Core i9-12900HX vs EPYC 7302

Core i9-12900HX

16 Cores24 Thrd55 WWMax: 5 GHz2022

EPYC 7302

16 Cores32 Thrd155 WWMax: 3.3 GHz2019

Performance Spectrum - CPU

Core i9-12900HX

16 / 24

33,018

0.0%

33,499

+1.5%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7945WX

Ryzen 9 9950X

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7965WX

Ryzen Threadripper 7970X

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.

Value Upgrade Path

This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money.

MSRP is the manufacturer's suggested retail price.•
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.

Performance Per Dollar Core i9-12900HX

#36

Core i5-11500B

MSRP: $185|Avg: $185

112%

#42

Ryzen 9 9955HX3D

MSRP: $749|Avg: N/A

106%

#49

Core i9-12900HX

MSRP: $606|Avg: N/A

100%

#57

Ryzen AI 9 365

MSRP: $400|Avg: $400

91%

#64

Ryzen AI Max PRO 390

MSRP: $600|Avg: $600

87%

Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Per Dollar EPYC 7302

Xeon Platinum 8454H

MSRP: $6540|Avg: N/A

775%

Core i9-9990XE

MSRP: $2000|Avg: N/A

Xeon W-11855M

MSRP: $450|Avg: $200

14%

Xeon W-11955M

MSRP: $623|Avg: $450

13%

Xeon W-11865MLE

MSRP: $467|Avg: $350

13%

Xeon W-11865MRE

MSRP: $600|Avg: $600

12%

Xeon Gold 6240R

MSRP: $2444|Avg: N/A

146%

#10

Xeon 6337P

MSRP: $60|Avg: $5

130%

#15

EPYC 9174F

MSRP: $194|Avg: $30

100%

#16

EPYC 7302

MSRP: $978|Avg: $109

100%

#21

Xeon Platinum 8260M

MSRP: $7705|Avg: N/A

91%

#22

Xeon Platinum 8268

MSRP: $6302|Avg: N/A

91%

#24

Xeon Gold 6130H

MSRP: $1894|Avg: N/A

88%

Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Comparison

About PassMark

🏆 Chipversus Verdict

🚀 Performance Leadership

Use Case Distinction: This is a comparison between a Professional Workstation processor ($109) and a Consumer Desktop CPU. The EPYC 7302 is engineered for massive parallel workloads (rendering, scientific simulations), offering significantly higher core counts.

Insight	Core i9-12900HX	EPYC 7302
Gaming	✅ Superior gaming performance	❌ Lower gaming performance
Workstation	✅ Better multi-core power	❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks
Price	⚠️ Higher cost ($606)	✅ More affordable ($109)
Longevity	✨ Modern (Alder Lake-HX (2022) / Intel 7 nm)	✨ Modern (Zen 2 (2017−2020) / 7 nm, 14 nm)

💎 Value Proposition

The Core i9-12900HX ($606), however, is optimized for mixed workloads and gaming. For most users, it offers superior single-thread performance and responsiveness at a fraction of the cost ($497 less, 456% cheaper), making it the better choice for daily use and gaming.

Insight	Core i9-12900HX	EPYC 7302
Cost Efficiency	❌ Lower cost efficiency	✅ Better overall value (+464%)
Upfront Cost	⚠️ Higher cost ($606)	✅ More affordable ($109)

Performance Check

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 i9-12900HX Benchmark Check

EPYC 7302 Benchmark Check

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i9-12900HX and EPYC 7302

Core i9-12900HX

The Core i9-12900HX is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 10 May 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Alder Lake-HX (2022) architecture. It features 16 cores and 24 threads. Base frequency is 2.3 GHz, with boost up to 5 GHz. L3 cache: 30 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1964. Thermal design power (TDP): 55 Watt. Memory support: DDR4, DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 33,018 points. Launch price was $499.

EPYC 7302

The EPYC 7302 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 7 August 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Zen 2 (2017−2020) architecture. It features 16 cores and 32 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 3.3 GHz. L3 cache: 32 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 7 nm, 14 nm process technology. Socket: SP3. Thermal design power (TDP): 155 Watt. Memory support: DDR4 Eight-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 33,499 points. Launch price was $978.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i9-12900HX packs 16 cores / 24 threads, matching the EPYC 7302's 16 cores. Boost clocks reach 5 GHz on the Core i9-12900HX versus 3.3 GHz on the EPYC 7302 — a 41% clock advantage for the Core i9-12900HX (base: 2.3 GHz vs 3 GHz). The Core i9-12900HX uses the Alder Lake-HX (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the EPYC 7302 uses Zen 2 (2017−2020) (7 nm, 14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i9-12900HX scores 33,018 against the EPYC 7302's 33,499 — a 1.4% lead for the EPYC 7302. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 23,150 vs 19,500 (17.1% advantage for the Core i9-12900HX). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 2,426 vs 1,192, a 68.2% lead for the Core i9-12900HX that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 14,620 vs 10,254 (35.1% advantage for the Core i9-12900HX). L3 cache: 30 MB (total) on the Core i9-12900HX vs 32 MB (total) on the EPYC 7302.

Feature	Core i9-12900HX	EPYC 7302
Cores / Threads	16 / 24	16 / 32
Boost Clock	5 GHz+52%	3.3 GHz
Base Clock	2.3 GHz	3 GHz+30%
L3 Cache	30 MB (total)	32 MB (total)+7%
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)+150%	512 kB (per core)
Process	Intel 7 nm	7 nm, 14 nm
Architecture	Alder Lake-HX (2022)	Zen 2 (2017−2020)
PassMark	33,018	33,499+1%
Cinebench R23 Multi	23,150+19%	19,500
Geekbench 6 Single	2,426+104%	1,192
Geekbench 6 Multi	14,620+43%	10,254

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i9-12900HX uses the FCBGA1964 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the EPYC 7302 uses SP3 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200 on the Core i9-12900HX versus DDR4-3200 on the EPYC 7302 — the Core i9-12900HX supports 22.2% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The EPYC 7302 supports up to 4096 GB of RAM compared to 128 GB — 187.9% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Core i9-12900HX) vs 8 (EPYC 7302). PCIe lanes: 48 (Core i9-12900HX) vs 128 (EPYC 7302) — the EPYC 7302 offers 80 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: HM670,WM690 (Core i9-12900HX) and WRX80,SP3 (EPYC 7302).

Feature	Core i9-12900HX	EPYC 7302
Socket	FCBGA1964	SP3
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0+25%	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200+25%	DDR4-3200
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	4096 GB+3100%
RAM Channels	2	8+300%
ECC Support	❌	✅
PCIe Lanes	48	128+167%

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Core i9-12900HX has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i9-12900HX) vs AMD-V, SEV (EPYC 7302). The Core i9-12900HX includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 770), while the EPYC 7302 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i9-12900HX targets High-end Mobile Performance, EPYC 7302 targets Server / Multi-thread Workstation. Direct competitor: Core i9-12900HX rivals Ryzen 9 6900HX; EPYC 7302 rivals Xeon Gold 6230.

Feature	Core i9-12900HX	EPYC 7302
Integrated GPU	Yes	No
IGPU Model	UHD Graphics 770	—
Unlocked	Yes	No
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d, EPT	AMD-V, SEV
Target Use	High-end Mobile Performance	Server / Multi-thread Workstation