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 i9-12900HK

2022

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +6.8% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Draws 45W instead of 180W, a 135W reduction.
✅Newer platform on FCBGA1744 with DDR5 support instead of SP3r2 and DDR4.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (28 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Iris Xe Graphics G7 (96EUs), while Ryzen Threadripper 2920X needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (24 MB vs 32 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Ryzen Threadripper 2920X, which brings 12 cores / 24 threads.

Ryzen Threadripper 2920X

2018

Why buy it

✅+33.3% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 24 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 12 cores / 24 threads.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i9-12900HK across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (25,148 vs 25,512).
❌Launch MSRP is still $649 MSRP, while Core i9-12900HK mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌300% higher power demand at 180W vs 45W.
❌Older platform position on SP3r2 with DDR4, while Core i9-12900HK moves to FCBGA1744 and DDR5.

Core i9-12900HK

2022

Ryzen Threadripper 2920X

2018

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +6.8% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Draws 45W instead of 180W, a 135W reduction.
✅Newer platform on FCBGA1744 with DDR5 support instead of SP3r2 and DDR4.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (28 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Iris Xe Graphics G7 (96EUs), while Ryzen Threadripper 2920X needs a discrete GPU.

Why buy it

✅+33.3% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 24 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 12 cores / 24 threads.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (24 MB vs 32 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Ryzen Threadripper 2920X, which brings 12 cores / 24 threads.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i9-12900HK across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (25,148 vs 25,512).
❌Launch MSRP is still $649 MSRP, while Core i9-12900HK mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌300% higher power demand at 180W vs 45W.
❌Older platform position on SP3r2 with DDR4, while Core i9-12900HK moves to FCBGA1744 and DDR5.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i9-12900HK better than Ryzen Threadripper 2920X?

Not in a simple one-size-fits-all way. Ryzen Threadripper 2920X makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Core i9-12900HK 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 i9-12900HK is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 6.8% more average FPS across 4 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i9-12900HK is the better fit. You are getting 1.4% better PassMark, backed by 14 cores and 20 threads.

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

Core i9-12900HK is still the faster CPU overall, but Ryzen Threadripper 2920X makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. Core i9-12900HK is at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $649 MSRP, and it gives you a 6.8% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. Ryzen Threadripper 2920X is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (38.7 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), 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 i9-12900HK is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2022 vs 2018), a healthier platform with FCBGA1744 and DDR5 instead of SP3r2, and more multi-core headroom with 14 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 i9-12900HK Benchmark Check

Ryzen Threadripper 2920X Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i9-12900HK	Ryzen Threadripper 2920X
1080p
low	267 FPS	192 FPS
medium	257 FPS	168 FPS
high	213 FPS	138 FPS
ultra	183 FPS	112 FPS
1440p
low	229 FPS	155 FPS
medium	197 FPS	129 FPS
high	159 FPS	104 FPS
ultra	139 FPS	84 FPS
4K
low	159 FPS	78 FPS
medium	136 FPS	70 FPS
high	106 FPS	55 FPS
ultra	93 FPS	43 FPS

Open Core i9-12900HK Open Ryzen Threadripper 2920X

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i9-12900HK	Ryzen Threadripper 2920X
1080p
low	635 FPS	485 FPS
medium	539 FPS	433 FPS
high	458 FPS	369 FPS
ultra	418 FPS	328 FPS
1440p
low	549 FPS	429 FPS
medium	486 FPS	388 FPS
high	414 FPS	332 FPS
ultra	357 FPS	286 FPS
4K
low	324 FPS	276 FPS
medium	291 FPS	248 FPS
high	277 FPS	228 FPS
ultra	243 FPS	198 FPS

Open Core i9-12900HK Open Ryzen Threadripper 2920X

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i9-12900HK	Ryzen Threadripper 2920X
1080p
low	638 FPS	629 FPS
medium	616 FPS	626 FPS
high	545 FPS	566 FPS
ultra	462 FPS	495 FPS
1440p
low	638 FPS	629 FPS
medium	554 FPS	522 FPS
high	485 FPS	458 FPS
ultra	416 FPS	399 FPS
4K
low	498 FPS	460 FPS
medium	416 FPS	369 FPS
high	373 FPS	330 FPS
ultra	314 FPS	274 FPS

