AMD Ryzen 7 260 vs Intel Core i9-12900KS Comparison

FAQ

Q: How does the Intel Core i9-12900KS compare to the AMD Ryzen 7 260 in overall average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i9-12900KS records an average benchmark score of 45,094, while the AMD Ryzen 7 260 scores 43,717. The Intel part sits 1.2% above its nearest rival (AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D) and 0.5% ahead of the Intel Core i5-14600, while the AMD Ryzen 7 260 lands 0.7% above the AMD Ryzen AI 9 465 and 0.9% above the AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 385.

Q: Which processor wins the head-to-head benchmark comparison?

A: The Intel Core i9-12900KS wins all 15 recorded head-to-head benchmark comparisons. The AMD Ryzen 7 260 does not win a single test in the database. The largest margin is in Cinebench R23 single-core, where Intel leads by 193.9%, and the smallest margin is in PassMark single-thread, where Intel leads by 15.9%.

Q: What are the core and thread counts for each processor?

A: The Intel Core i9-12900KS has 16 cores and 24 threads. The AMD Ryzen 7 260 has 8 cores and 16 threads. The Intel part also has a higher boost clock at 5.50 GHz versus 5.10 GHz for the AMD chip, though the AMD part has a higher base clock at 3.80 GHz versus 3.40 GHz.

Q: How do the cache hierarchies differ between the two processors?

A: The Intel Core i9-12900KS has 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core, and 30 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD Ryzen 7 260 has 64 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel part also has a larger die size at 215 mm² compared to 178 mm² for the AMD chip.

Q: What are the power and socket differences?

A: The Intel Core i9-12900KS has a TDP of 150 watts and uses Intel Socket 1700. The AMD Ryzen 7 260 has a TDP of 45 watts and uses AMD Socket FP8. The Intel part is unlocked for overclocking, while the AMD part is locked. The Intel chip targets the desktop market segment, while the AMD chip is classified as a mobile processor.

Q: Which processor has better single-thread performance in Cinebench R23?

A: The Intel Core i9-12900KS scores 5,203 in Cinebench R23 single-core, compared to 1,770.5 for the AMD Ryzen 7 260. This represents a 193.9% advantage for Intel. In PassMark single-thread, the Intel part scores 4,330 versus 3,736 for AMD, a 15.9% lead.

Architecture Differences

The Intel Core i9-12900KS is built on Intel's Alder Lake architecture, specifically the Alder Lake-S codename, using a 10 nm process node fabricated by Intel. The AMD Ryzen 7 260 uses the Zen 4 architecture under the Hawk Point codename, manufactured on TSMC's 4 nm process. This process difference is significant: the AMD chip packs 25,000 million transistors into a 178 mm² die, while the Intel part uses a 215 mm² die without a listed transistor count.

The Intel processor is a 16-core, 24-thread design with a hybrid configuration typical of Alder Lake, combining performance cores and efficiency cores to reach that thread count. The AMD Ryzen 7 260 is a more conventional 8-core, 16-thread design. Both support dual-channel memory, but the Intel part supports both DDR4 and DDR5, while the AMD chip supports only DDR5. Memory bandwidth favors AMD at 89.6 GB/s versus 76.8 GB/s for Intel.

PCIe connectivity differs notably. The Intel Core i9-12900KS supports PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the AMD Ryzen 7 260 supports PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes (CPU only). The Intel chip includes UHD Graphics 770 integrated graphics, while the AMD part features Radeon 780M integrated graphics. ECC memory support is present on the Intel chip but absent on the AMD chip.

The Intel part is an unlocked desktop processor designed for Socket 1700, released in April 2022. The AMD chip is a locked mobile processor on Socket FP8, released in January 2025. The production status for both is listed as active. The Intel part has a launch MSRP of $739, while the AMD chip has no recorded launch MSRP.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear performance hierarchy. The Intel Core i9-12900KS wins every benchmark comparison in the database, with margins ranging from 15.9% to 193.9%. For workloads that prioritize raw computational throughput, particularly multi-threaded rendering, data compression, and physics calculations, the Intel part is the stronger choice. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 36,859 versus 17,211.5 for the AMD chip represents a 114.2% advantage, meaning the Intel processor completes rendering tasks in roughly half the time.

The AMD Ryzen 7 260, however, offers a dramatically lower TDP at 45 watts versus 150 watts, making it suitable for power-constrained environments. Its smaller die size and newer 4 nm process from TSMC suggest better power efficiency per unit of silicon area. The AMD chip also provides higher memory bandwidth at 89.6 GB/s and more PCIe lanes (20 versus 16), though at Gen 4 speeds rather than Gen 5.

For desktop builders seeking maximum performance, the Intel Core i9-12900KS is the data-backed choice. For mobile or compact systems where power draw is a primary constraint, the AMD Ryzen 7 260 presents a compelling efficiency profile. The Intel part's unlocked multiplier and ECC memory support further tilt the scales for enthusiast desktop users, while the AMD chip's locked multiplier and mobile socket limit its upgrade path.

