Core i9-12900T vs Ryzen 9 7940H
Core i9-12900T
Ryzen 9 7940H
Performance Spectrum - CPU
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.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i9-12900T
Performance Per Dollar
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i9-12900T | Ryzen 9 7940H |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($378) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Alder Lake-S (2022) / Intel 7 nm) | ✨ Modern (Phoenix (2023−2024) / 4 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i9-12900T | Ryzen 9 7940H |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($378) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
Performance Check
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.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Core i9-12900T and Ryzen 9 7940H
Core i9-12900T
The Core i9-12900T is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 4 January 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture. It features 16 cores and 24 threads. Base frequency is 1.4 GHz, with boost up to 4.9 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): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 29,601 points. Launch price was $299.
Ryzen 9 7940H
The Ryzen 9 7940H is manufactured by AMD. It was released in Janeiro 2023 (2 years ago). It is based on the Phoenix (2023−2024) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 4 GHz, with boost up to 5.2 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 4 nm process technology. Socket: FP8. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-5600. Passmark benchmark score: 29,151 points. Launch price was $299.
Processing Power
The Core i9-12900T packs 16 cores / 24 threads, while the Ryzen 9 7940H offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Core i9-12900T has 8 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.9 GHz on the Core i9-12900T versus 5.2 GHz on the Ryzen 9 7940H — a 5.9% clock advantage for the Ryzen 9 7940H (base: 1.4 GHz vs 4 GHz). The Core i9-12900T uses the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Ryzen 9 7940H uses Phoenix (2023−2024) (4 nm). In PassMark, the Core i9-12900T scores 29,601 against the Ryzen 9 7940H's 29,151 — a 1.5% lead for the Core i9-12900T. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 22,809 vs 17,200 (28% advantage for the Core i9-12900T). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 2,331 vs 2,646, a 12.7% lead for the Ryzen 9 7940H that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 12,116 vs 13,495 (10.8% advantage for the Ryzen 9 7940H). L3 cache: 30 MB (total) on the Core i9-12900T vs 16 MB (total) on the Ryzen 9 7940H.
| Feature | Core i9-12900T | Ryzen 9 7940H |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 16 / 24+100% | 8 / 16 |
| Boost Clock | 4.9 GHz | 5.2 GHz+6% |
| Base Clock | 1.4 GHz | 4 GHz+186% |
| L3 Cache | 30 MB (total)+88% | 16 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 1.25 MB (per core)+25% | 1 MB (per core) |
| Process | Intel 7 nm | 4 nm-43% |
| Architecture | Alder Lake-S (2022) | Phoenix (2023−2024) |
| PassMark | 29,601+2% | 29,151 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | 22,809+33% | 17,200 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 2,331 | 2,646+14% |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 12,116 | 13,495+11% |
Memory & Platform
The Core i9-12900T uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Ryzen 9 7940H uses FP8 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR5-4800 memory speed. The Ryzen 9 7940H supports up to 256 GB of RAM compared to 128 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 20 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: LGA1700 (Core i9-12900T) and FP7,FP7r2,FP8 (Ryzen 9 7940H).
| Feature | Core i9-12900T | Ryzen 9 7940H |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1700 | FP8 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 5.0+25% | PCIe 4.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR5-4800 | DDR5-5600 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 128 GB | 256 GB+100% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ✅ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | 20 | 20 |
Advanced Features
Only the Ryzen 9 7940H 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 i9-12900T) vs AMD-V, SVM (Ryzen 9 7940H). Both include integrated graphics — UHD Graphics 770 (Core i9-12900T) and Radeon 780M (Ryzen 9 7940H) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Ryzen 9 7940H targets High-performance Gaming Laptop. Direct competitor: Ryzen 9 7940H rivals Core i9-13900H.
| Feature | Core i9-12900T | Ryzen 9 7940H |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | UHD Graphics 770 | Radeon 780M |
| Unlocked | No | Yes |
| AVX-512 | Yes | Yes |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d | AMD-V, SVM |
| Target Use | — | High-performance Gaming Laptop |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
You May Also Compare
Similar CPU comparisons based on Core i9-12900T and Ryzen 9 7940H
