AMD Ryzen 9 5950X vs Intel Core i9-12900

The AMD Ryzen 9 5950X is the faster processor, scoring 75/100 on our gaming benchmark versus 74/100 for the Intel Core i9-12900 — roughly 1% faster. That said, the gap is small, so the cheaper option is often the smarter buy.

Winner

AMD Ryzen 9 5950X

75
Gaming score / 100
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Intel

Intel Core i9-12900

74
Gaming score / 100
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Specs compared

SpecAMD Ryzen 9 5950XIntel Core i9-12900
Gaming score75/10074/100
Cores / Threads16 / 3216 / 24
Boost clock4.90 GHz5.10 GHz
TDP105 W65 W
SocketAM4LGA1700
MSRP$349.00$359.00

AMD Ryzen 9 5950X vs Intel Core i9-12900: which should you buy?

The AMD Ryzen 9 5950X is the faster processor, scoring 75/100 on our gaming benchmark versus 74/100 for the Intel Core i9-12900 — roughly 1% faster. That said, the gap is small, so the cheaper option is often the smarter buy. For your specific games and resolution, run both through our comparison tool, check pairing with the bottleneck calculator, or see where each lands on the tier list.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the AMD Ryzen 9 5950X better than the Intel Core i9-12900?
The AMD Ryzen 9 5950X is faster for gaming, scoring 75/100 versus 74/100 for the Intel Core i9-12900 (about 1% faster).

Should I buy the AMD Ryzen 9 5950X or the Intel Core i9-12900?
For raw gaming performance, choose the AMD Ryzen 9 5950X. If it costs notably more for only a small gain, the Intel Core i9-12900 can be the better value. Check current prices before deciding.

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