The best CPUs now available from both manufacturers are Intel’s Core i9-12900K and AMD’s Ryzen 9 5950X, but which is the best? I compared both CPUs in games to see what the differences were!
SPECIFICATIONS: Intel i9-12900K Vs Ryzen 9 5950X
| 12900K | 5950X | |
| CORES / THREADS | 16 [8P+8E] / 24T | 16 / 32 |
| BASE CLOCK | P 3.2GHZ / E 2.4GHZ | 3.4GHZ |
| BOOST CLOCK | P 5.2GHZ / E 3.9GHZ | 4.9GHZ |
| CACHE [L2/L3] | 14MB / 30MB | 8MB / 64MB |
| MEMORY | DDR4-3200 / DDR5-4800 | DDR4-3200 |
| RELEASED | NOV 2021 | NOV 2020 |
| COOLER INCLUDED | NO | NO |
The 12900K has 8P hyperthreading cores and 8E non-hyperthreading cores, which means that while it has 16 cores like the 5950X, it has less threads at 24 compared to the 32 available on the 5950X, and the 5950X also has more cache.
PRICE: Intel i9-12900K Vs Ryzen 9 5950X
Right now, the Ryzen 9 5950X costs $749 USD, whereas the Intel 12900K costs almost $100 less, or $20 less if you don’t need integrated graphics. So the AMD 5950X is more expensive, but it has more cache and threads, so it must be better, right? Surprisingly, this isn’t true.
DDR5 MEMORY
In addition, Intel’s 12th generation processors were the first to offer DDR5 memory; although the 12th gen also supports older DDR4 memory, the motherboard’s compatibility for DDR5 memory will vary.
TEST SYSTEM SPECS:
| Nvidia Geforce RTX 3090 | BUY NOW |
| CPU Cooler – Noctua NH-D15S | BUY NOW |
| SSD – 1 TB Corsair Force MP600 | BUY NOW |
PERFORMANCE: Intel i9-12900K Vs Ryzen 9 5950X
Now, let’s compare the two processors in 5 different games at 1080p resolution! I’ve included the average FPS for each game in the results. After that, we’ll tell you which one is better and which one you should buy. Let’s have a look at the gaming results:
Assassin’s Creed Valhalla
Assassin’s Creed Valhalla was tested with the built in benchmark, and at 1080p we’re not actually seeing much of a difference between the two CPUs, the results are already extremely close together here, 12900k is 5FPS ahead.
Call Of Duty: Warzone
COD Warzone tested with the built in benchmark at 1080p we’re getting really nice results, with the 12900K being quite a bit ahead here, around 55FPS.
Cyberpunk 2077
Cyberpunk 2077 was also tested with the built in benchmark, and the Intel CPU was ahead here. 12900k was scoring around 12% higher average FPS at highest settings.
Red Dead Redemption 2
Red Dead Redemption 2 runs well on both CPU, and again really nice results here at 1080p, with 7FPS improvement at high settings on the 12900k.
Watch Dogs Legion
I’ve also tested out Watch Dogs Legion with the built in benchmark. At 1080p we’re looking at almost a 7% higher average frame rate at highest settings with the 12900k.
VERDICT: Which is Better For Gaming? Intel i9-12900K Vs Ryzen 9 5950X
Intel’s i9-12900K is performing admirably in terms of raw CPU performance. I’m referring to the fact that 5950X a 32 thread part, whereas the 12900K is a 24 thread part. When it comes to gaming, the i9 was also technically superior, but the difference was so minor that I don’t believe it matters. Given that the 5950X has been out for a year, AMD may reduce the price to maintain it competitive with the i9.
I have also compared Intel i7-12700K with Ryzen 9 5900X to see which is best 12 Core CPU.
