The Core i9-12900KF is a clear winner – it's at least 2x faster gaming CPU than the Core i7-3960X and it's also a much better value for money, as it's only $9.38 more expensive!
Advantages of the Core i9-12900KF
- At least 2x faster CPU for gaming
- A much better value for money for gaming
- Consumes up to 4% less energy – 125 vs 130 Watts
- Can execute more multi-threaded tasks simultaneously – 24 vs 12 threads
Advantages of the Core i7-3960X
- Up to 3% cheaper – $260.56 vs $269.94
Core i9-12900KF vs Core i7-3960X for Gaming
The CPU's performance in selected game and settings
Core i9-12900KF
Nov 4th, 2021
Average FPS
212
100%
Min 1% FPS
139
100%
Price, $
$269.94
96%
Value, $/FPS
$1.27/FPS
100%
Core i7-3960X
Nov 14th, 2011
Average FPS
171
81%
Min 1% FPS
115
83%
Price, $
$260.56
100%
Value, $/FPS
$1.52/FPS
84%
Core i9-12900KF vs Core i7-3960X in My Games
The FPS you'll get in saved games, click on a game to change it
The FPS you'll get in saved games, click on a game to change it
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Synthetic Benchmarks
The Core i9-12900KF vs Core i7-3960X in synthetic CPU benchmarks
Performance Specifications
The Core i9-12900KF vs Core i7-3960X in core CPU performance specifications
Core i9-12900KF
Nov 4th, 2021
Cores
16-core
100%
L3 Cache
30 MB
100%
Base Frequency
3.2 GHz
97%
Turbo Frequency
5.2 GHz
100%
Max. DDR5 RAM Speed
4800 MHz
100%
Core i7-3960X
Nov 14th, 2011
Cores
6-core
38%
L3 Cache
15 MB
50%
Base Frequency
3.3 GHz
100%
Turbo Frequency
3.9 GHz
75%
Max. DDR3 RAM Speed
1600 MHz
33%
Specifications
Comparison of all specifications
Core i9-12900KF | SpecificationsComparison of all specifications | Core i7-3960X |
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
Nov 4th, 2021 | Release Date | Nov 14th, 2011 |
$564.00 | MSRP | $990.00 |
Desktop | Segment | Desktop |
| Intel Socket 1700 | Socket | Intel Socket 2011 |
| Alder Lake | Codename | Sandy Bridge E |
125 W | Power Consumption | 130 W |
| Performance | ||
16 | Cores | 6 |
24 | Threads | 12 |
| 3.2 GHz | Base Frequency | 3.3 GHz |
5.2 GHz | Turbo Frequency | 3.9 GHz |
30 MB | L3 Cache | 15 MB |
| Other Features | ||
| DDR4 @ 3200 MHz, DDR5 @ 4800 MHz | RAM | DDR3 @ 1600 MHz |
| No | Integrated Graphics | No |
| Yes | Overclockable | Yes |