Open Core i9-12900HK Open Ryzen Threadripper 2920X

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i9-12900HK	Ryzen Threadripper 2920X
1080p
low	638 FPS	629 FPS
medium	638 FPS	629 FPS
high	638 FPS	629 FPS
ultra	604 FPS	626 FPS
1440p
low	638 FPS	629 FPS
medium	638 FPS	629 FPS
high	572 FPS	563 FPS
ultra	498 FPS	492 FPS
4K
low	525 FPS	503 FPS
medium	476 FPS	463 FPS
high	423 FPS	411 FPS
ultra	368 FPS	361 FPS

Open Core i9-12900HK Open Ryzen Threadripper 2920X

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i9-12900HK and Ryzen Threadripper 2920X

Core i9-12900HK

The Core i9-12900HK is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 4 January 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Alder Lake-H (2022) architecture. It features 14 cores and 20 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 5 GHz. L3 cache: 24 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1744. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR4, DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 25,512 points. Launch price was $299.

Ryzen Threadripper 2920X

The Ryzen Threadripper 2920X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 3 October 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the ZEN+ (2018−2019) architecture. It features 12 cores and 24 threads. Base frequency is 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 4.3 GHz. L3 cache: 32 MB. L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 12 nm process technology. Socket: SP3r2. Thermal design power (TDP): 180 Watt. Memory support: DDR4 Quad-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 25,148 points. Launch price was $649.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i9-12900HK packs 14 cores / 20 threads, while the Ryzen Threadripper 2920X offers 12 cores / 24 threads — the Core i9-12900HK has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5 GHz on the Core i9-12900HK versus 4.3 GHz on the Ryzen Threadripper 2920X — a 15.1% clock advantage for the Core i9-12900HK (base: 2.5 GHz vs 3.5 GHz). The Core i9-12900HK uses the Alder Lake-H (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Ryzen Threadripper 2920X uses ZEN+ (2018−2019) (12 nm). In PassMark, the Core i9-12900HK scores 25,512 against the Ryzen Threadripper 2920X's 25,148 — a 1.4% lead for the Core i9-12900HK. L3 cache: 24 MB (total) on the Core i9-12900HK vs 32 MB on the Ryzen Threadripper 2920X.

Feature	Core i9-12900HK	Ryzen Threadripper 2920X
Cores / Threads	14 / 20+17%	12 / 24
Boost Clock	5 GHz+16%	4.3 GHz
Base Clock	2.5 GHz	3.5 GHz+40%
L3 Cache	24 MB (total)	32 MB+33%
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)+150%	512K (per core)
Process	Intel 7 nm-42%	12 nm
Architecture	Alder Lake-H (2022)	ZEN+ (2018−2019)
PassMark	25,512+1%	25,148
Cinebench R23 Multi	18,197	—
Geekbench 6 Single	1,938	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	13,317	—

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i9-12900HK uses the FCBGA1744 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Ryzen Threadripper 2920X uses SP3r2 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Core i9-12900HK	Ryzen Threadripper 2920X
Socket	FCBGA1744	SP3r2
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0+25%	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200	—
Max RAM Capacity	64 GB	—
RAM Channels	2	—
ECC Support	No	—
PCIe Lanes	28	—

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i9-12900HK) / not specified (Ryzen Threadripper 2920X). The Core i9-12900HK includes integrated graphics (Iris Xe Graphics G7 (96EUs)), while the Ryzen Threadripper 2920X requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i9-12900HK targets Enthusiast Gaming Laptop. Direct competitor: Core i9-12900HK rivals Ryzen 9 6900HX.

Feature	Core i9-12900HK	Ryzen Threadripper 2920X
Integrated GPU	Yes	—
IGPU Model	Iris Xe Graphics G7 (96EUs)	—
Unlocked	Yes	—
AVX-512	No	—
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d, EPT	—
Target Use	Enthusiast Gaming Laptop	—