Core i7-12700K vs EPYC 9575F

Intel

Core i7-12700K

12 Cores20 Thrd125 WWMax: 5 GHz2021

Popular choices:

VS
AMD

EPYC 9575F

64 Cores128 Thrd400 WWMax: 5 GHz2024

Popular choices:

i7-12700K

Performance Spectrum - CPU

About PassMark

PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.

Head-to-Head Verdict, Benchmarks, Value & Long-Term Outlook

This comparison brings together gaming FPS, productivity performance, platform differences, power efficiency, pricing context, and upgrade path so you can see which CPU actually makes more sense.

Core i7-12700K

2021

Why buy it

  • Costs $11,382 less on MSRP ($409 MSRP vs $11,791 MSRP).
  • Delivers 570.3% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 84.0 vs 12.5 PassMark/$ ($409 MSRP vs $11,791 MSRP).
  • Draws 125W instead of 400W, a 275W reduction.
  • Integrated graphics onboard with Intel UHD Graphics 770, while EPYC 9575F needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

  • Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than EPYC 9575F across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • Lower PassMark (34,347 vs 147,718).
  • Less compelling for workstation-style loads than EPYC 9575F, which brings 64 cores / 128 threads and 128 PCIe lanes.

EPYC 9575F

2024

Why buy it

  • Better for gaming: +10.0% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 64 cores / 128 threads, plus 128 PCIe lanes vs 20.
  • 540% more PCIe lanes (128 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

  • Lower PassMark per dollar, at 12.5 vs 84.0 PassMark/$ ($11,791 MSRP vs $409 MSRP).
  • 220% higher power demand at 400W vs 125W.
  • No integrated graphics, while Core i7-12700K can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is EPYC 9575F better than Core i7-12700K?
Not in a simple one-size-fits-all way. EPYC 9575F makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Core i7-12700K is the better mainstream desktop choice for gaming, platform cost, and day-to-day practicality.
Which one is better for gaming?
If gaming is the priority, EPYC 9575F is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 10.0% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests. It also has a big cache advantage at 256 MB vs 25 MB.
Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?
For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, EPYC 9575F is the better fit. You are getting 330.1% better PassMark, backed by 64 cores and 128 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 924% larger total L3 cache (256 MB vs 25 MB).
Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
EPYC 9575F is still the faster CPU overall, but Core i7-12700K makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. EPYC 9575F is 2782.9% more expensive on MSRP at $11,791 MSRP versus $409 MSRP, and it gives you a 10.0% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core i7-12700K is also 570.3% better value on MSRP (84.0 vs 12.5 PassMark/$), which is why it is easier to justify for price-conscious builds on paper.
Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?
EPYC 9575F is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2024 vs 2021), 3D V-Cache and a much larger 256 MB L3 cache instead of 25 MB, and more multi-core headroom with 64 cores / 128 threads instead of 12/20. That should give you a better long-term upgrade path for motherboard, RAM, and future CPU swaps.

Games Benchmarks

Paired with RTX 4090

To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.

Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

PresetCore i7-12700KEPYC 9575F
1080p
low314 FPS303 FPS
medium295 FPS280 FPS
high246 FPS232 FPS
ultra193 FPS196 FPS
1440p
low269 FPS268 FPS
medium225 FPS223 FPS
high182 FPS172 FPS
ultra145 FPS153 FPS
4K
low170 FPS186 FPS
medium142 FPS154 FPS
high109 FPS118 FPS
ultra96 FPS105 FPS
Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

PresetCore i7-12700KEPYC 9575F
1080p
low630 FPS797 FPS
medium533 FPS681 FPS
high450 FPS536 FPS
ultra410 FPS466 FPS
1440p
low536 FPS657 FPS
medium475 FPS585 FPS
high403 FPS475 FPS
ultra349 FPS384 FPS
4K
low312 FPS367 FPS
medium280 FPS332 FPS
high266 FPS306 FPS
ultra234 FPS268 FPS
League of Legends

League of Legends

PresetCore i7-12700KEPYC 9575F
1080p
low797 FPS884 FPS
medium633 FPS721 FPS
high556 FPS652 FPS
ultra472 FPS553 FPS
1440p
low704 FPS689 FPS
medium565 FPS560 FPS
high490 FPS494 FPS
ultra422 FPS417 FPS
4K
low510 FPS487 FPS
medium425 FPS404 FPS
high381 FPS359 FPS
ultra321 FPS297 FPS
Valorant

