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

✅Better for gaming: +5.0% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $740 less on MSRP ($409 MSRP vs $1,149 MSRP).
✅Delivers 188.4% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 84.0 vs 29.1 PassMark/$ ($409 MSRP vs $1,149 MSRP).
✅Draws 125W instead of 280W, a 155W reduction.
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of sWRX8 and DDR4.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (25 MB vs 64 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX, which brings 12 cores / 24 threads and 128 PCIe lanes.

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX

2020

Why buy it

✅+156% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 25 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 12 cores / 24 threads, plus 128 PCIe lanes vs 20.
✅540% more PCIe lanes (128 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-12700K across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (33,455 vs 34,347).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 29.1 vs 84.0 PassMark/$ ($1,149 MSRP vs $409 MSRP).
❌124% higher power demand at 280W vs 125W.
❌Older platform position on sWRX8 with DDR4, while Core i7-12700K moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.

Core i7-12700K

2021

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX

2020

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +5.0% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $740 less on MSRP ($409 MSRP vs $1,149 MSRP).
✅Delivers 188.4% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 84.0 vs 29.1 PassMark/$ ($409 MSRP vs $1,149 MSRP).
✅Draws 125W instead of 280W, a 155W reduction.
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of sWRX8 and DDR4.

Why buy it

✅+156% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 25 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 12 cores / 24 threads, plus 128 PCIe lanes vs 20.
✅540% more PCIe lanes (128 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (25 MB vs 64 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX, which brings 12 cores / 24 threads and 128 PCIe lanes.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-12700K across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (33,455 vs 34,347).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 29.1 vs 84.0 PassMark/$ ($1,149 MSRP vs $409 MSRP).
❌124% higher power demand at 280W vs 125W.
❌Older platform position on sWRX8 with DDR4, while Core i7-12700K moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i7-12700K better than Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX?

Not in a simple one-size-fits-all way. Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX 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, Core i7-12700K is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 5.0% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i7-12700K is the better fit. You are getting 2.7% better PassMark, backed by 12 cores and 20 threads.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Core i7-12700K is the smarter buy today. Core i7-12700K is $740 cheaper on MSRP at $409 MSRP versus $1,149 MSRP, and it gives you a 5.0% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 188.4% better value on MSRP (84.0 vs 29.1 PassMark/$), so the better CPU is not just faster, it is also the cleaner value play on paper.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Core i7-12700K is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2021 vs 2020), a healthier platform with LGA1700 and DDR5 instead of sWRX8, and more multi-core headroom with 12 cores / 20 threads instead of 12/24. 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.

Core i7-12700K Benchmark Check

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i7-12700K	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX
1080p
low	314 FPS	202 FPS
medium	295 FPS	164 FPS
high	246 FPS	138 FPS
ultra	193 FPS	104 FPS
1440p
low	269 FPS	183 FPS
medium	225 FPS	145 FPS
high	182 FPS	116 FPS
ultra	145 FPS	88 FPS
4K
low	170 FPS	86 FPS
medium	142 FPS	73 FPS
high	109 FPS	57 FPS
ultra	96 FPS	46 FPS

Open Core i7-12700K Open Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i7-12700K	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX
1080p
low	630 FPS	557 FPS
medium	533 FPS	485 FPS
high	450 FPS	395 FPS
ultra	410 FPS	351 FPS
1440p
low	536 FPS	478 FPS
medium	475 FPS	424 FPS
high	403 FPS	356 FPS
ultra	349 FPS	296 FPS
4K
low	312 FPS	299 FPS
medium	280 FPS	268 FPS
high	266 FPS	243 FPS
ultra	234 FPS	217 FPS

Open Core i7-12700K Open Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i7-12700K	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX
1080p
low	797 FPS	772 FPS
medium	633 FPS	637 FPS
high	556 FPS	568 FPS
ultra	472 FPS	494 FPS
1440p
low	704 FPS	599 FPS
medium	565 FPS	494 FPS
high	490 FPS	436 FPS
ultra	422 FPS	376 FPS
4K
low	510 FPS	431 FPS
medium	425 FPS	344 FPS
high	381 FPS	303 FPS
ultra	321 FPS	243 FPS

