AMD Athlon X4 970 vs Intel Core i9-12900E Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark comparison between the AMD Athlon X4 970 and the Intel Core i9-12900E is decisively one-sided. Across the five common Cinebench tests recorded in the database, the Intel processor wins every single matchup, with a consistent performance gap of 86.9% in each case.

Starting with multi-threaded workloads, the Cinebench R15 multi-core test shows the Athlon X4 970 scoring 310 points against the i9-12900E's 2371 points. The R20 multi-core test follows the same pattern: the AMD chip manages 1294 points, while the Intel part reaches 9882 points. The R23 multi-core result widens the absolute gap further, with the Athlon scoring 3081 and the i9-12900E scoring 23529.

Single-thread performance tells the same story, though the margins are similar in percentage terms. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the Athlon X4 970 records 182 points, while the i9-12900E posts 1394 points. The R23 single-core test shows 435 points for the AMD processor versus 3321 points for the Intel processor. Every head-to-head result carries the same 86.9% delta, indicating a uniform performance disadvantage for the Athlon across both single-threaded and multi-threaded rendering workloads.

The data does not show a single benchmark where the Athlon X4 970 comes out ahead. The wins tally stands at 0 for the AMD part and 5 for the Intel part. This consistency across different Cinebench versions, which have varying workload characteristics and scoring scales, suggests the performance gap is fundamental rather than test-specific.

Looking at the broader database context, the Athlon X4 970 sits at the 63rd percentile among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 6850. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Core i3-1115G4 at 6851 (a 0% delta) and the AMD Athlon Silver 10 at 6849 (also 0%), placing it in a tightly clustered mid-range group. The Intel Core i9-12900E, despite winning every head-to-head test, holds a 62nd percentile rank with an average score of 6611. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Pentium Gold G6405 at 6605 (0.1% delta) and the Intel Core i9-10940X at 6605 (0.1% delta). This means the i9-12900E's average score across all its recorded benchmarks is actually slightly lower than the Athlon's average, a quirk of the different benchmark suites each chip was tested with, but the direct head-to-head Cinebench results leave no ambiguity about which processor is faster.

The Verdict

From the recorded data, the choice is straightforward for anyone prioritizing raw computational performance. The Intel Core i9-12900E is faster in every measured Cinebench workload, by a uniform 86.9% margin. Its multi-core scores are roughly 7.6 times higher in R15, 7.6 times higher in R20, and 7.6 times higher in R23 compared to the Athlon X4 970. Single-core scores are similarly scaled, with the Intel part achieving roughly 7.7 times the R20 single-core score and 7.6 times the R23 single-core score of the AMD part.

The AMD Athlon X4 970, with its four cores and four threads, cannot compete with the i9-12900E's 16 cores and 24 threads in multi-threaded tasks. The core count disparity alone explains much of the multi-core gap. For single-thread workloads, the Athlon's 4.00 GHz boost clock is overshadowed by the i9-12900E's 5.00 GHz boost clock, combined with a much newer architecture that delivers higher instructions per clock.

The database also shows the i9-12900E has a launch MSRP of $494, which is recorded information but not a factor in the performance analysis. The Athlon X4 970 has no launch MSRP recorded.

For a user building a system where rendering speed, compilation time, or any heavily threaded application is the priority, the i9-12900E is the only logical choice based on these numbers. The Athlon X4 970 would be selected only in a scenario where the workload is extremely light and the platform cost is the primary constraint, though the database does not provide comparative pricing data beyond the i9's launch MSRP.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i9-12900E wins in every category measured in the head-to-head comparison. Its advantages are most pronounced in multi-threaded rendering, where the Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 23529 dwarfs the Athlon's 3081. The i9-12900E also excels in single-thread performance, with an R23 single-core score of 3321 against the Athlon's 435.

The AMD Athlon X4 970 does not win any of the five recorded head-to-head benchmarks. However, the broader benchmark data from the database shows the Athlon holding its own in certain specific workloads relative to its own average. Its PassMark integer math score of 19174, floating point math score of 6049, and data compression score of 62454 are recorded, though these tests were not run on the i9-12900E, so no direct comparison is possible from the available data.

For use-case planning, the i9-12900E is suited for demanding desktop applications: video rendering, 3D modeling, software compilation, and any task that can utilize 24 threads. Its UHD Graphics 770 integrated GPU also provides display output capability without a discrete graphics card, a feature the Athlon X4 970 lacks entirely, as its integrated graphics field is null in the database.

The Athlon X4 970, with its 65 W TDP matching the i9-12900E's 65 W TDP, offers a similar power envelope but far less compute capability. Its 28 nm process node from GlobalFoundries is significantly older than Intel's 10 nm node for the i9-12900E, which contributes to the performance disparity despite the equal TDP rating. The Athlon's socket AM4 platform and DDR4 memory support make it a legacy option, while the i9-12900E's LGA 1700 socket supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i9-12900E has 16 cores and 24 threads, while the AMD Athlon X4 970 has 4 cores and 4 threads.

