Flagship Rematch: Ryzen 7 5800X3D vs. Core i9-12900K (DDR4 & DDR5) Gaming Benchmarks

This video revisits the Ryzen 7 5800X3D, specifically addressing viewer requests for an updated gaming benchmark comparison with the Core i9 12900K. The 12900K was tested with both DDR4 3600 and DDR5 7200 memory, while the 5800X3D used DDR4 3600 memory. Before diving into the benchmarks, the video is sponsored by UG and their Fine Cam Pro 4K AIO webcam. This webcam features a half-inch Sony sensor, delivering 4K video at 30fps and 1080p at 60fps, with exceptional low-light performance. It supports gesture controls, phase detection autofocus, and autoface exposure for optimal lighting. The Fine Cam Pro also includes a dual mic array for an all-in-one audio-visual solution, a built-in privacy cover, seven filter modes, and vertical orientation support for mobile content creation. The availability of the 5800X3D and even the 5700X3D is limited, making them difficult to purchase. While the Ryzen 5 5500X3D has appeared in some regions, it's not the focus of this comparison. The Intel Core i9 12900K is still available but at a high price, making it less appealing compared to newer options like the Ryzen 7 7700X. The primary interest in this comparison is for those who considered the 5800X3D or 12900K for flagship gaming in 2022. A previous 40-game benchmark from 2022 showed the 5800X3D as only 1% faster on average than the 12900K when the latter used DDR5 memory. This updated comparison re-evaluates performance with the 12900K using both DDR5 and DDR4 3600 memory. In Rainbow Six Siege, the 12900K with DDR5 achieved 417 FPS, making it 4% faster than the 5800X3D. However, with DDR4, the 12900K became slower, with the 5800X3D being 10% faster. The 12900K using DDR4 delivered performance similar to a standard 5800X. Battlefield 6 showed the DDR5-enabled 12900K slightly ahead of the 5800X3D by 3% in average frame rates, with an 18% increase in 1% lows. When limited to DDR4, the 12900K's performance dropped, making the 5800X3D 23% faster with medium settings and 21% faster with the overkill preset. Arc Raiders, a title benefiting from AMD's 3D V-Cache, saw the 5800X3D as 22% faster than the DDR5-enabled 12900K. With DDR4, the 5800X3D was 35% faster. DDR5 offered an 11% uplift for the 12900K in this game. Borderlands 4, being GPU-limited, showed comparable performance between the two CPUs, with the DDR5-enabled 12900K up to 8% faster than the 5800X3D. Marvel Rivals demonstrated the DDR5-enabled 12900K as slightly faster (3-6%) than the 5800X3D. With DDR4, the 5800X3D became 11-17% faster. Baldur's Gate 3 heavily benefits from 3D V-Cache. The 5800X3D matched the 1% lows of the DDR5-enabled 12900K while delivering significantly higher average frame rates (27% greater with medium settings, 13% with ultra). With DDR4, the 5800X3D was 61% faster with medium settings and 39% faster with ultra. Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty showcased the 5800X3D's strength, especially at lower quality settings. With medium preset, it was 7% faster than the DDR5-enabled 12900K and 25% faster with the DDR4-limited 12900K. At ray tracing ultra, the 5800X3D matched the DDR5 12900K but was 19% faster than the DDR4 12900K. Counter-Strike 2, not being memory sensitive, showed similar performance for the 12900K with both DDR4 and DDR5. The 5800X3D was approximately 26% faster, comparable to the 14900K. Space Marine 2, a CPU-limited title, saw the DDR5-enabled 12900K match the 5800X3D, being up to 22% faster than its DDR4 configuration. Mafia: The Old Country presented a broad range of results. The DDR5-enabled 12900K was 15% faster than the 5800X3D with medium settings and 11% faster with epic settings. With DDR4, the 5800X3D was 14% faster with medium settings and 10% faster with epic. ACC (Assetto Corsa Competizione) showed the 5800X3D matching the 14900K, making it 27% faster than the DDR5 12900K with medium settings and 25% faster with epic settings. Compared to the DDR4 12900K, it was 61-67% faster. Spider-Man 2, a memory-sensitive title, particularly with ray tracing, saw the DDR5-enabled 12900K almost 30% faster than its DDR4 counterpart. The 5800X3D almost matched the DDR5 12900K with medium settings (6% slower) but struggled with ultimate ray tracing, performing similarly to the DDR4 12900K. Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered had the 5800X3D beating the DDR5-enabled 12900K by 6% with medium settings and matching it with very high settings. Compared to the DDR4 12900K, the 5800X3D was 23-25% faster. The Last of Us Part Two Remastered showed the DDR5-enabled 12900K slightly ahead of the 5800X3D (5-9% faster). However, with DDR4, the 5800X3D was 7-12% faster. Across 14 games, the 5800X3D came out on top, beating the DDR5-enabled 12900K by 5% with medium settings and 1% with ultra settings. If the 12900K used DDR4 memory, the 5800X3D was significantly faster (25% with medium settings, 19% with ultra). The conclusion from four years ago, comparing these CPUs across 40 games, found them very competitive, with a marginal advantage for the 5800X3D. Today, in newer games, the 5800X3D and a DDR5-enabled 12900K are still neck and neck. However, the performance gap between DDR4 and DDR5 has widened. Modern games utilize DDR5's bandwidth better, leading to a 17-19% performance increase for the 12900K when moving from DDR4 to DDR5. This highlights how the 5800X3D's large L3 cache helps mitigate DDR4's bandwidth limitations, making it significantly faster than a DDR4-limited 12900K. The 5800X3D's performance relative to the standard 5800X has also increased, from 23% to 27-31% faster. The initial recommendation for the 5800X3D as a no-fuss gaming option with good pricing and power draw still holds. While the 12900K had platform support advantages and better productivity performance, for gaming, both CPUs have aged well, especially the 12900K with DDR5. Pairing the 12900K with DDR4 proved to be a questionable choice for gaming. The 5800X3D's longevity and performance on the AM4 platform with DDR4 memory is why it's considered a "GOAT" for many users seeking an upgrade.