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AMD Ryzen 9 7950X vs Intel Core i9-12900KS: Comparison
What is the difference between AMD Ryzen 9 7950X and Intel Core i9-12900KS?
On l3 cache the spread is 53%, AMD Ryzen 9 7950X 64 MB against Intel Core i9-12900KS 30 MB, so AMD Ryzen 9 7950X takes it. Measured rather than claimed: in Blender Cycles (CPU) the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X returns 551 against 373 over 246 runs, a 32% lead. Socket is not the same on both, AM5 on the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X versus FCLGA1700 on the Intel Core i9-12900KS. They differ on socket status too, Current on the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X versus Mature on the Intel Core i9-12900KS.
Who each one is for
The AMD Ryzen 9 7950X suits enthusiast desktops and streaming and gaming, though it is not built for budget builds and small form factor low-power systems. Buy the Intel Core i9-12900KS for enthusiast desktop gaming and overclocking, though it is not the pick for laptops and fanless designs. Our rating of the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X (8.6/10): the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X is a strong all-rounder for enthusiasts who want top clock speeds for both gaming and productivity. Our rating of the Intel Core i9-12900KS (8.7/10): the Intel Core i9-12900KS is an unlocked flagship desktop chip, a top pick for enthusiasts who want to overclock.
Where the two are identical
The common ground is wider than the gap: total cores, integrated graphics, form factor, release year and market segment are identical here. They match on 7 further specifications as well.
Which is cheaper, AMD Ryzen 9 7950X or Intel Core i9-12900KS?
At the last price check the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X was $699 and the Intel Core i9-12900KS $739, a 6% premium.
Frequently asked questions
Do the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X and Intel Core i9-12900KS differ on performance cores?
Yes. Performance Cores reads 16 on the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X versus 8 on the Intel Core i9-12900KS.
Is the SMT Enabled the same on the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X and Intel Core i9-12900KS?
It is. Both are listed at Yes, so it is not a reason to pick one over the other.
Specs and benchmarks
Form Factor
- AMD Ryzen 9 7950X
- Desktop
- Intel Core i9-12900KS
- Desktop
Codename
- AMD Ryzen 9 7950X
- Raphael
- Intel Core i9-12900KS
- Alder Lake
Release Year
- AMD Ryzen 9 7950X
- 2022
- Intel Core i9-12900KS
- 2022
TDP
- AMD Ryzen 9 7950X
- 170 W
- Intel Core i9-12900KS
- 150 W
iGPU
- AMD Ryzen 9 7950X
- AMD Radeon Graphics
- Intel Core i9-12900KS
- Intel UHD Graphics 770
Market Segment
- AMD Ryzen 9 7950X
- Desktop
- Intel Core i9-12900KS
- Desktop
Microarchitecture
- AMD Ryzen 9 7950X
- Zen 4 (7000 series)
- Intel Core i9-12900KS
- Alder Lake
Socket
- AMD Ryzen 9 7950X
- AM5
- Intel Core i9-12900KS
- FCLGA1700
Socket Status
- AMD Ryzen 9 7950X
- Current
- Intel Core i9-12900KS
- Mature
Process Node
- AMD Ryzen 9 7950X
- 5 nm
- Intel Core i9-12900KS
- 10 nm
Total Cores
- AMD Ryzen 9 7950X
- 16
- Intel Core i9-12900KS
- 16
Performance Cores
- AMD Ryzen 9 7950X
- 16Best
- Intel Core i9-12900KS
- 8
Efficiency Cores
- AMD Ryzen 9 7950X
- 0
- Intel Core i9-12900KS
- 8Best
Total Threads
- AMD Ryzen 9 7950X
- 32Best
- Intel Core i9-12900KS
- 24
SMT Enabled
- AMD Ryzen 9 7950X
- Yes
- Intel Core i9-12900KS
- Yes
P-Core Base Clock
- AMD Ryzen 9 7950X
- 4.5 GHz
- Intel Core i9-12900KS
- 3.4 GHz
P-Core Boost Clock
- AMD Ryzen 9 7950X
- 5.7 GHz
- Intel Core i9-12900KS
- 5.2 GHz
Unlocked Multiplier
- AMD Ryzen 9 7950X
- Yes
- Intel Core i9-12900KS
- Yes
L2 Cache
- AMD Ryzen 9 7950X
- 16 MBBest
- Intel Core i9-12900KS
- 14 MB-12%
L3 Cache
- AMD Ryzen 9 7950X
- 64 MBBest
- Intel Core i9-12900KS
- 30 MB-53%
Base Power
- AMD Ryzen 9 7950X
- 170 W
- Intel Core i9-12900KS
- 150 W
Max Turbo Power
- AMD Ryzen 9 7950X
- 230 W
- Intel Core i9-12900KS
- 241 W
Memory Type
- AMD Ryzen 9 7950X
- DDR5
- Intel Core i9-12900KS
- DDR5 or DDR4
Max Memory Speed
- AMD Ryzen 9 7950X
- 5200 MT/sBest
- Intel Core i9-12900KS
- 4800 MT/s
Memory Channels
- AMD Ryzen 9 7950X
- 2
- Intel Core i9-12900KS
- 2
Max Memory Capacity
- AMD Ryzen 9 7950X
- 128 GB
- Intel Core i9-12900KS
- 128 GB
Integrated Graphics
- AMD Ryzen 9 7950X
- Yes
- Intel Core i9-12900KS
- Yes
iGPU Model
- AMD Ryzen 9 7950X
- AMD Radeon Graphics
- Intel Core i9-12900KS
- Intel UHD Graphics 770
iGPU Compute Units
- AMD Ryzen 9 7950X
- 2
- Intel Core i9-12900KS
- 32
Copilot Plus Certified
- AMD Ryzen 9 7950X
- No
- Intel Core i9-12900KS
- No
PCIe Generation
- AMD Ryzen 9 7950X
- PCIe 5.0
- Intel Core i9-12900KS
- PCIe 5.0
PCIe Lanes
- AMD Ryzen 9 7950X
- 24
- Intel Core i9-12900KS
- 20-17%
Launch MSRP
- AMD Ryzen 9 7950X
- $699
- Intel Core i9-12900KS
- $739
Retail Availability
- AMD Ryzen 9 7950X
- Boxed Retail
- Intel Core i9-12900KS
- Boxed Retail
Benchmarks
- 3D Rendering
Blender Cycles (CPU)
- AMD Ryzen 9 7950X
- 551Best
- Intel Core i9-12900KS
- 373-32%
Blender 4.5, Blender Open Data (CC0). Median of monster + junkshop + classroom, combined samples/min.
Renders a 3D scene using every core. Shows speed for 3D and rendering work, not gaming.
Which one should you pick?
Choose 7950X if you want the higher L2 cache (16 MB vs 14 MB), the higher L3 cache (64 MB vs 30 MB) and the higher memory channels (2 vs 2).
Choose 12900KS if you already have it on hand or find it at a lower price.
Price comparison
| Retailer | AMD Ryzen 9 7950X | Intel Core i9-12900KS |
|---|---|---|
| Newegg | $699.00 View on Newegg | View on Newegg |
| Amazon | View on Amazon | $739.00 View on Amazon |
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 9 7950X
8.6 / 10 Expert Rating
The AMD Ryzen 9 7950X is a strong all-rounder for enthusiasts who want top clock speeds for both gaming and productivity.
Intel Core i9-12900KS
8.7 / 10 Expert Rating
The Intel Core i9-12900KS is an unlocked flagship desktop chip, a top pick for enthusiasts who want to overclock.