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: +3.7% higher average FPS across 49 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $3,581 less on MSRP ($409 MSRP vs $3,990 MSRP).
✅Delivers 319.4% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 84.0 vs 20.0 PassMark/$ ($409 MSRP vs $3,990 MSRP).
✅Draws 125W instead of 280W, a 155W reduction.
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of TR4 and DDR4.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (34,347 vs 79,889).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (25 MB vs 256 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Ryzen Threadripper 3990X, which brings 64 cores / 128 threads and 88 PCIe lanes.

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

2019

Why buy it

✅+132.6% higher PassMark.
✅+924% larger total L3 cache (256 MB vs 25 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 64 cores / 128 threads, plus 88 PCIe lanes vs 20.
✅340% more PCIe lanes (88 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-12700K across 49 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 20.0 vs 84.0 PassMark/$ ($3,990 MSRP vs $409 MSRP).
❌124% higher power demand at 280W vs 125W.
❌Older platform position on TR4 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 Threadripper 3990X

2019

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +3.7% higher average FPS across 49 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $3,581 less on MSRP ($409 MSRP vs $3,990 MSRP).
✅Delivers 319.4% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 84.0 vs 20.0 PassMark/$ ($409 MSRP vs $3,990 MSRP).
✅Draws 125W instead of 280W, a 155W reduction.
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of TR4 and DDR4.

Why buy it

✅+132.6% higher PassMark.
✅+924% larger total L3 cache (256 MB vs 25 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 64 cores / 128 threads, plus 88 PCIe lanes vs 20.
✅340% more PCIe lanes (88 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (34,347 vs 79,889).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (25 MB vs 256 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Ryzen Threadripper 3990X, which brings 64 cores / 128 threads and 88 PCIe lanes.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-12700K across 49 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 20.0 vs 84.0 PassMark/$ ($3,990 MSRP vs $409 MSRP).
❌124% higher power demand at 280W vs 125W.
❌Older platform position on TR4 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 Threadripper 3990X?

Not in a simple one-size-fits-all way. Ryzen Threadripper 3990X 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 streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Ryzen Threadripper 3990X is the better fit. You are getting 132.6% better PassMark, backed by 64 cores and 128 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 924% larger total L3 cache (256 MB vs 25 MB).

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

Core i7-12700K is the smarter buy today. Core i7-12700K is $3,581 cheaper on MSRP at $409 MSRP versus $3,990 MSRP, and it gives you a 3.7% average FPS lead across 49 shared CPU game tests in our data. The trade-off is that Ryzen Threadripper 3990X is still stronger for heavier multi-core work with 132.6% better PassMark. It is also 319.4% better value on MSRP (84.0 vs 20.0 PassMark/$), 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?

Core i7-12700K is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2021 vs 2019) and a healthier platform with LGA1700 and DDR5 instead of TR4. 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 3990X Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i7-12700K	Ryzen Threadripper 3990X
1080p
low	314 FPS	181 FPS
medium	295 FPS	152 FPS
high	246 FPS	131 FPS
ultra	193 FPS	106 FPS
1440p
low	269 FPS	157 FPS
medium	225 FPS	125 FPS
high	182 FPS	102 FPS
ultra	145 FPS	83 FPS
4K
low	170 FPS	85 FPS
medium	142 FPS	72 FPS
high	109 FPS	57 FPS
ultra	96 FPS	46 FPS

Open Core i7-12700K Open Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i7-12700K	Ryzen Threadripper 3990X
1080p
low	630 FPS	584 FPS
medium	533 FPS	503 FPS
high	450 FPS	386 FPS
ultra	410 FPS	330 FPS
1440p
low	536 FPS	491 FPS
medium	475 FPS	433 FPS
high	403 FPS	343 FPS
ultra	349 FPS	277 FPS
4K
low	312 FPS	308 FPS
medium	280 FPS	275 FPS
high	266 FPS	235 FPS
ultra	234 FPS	204 FPS

Open Core i7-12700K Open Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i7-12700K	Ryzen Threadripper 3990X
1080p
low	797 FPS	681 FPS
medium	633 FPS	563 FPS
high	556 FPS	497 FPS
ultra	472 FPS	428 FPS
1440p
low	704 FPS	582 FPS
medium	565 FPS	488 FPS
high	490 FPS	427 FPS
ultra	422 FPS	368 FPS
4K
low	510 FPS	424 FPS
medium	425 FPS	338 FPS
high	381 FPS	293 FPS
ultra	321 FPS	234 FPS

