AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 7745 vs Intel Core i9-12900KS Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data is decisively lopsided. The Intel Core i9-12900KS wins 16 of the 17 benchmark comparisons, with the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 7745 claiming a single victory. The margin of Intel's dominance varies dramatically by workload, ranging from a narrow single-thread edge to a crushing 75.9% blowout in floating-point math.

Starting with the Cinebench suite, the Intel part is remarkably consistent. Across Cinebench R15, R20, and R23, in both multi-core and single-core tests, the i9-12900KS leads by almost exactly the same margin. Multi-core scores of 3715 (R15), 15480 (R20), and 36859 (R23) compare to the Ryzen's 2809, 11708, and 27877 respectively. The deltas are 32.3% in R15 multi-core, 32.2% in R20 multi-core, and 32.2% in R23 multi-core. Single-core results tell the same story: 524 versus 396 in R15 (32.3% ahead), 2185 versus 1652 in R20 (32.3% ahead), and 5203 versus 3935 in R23 (32.2% ahead). That consistency across three generations of the Cinebench renderer indicates a fundamental throughput advantage rather than a workload-specific quirk.

The PassMark suite reveals where the Intel chip pulls away even further. The largest gap is in floating-point math, where the i9-12900KS scores 111429 against the Ryzen's 63332, a 75.9% advantage. Integer math is also heavily slanted: 147575 versus 103330, a 42.8% lead. Data compression shows a 45.7% gap (563709 against 386829), and encryption trails at 37.6% (31403 versus 22821). The physics test favors Intel by 43.4% (2437 versus 1699). Extended instructions see a smaller but still substantial 20.1% edge (35089 versus 29216), and random string sorting comes in at 29.5% (60539 versus 46759).

The one AMD win is in PassMark's find prime numbers test, and it is a narrow one. The Ryzen 7 PRO 7745 scores 166 versus Intel's 158, a 4.8% margin. This is a specialized workload that rewards the Zen 4 architecture's integer execution characteristics, but it is the only bright spot in an otherwise one-sided comparison.

The single-thread results are the closest category. In PassMark single-thread, Intel scores 4330 against 3849, a 12.5% lead. That is a meaningful gap, but it is far smaller than the multi-thread deltas, suggesting the architectural differences matter more when all cores are engaged.

The average benchmark score in the database sums up the overall picture: the i9-12900KS averages 45094 across all recorded tests, placing it at the 89th percentile of all CPUs. The Ryzen 7 PRO 7745 averages 43704, sitting at the 88th percentile. The Intel part's nearest rivals include the AMD EPYC 4344P (45122, 0.1% ahead of the Intel chip) and the Intel Core i5-14600 (44889, 0.5% behind). The Ryzen's closest competitors are the AMD Ryzen 7 260 (43717, essentially tied) and the AMD Ryzen 7 170 (43689, essentially tied).

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i9-12900KS wins across almost every measurable category. Its 16 cores and 24 threads give it a massive parallel processing advantage over the Ryzen's 8 cores and 16 threads, which explains the large multi-core deltas. The data shows that any workload that can use more than a handful of cores will heavily favor Intel. Rendering tasks, represented by the Cinebench suite, show a consistent 32% advantage. Data compression, encryption, physics simulation, and integer-heavy calculations all fall into Intel's column with margins ranging from 29.5% to 45.7%.

The floating-point math result is particularly notable. A 75.9% lead suggests the Intel architecture's execution resources are far better suited to vectorized floating-point work, which matters for scientific computing, financial modeling, and certain media processing tasks.

The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 7745 wins exactly one head-to-head test: prime number finding. That 4.8% edge (166 versus 158) points to a specific algorithmic strength, likely related to the Zen 4 core's integer pipeline efficiency on this particular workload. It is a real but narrow victory, and it does not translate into broader integer performance, as the same chip trails by 42.8% in integer math and 33.5% in the multithread test.

For single-threaded responsiveness, the Intel part still leads, but by the slimmest margin of any category. The 12.5% PassMark single-thread gap means that for everyday applications like web browsing, office productivity, and light coding, both processors will feel responsive. The difference becomes apparent only under sustained multi-core load.

