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 i7-12700F

2022

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +8.3% higher average FPS across 38 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $185 less on MSRP ($314 MSRP vs $499 MSRP).
✅Delivers 57.6% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 96.6 vs 61.3 PassMark/$ ($314 MSRP vs $499 MSRP).
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of AM4 and DDR4.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (25 MB vs 64 MB).

Ryzen 9 3900

2019

Why buy it

✅+156% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 25 MB).
✅20% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-12700F across 38 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (17,700 vs 21,500).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 61.3 vs 96.6 PassMark/$ ($499 MSRP vs $314 MSRP).
❌Older platform position on AM4 with DDR4, while Core i7-12700F moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.

Core i7-12700F

2022

Ryzen 9 3900

2019

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +8.3% higher average FPS across 38 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $185 less on MSRP ($314 MSRP vs $499 MSRP).
✅Delivers 57.6% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 96.6 vs 61.3 PassMark/$ ($314 MSRP vs $499 MSRP).
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of AM4 and DDR4.

Why buy it

✅+156% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 25 MB).
✅20% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (25 MB vs 64 MB).

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-12700F across 38 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (17,700 vs 21,500).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 61.3 vs 96.6 PassMark/$ ($499 MSRP vs $314 MSRP).
❌Older platform position on AM4 with DDR4, while Core i7-12700F moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i7-12700F better than Ryzen 9 3900?

Yes. Core i7-12700F is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 8.3% average FPS lead across 38 shared CPU game tests in our data, 21.5% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, and the stronger long-term platform, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core i7-12700F is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 8.3% more average FPS across 38 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i7-12700F is the better fit. You are getting 21.5% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, backed by 12 cores and 20 threads.

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

Core i7-12700F is the smarter buy today. Core i7-12700F is $185 cheaper on MSRP at $314 MSRP versus $499 MSRP, and it gives you a 8.3% average FPS lead across 38 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 57.6% better value on MSRP (96.6 vs 61.3 PassMark/$), so the better CPU is not just faster, it is also the cleaner value play on paper. That said, if you already own a compatible AM4 + DDR4 setup, Ryzen 9 3900 can still make sense as a platform-matched option because it avoids a motherboard and RAM swap, but on MSRP alone you would want to find it meaningfully cheaper in real-world listings before that path becomes easy to justify.

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

Core i7-12700F is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2022 vs 2019), a healthier platform with LGA1700 and DDR5 instead of AM4, 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 i7-12700F Benchmark Check

Ryzen 9 3900 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i7-12700F	Ryzen 9 3900
1080p
low	262 FPS	159 FPS
medium	252 FPS	130 FPS
high	211 FPS	111 FPS
ultra	181 FPS	92 FPS
1440p
low	228 FPS	144 FPS
medium	196 FPS	115 FPS
high	159 FPS	94 FPS
ultra	140 FPS	78 FPS
4K
low	159 FPS	78 FPS
medium	136 FPS	67 FPS
high	105 FPS	53 FPS
ultra	93 FPS	43 FPS

Open Core i7-12700F Open Ryzen 9 3900

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i7-12700F	Ryzen 9 3900
1080p
low	312 FPS	534 FPS
medium	265 FPS	470 FPS
high	224 FPS	384 FPS
ultra	204 FPS	342 FPS
1440p
low	257 FPS	460 FPS
medium	228 FPS	411 FPS
high	198 FPS	347 FPS
ultra	172 FPS	289 FPS
4K
low	157 FPS	288 FPS
medium	141 FPS	261 FPS
high	133 FPS	238 FPS
ultra	118 FPS	213 FPS

Open Core i7-12700F Open Ryzen 9 3900

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i7-12700F	Ryzen 9 3900
1080p
low	758 FPS	709 FPS
medium	615 FPS	589 FPS
high	545 FPS	536 FPS
ultra	462 FPS	472 FPS
1440p
low	689 FPS	541 FPS
medium	553 FPS	448 FPS
high	483 FPS	401 FPS
ultra	415 FPS	347 FPS
4K
low	498 FPS	394 FPS
medium	416 FPS	315 FPS
high	373 FPS	279 FPS
ultra	314 FPS	224 FPS

