AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 5945 vs Intel Core i9-12900 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data presents a clear and consistent picture: the AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 5945 dominates the overall head-to-head, winning 13 of the 17 direct comparisons. However, the Intel Core i9-12900 secures decisive victories in specific workloads that reveal fundamental architectural strengths. The Intel part's most dramatic win is in floating-point math, where it scores 91,514 against the AMD's 70,291 — a 30.2% advantage that is by far the largest margin in either direction. This is not a marginal edge; it is a category-leading performance gap that will define the use-case split.

In single-threaded PassMark testing, the i9-12900 also prevails, posting 4,003 points versus 3,499 for the Ryzen 9 PRO 5945, a 14.4% lead. That same pattern holds in the PassMark single-thread listing, which repeats the identical scores and delta. The Intel chip's third and final win is in random string sorting, where it edges ahead 44,070 to 43,447, a modest 1.4% margin that suggests a small but real advantage in memory-access patterns or cache hierarchy for that specific operation.

Every other benchmark goes to the AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 5945, but the margins vary widely. The Cinebench suite shows a remarkably uniform pattern: across R15, R20, and R23, both multi-core and single-core, the AMD part wins by exactly 2.7% in every test except R15 single-core (2.6%) and R15 multi-core (2.7%). The scores tell the story — R23 multi-core sees the AMD at 29,366 versus Intel's 28,563, while R23 single-core is 4,145 versus 4,032. This consistency across generations of the Cinebench benchmark is unusual and suggests a stable per-core performance advantage for the AMD architecture rather than a workload-specific quirk.

The largest AMD wins come in specialized PassMark tests. Prime number finding shows the most extreme divergence: AMD scores 228 versus Intel's 121, a 46.9% advantage that dwarfs every other delta in the comparison. Data encryption also favors AMD heavily, with 26,313 versus 23,203, an 11.8% lead. Extended instructions go AMD's way by 8.3% (27,031 versus 24,777), data compression by 2.1% (416,599 versus 407,899), and integer math by a narrow 1.7% (129,768 versus 127,512). The multi-thread PassMark score is 34,549 for AMD versus 33,608 for Intel, a 2.7% gap, and physics follows at 1,772 versus 1,730, a 2.4% margin.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies, and the benchmark results reflect those choices. The Intel Core i9-12900 is built on Alder Lake architecture using a 10 nm process from Intel's own foundry, with a 215 mm² die size. It packs 16 cores and 24 threads, with a base clock of 2.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.10 GHz. Its cache layout is per-core: 80 KB of L1 and 1.25 MB of L2 per core, with a 30 MB shared L3 cache. The chip supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration, delivering 76.8 GB/s of memory bandwidth. It includes integrated UHD Graphics 770, runs on Intel Socket 1700, and supports PCIe Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes. The multiplier is unlocked, the TDP is 65 watts, and it launched in January 2022 with a launch MSRP of $519.

The AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 5945 takes a different path. It uses Zen 3 architecture, marketed under the Vermeer codename, fabricated on a 7 nm process by TSMC with 8,300 million transistors spread across two 74 mm² dies. It has 12 cores and 24 threads, with a 3.00 GHz base and 4.70 GHz boost clock. The cache layout is also per-core for L1 (64 KB) and L2 (512 KB), but the L3 cache is a much larger 64 MB shared pool. Memory support is limited to DDR4 in dual-channel mode, with 51.2 GB/s bandwidth — significantly lower than Intel's figure. There is no integrated graphics, and the chip uses AMD Socket AM4 with PCIe Gen 4 and 20 CPU lanes. The multiplier is locked, the TDP is 65 watts, and it was released in April 2022. No launch MSRP is recorded.

The core-count disparity is the most obvious architectural difference — 16 cores versus 12 — yet the AMD chip still wins most multi-threaded benchmarks, which indicates that its Zen 3 cores deliver more work per clock. The 7 nm TSMC process versus Intel's 10 nm node likely contributes to efficiency and per-core performance. The larger 64 MB L3 cache on the AMD part versus Intel's 30 MB may explain the prime-number and encryption wins, which often benefit from larger caches. The Intel chip's higher boost clock (5.10 GHz versus 4.70 GHz) helps explain its single-thread PassMark win, but the AMD part's higher base clock (3.00 GHz versus 2.40 GHz) suggests it maintains more consistent performance under sustained loads.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i9-12900 is the clear choice for floating-point-heavy workloads. Its 30.2% advantage in floating-point math is not a small edge; it is a dominant lead that would be decisive in scientific computing, financial modeling, or any application that relies heavily on FPU throughput. The chip also wins in single-threaded PassMark performance by 14.4%, which matters for older software, lightly threaded applications, or any workload that cannot take advantage of multiple cores. The random string sorting win, though small at 1.4%, points to a slight edge in certain memory-intensive or pointer-chasing operations.

The AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 5945 wins nearly everywhere else, but its most compelling cases are in specific algorithm types. The 46.9% lead in prime number finding is the single largest margin in the entire comparison, indicating a strong advantage in integer-heavy, cache-sensitive workloads. Data encryption at 11.8% ahead shows superiority in cryptographic operations, and the 8.3% lead in extended instructions suggests better SIMD or specialized instruction set efficiency. The Cinebench sweep — winning every single-core and multi-core variant by roughly 2.7% — demonstrates a broad, consistent performance advantage across rendering and general-purpose compute. For multi-threaded productivity, the AMD part leads in PassMark multi-thread by 2.7%, in integer math by 1.7%, in data compression by 2.1%, and in physics by 2.4%. These are not huge margins, but they are consistent.

The Verdict

The data tells a straightforward story: the AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 5945 is the better all-around processor, winning 13 of 17 head-to-head benchmarks and taking the overall average benchmark score comparison, 47,527 versus 47,765 — a 0.5% advantage for the Intel part in aggregate, though the AMD chip's nearest-rival delta positions it just 0.4% behind the Intel Core i7-13700KF and 0.5% ahead of the i7-13700K. For users who need maximum floating-point throughput or single-threaded PassMark performance, the Intel Core i9-12900 is the only choice; its 30.2% FPU lead is unmatched. But for every other category — rendering, encryption, prime computation, integer math, multi-threading, compression, and physics — the AMD part wins, often by comfortable margins.

The choice comes down to workload specificity. If the primary application is floating-point computation or legacy single-threaded software, the i9-12900's 14.4% single-thread lead and 30.2% FPU advantage justify its selection. For virtually everything else, the Ryzen 9 PRO 5945's consistent 2-3% wins in Cinebench and its massive 46.9% lead in prime finding make it the more versatile processor. The AMD chip also offers ECC memory support and a locked multiplier, which may appeal to workstation buyers, while the Intel part's unlocked multiplier and integrated graphics give it flexibility for overclocking and systems without a discrete GPU. The Ryzen 9 PRO 5945 is the recommended pick for general-purpose compute; the i9-12900 is narrowly specialized for FPU and single-thread scenarios.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins more head-to-head benchmarks?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 5945 wins 13 of the 17 direct comparisons, while the Intel Core i9-12900 wins 4.

Q: What is the largest performance margin in either direction?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 5945 leads by 46.9% in PassMark find prime numbers (228 versus 121). The Intel Core i9-12900's largest win is 30.2% in floating-point math (91,514 versus 70,291).

Q: How do the two compare in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 5945 scores 29,366 versus the Intel Core i9-12900's 28,563, a 2.7% advantage for AMD.

Q: Does the Intel chip have any single-threaded advantages?

A: Yes, in PassMark single-thread testing the Intel Core i9-12900 scores 4,003 versus 3,499 for the AMD, a 14.4% lead. However, in Cinebench single-core tests, the AMD part wins by 2.7% in R23 and 2.6% in R15.

Q: What are the memory bandwidth figures for each?

A: The Intel Core i9-12900 supports DDR4 and DDR5 with 76.8 GB/s bandwidth, while the AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 5945 supports only DDR4 with 51.2 GB/s.

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i9-12900 has 16 cores and 24 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 5945 has 12 cores and 24 threads.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i9-12900 | AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 5945 |

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

| Cores | 16 | 12 |

| Base Clock | 2.40 GHz | 3.00 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 5.10 GHz | 4.70 GHz |

| Process Node | 10 nm | 7 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | TSMC |

| Die Size | 215 mm² | 2x 74 mm² |

| Transistors | Not listed | 8,300 million |

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

| L2 Cache | 1.25 MB (per core) | 512 KB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 30 MB (shared) | 64 MB |

| Memory Support | DDR4, DDR5 | DDR4 |

| Memory Bandwidth | 76.8 GB/s | 51.2 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 5, 16 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 4, 20 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | UHD Graphics 770 | None |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1700 | AMD Socket AM4 |

| Multiplier Unlocked | Yes | No |

| Release Date | 2022-01-03 | 2022-04-03 |

| Launch MSRP | $519 | Not listed |