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

✅Better for gaming: +9.1% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $240 less on MSRP ($409 MSRP vs $649 MSRP).
✅Delivers 116.7% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 84.0 vs 38.7 PassMark/$ ($409 MSRP vs $649 MSRP).
✅Draws 125W instead of 180W, a 55W reduction.
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of SP3r2 and DDR4.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (25 MB vs 32 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Ryzen Threadripper 2920X, which brings 12 cores / 24 threads.

Ryzen Threadripper 2920X

2018

Why buy it

✅+28% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 25 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 12 cores / 24 threads.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-12700K across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (25,148 vs 34,347).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 38.7 vs 84.0 PassMark/$ ($649 MSRP vs $409 MSRP).
❌44% higher power demand at 180W vs 125W.
❌Older platform position on SP3r2 with DDR4, while Core i7-12700K moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.

Core i7-12700K

2021

Ryzen Threadripper 2920X

2018

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +9.1% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $240 less on MSRP ($409 MSRP vs $649 MSRP).
✅Delivers 116.7% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 84.0 vs 38.7 PassMark/$ ($409 MSRP vs $649 MSRP).
✅Draws 125W instead of 180W, a 55W reduction.
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of SP3r2 and DDR4.

Why buy it

✅+28% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 25 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 12 cores / 24 threads.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (25 MB vs 32 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Ryzen Threadripper 2920X, which brings 12 cores / 24 threads.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-12700K across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (25,148 vs 34,347).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 38.7 vs 84.0 PassMark/$ ($649 MSRP vs $409 MSRP).
❌44% higher power demand at 180W vs 125W.
❌Older platform position on SP3r2 with DDR4, while Core i7-12700K moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i7-12700K better than Ryzen Threadripper 2920X?

Not in a simple one-size-fits-all way. Ryzen Threadripper 2920X 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, Core i7-12700K is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 9.1% more average FPS across 4 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i7-12700K is the better fit. You are getting 36.6% better PassMark, backed by 12 cores and 20 threads.

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

Core i7-12700K is the smarter buy today. Core i7-12700K is $240 cheaper on MSRP at $409 MSRP versus $649 MSRP, and it gives you a 9.1% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 116.7% better value on MSRP (84.0 vs 38.7 PassMark/$), so the better CPU is not just faster, it is also the cleaner value play on paper.

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

Core i7-12700K is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2021 vs 2018), a healthier platform with LGA1700 and DDR5 instead of SP3r2, and more multi-core headroom with 12 cores / 20 threads instead of 12/24. 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

Ryzen Threadripper 2920X Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i7-12700K	Ryzen Threadripper 2920X
1080p
low	314 FPS	192 FPS
medium	295 FPS	168 FPS
high	246 FPS	138 FPS
ultra	193 FPS	112 FPS
1440p
low	269 FPS	155 FPS
medium	225 FPS	129 FPS
high	182 FPS	104 FPS
ultra	145 FPS	84 FPS
4K
low	170 FPS	78 FPS
medium	142 FPS	70 FPS
high	109 FPS	55 FPS
ultra	96 FPS	43 FPS

Open Core i7-12700K Open Ryzen Threadripper 2920X

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i7-12700K	Ryzen Threadripper 2920X
1080p
low	630 FPS	485 FPS
medium	533 FPS	433 FPS
high	450 FPS	369 FPS
ultra	410 FPS	328 FPS
1440p
low	536 FPS	429 FPS
medium	475 FPS	388 FPS
high	403 FPS	332 FPS
ultra	349 FPS	286 FPS
4K
low	312 FPS	276 FPS
medium	280 FPS	248 FPS
high	266 FPS	228 FPS
ultra	234 FPS	198 FPS

