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AMD Ryzen 5 9600X vs Intel Core i7-12700F: Comparison
AMD Ryzen 5 9600X vs Intel Core i7-12700F: the total cores difference
There is no decisive spec gap here. Total cores splits them by a margin most buyers will never feel, AMD Ryzen 5 9600X 6 against Intel Core i7-12700F 12. Add l3 cache to that, 32 MB on the AMD Ryzen 5 9600X versus 25 MB on the Intel Core i7-12700F, and the pattern holds. Add l2 cache to that, 6 MB on the AMD Ryzen 5 9600X versus 12 MB on the Intel Core i7-12700F, and the pattern holds.
Which should you buy, AMD Ryzen 5 9600X or Intel Core i7-12700F?
Take the AMD Ryzen 5 9600X for mainstream gaming and everyday desktop builds wanting an accessible entry point into AMD's AM5 Zen 5 platform. It is not the one for buyers needing strong multi-threaded performance for content creation, the 8-core 9700X offers meaningfully more. The Intel Core i7-12700F is the one to take for desktop gaming with discrete GPU and value desktop builds, though it is not the pick for laptops and fanless designs. Our rating of the AMD Ryzen 5 9600X (8/10): the AMD Ryzen 5 9600X is a strong 6-core entry point to AM5, with excellent single-core speed for gaming builds on a budget.
Which is cheaper, AMD Ryzen 5 9600X or Intel Core i7-12700F?
Cost splits them too. AMD Ryzen 5 9600X sits at $279, Intel Core i7-12700F at $314, 13% more.
Where the two are identical
The common ground is wider than the gap: tdp, form factor, market segment, smt enabled and base power are identical here. They match on 4 further specifications as well.
Frequently asked questions
Do the AMD Ryzen 5 9600X and Intel Core i7-12700F differ on performance cores?
Yes. Performance Cores reads 6 on the AMD Ryzen 5 9600X versus 8 on the Intel Core i7-12700F.
Is the Memory Channels the same on the AMD Ryzen 5 9600X and Intel Core i7-12700F?
It is. Both are listed at 2, so it is not a reason to pick one over the other.
Specs and benchmarks
Product Line
- AMD Ryzen 5 9600X
- Ryzen 5
- Intel Core i7-12700F
- Core
Form Factor
- AMD Ryzen 5 9600X
- Desktop
- Intel Core i7-12700F
- Desktop
Model Number
- AMD Ryzen 5 9600X
- 9600X
- Intel Core i7-12700F
- i7-12700F
Codename
- AMD Ryzen 5 9600X
- Granite Ridge
- Intel Core i7-12700F
- Alder Lake
Release Year
- AMD Ryzen 5 9600X
- 2024
- Intel Core i7-12700F
- 2022
TDP
- AMD Ryzen 5 9600X
- 65 W
- Intel Core i7-12700F
- 65 W
iGPU
- AMD Ryzen 5 9600X
- AMD Radeon Graphics
- Intel Core i7-12700F
- None
Market Segment
- AMD Ryzen 5 9600X
- Desktop
- Intel Core i7-12700F
- Desktop
Microarchitecture
- AMD Ryzen 5 9600X
- Zen 5, Ryzen 9000 Series
- Intel Core i7-12700F
- Alder Lake
Socket
- AMD Ryzen 5 9600X
- AM5
- Intel Core i7-12700F
- FCLGA1700
Socket Status
- AMD Ryzen 5 9600X
- Current
- Intel Core i7-12700F
- Mature
Process Node
- AMD Ryzen 5 9600X
- 4 nm
- Intel Core i7-12700F
- 7 nm
Total Cores
- AMD Ryzen 5 9600X
- 6
- Intel Core i7-12700F
- 12Best
Performance Cores
- AMD Ryzen 5 9600X
- 6
- Intel Core i7-12700F
- 8Best
Efficiency Cores
- AMD Ryzen 5 9600X
- 0
- Intel Core i7-12700F
- 4Best
Total Threads
- AMD Ryzen 5 9600X
- 12
- Intel Core i7-12700F
- 20Best
SMT Enabled
- AMD Ryzen 5 9600X
- Yes
- Intel Core i7-12700F
- Yes
P-Core Base Clock
- AMD Ryzen 5 9600X
- 3.9 GHz
- Intel Core i7-12700F
- 2.1 GHz
P-Core Boost Clock
- AMD Ryzen 5 9600X
- 5.4 GHz
- Intel Core i7-12700F
- 4.8 GHz
Unlocked Multiplier
- AMD Ryzen 5 9600X
- Yes
- Intel Core i7-12700F
- No
L2 Cache
- AMD Ryzen 5 9600X
- 6 MB-50%
- Intel Core i7-12700F
- 12 MBBest
L3 Cache
- AMD Ryzen 5 9600X
- 32 MBBest
- Intel Core i7-12700F
- 25 MB-22%
Base Power
- AMD Ryzen 5 9600X
- 65 W
- Intel Core i7-12700F
- 65 W
Max Turbo Power
- AMD Ryzen 5 9600X
- 88 W
- Intel Core i7-12700F
- 180 W
Bundled Cooler
- AMD Ryzen 5 9600X
- None
- Intel Core i7-12700F
- Intel Laminar RM1
Memory Type
- AMD Ryzen 5 9600X
- DDR5-5600
- Intel Core i7-12700F
- DDR5, DDR4
Max Memory Speed
- AMD Ryzen 5 9600X
- 5600 MT/sBest
- Intel Core i7-12700F
- 4800 MT/s
Memory Channels
- AMD Ryzen 5 9600X
- 2
- Intel Core i7-12700F
- 2
Max Memory Capacity
- AMD Ryzen 5 9600X
- 256 GBBest
- Intel Core i7-12700F
- 128 GB
Integrated Graphics
- AMD Ryzen 5 9600X
- Yes
- Intel Core i7-12700F
- No
Copilot Plus Certified
- AMD Ryzen 5 9600X
- No
- Intel Core i7-12700F
- No
PCIe Generation
- AMD Ryzen 5 9600X
- PCIe 5.0
- Intel Core i7-12700F
- PCIe 5.0
PCIe Lanes
- AMD Ryzen 5 9600X
- 24
- Intel Core i7-12700F
- 20-17%
Launch MSRP
- AMD Ryzen 5 9600X
- $279
- Intel Core i7-12700F
- $314
Retail Availability
- AMD Ryzen 5 9600X
- Boxed Retail
- Intel Core i7-12700F
- Boxed Retail
Which one should you pick?
Choose 9600X if you want the higher L3 cache (32 MB vs 25 MB), the higher memory channels (2 vs 2) and the higher PCIe lanes (24 vs 20).
Choose 12700F if you want the higher L2 cache (12 MB vs 6 MB).
Price comparison
| Retailer | AMD Ryzen 5 9600X | Intel Core i7-12700F |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon | $279.00 View on Amazon | $314.00 View on Amazon |
| Newegg | View on Newegg | View on Newegg |
Disclaimer: The price and specification of the given product may differ from the actual product. Please confirm on the retailer's website before buying.
Verdict
AMD Ryzen 5 9600X
8 / 10 Expert Rating
The AMD Ryzen 5 9600X is a strong 6-core entry point to AM5, with excellent single-core speed for gaming builds on a budget.
Intel Core i7-12700F
8.1 / 10 Expert Rating
The Intel Core i7-12700F is a graphics-less desktop chip, a good value pick for builds already using a discrete GPU.