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 i9-12900KS

2022

Why buy it

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (30 MB vs 64 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 58.9 vs 72.0 PassMark/$ ($739 MSRP vs $600 MSRP).
❌172.7% higher power demand at 150W vs 55W.

Ryzen AI Max PRO 390

2025

Why buy it

✅+113.3% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 30 MB).
✅Costs $139 less on MSRP ($600 MSRP vs $739 MSRP).
✅Delivers 22.2% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 72.0 vs 58.9 PassMark/$ ($600 MSRP vs $739 MSRP).
✅Draws 55W instead of 150W, a 95W reduction.
✅40% more PCIe lanes (28 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (43,174 vs 43,528).

Core i9-12900KS

2022

Ryzen AI Max PRO 390

2025

Why buy it

✅+113.3% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 30 MB).
✅Costs $139 less on MSRP ($600 MSRP vs $739 MSRP).
✅Delivers 22.2% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 72.0 vs 58.9 PassMark/$ ($600 MSRP vs $739 MSRP).
✅Draws 55W instead of 150W, a 95W reduction.
✅40% more PCIe lanes (28 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (30 MB vs 64 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 58.9 vs 72.0 PassMark/$ ($739 MSRP vs $600 MSRP).
❌172.7% higher power demand at 150W vs 55W.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (43,174 vs 43,528).

Quick Answers

So, is Core i9-12900KS better than Ryzen AI Max PRO 390?

Yes. Core i9-12900KS is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 0.9% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data and 0.8% better PassMark, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core i9-12900KS is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 0.9% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i9-12900KS is the better fit. You are getting 0.8% better PassMark, backed by 16 cores and 24 threads.

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

Core i9-12900KS is the smarter buy by a wide margin for any fresh desktop build. Core i9-12900KS is 23.2% more expensive on MSRP at $739 MSRP versus $600 MSRP, and it gives you a 0.9% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 only looks good on raw value math because it is a cheap legacy laptop CPU, not because it is a serious desktop gaming option. It simply cannot keep up with modern games, especially when the gap is already 0.9% in the shared gaming data.

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

Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2025 vs 2022) and 113.3% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 30 MB). 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 i9-12900KS Benchmark Check

Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i9-12900KS	Ryzen AI Max PRO 390
1080p
low	283 FPS	286 FPS
medium	269 FPS	253 FPS
high	225 FPS	213 FPS
ultra	192 FPS	185 FPS
1440p
low	235 FPS	266 FPS
medium	199 FPS	211 FPS
high	162 FPS	165 FPS
ultra	142 FPS	147 FPS
4K
low	158 FPS	184 FPS
medium	134 FPS	147 FPS
high	104 FPS	108 FPS
ultra	91 FPS	97 FPS

Open Core i9-12900KS Open Ryzen AI Max PRO 390

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i9-12900KS	Ryzen AI Max PRO 390
1080p
low	716 FPS	778 FPS
medium	603 FPS	656 FPS
high	501 FPS	517 FPS
ultra	443 FPS	459 FPS
1440p
low	617 FPS	654 FPS
medium	541 FPS	572 FPS
high	454 FPS	463 FPS
ultra	380 FPS	378 FPS
4K
low	363 FPS	368 FPS
medium	326 FPS	326 FPS
high	306 FPS	300 FPS
ultra	263 FPS	264 FPS

Open Core i9-12900KS Open Ryzen AI Max PRO 390

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i9-12900KS	Ryzen AI Max PRO 390
1080p
low	866 FPS	1021 FPS
medium	686 FPS	783 FPS
high	605 FPS	685 FPS
ultra	502 FPS	580 FPS
1440p
low	748 FPS	818 FPS
medium	602 FPS	635 FPS
high	523 FPS	551 FPS
ultra	441 FPS	469 FPS
4K
low	523 FPS	565 FPS
medium	432 FPS	460 FPS
high	392 FPS	409 FPS
ultra	332 FPS	342 FPS