Open Core i7-12700K Open Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i7-12700K	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX
1080p
low	859 FPS	836 FPS
medium	802 FPS	836 FPS
high	699 FPS	823 FPS
ultra	628 FPS	725 FPS
1440p
low	760 FPS	836 FPS
medium	678 FPS	745 FPS
high	590 FPS	630 FPS
ultra	519 FPS	540 FPS
4K
low	535 FPS	594 FPS
medium	488 FPS	540 FPS
high	437 FPS	468 FPS
ultra	384 FPS	405 FPS

Open Core i7-12700K Open Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i7-12700K and Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX

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.

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX

The Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 14 July 2020 (5 years ago). It is based on the Castle Peak (2020) architecture. It features 12 cores and 24 threads. Base frequency is 4 GHz, with boost up to 4.3 GHz. L3 cache: 64 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 7 nm, 12 nm process technology. Socket: sWRX8. Thermal design power (TDP): 280 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 33,455 points. Launch price was $499.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i7-12700K packs 12 cores / 20 threads, matching the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX's 12 cores. Boost clocks reach 5 GHz on the Core i7-12700K versus 4.3 GHz on the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX — a 15.1% clock advantage for the Core i7-12700K (base: 3.6 GHz vs 4 GHz). The Core i7-12700K uses the Alder Lake, Golden Cove, Gracemont (2021) architecture (10 nm), while the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX uses Castle Peak (2020) (7 nm, 12 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-12700K scores 34,347 against the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX's 33,455 — a 2.6% lead for the Core i7-12700K. L3 cache: 25 MB (total) on the Core i7-12700K vs 64 MB on the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX.

Feature	Core i7-12700K	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX
Cores / Threads	12 / 20	12 / 24
Boost Clock	5 GHz+16%	4.3 GHz
Base Clock	3.6 GHz	4 GHz+11%
L3 Cache	25 MB (total)	64 MB+156%
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)+150%	512 kB (per core)
Process	10 nm	7 nm, 12 nm-30%
Architecture	Alder Lake, Golden Cove, Gracemont (2021)	Castle Peak (2020)
PassMark	34,347+3%	33,455
Cinebench R23 Multi	—	18,500
Geekbench 6 Single	—	1,652
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	11,500

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i7-12700K uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX uses sWRX8 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches 4800 on the Core i7-12700K versus DDR4-3200 on the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX — the Core i7-12700K supports 199.7% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX supports up to 2048 GB of RAM compared to 128 — 176.5% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Core i7-12700K) vs 8 (Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX). PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i7-12700K) vs 128 (Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX) — the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX offers 108 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Z690,B660 (Core i7-12700K) and WRX80 (Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX).

Feature	Core i7-12700K	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX
Socket	LGA1700	sWRX8
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0+25%	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	4800+119900%	DDR4-3200
Max RAM Capacity	128	2048 GB+1677721500%
RAM Channels	2	8+300%
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	20	128+540%

🔧

Advanced Features

Both processors feature an unlocked multiplier for overclocking. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i7-12700K) vs AMD-V (Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX). The Core i7-12700K includes integrated graphics (Intel UHD Graphics 770), while the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX targets Professional Workstation. Direct competitor: Core i7-12700K rivals Ryzen 7 5800X; Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX rivals Xeon w5-2455X.

Feature	Core i7-12700K	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX
Integrated GPU	Yes	No
IGPU Model	Intel UHD Graphics 770	—
Unlocked	Yes	Yes
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	AMD-V
Target Use	—	Professional Workstation

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i7-12700K launched at $409 MSRP, while the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX debuted at $1149. On MSRP ($409 vs $1149), the Core i7-12700K is $740 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i7-12700K delivers 84.0 pts/$ vs 29.1 pts/$ for the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX — making the Core i7-12700K the 97% better value option.