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AMD Ryzen 7 3800XT vs Intel Core i7-12700KF: Comparison
What is the difference between AMD Ryzen 7 3800XT and Intel Core i7-12700KF?
There is no decisive spec gap here. Total cores splits them by a margin most buyers will never feel, AMD Ryzen 7 3800XT 8 against Intel Core i7-12700KF 12. Intel Core i7-12700KF also leads on l2 cache, 4 MB on the AMD Ryzen 7 3800XT versus 12 MB on the Intel Core i7-12700KF. Add l3 cache to that, 32 MB on the AMD Ryzen 7 3800XT versus 25 MB on the Intel Core i7-12700KF, and the pattern holds.
Who each one is for
Take the AMD Ryzen 7 3800XT for gaming and productivity desktop builds wanting the highest-clocked 8-core Zen 2 performance available. It is not the one for buyers with access to Zen 3 chips, those offer a real architectural step up over even the fastest Zen 2 silicon. The Intel Core i7-12700KF is the one to take for enthusiast desktop gaming and overclocking with discrete GPU, though it is not the pick for systems without a discrete GPU and fanless designs. Our rating of the Intel Core i7-12700KF (7.8/10): the Intel Core i7-12700KF is an unlocked, GPU-less chip aimed at enthusiasts already running a discrete graphics card.
What AMD Ryzen 7 3800XT and Intel Core i7-12700KF have in common
Where they agree, they agree completely, performance cores, integrated graphics, form factor, igpu and market segment included, so the decision does not turn on any of those. They match on 5 further specifications as well.
AMD Ryzen 7 3800XT vs Intel Core i7-12700KF price
Price will not decide this: $384 against $399 at the last check.
Frequently asked questions
Do the AMD Ryzen 7 3800XT and Intel Core i7-12700KF differ on efficiency cores?
Yes. Efficiency Cores reads 0 on the AMD Ryzen 7 3800XT versus 4 on the Intel Core i7-12700KF.
Is the SMT Enabled the same on the AMD Ryzen 7 3800XT and Intel Core i7-12700KF?
It is. Both are listed at Yes, so it is not a reason to pick one over the other.
Specs and benchmarks
Product Line
- AMD Ryzen 7 3800XT
- Ryzen 7
- Intel Core i7-12700KF
- Core
Form Factor
- AMD Ryzen 7 3800XT
- Desktop
- Intel Core i7-12700KF
- Desktop
Model Number
- AMD Ryzen 7 3800XT
- 3800XT
- Intel Core i7-12700KF
- i7-12700KF
Codename
- AMD Ryzen 7 3800XT
- Matisse
- Intel Core i7-12700KF
- Alder Lake
Release Year
- AMD Ryzen 7 3800XT
- 2020
- Intel Core i7-12700KF
- 2021
TDP
- AMD Ryzen 7 3800XT
- 105 W
- Intel Core i7-12700KF
- 125 W
iGPU
- AMD Ryzen 7 3800XT
- None
- Intel Core i7-12700KF
- None
Market Segment
- AMD Ryzen 7 3800XT
- Desktop
- Intel Core i7-12700KF
- Desktop
Microarchitecture
- AMD Ryzen 7 3800XT
- Zen 2, Ryzen 3000 Series
- Intel Core i7-12700KF
- Alder Lake
Socket
- AMD Ryzen 7 3800XT
- AM4
- Intel Core i7-12700KF
- FCLGA1700
Socket Status
- AMD Ryzen 7 3800XT
- End of Life
- Intel Core i7-12700KF
- Mature
Process Node
- AMD Ryzen 7 3800XT
- 7 nm
- Intel Core i7-12700KF
- 10 nm
Total Cores
- AMD Ryzen 7 3800XT
- 8
- Intel Core i7-12700KF
- 12Best
Performance Cores
- AMD Ryzen 7 3800XT
- 8
- Intel Core i7-12700KF
- 8
Efficiency Cores
- AMD Ryzen 7 3800XT
- 0
- Intel Core i7-12700KF
- 4Best
Total Threads
- AMD Ryzen 7 3800XT
- 16
- Intel Core i7-12700KF
- 20Best
SMT Enabled
- AMD Ryzen 7 3800XT
- Yes
- Intel Core i7-12700KF
- Yes
P-Core Base Clock
- AMD Ryzen 7 3800XT
- 3.9 GHz
- Intel Core i7-12700KF
- 3.6 GHz
P-Core Boost Clock
- AMD Ryzen 7 3800XT
- 4.7 GHz
- Intel Core i7-12700KF
- 4.9 GHz
Unlocked Multiplier
- AMD Ryzen 7 3800XT
- Yes
- Intel Core i7-12700KF
- Yes
L2 Cache
- AMD Ryzen 7 3800XT
- 4 MB-67%
- Intel Core i7-12700KF
- 12 MBBest
L3 Cache
- AMD Ryzen 7 3800XT
- 32 MBBest
- Intel Core i7-12700KF
- 25 MB-22%
Base Power
- AMD Ryzen 7 3800XT
- 105 W
- Intel Core i7-12700KF
- 125 W
Max Turbo Power
- AMD Ryzen 7 3800XT
- 142 W
- Intel Core i7-12700KF
- 190 W
Memory Type
- AMD Ryzen 7 3800XT
- DDR4
- Intel Core i7-12700KF
- DDR5 or DDR4Best
Max Memory Speed
- AMD Ryzen 7 3800XT
- 3200 MT/s
- Intel Core i7-12700KF
- 4800 MT/sBest
Memory Channels
- AMD Ryzen 7 3800XT
- 2
- Intel Core i7-12700KF
- 2
Max Memory Capacity
- AMD Ryzen 7 3800XT
- 128 GB
- Intel Core i7-12700KF
- 128 GB
Integrated Graphics
- AMD Ryzen 7 3800XT
- No
- Intel Core i7-12700KF
- No
PCIe Generation
- AMD Ryzen 7 3800XT
- 4
- Intel Core i7-12700KF
- PCIe 5.0
PCIe Lanes
- AMD Ryzen 7 3800XT
- 20
- Intel Core i7-12700KF
- 20
Launch MSRP
- AMD Ryzen 7 3800XT
- $399
- Intel Core i7-12700KF
- $384
Retail Availability
- AMD Ryzen 7 3800XT
- Retail
- Intel Core i7-12700KF
- Boxed Retail
Which one should you pick?
Choose 3800XT if you want the higher L3 cache (32 MB vs 25 MB), the higher memory channels (2 vs 2) and the higher PCIe lanes (20 vs 20).
Choose 12700KF if you want the higher L2 cache (12 MB vs 4 MB).
Price comparison
| Retailer | AMD Ryzen 7 3800XT | Intel Core i7-12700KF |
|---|---|---|
| Consumercarts listing | $399.00 View on Consumercarts listing | |
| Amazon | $384.00 View on Amazon | |
| 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
Intel Core i7-12700KF
7.8 / 10 Expert Rating
The Intel Core i7-12700KF is an unlocked, GPU-less chip aimed at enthusiasts already running a discrete graphics card.