Open Core i9-12900KS Open Ryzen AI Max PRO 390

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i9-12900KS	Ryzen AI Max PRO 390
1080p
low	973 FPS	1079 FPS
medium	879 FPS	1015 FPS
high	763 FPS	912 FPS
ultra	693 FPS	811 FPS
1440p
low	812 FPS	895 FPS
medium	723 FPS	788 FPS
high	626 FPS	689 FPS
ultra	556 FPS	605 FPS
4K
low	555 FPS	658 FPS
medium	502 FPS	582 FPS
high	449 FPS	514 FPS
ultra	396 FPS	437 FPS

Open Core i9-12900KS Open Ryzen AI Max PRO 390

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i9-12900KS and Ryzen AI Max PRO 390

Core i9-12900KS

The Core i9-12900KS is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 5 April 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture. It features 16 cores and 24 threads. Base frequency is 3.4 GHz, with boost up to 5.3 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): 150 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 43,528 points. Launch price was $499.

Ryzen AI Max PRO 390

The Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 6 January 2025 (less than a year ago). It is based on the Strix Halo (2025) architecture. It features 12 cores and 24 threads. Base frequency is 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 5 GHz. L3 cache: 64 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 4 nm process technology. Socket: FP11. Thermal design power (TDP): 55 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 43,174 points. Launch price was $499.

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Processing Power

The Core i9-12900KS packs 16 cores / 24 threads, while the Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 offers 12 cores / 24 threads — the Core i9-12900KS has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5.3 GHz on the Core i9-12900KS versus 5 GHz on the Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 — a 5.8% clock advantage for the Core i9-12900KS (base: 3.4 GHz vs 3.2 GHz). The Core i9-12900KS uses the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 uses Strix Halo (2025) (4 nm). In PassMark, the Core i9-12900KS scores 43,528 against the Ryzen AI Max PRO 390's 43,174 — a 0.8% lead for the Core i9-12900KS. L3 cache: 30 MB (total) on the Core i9-12900KS vs 64 MB (total) on the Ryzen AI Max PRO 390.

Feature	Core i9-12900KS	Ryzen AI Max PRO 390
Cores / Threads	16 / 24+33%	12 / 24
Boost Clock	5.3 GHz+6%	5 GHz
Base Clock	3.4 GHz+6%	3.2 GHz
L3 Cache	30 MB (total)	64 MB (total)+113%
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)+25%	1 MB (per core)
Process	Intel 7 nm	4 nm-43%
Architecture	Alder Lake-S (2022)	Strix Halo (2025)
PassMark	43,528	43,174
Cinebench R23 Multi	27,796	—
Geekbench 6 Single	2,082	—

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i9-12900KS uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 uses FP11 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR5-4800 on the Core i9-12900KS versus 8000 on the Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 — the Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 supports 199.8% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. Both support up to 128 GB of RAM. Memory channels: 2 (Core i9-12900KS) vs 4 (Ryzen AI Max PRO 390). PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i9-12900KS) vs 28 (Ryzen AI Max PRO 390) — the Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: LGA1700 (Core i9-12900KS) and Strix Halo (Ryzen AI Max PRO 390).

Feature	Core i9-12900KS	Ryzen AI Max PRO 390
Socket	LGA1700	FP11
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0+25%	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-4800	8000+159900%
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB+104857500%	128
RAM Channels	2	4+100%
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	20	28+40%

🔧

Advanced Features

Both processors feature an unlocked multiplier for overclocking. Both support AVX-512 instructions, benefiting scientific computing, AI inference, and encryption workloads. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i9-12900KS) vs VT-x, VT-d, AMD-V (Ryzen AI Max PRO 390). Both include integrated graphics — UHD 770 (Core i9-12900KS) and AMD Radeon 8050S (Ryzen AI Max PRO 390) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 rivals Apple M4 Max.

Feature	Core i9-12900KS	Ryzen AI Max PRO 390
Integrated GPU	Yes	Yes
IGPU Model	UHD 770	AMD Radeon 8050S
Unlocked	Yes	Yes
AVX-512	Yes	Yes
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	VT-x, VT-d, AMD-V

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i9-12900KS launched at $739 MSRP, while the Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 debuted at $600. On MSRP ($739 vs $600), the Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 is $139 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i9-12900KS delivers 58.9 pts/$ vs 72.0 pts/$ for the Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 — making the Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 the 20% better value option.