Open Core i7-12700K Open Ryzen Threadripper 2920X

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i7-12700K	Ryzen Threadripper 2920X
1080p
low	797 FPS	629 FPS
medium	633 FPS	626 FPS
high	556 FPS	566 FPS
ultra	472 FPS	495 FPS
1440p
low	704 FPS	629 FPS
medium	565 FPS	522 FPS
high	490 FPS	458 FPS
ultra	422 FPS	399 FPS
4K
low	510 FPS	460 FPS
medium	425 FPS	369 FPS
high	381 FPS	330 FPS
ultra	321 FPS	274 FPS

Open Core i7-12700K Open Ryzen Threadripper 2920X

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i7-12700K	Ryzen Threadripper 2920X
1080p
low	859 FPS	629 FPS
medium	802 FPS	629 FPS
high	699 FPS	629 FPS
ultra	628 FPS	626 FPS
1440p
low	760 FPS	629 FPS
medium	678 FPS	629 FPS
high	590 FPS	563 FPS
ultra	519 FPS	492 FPS
4K
low	535 FPS	503 FPS
medium	488 FPS	463 FPS
high	437 FPS	411 FPS
ultra	384 FPS	361 FPS

Open Core i7-12700K Open Ryzen Threadripper 2920X

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i7-12700K and Ryzen Threadripper 2920X

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.

Ryzen Threadripper 2920X

The Ryzen Threadripper 2920X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 3 October 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the ZEN+ (2018−2019) architecture. It features 12 cores and 24 threads. Base frequency is 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 4.3 GHz. L3 cache: 32 MB. L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 12 nm process technology. Socket: SP3r2. Thermal design power (TDP): 180 Watt. Memory support: DDR4 Quad-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 25,148 points. Launch price was $649.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i7-12700K packs 12 cores / 20 threads, matching the Ryzen Threadripper 2920X's 12 cores. Boost clocks reach 5 GHz on the Core i7-12700K versus 4.3 GHz on the Ryzen Threadripper 2920X — a 15.1% clock advantage for the Core i7-12700K (base: 3.6 GHz vs 3.5 GHz). The Core i7-12700K uses the Alder Lake, Golden Cove, Gracemont (2021) architecture (10 nm), while the Ryzen Threadripper 2920X uses ZEN+ (2018−2019) (12 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-12700K scores 34,347 against the Ryzen Threadripper 2920X's 25,148 — a 30.9% lead for the Core i7-12700K. L3 cache: 25 MB (total) on the Core i7-12700K vs 32 MB on the Ryzen Threadripper 2920X.

Feature	Core i7-12700K	Ryzen Threadripper 2920X
Cores / Threads	12 / 20	12 / 24
Boost Clock	5 GHz+16%	4.3 GHz
Base Clock	3.6 GHz+3%	3.5 GHz
L3 Cache	25 MB (total)	32 MB+28%
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)+150%	512K (per core)
Process	10 nm-17%	12 nm
Architecture	Alder Lake, Golden Cove, Gracemont (2021)	ZEN+ (2018−2019)
PassMark	34,347+37%	25,148

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i7-12700K uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Ryzen Threadripper 2920X uses SP3r2 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Core i7-12700K	Ryzen Threadripper 2920X
Socket	LGA1700	SP3r2
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0+25%	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	4800	—
Max RAM Capacity	128	—
RAM Channels	2	—
ECC Support	Yes	—
PCIe Lanes	20	—

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d (Core i7-12700K) / not specified (Ryzen Threadripper 2920X). The Core i7-12700K includes integrated graphics (Intel UHD Graphics 770), while the Ryzen Threadripper 2920X requires a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: Core i7-12700K rivals Ryzen 7 5800X.

Feature	Core i7-12700K	Ryzen Threadripper 2920X
Integrated GPU	Yes	—
IGPU Model	Intel UHD Graphics 770	—
Unlocked	Yes	—
AVX-512	No	—
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	—

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i7-12700K launched at $409 MSRP, while the Ryzen Threadripper 2920X debuted at $649. On MSRP ($409 vs $649), the Core i7-12700K is $240 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i7-12700K delivers 84.0 pts/$ vs 38.7 pts/$ for the Ryzen Threadripper 2920X — making the Core i7-12700K the 73.7% better value option.