Intel Core i9-12900K vs AMD Ryzen 5 7600 vs AMD Ryzen 7 7700X

Intel Core i9-12900K

The Intel Core i9-12900K is a high end CPU for desktops based on the Alder Lake architecture. It was first announced in November 2021 and offers 8 performance cores and 8 efficiency cores. The performance cores (P-cores) support HyperThreading, leading to 24 Threads that can be processed at once. The performance cores can clock with up to 5.2 GHz (Turbo Boost Max 3.0), the efficiency cores can clock with up to 3.9 GHz. All cores can use 30 MB Smart Cache. The integrated memory controller supports up to 128 GB DDR5 with 4800 MT/s (dual channel).

The Thread Director (in hardware) can support the operating system to decide which thread to use on the performance or efficiency cores for the best performance.

For AI tasks, the CPU also integrates GNA 3.0 and DL Boost (most likely only using AVX2). Quick Sync in version 8 is the same as in the Rocket Lake CPUs and supports MPEG-2, AVC, VC-1 decode, JPEG, VP8 decode, VP9, HEVC and AV1 decode in hardware.

The integrated graphics adapter is based on the Xe architecture and called Intel UHD Graphics 770. It clocks between 300 and 1.55 GHz.

Performance

The average 12900K in our database nearly matches the Ryzen 9 3950X and the Ryzen 9 5950X in multi-thread performance. This is a great result, as of mid 2022.

Learn more by reading the Corsair One i300 review.

Power consumption

This Core i9 series chip has a Base power consumption of 125 W, with 241 W being its "Maximum Turbo" power consumption.

The i9-12900K is built with Intel's 4th generation 10 nm process marketed as Intel 7 for lower than average, as of mid 2023, energy efficiency.

AMD Ryzen 5 7600

The AMD Ryzen 5 7600 is a fast mid-range desktop processor of the Raphael series. It offers 6 cores based on the Zen 4 architecture that supports hyperthreading (12 threads). The cores clock from 3.8 (base) up to 5.1 GHz (single core boost).

The Raphael series still uses a chiplet design with two CCD-clusters (each with 8 possible cores) in 5nm and an IO-die (including the memory controller and the Radeon Graphics iGPU) in 6nm.

The R5 7600X is rated at 65 Watt TDP.

AMD Ryzen 7 7700X

The AMD Ryzen 7 7700X is a fast high-end desktop processor of the Raphael series. It offers 8 cores based on the Zen 4 architecture that supports hyperthreading (16 threads). The cores clock from 4.5 (base) up to 5.4 GHz (single core boost). Compared to the faster Ryzen 9 CPUs (like the 7900X), the R7 offers less cores and slightly lower clock speeds.

The performance of the R7 7700X is clearly better than the old Ryzen 7 of the 5000 generation thanks to the improved architecture and modern 5nm process. Compared to Intels Alder Lake Core i7-12900K the performance is quite similar but stays behind the newer Rocket Lake i5-13600K (multi-threaded).

The Raphael series still uses a chiplet design with two CCD-clusters (each with 8 possible cores, so only one used for the 7700X) in 5nm and an IO-die (including the memory controller and the Radeon Graphics iGPU) in 6nm.