Core i9-12900KS vs Ryzen 7 8840HX

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 i9-12900KS

2022

Why buy it

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (30 MB vs 64 MB).
❌Launch MSRP is still $739 MSRP, while Ryzen 7 8840HX mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌172.7% higher power demand at 150W vs 55W.

Ryzen 7 8840HX

2025

Why buy it

✅+113.3% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 30 MB).
✅Draws 55W instead of 150W, a 95W reduction.
✅40% more PCIe lanes (28 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (42,275 vs 43,528).

Core i9-12900KS

2022

Ryzen 7 8840HX

2025

Why buy it

✅+113.3% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 30 MB).
✅Draws 55W instead of 150W, a 95W reduction.
✅40% more PCIe lanes (28 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (30 MB vs 64 MB).
❌Launch MSRP is still $739 MSRP, while Ryzen 7 8840HX mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌172.7% higher power demand at 150W vs 55W.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (42,275 vs 43,528).

Quick Answers

So, is Core i9-12900KS better than Ryzen 7 8840HX?

Yes. Core i9-12900KS is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 0.5% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data and 3% better PassMark, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core i9-12900KS is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 0.5% 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 i9-12900KS is the better fit. You are getting 3% better PassMark, backed by 16 cores and 24 threads.

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

Core i9-12900KS is the smarter buy today. Core i9-12900KS is at an unclear MSRP at $739 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it gives you a 0.5% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (58.9 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), 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?

Ryzen 7 8840HX is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2025 vs 2022) and 113.3% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 30 MB). 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 i9-12900KS Benchmark Check

Ryzen 7 8840HX Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i9-12900KS	Ryzen 7 8840HX
1080p
low	283 FPS	267 FPS
medium	269 FPS	244 FPS
high	225 FPS	207 FPS
ultra	192 FPS	180 FPS
1440p
low	235 FPS	252 FPS
medium	199 FPS	206 FPS
high	162 FPS	162 FPS
ultra	142 FPS	146 FPS
4K
low	158 FPS	175 FPS
medium	134 FPS	143 FPS
high	104 FPS	107 FPS
ultra	91 FPS	96 FPS

Open Core i9-12900KS Open Ryzen 7 8840HX

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i9-12900KS	Ryzen 7 8840HX
1080p
low	716 FPS	654 FPS
medium	603 FPS	566 FPS
high	501 FPS	427 FPS
ultra	443 FPS	367 FPS
1440p
low	617 FPS	554 FPS
medium	541 FPS	494 FPS
high	454 FPS	384 FPS
ultra	380 FPS	303 FPS
4K
low	363 FPS	312 FPS
medium	326 FPS	283 FPS
high	306 FPS	250 FPS
ultra	263 FPS	212 FPS

Open Core i9-12900KS Open Ryzen 7 8840HX

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i9-12900KS	Ryzen 7 8840HX
1080p
low	866 FPS	847 FPS
medium	686 FPS	677 FPS
high	605 FPS	599 FPS
ultra	502 FPS	514 FPS
1440p
low	748 FPS	676 FPS
medium	602 FPS	541 FPS
high	523 FPS	468 FPS
ultra	441 FPS	397 FPS
4K
low	523 FPS	483 FPS
medium	432 FPS	400 FPS
high	392 FPS	360 FPS
ultra	332 FPS	302 FPS

Open Core i9-12900KS Open Ryzen 7 8840HX

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i9-12900KS	Ryzen 7 8840HX
1080p
low	973 FPS	1057 FPS
medium	879 FPS	966 FPS
high	763 FPS	843 FPS
ultra	693 FPS	760 FPS
1440p
low	812 FPS	842 FPS
medium	723 FPS	747 FPS
high	626 FPS	652 FPS
ultra	556 FPS	566 FPS
4K
low	555 FPS	619 FPS
medium	502 FPS	553 FPS
high	449 FPS	487 FPS
ultra	396 FPS	421 FPS

Open Core i9-12900KS Open Ryzen 7 8840HX

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i9-12900KS and Ryzen 7 8840HX

Core i9-12900KS

The Core i9-12900KS is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 5 April 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture. It features 16 cores and 24 threads. Base frequency is 3.4 GHz, with boost up to 5.3 GHz. L3 cache: 30 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1700. Thermal design power (TDP): 150 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 43,528 points. Launch price was $499.

Ryzen 7 8840HX

The Ryzen 7 8840HX is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 23 April 2025 (less than a year ago). It is based on the Dragon Range (2025) architecture. It features 12 cores and 24 threads. Base frequency is 2.9 GHz, with boost up to 5.1 GHz. L3 cache: 64 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 5 nm process technology. Socket: FL1. Thermal design power (TDP): 55 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 42,275 points. Launch price was $499.

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Processing Power

The Core i9-12900KS packs 16 cores / 24 threads, while the Ryzen 7 8840HX offers 12 cores / 24 threads — the Core i9-12900KS has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5.3 GHz on the Core i9-12900KS versus 5.1 GHz on the Ryzen 7 8840HX — a 3.8% clock advantage for the Core i9-12900KS (base: 3.4 GHz vs 2.9 GHz). The Core i9-12900KS uses the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Ryzen 7 8840HX uses Dragon Range (2025) (5 nm). In PassMark, the Core i9-12900KS scores 43,528 against the Ryzen 7 8840HX's 42,275 — a 2.9% lead for the Core i9-12900KS. L3 cache: 30 MB (total) on the Core i9-12900KS vs 64 MB (total) on the Ryzen 7 8840HX.

Feature	Core i9-12900KS	Ryzen 7 8840HX
Cores / Threads	16 / 24+33%	12 / 24
Boost Clock	5.3 GHz+4%	5.1 GHz
Base Clock	3.4 GHz+17%	2.9 GHz
L3 Cache	30 MB (total)	64 MB (total)+113%
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)+25%	1 MB (per core)
Process	Intel 7 nm	5 nm-29%
Architecture	Alder Lake-S (2022)	Dragon Range (2025)
PassMark	43,528+3%	42,275
Cinebench R23 Multi	27,796	—
Geekbench 6 Single	2,082	—

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Memory & Platform

The Core i9-12900KS uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Ryzen 7 8840HX uses FL1 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR5-4800 on the Core i9-12900KS versus 5600 on the Ryzen 7 8840HX — the Ryzen 7 8840HX supports 199.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Core i9-12900KS supports up to 128 GB of RAM compared to 64 — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i9-12900KS) vs 28 (Ryzen 7 8840HX) — the Ryzen 7 8840HX offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: LGA1700 (Core i9-12900KS) and FP8,FP7 (Ryzen 7 8840HX).

Feature	Core i9-12900KS	Ryzen 7 8840HX
Socket	LGA1700	FL1
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0	PCIe 5.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-4800	5600+111900%
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB+209715100%	64
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	20	28+40%

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Core i9-12900KS has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Both support AVX-512 instructions, benefiting scientific computing, AI inference, and encryption workloads. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i9-12900KS) vs VT-x, VT-d, AMD-V (Ryzen 7 8840HX). Both include integrated graphics — UHD 770 (Core i9-12900KS) and AMD Radeon 780M (Ryzen 7 8840HX) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: Ryzen 7 8840HX rivals Core i7-13700H.