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AMD Ryzen 7 9700X vs Intel Core i7-12700KF: Comparison
AMD Ryzen 7 9700X vs Intel Core i7-12700KF: 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 7 9700X 8 against Intel Core i7-12700KF 12. L3 cache runs the same way, 32 MB on the AMD Ryzen 7 9700X versus 25 MB on the Intel Core i7-12700KF, another win for AMD Ryzen 7 9700X. Intel Core i7-12700KF also leads on l2 cache, 8 MB on the AMD Ryzen 7 9700X versus 12 MB on the Intel Core i7-12700KF.
Which should you buy, AMD Ryzen 7 9700X or Intel Core i7-12700KF?
Take the AMD Ryzen 7 9700X for mainstream gaming desktop builds wanting genuine 8-core Zen 5 performance at a low, efficient power draw. It is the wrong buy for buyers needing more than 8 cores for heavy rendering or encoding workloads, the 9900X offers meaningfully more. The Intel Core i7-12700KF is the one to take for enthusiast desktop gaming and overclocking with discrete GPU, though it is the wrong buy for systems without a discrete GPU and fanless designs. Our rating of the AMD Ryzen 7 9700X (8.2/10): the AMD Ryzen 7 9700X is a quick, cool-running 8-core chip that suits gaming and everyday work, though it trails X3D models in games.
Where the two are identical
The common ground is wider than the gap: performance cores, form factor, market segment, smt enabled and unlocked multiplier are identical here. They match on 5 further specifications as well.
Which is cheaper, AMD Ryzen 7 9700X or Intel Core i7-12700KF?
Cost splits them too. AMD Ryzen 7 9700X sits at $359, Intel Core i7-12700KF at $384, 7% more.
Frequently asked questions
Do the AMD Ryzen 7 9700X and Intel Core i7-12700KF differ on efficiency cores?
Yes. Efficiency Cores reads 0 on the AMD Ryzen 7 9700X versus 4 on the Intel Core i7-12700KF.
Is the Bundled Cooler the same on the AMD Ryzen 7 9700X and Intel Core i7-12700KF?
It is. Both are listed at None, so it is not a reason to pick one over the other.
Specs and benchmarks
Product Line
- AMD Ryzen 7 9700X
- Ryzen 7
- Intel Core i7-12700KF
- Core
Form Factor
- AMD Ryzen 7 9700X
- Desktop
- Intel Core i7-12700KF
- Desktop
Model Number
- AMD Ryzen 7 9700X
- 9700X
- Intel Core i7-12700KF
- i7-12700KF
Codename
- AMD Ryzen 7 9700X
- Granite Ridge
- Intel Core i7-12700KF
- Alder Lake
Release Year
- AMD Ryzen 7 9700X
- 2024
- Intel Core i7-12700KF
- 2021
TDP
- AMD Ryzen 7 9700X
- 65 W
- Intel Core i7-12700KF
- 125 W
iGPU
- AMD Ryzen 7 9700X
- AMD Radeon Graphics
- Intel Core i7-12700KF
- None
Market Segment
- AMD Ryzen 7 9700X
- Desktop
- Intel Core i7-12700KF
- Desktop
Microarchitecture
- AMD Ryzen 7 9700X
- Zen 5, Ryzen 9000 Series
- Intel Core i7-12700KF
- Alder Lake
Socket
- AMD Ryzen 7 9700X
- AM5
- Intel Core i7-12700KF
- FCLGA1700
Socket Status
- AMD Ryzen 7 9700X
- Current
- Intel Core i7-12700KF
- Mature
Process Node
- AMD Ryzen 7 9700X
- 4 nm
- Intel Core i7-12700KF
- 10 nm
Total Cores
- AMD Ryzen 7 9700X
- 8
- Intel Core i7-12700KF
- 12Best
Performance Cores
- AMD Ryzen 7 9700X
- 8
- Intel Core i7-12700KF
- 8
Efficiency Cores
- AMD Ryzen 7 9700X
- 0
- Intel Core i7-12700KF
- 4Best
Total Threads
- AMD Ryzen 7 9700X
- 16
- Intel Core i7-12700KF
- 20Best
SMT Enabled
- AMD Ryzen 7 9700X
- Yes
- Intel Core i7-12700KF
- Yes
P-Core Base Clock
- AMD Ryzen 7 9700X
- 3.8 GHz
- Intel Core i7-12700KF
- 3.6 GHz
P-Core Boost Clock
- AMD Ryzen 7 9700X
- 5.5 GHz
- Intel Core i7-12700KF
- 4.9 GHz
Unlocked Multiplier
- AMD Ryzen 7 9700X
- Yes
- Intel Core i7-12700KF
- Yes
L2 Cache
- AMD Ryzen 7 9700X
- 8 MB-33%
- Intel Core i7-12700KF
- 12 MBBest
L3 Cache
- AMD Ryzen 7 9700X
- 32 MBBest
- Intel Core i7-12700KF
- 25 MB-22%
Base Power
- AMD Ryzen 7 9700X
- 65 W
- Intel Core i7-12700KF
- 125 W
Max Turbo Power
- AMD Ryzen 7 9700X
- 88 W
- Intel Core i7-12700KF
- 190 W
Bundled Cooler
- AMD Ryzen 7 9700X
- None
- Intel Core i7-12700KF
- None
Memory Type
- AMD Ryzen 7 9700X
- DDR5-5600
- Intel Core i7-12700KF
- DDR5 or DDR4
Max Memory Speed
- AMD Ryzen 7 9700X
- 5600 MT/sBest
- Intel Core i7-12700KF
- 4800 MT/s
Memory Channels
- AMD Ryzen 7 9700X
- 2
- Intel Core i7-12700KF
- 2
Max Memory Capacity
- AMD Ryzen 7 9700X
- 256 GBBest
- Intel Core i7-12700KF
- 128 GB
Integrated Graphics
- AMD Ryzen 7 9700X
- Yes
- Intel Core i7-12700KF
- No
Copilot Plus Certified
- AMD Ryzen 7 9700X
- No
- Intel Core i7-12700KF
- No
PCIe Generation
- AMD Ryzen 7 9700X
- PCIe 5.0
- Intel Core i7-12700KF
- PCIe 5.0
PCIe Lanes
- AMD Ryzen 7 9700X
- 24
- Intel Core i7-12700KF
- 20-17%
Launch MSRP
- AMD Ryzen 7 9700X
- $359
- Intel Core i7-12700KF
- $384
Retail Availability
- AMD Ryzen 7 9700X
- Boxed Retail
- Intel Core i7-12700KF
- Boxed Retail
Which one should you pick?
Choose 9700X 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 12700KF if you want the higher L2 cache (12 MB vs 8 MB).
Price comparison
| Retailer | AMD Ryzen 7 9700X | Intel Core i7-12700KF |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon | $359.00 View on Amazon | $384.00 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 7 9700X
8.2 / 10 Expert Rating
The AMD Ryzen 7 9700X is a quick, cool-running 8-core chip that suits gaming and everyday work, though it trails X3D models in games.
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.