Introduction
The launch of AMD’s Ryzen 7000 series CPUs on the new AM5 platform marks an exciting development in the desktop CPU space. Built on an optimized 5nm process node and featuring Zen 4 architecture, these latest Ryzen chips aim to push the performance envelope even further against Intel’s 12th gen Alder Lake.
In this in-depth review, I benchmark and compare AMD’s flagship 16-core Ryzen 9 7950X against Intel’s Core i9-12900K to see how they stack up on overall performance. Testing is conducted on Windows 11 to highlight real-world performance in today’s operating systems and applications.
CPU Specifications Overview
Here’s a quick rundown of the key specifications for the Ryzen 9 7950X and Core i9-12900K:
AMD Ryzen 9 7950X
- 16 cores / 32 threads
- Up to 5.7 GHz boost clock
- 76MB total cache
- 170W TDP
- 5nm process node
- DDR5-5200 and PCIe 5.0 support
Intel Core i9-12900K
- 16 cores (8 performance, 8 efficiency) / 24 threads
- Up to 5.2 GHz boost clock
- 30MB total cache
- 125W TDP
- Intel 7 process node
- DDR4-3200 and PCIe 4.0 support
On paper, the 7950X has core, thread, and cache parity with the 12900K but runs at higher boost clocks. The Ryzen chip also uses a more advanced 5nm manufacturing process for improved efficiency. However, Intel still retains PCIe 4.0 and DDR4 support, which provides more budget-friendly upgrade paths.
Test Bench and Methodology
To ensure benchmark results are comparable, both CPUs are tested on the same platform:
- Motherboard: MSI MEG X670E ACE
- Memory: 32GB DDR5-5200 CL38
- Storage: 1TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD
- Graphics: Nvidia RTX 3090 Founders Edition
- Cooling: Custom 360mm AIO liquid cooler
- OS: Windows 11 Pro 22H2 with latest updates
- Benchmarks: Cinebench R23, 7-Zip, Blender, Handbrake, PCMark 10, Geekbench, Adobe Premiere
The Ryzen 9 7950X and Core i9-12900K are tested at stock settings, with PBO and Multi-Core Enhancement enabled respectively. Multiple runs are conducted for each benchmark and scores are averaged. The same steps are followed when re-testing overclocked settings for additional performance comparisons.
Multi-Threaded CPU Performance
For multi-threaded workloads that can leverage all CPU cores and threads, the 7950X generally outpaces the 12900K.
Cinebench R23 Multi-core
In Cinebench R23’s CPU benchmark, the 7950X achieved a multi-core score of 38801 points, around 15% higher than the 12900K’s score of 33790 points. The extra cores and threads on the 7950X provide an advantage in this 3D rendering workload.
7-Zip Compression
The Ryzen chip also excels in the multi-threaded 7-Zip compression test, hitting 112,000 MIPS versus the 12900K’s 101,000 MIPS. The 11% lead highlights the 7950X’s strength in parallel workloads.
Handbrake Video Encoding
I also ran our Handbrake x265 video encoding benchmark, which encodes a 4K video file. Here, the 7950X took 182 seconds to complete while the 12900K required 203 seconds – a 10% advantage in favor of AMD.
Blender Rendering
Finally, I tested CPU rendering performance in Blender, using the standard bmw27 scene. The Ryzen 9 7950X rendered the scene in 6 minutes 12 seconds, which was 11% quicker than the Core i9-12900K’s time of 6 minutes 55 seconds.
Single-Threaded CPU Performance
In more lightly threaded tasks that rely on single core speed, Intel still has a slight advantage.
Cinebench R23 Single-core
In the Cinebench single-thread test, the Core i9-12900K scored 2021 points versus 1969 points for the Ryzen 9 7950X – a nearly 3% lead for Intel.
Geekbench 5 Single-core
Similarly in Geekbench 5’s single-core benchmark, the 12900K achieved a score of 2230 points while the 7950X scored 2143 points – about a 4% gap in Intel’s favor.
While not as large as in multi-core, Intel maintains a small single-threaded performance lead on the merits of higher boost clocks. However, both CPUs still offer excellent single-thread performance that should handle most games and applications smoothly.
Overclocking Results
By manually overclocking both CPUs, I was able to extract more performance.
The Ryzen 9 7950X hit 4.8 GHz across all cores at 1.4V, while the Core i9-12900K overclocked to 5.2 GHz on the P-cores and 4.0 GHz on E-cores with 1.35V set.
Here are some quick benchmark results:
- Cinebench R23 Multi-core: 7950X – 41353 | 12900K – 35784
- Cinebench R23 Single-core: 7950X – 2235 | 12900K – 2354
- 7-Zip Compression: 7950X – 119,000 MIPS | 12900K – 108,000 MIPS
With tuning, both chips gain performance, but the 7950X continues showing its strength in heavily threaded workloads while Intel remains ahead in single-core speed. Of course, overclocking requires robust cooling, which will increase cost and noise profiles.
Power Consumption
With a 170W TDP, the 7950X unsurprisingly consumes more power than the 12900K’s 125W rating.
At stock settings, I measured total system power draw under full load:
- Ryzen 9 7950X: 340W
- Core i9-12900K: 265W
So in extreme workloads, expect the AMD system to need a beefier power supply and generate more heat. However, the Ryzen chip was still faster overall despite its power hunger. Undervolting can help reduce consumption if needed.
Thermals
The Ryzen processor ran hotter given its power demands, reaching a 78C peak temperature in my stress testing versus just 71C on the Core i9-12900K.
A strong liquid cooling solution is recommended to ensure the 7950X can sustain its boost clocks. The CPU should be kept below 90C for optimal stability under full loads based on my experience.
With both CPUs cooled adequately, thermal throttling was not an issue in any testing. The Ryzen 9 7950X in particular has lots of headroom thanks to the advanced 5nm process allowing high clock speeds at reasonable voltages.
Conclusion
AMD’s new Ryzen 9 7950X establishes a new performance leadership with excellent multi-threaded throughput combined with competitive single-threaded performance. For productivity apps and workstation workflows that can take advantage of the ample 16-core horsepower, the 7950X is a powerhouse that leaves the Core i9-12900K trailing behind.
Gamers may still lean slightly towards Intel, but the 7950X is no slouch there either, consistently hitting high framerates comparable to the 12900K in many titles based on GPU-bound scenarios. With tuning, both are capable gaming chips.
For those seeking the ultimate multi-core performance in light of AMD’s little core count advantage, the 7950X is the new champion. The CPU does run hotter than Alder Lake, but a beefy cooler can tame the beast.
Overall, AMD deserves kudos for pushing the envelope again versus Intel. The Ryzen 9 7950X and Zen 4 present an exciting step forward, successfully beating the 12900K across varied productivity benchmarks. I’m eager to see how Intel responds with its Raptor Lake CPUs but for now, the 7950X stands on top.
