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 i9-12900T

2022

Why buy it

✅+32.6% higher Cinebench R23 multi-core.
✅+87.5% larger total L3 cache (30 MB vs 16 MB).

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 9 7940H across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Launch MSRP is still $489 MSRP, while Ryzen 9 7940H mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.

Ryzen 9 7940H

2023

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +18.8% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Trade-offs

❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (17,200 vs 22,809).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (16 MB vs 30 MB).

Core i9-12900T

2022

Ryzen 9 7940H

2023

Why buy it

✅+32.6% higher Cinebench R23 multi-core.
✅+87.5% larger total L3 cache (30 MB vs 16 MB).

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +18.8% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 9 7940H across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Launch MSRP is still $489 MSRP, while Ryzen 9 7940H mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.

Trade-offs

❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (17,200 vs 22,809).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (16 MB vs 30 MB).

Quick Answers

So, is Core i9-12900T better than Ryzen 9 7940H?

It depends on what matters more to you. For gaming, Ryzen 9 7940H is ahead with a 18.8% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Core i9-12900T pulls ahead with 32.6% better Cinebench R23 multi-core. Core i9-12900T also has the bigger cache pool with 87.5% larger total L3 cache (30 MB vs 16 MB).

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i9-12900T is the better fit. You are getting 32.6% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, backed by 16 cores and 24 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 87.5% larger total L3 cache (30 MB vs 16 MB).

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

Core i9-12900T is the smarter buy today. Core i9-12900T is at an unclear MSRP at $489 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it gives you 32.6% better Cinebench R23 multi-core. The trade-off is that Ryzen 9 7940H is still the better pure gaming CPU with a 18.8% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (60.5 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), 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?

Ryzen 9 7940H is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2023 vs 2022). That makes it the safer long-term pick.

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 i9-12900T Benchmark Check

Ryzen 9 7940H Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i9-12900T	Ryzen 9 7940H
1080p
low	269 FPS	268 FPS
medium	259 FPS	241 FPS
high	214 FPS	206 FPS
ultra	184 FPS	176 FPS
1440p
low	230 FPS	234 FPS
medium	198 FPS	191 FPS
high	159 FPS	158 FPS
ultra	140 FPS	138 FPS
4K
low	159 FPS	160 FPS
medium	136 FPS	132 FPS
high	106 FPS	102 FPS
ultra	93 FPS	89 FPS

Open Core i9-12900T Open Ryzen 9 7940H

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i9-12900T	Ryzen 9 7940H
1080p
low	315 FPS	502 FPS
medium	268 FPS	417 FPS
high	225 FPS	360 FPS
ultra	206 FPS	319 FPS
1440p
low	260 FPS	439 FPS
medium	230 FPS	385 FPS
high	199 FPS	332 FPS
ultra	173 FPS	282 FPS
4K
low	161 FPS	291 FPS
medium	143 FPS	267 FPS
high	135 FPS	251 FPS
ultra	120 FPS	216 FPS

Open Core i9-12900T Open Ryzen 9 7940H

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i9-12900T	Ryzen 9 7940H
1080p
low	740 FPS	729 FPS
medium	615 FPS	729 FPS
high	544 FPS	729 FPS
ultra	461 FPS	650 FPS
1440p
low	689 FPS	729 FPS
medium	552 FPS	637 FPS
high	482 FPS	548 FPS
ultra	414 FPS	464 FPS
4K
low	496 FPS	534 FPS
medium	414 FPS	460 FPS
high	371 FPS	409 FPS
ultra	312 FPS	344 FPS

Open Core i9-12900T Open Ryzen 9 7940H

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i9-12900T	Ryzen 9 7940H
1080p
low	740 FPS	729 FPS
medium	740 FPS	729 FPS
high	666 FPS	729 FPS
ultra	591 FPS	729 FPS
1440p
low	737 FPS	729 FPS
medium	652 FPS	729 FPS
high	561 FPS	716 FPS
ultra	488 FPS	631 FPS
4K
low	518 FPS	619 FPS
medium	469 FPS	553 FPS
high	415 FPS	496 FPS
ultra	361 FPS	434 FPS

