EPYC 9274F

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 9274F

The EPYC 9274F is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 10 November 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Genoa (2022−2023) architecture. It features 24 cores and 48 threads. Base frequency is 4.05 GHz, with boost up to 4.3 GHz. L3 cache: 256 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 5 nm, 6 nm process technology. Socket: SP5. Thermal design power (TDP): 320 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-4800. Passmark benchmark score: 73,982 points. Launch price was $3,060.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i7-12700K packs 12 cores / 20 threads, while the EPYC 9274F offers 24 cores / 48 threads — the EPYC 9274F has 12 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5 GHz on the Core i7-12700K versus 4.3 GHz on the EPYC 9274F — a 15.1% clock advantage for the Core i7-12700K (base: 3.6 GHz vs 4.05 GHz). The Core i7-12700K uses the Alder Lake, Golden Cove, Gracemont (2021) architecture (10 nm), while the EPYC 9274F uses Genoa (2022−2023) (5 nm, 6 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-12700K scores 34,347 against the EPYC 9274F's 73,982 — a 73.2% lead for the EPYC 9274F. L3 cache: 25 MB (total) on the Core i7-12700K vs 256 MB (total) on the EPYC 9274F.

Feature	Core i7-12700K	EPYC 9274F
Cores / Threads	12 / 20	24 / 48+100%
Boost Clock	5 GHz+16%	4.3 GHz
Base Clock	3.6 GHz	4.05 GHz+12%
L3 Cache	25 MB (total)	256 MB (total)+924%
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)+25%	1 MB (per core)
Process	10 nm	5 nm, 6 nm-50%
Architecture	Alder Lake, Golden Cove, Gracemont (2021)	Genoa (2022−2023)
PassMark	34,347	73,982+115%

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i7-12700K uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the EPYC 9274F uses SP5 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to 4800 memory speed. The EPYC 9274F 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 9274F). PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i7-12700K) vs 128 (EPYC 9274F) — the EPYC 9274F offers 108 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Z690,B660 (Core i7-12700K) and SP5 (EPYC 9274F).

Feature	Core i7-12700K	EPYC 9274F
Socket	LGA1700	SP5
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0	PCIe 5.0
Max RAM Speed	4800	4800
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 9274F 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 9274F). The Core i7-12700K includes integrated graphics (Intel UHD Graphics 770), while the EPYC 9274F requires a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: Core i7-12700K rivals Ryzen 7 5800X; EPYC 9274F rivals Xeon Platinum 8468.

Feature	Core i7-12700K	EPYC 9274F
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 9274F debuted at $3060. On MSRP ($409 vs $3060), the Core i7-12700K is $2651 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i7-12700K delivers 84.0 pts/$ vs 24.2 pts/$ for the EPYC 9274F — making the Core i7-12700K the 110.6% better value option.