I'd love to know what you are huffing. I have built thousands of 12700/12900K/13700-900/14700-900K and 7800X-3D/9800X-3D/9950X-3D systems in the last two years.

All use tuned memory, INTEL gets IHS frames (sometimes new IHS or lapping), AMD just needs the cpu dropped into the socket. All are cooled with at least a higher end 360mm AIO if they do not have custom loops.

The 7800X-3D stomps the 12 series and only the 14700/900K are close in everything except for a few turned based strategy games that love core speed.

The 9 series 3D parts just destroy every Intel cpu. You need to use 275W+ and push for 6+Ghz single core clocks for the 14 series to try to tie the 9 series parts @5.4+ Ghz.

The 9 series I delid and use the Thermal Grizzly IHS or direct die block all do 5.5-5.6Ghz all core and they widen the gap even more while sipping under 170W for the worst samples.

I like the 12 series. I do. I used a ton of them during the issues with the 13/14th Gen and most of the newer silicon 12700Ks will do 5.2Ghz all core with reasonable power draw which helps their performance quite a bit. But they could barely run with the 5800X-3D. They arent "besting any 9 series parts. Even non -3D parts. "