AMD Ryzen 7 5700X vs. Intel Core i7-12700F

It’s time to match the Ryzen 7 5700X towards the Core i7-12700F, two comparatively inexpensive and highly effective 8-core CPUs. Now, we all know the Intel processor prices a little bit bit extra, and we’re certain some will argue that the Core i5-12600KF is probably a “fairer” matchup, however this was closely requested so let’s examine what’s what between these two for now.

As of writing, Intel’s 12700F could be had for $310, whereas the 5700X is barely cheaper at $285, or a couple of 9% premium for the Intel CPU. In different areas like Australia, the 5700X usually retails for $425 and the 12700F $480 (AUD), which is barely steeper for the Intel half, however your mileage will undoubtedly range.

It’s most likely price noting that in Australia the 5700X is about 10% dearer than the 12600KF and a little bit over 20% dearer than the bottom mannequin 12600, so any method you go, it isn’t going to be totally apples to apples by way of pricing. But what we’re most to see is how the 5700X and 12700F stack up in gaming, so let’s get on with it.

For this one we have a 23 sport benchmark masking 1080p and 1440p resolutions utilizing each the Radeon RX 6950 XT and Radeon RX 6600 XT with SAM enabled.

The motherboard used for testing the Ryzen 7 5700X is the previous MSI B350 Tomahawk utilizing the newest BIOS revision primarily based on the AGESA 1.2.0.7 microcode, which permits Resizable BAR together with assist for Ryzen 5000 processors. It needs to be famous that as proven earlier than, efficiency is inside a number of p.c of what we see with the newest and best X570 boards, making upgrades very sensible.

We’ve caught with the B350 Tomahawk for a number of causes. Firstly, we already had the info and know it is comparable with what we might discover utilizing newer and dearer X570 boards. It additionally paints a relatively new image for the AMD processor, provided that it not solely works on a 5-year-old motherboard, however it competes very nicely when doing so.

Meanwhile, for the 12700F, we require a model new motherboard and for testing we’re utilizing the $260 MSI Z690 Tomahawk DDR4, which we’ll focus on extra about in the direction of the top of this text. For each techniques we have gone with 32GB of DDR4-3200 CL14 dual-rank dual-channel reminiscence.

With these particulars out of the best way, let’s go over a number of of the video games examined after which we’ll check out the 23 sport common.

Benchmarks

Starting with Fortnite, we discover that the 12700F and 5700X are very evenly matched and each will supply a first-class expertise. The Ryzen CPU was as much as 4% sooner which is negligible, so the margins are shut sufficient to name this one a tie.

Recently when testing the Ryzen 7 5800X3D we discovered that the cache-heavy CPU was a beast in ACC, delivering the most effective efficiency we have ever seen on this title.

However, normal Zen 3 CPUs aren’t practically as spectacular and we see right here that the 12700F is as much as 40% sooner than the 5700X, seen when wanting on the 1% lows.

The margin for the common body charge is about half that determine. Still even utilizing the 6600 XT at 1440p sees the 1% lows improved by 14% with the Intel CPU, so a powerful outcome for the 12700F.

Cyberpunk 2077 performs finest with the 12700F when testing extra CPU certain eventualities equivalent to 1080p with the Radeon RX 6950 XT, the place the Intel half was as much as 37% sooner. That margin was closely lowered at 1440p although with the common body charges principally an identical, although the 12700F was 13% sooner when wanting on the 1% lows. Then when utilizing the 6600 XT efficiency was a match as we’re not closely GPU certain utilizing both of these CPUs.

CS: GO is extraordinarily CPU limitless utilizing both the 6600 XT or 6950 XT, however as an previous sport it is not CPU restricted extra within the sense that it does not totally make the most of fashionable CPUs, so it is a software program bottleneck greater than anything.

Here the 12700F was as much as 22% sooner because of its stronger single core efficiency, however each CPUs allowed for 1% lows of over 170 fps with averages nicely in extra of 300 fps.

Rainbow Six Extraction is an instance of a sport that may be performed at lots of of frames per second with fashionable CPUs, whereas nonetheless being totally GPU restricted utilizing the second highest high quality preset.

Both the 5700X and 12700F allowed for over 200 fps always in our check, leading to common frames of over 300 fps. That’s lots quick.

Next now we have F1 2021 and this one does begin to develop into CPU certain with the 5700X as soon as we’re pushing up round 300 fps. Again, that is extra efficiency than most players are going to wish for this title. So though the 12700F was as much as 16% sooner with the 6950 XT at 1080p, it hardly issues with the 5700X holding body charges above 200 fps always.

Forza Horizon 5 is a beautiful and well-liked racing sport that is not that heavy on the CPU. Both processors can push nicely over 200 fps when the GPU was able to it. The 12700F nudged forward by a 5% margin with the 6950 XT at 1080p, however that is actually an insignificant distinction that no gamer goes to note.