Specification Differences

| Field | Intel Core i9-12900KS | AMD Ryzen 7 260 |

|-------|----------------------|-----------------|

| Cores | 16 | 8 |

| Threads | 24 | 16 |

| Base Clock | 3.40 GHz | 3.80 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 5.50 GHz | 5.10 GHz |

| TDP | 150 W | 45 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1700 | AMD Socket FP8 |

| Architecture | Alder Lake | Zen 4 |

| Codename | Alder Lake-S | Hawk Point |

| Process Node | 10 nm | 4 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | TSMC |

| Transistors | Not listed | 25,000 million |

| Die Size | 215 mm² | 178 mm² |

| L1 Cache | 80 KB per core | 64 KB per core |

| L2 Cache | 1.25 MB per core | 1 MB per core |

| L3 Cache | 30 MB shared | 16 MB shared |

| Memory Support | DDR4, DDR5 | DDR5 only |

| Memory Bandwidth | 76.8 GB/s | 89.6 GB/s |

| ECC Memory | Yes | No |

| PCIe | Gen 5, 16 lanes | Gen 4, 20 lanes |

| Integrated Graphics | UHD Graphics 770 | Radeon 780M |

| Market Segment | Desktop | Mobile |

| Release Date | 2022-04-04 | 2025-01-05 |

| Launch MSRP | $739 | None recorded |

| Multiplier Unlocked | Yes | No |

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark database records 15 head-to-head comparisons, and the Intel Core i9-12900KS wins all of them. The single largest margin comes in Cinebench R23 single-core, where Intel scores 5,203 against AMD's 1,770.5, a 193.9% delta. This is an extraordinary gap, suggesting the Intel architecture has a substantial single-thread advantage in that specific test. Cinebench R23 multi-core shows a 114.2% lead for Intel (36,859 versus 17,211.5), reflecting the combined effect of more cores and higher per-core performance.

The PassMark physics test shows Intel at 2,437 versus AMD at 1,218, a 100.1% delta. PassMark find prime numbers similarly shows Intel at 158 versus 77, a 105.2% advantage. These computational tests highlight the Intel part's strength in integer-heavy and physics-based workloads. Floating-point math follows the same pattern: Intel scores 111,429 versus AMD's 59,462, an 87.4% lead.

Data compression sees Intel at 563,709 versus 351,517, a 60.4% delta. Data encryption shows Intel at 31,403 versus 20,267, a 54.9% lead. Integer math records Intel at 147,575 versus 96,737, a 52.6% advantage. Extended instructions show Intel at 35,089 versus 26,544, a 32.2% lead. Random string sorting favors Intel at 60,539 versus 42,383, a 42.8% margin.

The closest contest is PassMark single-thread, where Intel scores 4,330 and AMD scores 3,736, a 15.9% delta. This smaller margin indicates that in lightly threaded workloads, the AMD Zen 4 architecture is comparatively competitive, though still behind. Cinebench R15 single-core shows Intel at 524 versus 276.5, an 89.5% lead, while Cinebench R15 multi-core shows Intel at 3,715 versus 2,747.5, a 35.2% margin.

Where Each One Wins

Intel Core i9-12900KS wins in all measured categories. The data shows no benchmark where the AMD Ryzen 7 260 takes the lead. The Intel part's wins span rendering (Cinebench R15 and R23, both single and multi-core), data processing (compression, encryption, integer math, floating-point math), and system-level tests (physics, random string sorting, multithreaded PassMark). The largest deltas occur in single-threaded rendering and physics, where the Intel chip leads by more than 89% in every case except PassMark single-thread.

The Intel processor's 16 cores and 24 threads provide a clear multi-threading advantage, with PassMark multithread at 43,698 versus 28,078 for AMD, a 55.6% lead. Its larger L3 cache (30 MB versus 16 MB) likely contributes to the data-heavy workload wins in compression and encryption. The unlocked multiplier and ECC support add flexibility for desktop users who need overclocking or error-correcting memory.

AMD Ryzen 7 260's advantages are architectural, not benchmark-based. While it loses every performance test, the AMD chip offers a 45-watt TDP, making it far more power-efficient than the 150-watt Intel part. Its 4 nm TSMC process and 178 mm² die suggest a denser, more efficient design. The AMD chip provides higher memory bandwidth (89.6 GB/s versus 76.8 GB/s) and more PCIe lanes (20 versus 16), though at Gen 4 rather than Gen 5 speeds. Its Radeon 780M integrated graphics may offer better GPU performance than Intel's UHD Graphics 770, though no direct comparison data exists in the database.

For mobile or compact system builders, the AMD Ryzen 7 260's lower power draw and mobile socket designation make it the appropriate choice despite its benchmark deficits. For desktop users who prioritize computational speed above all, the Intel Core i9-12900KS is the definitive selection based on the recorded benchmarks. The Intel part also carries a launch MSRP of $739, while the AMD chip has no recorded launch price.