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 $928 less on MSRP ($409 MSRP vs $1,337 MSRP).
✅Delivers 80.3% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 84.0 vs 46.6 PassMark/$ ($409 MSRP vs $1,337 MSRP).
✅Draws 125W instead of 280W, a 155W reduction.
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of sWRX8 and DDR4.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel UHD Graphics 770, while Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌No 3D V-Cache or similar L3 advantage, which matters in CPU-limited gaming (25 MB vs 128 MB).
❌Lower PassMark (34,347 vs 62,261).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX, which brings 32 cores / 64 threads and 128 PCIe lanes.

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX

2020

Why buy it

✅Massive L3 cache advantage with 128 MB vs 25 MB, which is a real win in CPU-limited gaming.
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 32 cores / 64 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 46.6 vs 84.0 PassMark/$ ($1,337 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.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i7-12700K can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i7-12700K

2021

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX

2020

Why buy it

✅Costs $928 less on MSRP ($409 MSRP vs $1,337 MSRP).
✅Delivers 80.3% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 84.0 vs 46.6 PassMark/$ ($409 MSRP vs $1,337 MSRP).
✅Draws 125W instead of 280W, a 155W reduction.
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of sWRX8 and DDR4.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel UHD Graphics 770, while Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX needs a discrete GPU.

Why buy it

✅Massive L3 cache advantage with 128 MB vs 25 MB, which is a real win in CPU-limited gaming.
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 32 cores / 64 threads, plus 128 PCIe lanes vs 20.
✅540% more PCIe lanes (128 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌No 3D V-Cache or similar L3 advantage, which matters in CPU-limited gaming (25 MB vs 128 MB).
❌Lower PassMark (34,347 vs 62,261).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX, which brings 32 cores / 64 threads and 128 PCIe lanes.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 46.6 vs 84.0 PassMark/$ ($1,337 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.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i7-12700K can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX better than Core i7-12700K?

Not in a simple one-size-fits-all way. Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX 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, Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 0.2% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests. It also has a big cache advantage at 128 MB vs 25 MB.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX is the better fit. You are getting 81.3% better PassMark, backed by 32 cores and 64 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 412% larger total L3 cache (128 MB vs 25 MB).

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

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX is still the faster CPU overall, but Core i7-12700K makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX is 226.9% more expensive on MSRP at $1,337 MSRP versus $409 MSRP, and it gives you a 0.2% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core i7-12700K is also 80.3% better value on MSRP (84.0 vs 46.6 PassMark/$), which is why it is easier to justify for price-conscious builds on paper.

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

Core i7-12700K is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2021 vs 2020) and a healthier platform with LGA1700 and DDR5 instead of sWRX8. 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 3975WX Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i7-12700K	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX
1080p
low	314 FPS	183 FPS
medium	295 FPS	149 FPS
high	246 FPS	126 FPS
ultra	193 FPS	98 FPS
1440p
low	269 FPS	160 FPS
medium	225 FPS	127 FPS
high	182 FPS	101 FPS
ultra	145 FPS	79 FPS
4K
low	170 FPS	73 FPS
medium	142 FPS	61 FPS
high	109 FPS	48 FPS
ultra	96 FPS	40 FPS

Open Core i7-12700K Open Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i7-12700K	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX
1080p
low	630 FPS	579 FPS
medium	533 FPS	499 FPS
high	450 FPS	383 FPS
ultra	410 FPS	327 FPS
1440p
low	536 FPS	485 FPS
medium	475 FPS	425 FPS
high	403 FPS	338 FPS
ultra	349 FPS	274 FPS
4K
low	312 FPS	304 FPS
medium	280 FPS	270 FPS
high	266 FPS	231 FPS
ultra	234 FPS	202 FPS

Open Core i7-12700K Open Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i7-12700K	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX
1080p
low	797 FPS	681 FPS
medium	633 FPS	564 FPS
high	556 FPS	497 FPS
ultra	472 FPS	425 FPS
1440p
low	704 FPS	570 FPS
medium	565 FPS	479 FPS
high	490 FPS	424 FPS
ultra	422 FPS	364 FPS
4K
low	510 FPS	417 FPS
medium	425 FPS	333 FPS
high	381 FPS	293 FPS
ultra	321 FPS	234 FPS

Open Core i7-12700K Open Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i7-12700K	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX
1080p
low	859 FPS	1020 FPS
medium	802 FPS	917 FPS
high	699 FPS	765 FPS
ultra	628 FPS	664 FPS
1440p
low	760 FPS	802 FPS
medium	678 FPS	701 FPS
high	590 FPS	584 FPS
ultra	519 FPS	496 FPS
4K
low	535 FPS	559 FPS
medium	488 FPS	504 FPS
high	437 FPS	437 FPS
ultra	384 FPS	373 FPS

Open Core i7-12700K Open Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i7-12700K and Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX

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 3975WX

The Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2020-07-14. It is based on the Matisse (2019−2020) architecture. It features 32 cores and 64 threads. Base frequency is 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 4.2 GHz. L3 cache: 128 MB. L2 cache: 512K (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: 62,261 points. Launch price was $4,499.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i7-12700K packs 12 cores / 20 threads, while the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX offers 32 cores / 64 threads — the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX has 20 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5 GHz on the Core i7-12700K versus 4.2 GHz on the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX — a 17.4% clock advantage for the Core i7-12700K (base: 3.6 GHz vs 3.5 GHz). The Core i7-12700K uses the Alder Lake, Golden Cove, Gracemont (2021) architecture (10 nm), while the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX uses Matisse (2019−2020) (7 nm, 12 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-12700K scores 34,347 against the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX's 62,261 — a 57.8% lead for the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX. L3 cache: 25 MB (total) on the Core i7-12700K vs 128 MB on the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX.

Feature	Core i7-12700K	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX
Cores / Threads	12 / 20	32 / 64+167%
Boost Clock	5 GHz+19%	4.2 GHz
Base Clock	3.6 GHz+3%	3.5 GHz
L3 Cache	25 MB (total)	128 MB+412%
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)+150%	512K (per core)
Process	10 nm	7 nm, 12 nm-30%
Architecture	Alder Lake, Golden Cove, Gracemont (2021)	Matisse (2019−2020)
PassMark	34,347	62,261+81%
Cinebench R23 Multi	—	42,986
Geekbench 6 Single	—	1,260
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	25,211

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i7-12700K uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX 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 3975WX — the Core i7-12700K supports 199.7% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX 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 3975WX). PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i7-12700K) vs 128 (Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX) — the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX offers 108 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Z690,B660 (Core i7-12700K) and AMD WRX80 (Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX).

Feature	Core i7-12700K	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX
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 true (Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX). The Core i7-12700K includes integrated graphics (Intel UHD Graphics 770), while the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX requires a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: Core i7-12700K rivals Ryzen 7 5800X; Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX rivals Xeon W-3375.

Feature	Core i7-12700K	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX
Integrated GPU	Yes	No
IGPU Model	Intel UHD Graphics 770	None
Unlocked	Yes	Yes
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	true

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i7-12700K launched at $409 MSRP, while the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX debuted at $1337. On MSRP ($409 vs $1337), the Core i7-12700K is $928 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i7-12700K delivers 84.0 pts/$ vs 46.6 pts/$ for the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX — making the Core i7-12700K the 57.3% better value option.