CPU_VS_CPU / 2026-09-11
AMD Ryzen 5 9600 vs Intel Core i7-12700K
Which is faster for gaming, by how much, and the resolution past which the difference stops reaching you. Reference: AMD RX 6700 XT, 32 GB of RAM.
The AMD Ryzen 5 9600 and the Intel Core i7-12700K perform the same in practice: a 0% average difference is not perceptible while playing. Decide on price, power draw or availability.
WHERE IT STOPS MATTERING
Real-world advantage of the AMD Ryzen 5 9600 over the Intel Core i7-12700K at each resolution, paired with an AMD RX 6700 XT. A processor can only show its lead while the graphics card keeps up; the more pixels, the more the two converge.
| RESOLUTION | AMD Ryzen 5 9600 | Intel Core i7-12700K | ADVANTAGE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1280x720 (HD 16:9) | 111 | 112 | no difference |
| 1920x1080 | 69 | 69 | no difference |
| 2560x1080 (Ultrawide 21:9) | 56 | 56 | no difference |
| 2560x1440 | 47 | 47 | no difference |
| 2560x1600 (WQXGA 16:10) | 43 | 43 | no difference |
| 3440x1440 (Ultrawide 21:9) | 38 | 38 | no difference |
| 3840x1600 (Ultrawide 21:9) | 33 | 33 | no difference |
| 5120x1440 (Super Ultrawide 32:9) | 29 | 29 | no difference |
| 3840x2160 | 27 | 27 | no difference |
| 5120x2160 (5K2K Ultrawide 21:9) | 22 | 22 | no difference |
| 5120x2880 (5K 16:9) | 18 | 18 | no difference |
| 7680x4320 (8K UHD 16:9) | 10 | 10 | no difference |
FPS shown: average of the AAA titles at high quality, native resolution. The advantage is computed across all eleven profiled games.
DIFFERENCE BY GAME
The average hides a lot of variation: the widest gap is in Hogwarts Legacy (2%) and the narrowest in Apex Legends (1%). If you only play one of them, the average is not your answer.
| GAME | AMD Ryzen 5 9600 | Intel Core i7-12700K | ADVANTAGE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hogwarts Legacy | 122 | 125 | -2% |
| Valorant | 725 | 709 | +2% |
| Counter-Strike 2 | 458 | 448 | +2% |
| Red Dead Redemption 2 | 139 | 142 | -2% |
| League of Legends | 595 | 583 | +2% |
| Fortnite (Perf Mode) | 319 | 313 | +2% |
| Elden Ring | 115 | 117 | -2% |
| Cyberpunk 2077 | 182 | 185 | -2% |
| Call of Duty: Warzone | 195 | 192 | +2% |
| Alan Wake 2 | 136 | 138 | -1% |
| Apex Legends | 319 | 315 | +1% |
HOW THIS IS CALCULATED
The per-game frame rates are the ceiling each processor sustains on its own, with no graphics card limiting it. That is the only honest way to compare two CPUs: fixing a specific card would turn the comparison into a review of that card.
Native resolution, no upscaling and no frame generation. Measured model error · Methodology
TEST WITH YOUR OWN BUILD
This page fixes one reference component. Set the resolution and the partner to your own to see your specific case.