Valorant

PresetCore i7-12700KEPYC 9575F
1080p
low859 FPS1118 FPS
medium802 FPS1007 FPS
high699 FPS884 FPS
ultra628 FPS797 FPS
1440p
low760 FPS884 FPS
medium678 FPS778 FPS
high590 FPS683 FPS
ultra519 FPS595 FPS
4K
low535 FPS645 FPS
medium488 FPS575 FPS
high437 FPS511 FPS
ultra384 FPS437 FPS

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i7-12700K and EPYC 9575F

Intel

Core i7-12700K

The Core i7-12700K is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 4 November 2021 (4 years ago). It is based on the Alder Lake, Golden Cove, Gracemont (2021) architecture. It features 12 cores and 20 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 5 GHz. L3 cache: 25 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on 10 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1700. Thermal design power (TDP): 125 Watt. Memory support: DDR4, DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 34,347 points. Launch price was $409.

AMD

EPYC 9575F

The EPYC 9575F is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 10 October 2024 (1 year ago). It is based on the Turin (2024) architecture. It features 64 cores and 128 threads. Base frequency is 3.3 GHz, with boost up to 5 GHz. L3 cache: 256 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 4 nm process technology. Socket: SP5. Thermal design power (TDP): 400 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 147,718 points. Launch price was $11,791.

Processing Power

The Core i7-12700K packs 12 cores / 20 threads, while the EPYC 9575F offers 64 cores / 128 threads — the EPYC 9575F has 52 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5 GHz on the Core i7-12700K versus 5 GHz on the EPYC 9575F — identical boost frequencies (base: 3.6 GHz vs 3.3 GHz). The Core i7-12700K uses the Alder Lake, Golden Cove, Gracemont (2021) architecture (10 nm), while the EPYC 9575F uses Turin (2024) (4 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-12700K scores 34,347 against the EPYC 9575F's 147,718 — a 124.5% lead for the EPYC 9575F. L3 cache: 25 MB (total) on the Core i7-12700K vs 256 MB (total) on the EPYC 9575F.

FeatureCore i7-12700KEPYC 9575F
Cores / Threads
12 / 20
64 / 128+433%
Boost Clock
5 GHz
5 GHz
Base Clock
3.6 GHz+9%
3.3 GHz
L3 Cache
25 MB (total)
256 MB (total)+924%
L2 Cache
1.25 MB (per core)+25%
1 MB (per core)
Process
10 nm
4 nm-60%
Architecture
Alder Lake, Golden Cove, Gracemont (2021)
Turin (2024)
PassMark
34,347
147,718+330%
Geekbench 6 Multi
29,308
🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i7-12700K uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the EPYC 9575F uses SP5 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches 4800 on the Core i7-12700K versus DDR5-6000 on the EPYC 9575F — the Core i7-12700K supports 199.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Core i7-12700K supports up to 128 of RAM compared to 6 TB 182.1% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Core i7-12700K) vs 12 (EPYC 9575F). PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i7-12700K) vs 128 (EPYC 9575F) — the EPYC 9575F offers 108 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Z690,B660 (Core i7-12700K) and SP5 (EPYC 9575F).

FeatureCore i7-12700KEPYC 9575F
Socket
LGA1700
SP5
PCIe Generation
PCIe 5.0
PCIe 5.0
Max RAM Speed
4800+95900%
DDR5-6000
Max RAM Capacity
128
6 TB+5033164700%
RAM Channels
2
12+500%
ECC Support
Yes
Yes
PCIe Lanes
20
128+540%
🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i7-12700K) vs AMD-V, SEV-SNP (EPYC 9575F). The Core i7-12700K includes integrated graphics (Intel UHD Graphics 770), while the EPYC 9575F requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: EPYC 9575F targets Data Center / High Frequency. Direct competitor: Core i7-12700K rivals Ryzen 7 5800X; EPYC 9575F rivals Xeon 6952P.

FeatureCore i7-12700KEPYC 9575F
Integrated GPU
Yes
No
IGPU Model
Intel UHD Graphics 770
Unlocked
Yes
AVX-512
No
Virtualization
VT-x, VT-d
AMD-V, SEV-SNP
Target Use
Data Center / High Frequency
💰

Value Analysis

The Core i7-12700K launched at $409 MSRP, while the EPYC 9575F debuted at $11791. On MSRP ($409 vs $11791), the Core i7-12700K is $11382 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i7-12700K delivers 84.0 pts/$ vs 12.5 pts/$ for the EPYC 9575F — making the Core i7-12700K the 148.1% better value option.

FeatureCore i7-12700KEPYC 9575F
MSRP
$409-97%
$11791
Performance per Dollar
84.0+572%
12.5
Release Date
2021
2024