Intel Core i9-12900K: Intel. Is. Back..

Clash of the titans: Core i9-12900K versus Ryzen 9 5950X

- GORDON UNG

Everyone likes redemption stories, and Intel’s 12th-gen Core i9-12900K is a comeback story for the ages. The once mighty and complacent champ was defeated years ago, forced through one humiliating loss after another at the hands of AMD’s resurgent Ryzen processors, until finally somehow finding a way back to fighting form and claiming victory once again. Fade to black and cue the credits.

Life (and technology) never has that Hollywood ending, but Intel’s Core i9-12900K gets pretty damned close. After years of being pummeled by AMD processors, the 12900K’s performance makes it the far better CPU for most people than its bitter rival, the Ryzen 9 5950X (fave.co/3caTZfh). No, it’s not a knock-out victory by any means, but considering where it excels and the features it packs, Intel’s 12th-gen Alder Lake processor is the CPU to buy today if you’re in the market for a high-end desktop processor.

WHAT IS 12TH-GEN ALDER LAKE?