The Ryzen's advantage in power efficiency is not directly captured in these raw benchmark scores. Its 65 watt TDP contrasts sharply with the Intel part's 150 watt TDP, but the database records show raw performance, not performance-per-watt. The AMD chip's market segment is listed as Server/Workstation, where efficiency can be as important as throughput.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The Intel Core i9-12900KS uses the Alder Lake architecture, specifically Alder Lake-S, built by Intel on a 10 nm process. It is a hybrid design with 16 cores and 24 threads, which in the 12th Gen Core lineup means a combination of performance cores and efficiency cores. The die size is 215 mm².

The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 7745 uses the Zen 4 architecture, codenamed Raphael, built by TSMC on a 5 nm process. It has 8 cores and 16 threads, with a die size of 71 mm². The transistor count is listed at 6,570 million, while the Intel part's transistor count is not recorded in the database.

Cache layouts differ substantially. The Intel chip has 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 30 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD chip has 64 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 32 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD part actually has more total L3 cache (32 MB versus 30 MB), which may help in cache-sensitive workloads, but the Intel part's larger per-core L1 and L2 allocations and higher core count dominate in most tests.

Memory support also diverges. The Intel chip supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, while the AMD chip supports only DDR5. Both use dual-channel memory buses, but the AMD part has a higher recorded memory bandwidth: 83.2 GB/s versus 76.8 GB/s for Intel. Both support ECC memory.

PCIe connectivity favors AMD. The Ryzen 7 PRO 7745 offers Gen 5 with 24 lanes from the CPU, while the Intel chip offers Gen 5 with 16 lanes. This makes the AMD part more suitable for workstation configurations with multiple high-bandwidth expansion cards.

Integrated graphics are present on both, with the Intel chip using UHD Graphics 770 and the AMD chip using Radeon Graphics. The Intel part has an unlocked multiplier, the AMD part does not. The Intel chip was released on 2022-04-04 and carries a launch MSRP of $739. The AMD chip's release date is 2023-06-12, and its launch MSRP is not recorded in the database.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in multi-core rendering?

A: The Intel Core i9-12900KS leads by 32.2% in Cinebench R23 multi-core, scoring 36859 against the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 7745's 27877. Similar margins appear in Cinebench R15 and R20 multi-core tests.

Q: Does the AMD chip win any benchmark at all?

A: Yes, the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 7745 wins PassMark's find prime numbers test, scoring 166 against Intel's 158, a 4.8% advantage. This is the only head-to-head win for AMD out of 17 comparisons.

Q: How large is the single-thread performance gap?

A: In PassMark single-thread, the Intel chip scores 4330 versus 3849, a 12.5% lead. Cinebench R23 single-core shows a larger 32.2% gap, with Intel scoring 5203 against 3935.

Q: Which processor has more cache?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 7745 has 32 MB of shared L3 cache, while the Intel Core i9-12900KS has 30 MB. However, the Intel chip has larger per-core L1 (80 KB versus 64 KB) and L2 (1.25 MB versus 1 MB) allocations.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: Yes, both the Intel Core i9-12900KS and the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 7745 support ECC memory. Both also use dual-channel memory buses, though the AMD chip supports only DDR5 while the Intel chip supports both DDR4 and DDR5.

Q: What is the overall performance ranking of each chip?

A: The Intel Core i9-12900KS sits at the 89th percentile of all CPUs with an average benchmark score of 45094. The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 7745 sits at the 88th percentile with an average score of 43704.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i9-12900KS | AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 7745 |

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

| Cores | 16 | 8 |

| Threads | 24 | 16 |

| Base Clock | 3.40 GHz | 3.80 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 5.50 GHz | 5.30 GHz |

| TDP | 150 W | 65 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1700 | AMD Socket AM5 |

| Architecture | Alder Lake | Zen 4 |

| Codename | Alder Lake-S | Raphael |

| Process Node | 10 nm | 5 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | TSMC |

| Die Size | 215 mm² | 71 mm² |

| Transistors | Not recorded | 6,570 million |

| 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) | 32 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR4, DDR5 | DDR5 |

| Memory Bandwidth | 76.8 GB/s | 83.2 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 5, 16 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 5, 24 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | UHD Graphics 770 | Radeon Graphics |

| Market Segment | Desktop | Server/Workstation |

| Release Date | 2022-04-04 | 2023-06-12 |

| Launch MSRP | $739 | Not recorded |

| Multiplier Unlocked | Yes | No |

| Part Number | SRLDD | 100-000000599 |