Open Core i7-12700K Open Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i7-12700K	Ryzen Threadripper 3990X
1080p
low	859 FPS	942 FPS
medium	802 FPS	842 FPS
high	699 FPS	724 FPS
ultra	628 FPS	639 FPS
1440p
low	760 FPS	777 FPS
medium	678 FPS	677 FPS
high	590 FPS	580 FPS
ultra	519 FPS	502 FPS
4K
low	535 FPS	540 FPS
medium	488 FPS	489 FPS
high	437 FPS	429 FPS
ultra	384 FPS	373 FPS

Open Core i7-12700K Open Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i7-12700K and Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

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 3990X

The Ryzen Threadripper 3990X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 7 February 2020 (5 years ago). It is based on the Matisse (2019−2020) architecture. It features 64 cores and 128 threads. Base frequency is 2.9 GHz, with boost up to 4.3 GHz. L3 cache: 256 MB. L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm, 12 nm process technology. Socket: TR4. Thermal design power (TDP): 280 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 79,889 points. Launch price was $3,999.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i7-12700K packs 12 cores / 20 threads, while the Ryzen Threadripper 3990X offers 64 cores / 128 threads — the Ryzen Threadripper 3990X has 52 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5 GHz on the Core i7-12700K versus 4.3 GHz on the Ryzen Threadripper 3990X — a 15.1% clock advantage for the Core i7-12700K (base: 3.6 GHz vs 2.9 GHz). The Core i7-12700K uses the Alder Lake, Golden Cove, Gracemont (2021) architecture (10 nm), while the Ryzen Threadripper 3990X uses Matisse (2019−2020) (7 nm, 12 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-12700K scores 34,347 against the Ryzen Threadripper 3990X's 79,889 — a 79.7% lead for the Ryzen Threadripper 3990X. L3 cache: 25 MB (total) on the Core i7-12700K vs 256 MB on the Ryzen Threadripper 3990X.

Feature	Core i7-12700K	Ryzen Threadripper 3990X
Cores / Threads	12 / 20	64 / 128+433%
Boost Clock	5 GHz+16%	4.3 GHz
Base Clock	3.6 GHz+24%	2.9 GHz
L3 Cache	25 MB (total)	256 MB+924%
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)+150%	512K (per core)
Process	10 nm	7 nm, 12 nm-30%
Architecture	Alder Lake, Golden Cove, Gracemont (2021)	Matisse (2019−2020)
PassMark	34,347	79,889+133%
Cinebench R23 Multi	—	64,366
Geekbench 6 Single	—	1,961
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	22,045

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i7-12700K uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Ryzen Threadripper 3990X uses TR4 (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 Threadripper 3990X — the Core i7-12700K supports 199.7% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Ryzen Threadripper 3990X supports up to 256 GB of RAM compared to 128 — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Core i7-12700K) vs 4 (Ryzen Threadripper 3990X). PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i7-12700K) vs 88 (Ryzen Threadripper 3990X) — the Ryzen Threadripper 3990X offers 68 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Z690,B660 (Core i7-12700K) and TRX40 (Ryzen Threadripper 3990X).

Feature	Core i7-12700K	Ryzen Threadripper 3990X
Socket	LGA1700	TR4
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0+25%	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	4800+119900%	DDR4-3200
Max RAM Capacity	128	256 GB+209715100%
RAM Channels	2	4+100%
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	20	88+340%

🔧

Advanced Features

Both processors feature an unlocked multiplier for overclocking. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i7-12700K) vs true (Ryzen Threadripper 3990X). The Core i7-12700K includes integrated graphics (Intel UHD Graphics 770), while the Ryzen Threadripper 3990X requires a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: Core i7-12700K rivals Ryzen 7 5800X; Ryzen Threadripper 3990X rivals Core i9-10980XE.

Feature	Core i7-12700K	Ryzen Threadripper 3990X
Integrated GPU	Yes	No
IGPU Model	Intel UHD Graphics 770	None
Unlocked	Yes	Yes
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	true

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i7-12700K launched at $409 MSRP, while the Ryzen Threadripper 3990X debuted at $3990. On MSRP ($409 vs $3990), the Core i7-12700K is $3581 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i7-12700K delivers 84.0 pts/$ vs 20.0 pts/$ for the Ryzen Threadripper 3990X — making the Core i7-12700K the 123% better value option.