Ryzen 9 7900X3D vs i9-12900K

Ryzen 9 7900X3D vs i9-12900K, which is better?

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The long-awaited Ryzen 9 7900X3D has finally hit the market. The processor is a 3D V-cache enhanced variant of the standard R9 7900X, and the extra cache yields some impressive performance gains. In this article, we’re putting it up against the last Core i9 from Intel. This is Ryzen 9 7900X3D vs i9-12900K. 

Now read: Is Ryzen 7000X3D worth it

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Ryzen 7 7900X3D vs i9-12900K: CPU specifications

Let’s first go over the official specs for both processors. 

Ryzen 9 7900X3D

• Core count: 12 (Multithreading enabled)
• Thread count: 24
• Core clock: 4.4GHz
• Boost clock: 5.6GHz
• L2 cache: 12MB
• L3 cache: 128 MB
• TDP: 120 watts
• iGPU: Radeon Graphics
• Socket: AM5

The 128MB of L3 cache is a record amount, tied with the 7950X3D for the most L3 cache on a desktop processor. It’s interesting to note that the extra V-cache is available to only one of the two CCD chiplets that make up the Ryzen 9 7900X3D CPU die. 

Intel Core i9-12900K

• P-cores: 8 (Hyperthreading enabled)
• E-cores: 8
• Thread count: 24
• P-core clock speed: 3.2 / 5.2 (GHz)
• E-core clock speed: 2.4 / 3.9 (GHz)
• L2 cache: 14MB
• L3 cache: 30MB
• Base TDP: 125W
• Max TDP: 241W
• iGPU: UHD770
• Socket: LGA1700

The 12900K was Intel’s early Alder Lake flagship. It’s now outclassed by some of the newer options but definitely remains a high-end option. 

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Ryzen 7 7900X3D and i9-12900K compared

Both processors have somewhat similar specs, generally speaking. They are both 24-threaded processors with max clock speeds above 5GHz. 

The 12900K has more physical cores, but half of these cores are smaller efficiency cores. 

The most interesting difference between the two processors is, of course, the much higher L3 cache in the 7900X3D. 

Gaming performance

Gaming involves a lot of randomnesses (your computer can’t really tell what you’re going to do next), so the CPU cores benefit from being able to hold more information closer to them in the L3 cache.

In more simple terms, the extra L3 cache sported by the 7900X3D delivers significant performance gains in gaming. 

You may have noticed that the 7900X3D also has a higher maximum clock speed (5.6GHz), but interestingly, that doesn’t quite come into play here.

Games run only on the first 8-core CCD chiplet that has the extra V-cache.  This V-cache-enhanced CCD has a lower maximum clock speed of just above 5GHz, which is pretty much equivalent to the 12900K’s 5.2GHz clock. 

The V-cache enhancement alone is enough to make plenty of difference, though. Of course, games vary in their ability to utilize the additional cache, but, generally speaking, you can expect to see the 7900X3D provide you with anywhere from 10 to 30% more FPS in mainstream titles. 

That’s a remarkable difference, especially since we’re comparing processors in the high-end territory because games almost always end up bottlenecked by the GPU when ran on processors of this grade. 

Workstation productivity

For general productivity, the 7900X3D takes the cake. While its 2nd, 4-core CCD doesn’t come into play during gaming, it works fully along with the 1st 8-core V-cache enhanced CCD when tackling workstation-like CPU-intensive workloads such as rendering, design, video editing, and production. 

You get to see the complete 5.6GHz single-threaded performance and top-notch 12-core, 24-thread multithreaded performance promised by the 7900X3D in multicore workloads. 

The difference here isn’t huge, though. The 12900K is still a great workstation processor, only slightly worse than the 7900X3D. 

The 7900X3D’s lead in this category can be attributed to its higher maximum clock speed, not the extra cache. V-cache doesn’t really benefit workstation-based workloads noticeably, unfortunately. 

Power consumption and thermals

Whereas the 7900X3D has a moderate 120-watt TDP, the 12900K can consume almost 250 watts of power under full load, which is nearly twice as much. That also means the 12900K generates a lot more heat and needs a stronger cooling solution than the 7900X3D. 

This is a factor you have to take into consideration because while the 7900X3D can technically be air-cooled with a decent air cooler, the 12900K requires you to have a more expensive AIO liquid cooler. 

You can also get by using a slightly weaker PSU for the 7900X3D, although choosing a suitable PSU usually has more to do with your GPU’s power usage. 

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Final word

For gaming, the 7900X3D is definitely the better of the two. 

The 8-core CCD module designated for gaming runs at an identical clock speed to the 12900K (5.2GHz), meaning single-thread performance during gaming is about equal. 

However, the 7900X3D has a much higher 128MB L3 cache compared to the Core i9’s 30MB L3 cache. The extra cache allows the 7900X3D to deliver more frames in the game, even when paired up with relatively weaker GPUs. 

For workstation productivity, the gap in performance is much smaller, with the 7900X3D still being the winner due to its higher maximum clock speed on the 2nd 4-core CCD.