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: +17.9% higher average FPS across 2 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $90 less on MSRP ($409 MSRP vs $499 MSRP).
✅Delivers 37.0% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 84.0 vs 61.3 PassMark/$ ($409 MSRP vs $499 MSRP).
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of AM4 and DDR4.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel UHD Graphics 770, while Ryzen 9 3900 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (25 MB vs 64 MB).
❌92.3% higher power demand at 125W vs 65W.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Ryzen 9 3900.

Ryzen 9 3900

2019

Why buy it

✅+156% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 25 MB).
✅Draws 65W instead of 125W, a 60W reduction.
✅20% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Wraith Prism), unlike Core i7-12700K.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-12700K across 2 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (30,588 vs 34,347).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 61.3 vs 84.0 PassMark/$ ($499 MSRP vs $409 MSRP).
❌Older platform position on AM4 with DDR4, while Core i7-12700K moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i7-12700K can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i7-12700K

2021

Ryzen 9 3900

2019

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +17.9% higher average FPS across 2 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $90 less on MSRP ($409 MSRP vs $499 MSRP).
✅Delivers 37.0% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 84.0 vs 61.3 PassMark/$ ($409 MSRP vs $499 MSRP).
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of AM4 and DDR4.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel UHD Graphics 770, while Ryzen 9 3900 needs a discrete GPU.

Why buy it

✅+156% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 25 MB).
✅Draws 65W instead of 125W, a 60W reduction.
✅20% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Wraith Prism), unlike Core i7-12700K.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (25 MB vs 64 MB).
❌92.3% higher power demand at 125W vs 65W.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Ryzen 9 3900.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-12700K across 2 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (30,588 vs 34,347).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 61.3 vs 84.0 PassMark/$ ($499 MSRP vs $409 MSRP).
❌Older platform position on AM4 with DDR4, while Core i7-12700K moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i7-12700K can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

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

Yes. Core i7-12700K is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 17.9% average FPS lead across 2 shared CPU game tests in our data, 12.3% better PassMark, 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 i7-12700K is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 17.9% more average FPS across 2 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 12.3% 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 $90 cheaper on MSRP at $409 MSRP versus $499 MSRP, and it gives you a 17.9% average FPS lead across 2 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 37.0% better value on MSRP (84.0 vs 61.3 PassMark/$), 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 i7-12700K is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2021 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 i7-12700K Benchmark Check

Ryzen 9 3900 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i7-12700K	Ryzen 9 3900
1080p
low	314 FPS	159 FPS
medium	295 FPS	130 FPS
high	246 FPS	111 FPS
ultra	193 FPS	92 FPS
1440p
low	269 FPS	144 FPS
medium	225 FPS	115 FPS
high	182 FPS	94 FPS
ultra	145 FPS	78 FPS
4K
low	170 FPS	78 FPS
medium	142 FPS	67 FPS
high	109 FPS	53 FPS
ultra	96 FPS	43 FPS

Open Core i7-12700K Open Ryzen 9 3900

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i7-12700K	Ryzen 9 3900
1080p
low	630 FPS	534 FPS
medium	533 FPS	470 FPS
high	450 FPS	384 FPS
ultra	410 FPS	342 FPS
1440p
low	536 FPS	460 FPS
medium	475 FPS	411 FPS
high	403 FPS	347 FPS
ultra	349 FPS	289 FPS
4K
low	312 FPS	288 FPS
medium	280 FPS	261 FPS
high	266 FPS	238 FPS
ultra	234 FPS	213 FPS

Open Core i7-12700K Open Ryzen 9 3900

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i7-12700K	Ryzen 9 3900
1080p
low	797 FPS	709 FPS
medium	633 FPS	589 FPS
high	556 FPS	536 FPS
ultra	472 FPS	472 FPS
1440p
low	704 FPS	541 FPS
medium	565 FPS	448 FPS
high	490 FPS	401 FPS
ultra	422 FPS	347 FPS
4K
low	510 FPS	394 FPS
medium	425 FPS	315 FPS
high	381 FPS	279 FPS
ultra	321 FPS	224 FPS