Open Core i7-12700F Open Ryzen 9 3900

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i7-12700F	Ryzen 9 3900
1080p
low	758 FPS	765 FPS
medium	758 FPS	765 FPS
high	672 FPS	711 FPS
ultra	597 FPS	638 FPS
1440p
low	738 FPS	725 FPS
medium	657 FPS	644 FPS
high	566 FPS	553 FPS
ultra	493 FPS	486 FPS
4K
low	519 FPS	516 FPS
medium	473 FPS	469 FPS
high	419 FPS	411 FPS
ultra	364 FPS	360 FPS

Open Core i7-12700F Open Ryzen 9 3900

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i7-12700F and Ryzen 9 3900

Core i7-12700F

The Core i7-12700F is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 4 January 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture. It features 12 cores and 20 threads. Base frequency is 2.1 GHz, with boost up to 4.9 GHz. L3 cache: 25 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1700. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 30,332 points. Launch price was $386.

Ryzen 9 3900

The Ryzen 9 3900 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 24 September 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Matisse (Zen 2) (2019−2020) architecture. It features 12 cores and 24 threads. Base frequency is 3.1 GHz, with boost up to 4.3 GHz. L3 cache: 64 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 7 nm, 12 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 30,588 points. Launch price was $499.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i7-12700F packs 12 cores / 20 threads, matching the Ryzen 9 3900's 12 cores. Boost clocks reach 4.9 GHz on the Core i7-12700F versus 4.3 GHz on the Ryzen 9 3900 — a 13% clock advantage for the Core i7-12700F (base: 2.1 GHz vs 3.1 GHz). The Core i7-12700F uses the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Ryzen 9 3900 uses Matisse (Zen 2) (2019−2020) (7 nm, 12 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-12700F scores 30,332 against the Ryzen 9 3900's 30,588 — a 0.8% lead for the Ryzen 9 3900. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 21,500 vs 17,700 (19.4% advantage for the Core i7-12700F). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 2,388 vs 1,713, a 32.9% lead for the Core i7-12700F that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 12,448 vs 10,983 (12.5% advantage for the Core i7-12700F). L3 cache: 25 MB (total) on the Core i7-12700F vs 64 MB on the Ryzen 9 3900.

Feature	Core i7-12700F	Ryzen 9 3900
Cores / Threads	12 / 20	12 / 24
Boost Clock	4.9 GHz+14%	4.3 GHz
Base Clock	2.1 GHz	3.1 GHz+48%
L3 Cache	25 MB (total)	64 MB+156%
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)+150%	512 kB (per core)
Process	Intel 7 nm	7 nm, 12 nm
Architecture	Alder Lake-S (2022)	Matisse (Zen 2) (2019−2020)
PassMark	30,332	30,588
Cinebench R23 Multi	21,500+21%	17,700
Geekbench 6 Single	2,388+39%	1,713
Geekbench 6 Multi	12,448+13%	10,983

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i7-12700F uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Ryzen 9 3900 uses AM4 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR5-4800 on the Core i7-12700F versus DDR4-3200 on the Ryzen 9 3900 — the Core i7-12700F supports 22.2% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. Both support up to 128 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i7-12700F) vs 24 (Ryzen 9 3900) — the Ryzen 9 3900 offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Z790,B760,Z690,B660 (Core i7-12700F) and X570,B550,X470,B450 (Ryzen 9 3900).

Feature	Core i7-12700F	Ryzen 9 3900
Socket	LGA1700	AM4
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0+25%	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-4800+25%	DDR4-3200
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	128 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	20	24+20%

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Ryzen 9 3900 has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i7-12700F) vs AMD-V (Ryzen 9 3900). Primary use case: Core i7-12700F targets High-performance Gaming / Productivity, Ryzen 9 3900 targets Workstation Desktop (low power). Direct competitor: Core i7-12700F rivals Ryzen 7 5800X; Ryzen 9 3900 rivals Core i9-9900.

Feature	Core i7-12700F	Ryzen 9 3900
Integrated GPU	No	No
Unlocked	No	Yes
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d, EPT	AMD-V
Target Use	High-performance Gaming / Productivity	Workstation Desktop (low power)

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i7-12700F launched at $314 MSRP, while the Ryzen 9 3900 debuted at $499. On MSRP ($314 vs $499), the Core i7-12700F is $185 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i7-12700F delivers 96.6 pts/$ vs 61.3 pts/$ for the Ryzen 9 3900 — making the Core i7-12700F the 44.7% better value option.