Hitman 3 is a CPU intensive sport that makes use of these CPUs very nicely. Here the 12700F has a transparent efficiency benefit, bettering 1% lows by as much as a 22% margin. Interestingly although, even with the a lot slower 6600 XT, the 12700F was as much as 17% sooner at 1080p, suggesting that there’s some form of overhead or latency subject with the Ryzen processor on this title.

The Riftbreaker is one other sport that works higher with Intel’s Alder Lake structure, boosting 1% lows with the 6950 XT at 1080p by as a lot as 41% whereas additionally growing the common body charge by 27%.

Those are some relatively important margins and it isn’t till we drop all the way down to the 6600 XT that the margins shut up, however even at 1080p the 12700F was nonetheless as much as 12% sooner.

The final sport that we’re particular person outcomes is Watch Dogs Legion, some of the CPU and GPU demanding video games now we have for testing. The 12700F was 16-17% sooner than the 5700X when testing with the 6950 XT at 1080p and the margins have been comparable even at 1440p. In reality, even when utilizing the 6600 XT, the 12700F was as much as 13% sooner and it wasn’t till we elevated the decision to 1440p that the hole was lowered to an insignificant margin.

23 Game Average

Across the all of the video games examined, the Core i7-12700F was on common 7% sooner when common FPS than the 5700X, whereas the 1% lows have been improved by 10% when utilizing the 6950 XT at 1080p. That’s not an enormous uplift, however nonetheless a positive matchup for Intel. At 1440p these figures shut as much as 9% for the 1% lows, and simply 4% for common body charges.

Meanwhile, these of you utilizing extra mid-range GPUs will see even much less of a distinction. For instance, with the 6600 XT, the 12700F was on common simply 5% sooner for the 1% lows, and a pair of% for the common body charge at 1080p. Then we see no actual efficiency distinction at 1440p regardless of common body charges of simply over 100 fps.

Looking at 1080p margins on a per sport foundation utilizing the 6950 XT — essentially the most CPU restricted check outcomes now we have for this comparability — on common, the 5700X was 6% slower and though we see at the least one sport the place it was as much as 20% sooner, there are 4 examples the place it was slower by greater than a 20% margin.

Only 9 of the 23 video games examined noticed a margin of 5% or much less in both path, that means there have been simply 3 examples the place the 5700X received by a significant margin, however 10 the place it misplaced.

Using a much less excessive GPU such because the 6600 XT vastly lowered the efficiency margins seen between these two CPUs and now even at 1080p the 5700X was simply 2% slower on common.

Death Stranding is the one title to favor Ryzen by a significant margin, whereas Watch Dogs Legion and ACC have been the one titles the place it misplaced by a big distinction.

Best 8-Core CPU for Gamers

So which CPU is healthier? That is dependent upon a number of issues… The apparent situation to get out of the best way is the improve path for many who already personal a wonderfully good AM4 motherboard. If you fall into that case, then essentially the most price efficient choice is to go along with the 5700X by far.

Now, for brand new system builders the selection is much much less apparent, so let’s break down the prices. The 5700X is presently retailing for $285 and a good B550 board such because the MSI B550M Pro-VDH WiFi prices a further $100, in order that’s a $385 combo.

The 12700F prices $310 and the most effective price range B660 boards proper now are the MSI Pro B660M-A and B660M Bazooka and each price $140, so a $450 combo. For the motherboard and CPU you’re looking at 15-20% premium when going Intel, although should you’re constructing a $1,500 PC that is solely a ~5% distinction. Or should you’re placing collectively one thing nearer to $1,000 or extra, it is lower than a ten% value discrepancy on the whole system.

In phrases of gaming efficiency, which we simply checked out, the 12700F is total sooner which does justify the worth enhance in our opinion. If you are not planning on upgrading within the close to future then we predict the Core i7-12700F is the higher long-term funding because it’s usually sooner now, whereas the stronger single-core efficiency will see it fare higher in future video games.

If you have been to vary your thoughts down the observe, you may have the choice of upgrading to a Thirteenth-gen Raptor Lake CPU. We do not know but if there can be any worthwhile choices for a 12700F proprietor, in order that’s extra of a perhaps proper now.

We’re much less drawn to the Ryzen 7 5700X for many who aren’t already invested in AM4. It’s actually a fantastic gaming CPU, however there is not any actual benefit that will see me decide it over the 12700F. Outside of gaming, the 12700F can be a way more highly effective CPU as these 4 E-cores work wonders for core-heavy productiveness workloads.

AMD followers may level to energy consumption and working temperatures, however the fact is the 12700F is each bit as simple to chill because the 5700X, and energy consumption when gaming is nearly an identical. Then when operating core-heavy workloads, the 12700F and 5700X energy utilization is not that completely different and the efficiency per watt leads to favor of the Core i7.

Ultimately, you can be totally happy with both choice, each are nice gaming CPUs that sort out the newest and best video games with ease and can proceed to ship high-end efficiency for a few years to return.