Open Core i7-12700K Open Ryzen 9 3900

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i7-12700K	Ryzen 9 3900
1080p
low	859 FPS	765 FPS
medium	802 FPS	765 FPS
high	699 FPS	711 FPS
ultra	628 FPS	638 FPS
1440p
low	760 FPS	725 FPS
medium	678 FPS	644 FPS
high	590 FPS	553 FPS
ultra	519 FPS	486 FPS
4K
low	535 FPS	516 FPS
medium	488 FPS	469 FPS
high	437 FPS	411 FPS
ultra	384 FPS	360 FPS

Open Core i7-12700K Open Ryzen 9 3900

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

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

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 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 i7-12700K packs 12 cores / 20 threads, matching the Ryzen 9 3900's 12 cores. Boost clocks reach 5 GHz on the Core i7-12700K versus 4.3 GHz on the Ryzen 9 3900 — a 15.1% clock advantage for the Core i7-12700K (base: 3.6 GHz vs 3.1 GHz). The Core i7-12700K uses the Alder Lake, Golden Cove, Gracemont (2021) architecture (10 nm), while the Ryzen 9 3900 uses Matisse (Zen 2) (2019−2020) (7 nm, 12 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-12700K scores 34,347 against the Ryzen 9 3900's 30,588 — a 11.6% lead for the Core i7-12700K. L3 cache: 25 MB (total) on the Core i7-12700K vs 64 MB on the Ryzen 9 3900.

Feature	Core i7-12700K	Ryzen 9 3900
Cores / Threads	12 / 20	12 / 24
Boost Clock	5 GHz+16%	4.3 GHz
Base Clock	3.6 GHz+16%	3.1 GHz
L3 Cache	25 MB (total)	64 MB+156%
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)+150%	512 kB (per core)
Process	10 nm	7 nm, 12 nm-30%
Architecture	Alder Lake, Golden Cove, Gracemont (2021)	Matisse (Zen 2) (2019−2020)
PassMark	34,347+12%	30,588
Cinebench R23 Multi	—	17,700
Geekbench 6 Single	—	1,713
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	10,983

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i7-12700K 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 4800 on the Core i7-12700K versus DDR4-3200 on the Ryzen 9 3900 — the Core i7-12700K supports 199.7% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. Both support up to 128 of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i7-12700K) vs 24 (Ryzen 9 3900) — the Ryzen 9 3900 offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Z690,B660 (Core i7-12700K) and X570,B550,X470,B450 (Ryzen 9 3900).

Feature	Core i7-12700K	Ryzen 9 3900
Socket	LGA1700	AM4
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0+25%	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	4800+119900%	DDR4-3200
Max RAM Capacity	128	128 GB+104857500%
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	Yes	No
PCIe Lanes	20	24+20%

🔧

Advanced Features

Both processors feature an unlocked multiplier for overclocking. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i7-12700K) vs AMD-V (Ryzen 9 3900). The Core i7-12700K includes integrated graphics (Intel UHD Graphics 770), while the Ryzen 9 3900 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Ryzen 9 3900 targets Workstation Desktop (low power). Direct competitor: Core i7-12700K rivals Ryzen 7 5800X; Ryzen 9 3900 rivals Core i9-9900.

Feature	Core i7-12700K	Ryzen 9 3900
Integrated GPU	Yes	No
IGPU Model	Intel UHD Graphics 770	—
Unlocked	Yes	Yes
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	AMD-V
Target Use	—	Workstation Desktop (low power)

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i7-12700K launched at $409 MSRP, while the Ryzen 9 3900 debuted at $499. On MSRP ($409 vs $499), the Core i7-12700K is $90 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i7-12700K delivers 84.0 pts/$ vs 61.3 pts/$ for the Ryzen 9 3900 — making the Core i7-12700K the 31.2% better value option.