Open Core i9-12900T Open Ryzen 9 7940H

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i9-12900T and Ryzen 9 7940H

Core i9-12900T

The Core i9-12900T 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 16 cores and 24 threads. Base frequency is 1.4 GHz, with boost up to 4.9 GHz. L3 cache: 30 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1700. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 29,601 points. Launch price was $299.

Ryzen 9 7940H

The Ryzen 9 7940H is manufactured by AMD. It was released in Janeiro 2023 (2 years ago). It is based on the Phoenix (2023−2024) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 4 GHz, with boost up to 5.2 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 4 nm process technology. Socket: FP8. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-5600. Passmark benchmark score: 29,151 points. Launch price was $299.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i9-12900T packs 16 cores / 24 threads, while the Ryzen 9 7940H offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Core i9-12900T has 8 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.9 GHz on the Core i9-12900T versus 5.2 GHz on the Ryzen 9 7940H — a 5.9% clock advantage for the Ryzen 9 7940H (base: 1.4 GHz vs 4 GHz). The Core i9-12900T uses the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Ryzen 9 7940H uses Phoenix (2023−2024) (4 nm). In PassMark, the Core i9-12900T scores 29,601 against the Ryzen 9 7940H's 29,151 — a 1.5% lead for the Core i9-12900T. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 22,809 vs 17,200 (28% advantage for the Core i9-12900T). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 2,331 vs 2,646, a 12.7% lead for the Ryzen 9 7940H that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 12,116 vs 13,495 (10.8% advantage for the Ryzen 9 7940H). L3 cache: 30 MB (total) on the Core i9-12900T vs 16 MB (total) on the Ryzen 9 7940H.

Feature	Core i9-12900T	Ryzen 9 7940H
Cores / Threads	16 / 24+100%	8 / 16
Boost Clock	4.9 GHz	5.2 GHz+6%
Base Clock	1.4 GHz	4 GHz+186%
L3 Cache	30 MB (total)+88%	16 MB (total)
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)+25%	1 MB (per core)
Process	Intel 7 nm	4 nm-43%
Architecture	Alder Lake-S (2022)	Phoenix (2023−2024)
PassMark	29,601+2%	29,151
Cinebench R23 Multi	22,809+33%	17,200
Geekbench 6 Single	2,331	2,646+14%
Geekbench 6 Multi	12,116	13,495+11%

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i9-12900T uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Ryzen 9 7940H uses FP8 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR5-4800 memory speed. The Ryzen 9 7940H supports up to 256 GB of RAM compared to 128 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 20 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: LGA1700 (Core i9-12900T) and FP7,FP7r2,FP8 (Ryzen 9 7940H).

Feature	Core i9-12900T	Ryzen 9 7940H
Socket	LGA1700	FP8
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0+25%	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-4800	DDR5-5600
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	256 GB+100%
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	20	20

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Ryzen 9 7940H has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Both support AVX-512 instructions, benefiting scientific computing, AI inference, and encryption workloads. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i9-12900T) vs AMD-V, SVM (Ryzen 9 7940H). Both include integrated graphics — UHD Graphics 770 (Core i9-12900T) and Radeon 780M (Ryzen 9 7940H) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Ryzen 9 7940H targets High-performance Gaming Laptop. Direct competitor: Ryzen 9 7940H rivals Core i9-13900H.

Feature	Core i9-12900T	Ryzen 9 7940H
Integrated GPU	Yes	Yes
IGPU Model	UHD Graphics 770	Radeon 780M
Unlocked	No	Yes
AVX-512	Yes	Yes
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	AMD-V, SVM
Target Use	—	High-performance Gaming Laptop