Q: What is the performance difference in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The i9-12900E scores 23529 points, which is 86.9% higher than the Athlon X4 970's score of 3081 points.

Q: Do both processors have integrated graphics?

A: No. The Intel Core i9-12900E includes UHD Graphics 770, while the AMD Athlon X4 970 has no integrated graphics recorded in the database.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core i9-12900E boosts to 5.00 GHz, while the AMD Athlon X4 970 boosts to 4.00 GHz.

Q: What memory types do they support?

A: The AMD Athlon X4 970 supports DDR4 memory only. The Intel Core i9-12900E supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory.

Q: Are both processors unlocked for overclocking?

A: No. The Intel Core i9-12900E has an unlocked multiplier, while the AMD Athlon X4 970 does not.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different architectural eras. The AMD Athlon X4 970 uses the Excavator architecture, codenamed Bristol Ridge, built on a 28 nm process at GlobalFoundries. It integrates 3,100 million transistors on a 250 mm² die. The Intel Core i9-12900E uses the Alder Lake architecture, specifically Alder Lake-S, built on Intel's 10 nm process. Its die size is 215 mm², with transistor count not recorded in the database.

Cache hierarchies differ substantially. The Athlon X4 970 has 320 KB of L1 cache and 2 MB of L2 cache, with no L3 cache recorded. The i9-12900E has 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core, and 30 MB of shared L3 cache. This gives the Intel part a massive cache advantage, particularly for workloads that benefit from larger shared pools of fast memory.

PCIe support also differs. The Athlon X4 970 provides PCIe Gen 3 with 8 lanes from the CPU. The i9-12900E provides PCIe Gen 5 with 20 lanes from the CPU, offering both more lanes and a newer generation standard. The Intel processor also includes an integrated GPU, the UHD Graphics 770, while the Athlon has no integrated graphics.

Memory bandwidth is recorded only for the Athlon at 38.4 GB/s; the i9-12900E's memory bandwidth is not listed. Both support dual-channel memory buses. Neither processor supports ECC memory.

The release dates are far apart: the Athlon X4 970 launched on July 26, 2017, while the i9-12900E launched on January 3, 2022. This nearly five-year gap explains the architectural improvements seen in the Intel part.

Specification Differences

The following specifications differ between the two processors:

• Cores: Athlon X4 970 has 4, i9-12900E has 16
• Threads: Athlon X4 970 has 4, i9-12900E has 24
• Base clock: Athlon X4 970 runs at 3.80 GHz, i9-12900E at 2.30 GHz
• Boost clock: Athlon X4 970 reaches 4.00 GHz, i9-12900E reaches 5.00 GHz
• Socket: Athlon X4 970 uses AMD Socket AM4, i9-12900E uses Intel Socket 1700
• Architecture: Athlon X4 970 uses Excavator, i9-12900E uses Alder Lake
• Process node: Athlon X4 970 uses 28 nm, i9-12900E uses 10 nm
• Foundry: Athlon X4 970 is built by GlobalFoundries, i9-12900E by Intel
• Transistors: Athlon X4 970 has 3,100 million, i9-12900E has no recorded value
• Die size: Athlon X4 970 measures 250 mm², i9-12900E measures 215 mm²
• L1 cache: Athlon X4 970 has 320 KB total, i9-12900E has 80 KB per core
• L2 cache: Athlon X4 970 has 2 MB total, i9-12900E has 1.25 MB per core
• L3 cache: Athlon X4 970 has none, i9-12900E has 30 MB shared
• Memory support: Athlon X4 970 supports DDR4 only, i9-12900E supports DDR4 and DDR5
• Memory bandwidth: Athlon X4 970 is rated at 38.4 GB/s, i9-12900E has no recorded value
• PCIe: Athlon X4 970 offers Gen 3 with 8 lanes, i9-12900E offers Gen 5 with 20 lanes
• Integrated graphics: Athlon X4 970 has none, i9-12900E has UHD Graphics 770
• Release date: Athlon X4 970 launched July 26, 2017, i9-12900E launched January 3, 2022
• Multiplier unlocked: Athlon X4 970 is locked, i9-12900E is unlocked
• Launch MSRP: Athlon X4 970 has no recorded value, i9-12900E has a launch MSRP of $494
• Part number: Athlon X4 970 is AD970XAUABBOXAD970XAUM44AB, i9-12900E is SRL6B

Both processors share a 65 W TDP, dual-channel memory bus, desktop market segment, active production status, and lack of ECC memory support.