Intel Core i5-12600HE vs Intel Core i9-7960X

Processor comparisons   11-01-2022
   Perhaps you can't decide which processor to buy, you can make a decision after reading the full tests Intel Core i5-12600HE vs Intel Core i9-7960X and decide which is better for games or normal use for video editing, streaming, machine learning, rendering, programming. Here is useful information from various benchmarks or real streaming and video editing tests. A thorough analysis of all the technical characteristics, to make it easier to read, is presented in the form of the table.
   From the comparison video, you can get the results of parallel examination in special test applications like Furmark, SuperPi, VeraCrypt, Handbrake, UserBenchmark, Dolphin Emulator, DaVinci Resolve Studio, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, GeekBench 6, 5.2, Prime95, 7zip, AIDA64, WPrime, RealBench, 3DMark, Blender, Gears 5, Blender, PCMark 10, MATLAB, PassMark.
   Gaming performance of processors in:

Apex Legends
Grand Theft Auto V
Assassin's Creed Valhalla
Call of Duty: Warzone and Modern Warfare
Halo Infinite
Last Man Standing
Overwatch
Valorant
Fallout 76
Rainbow Six Siege
World of Warcraft: Shadowlands
Death Stranding
Cyberpunk 2077
Watch Dogs Legion
Red Dead Redemption 2
DOOM: Eternal
Valheim
Borderlands 3
Fortnite

After reading the results these benchmarks and videos, you already be able to know which CPU is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i9-7960X or Intel Core i5-12600HE.

Summary benchmark results

As a percentage of the maximum value based on a sample from the entire base of all processors
Processor Benchmark

Core i5-12600HE

58%

Core i9-7960X

58%

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Core i5-12600HE

55%

Core i9-7960X

60%

For the maximum in this test, the results of the most powerful processor in the site database are taken. And it is clear that this is a server processor, on which no one will play games. Because this processor costs several tens of thousands of dollars. And if it seems to you that the selected CPU has a little game result, just look at the FPS that it produces in real games in the summary table below.
List of other games in which CPU comparisons were performed: Shadow of the Tomb Raider, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Ghostrunner, DOTA 2A, Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, Control, Half-Life: Alyx, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), Horizon Zero Dawn, NBA 2K20, Forza Horizon 4, Monster Hunter World, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), Metro Exodus, Microsoft Flight Simulator, Hitman 3, League of Legends (LOL), Battlefield V.

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	98.5	106.9
Valorant	111.9	121.4
Cyberpunk 2077	62.7	68.0
Apex Legends	105.2	114.2
Call of Duty Warzone	83.9	91.1
Overwatch	90.6	98.4
Red Dead Redemption 2	77.2	83.8
DOOM Eternal	55.9	60.7
Warzone	87.3	94.7
Assassin's Creed	94.0	102.0
Valheim	92.9	100.8

The numbers in this table indicate the maximum FPS that was received on the device with the corresponding processor. Depending on the configuration of the computer (RAM size and Video Card) and graphics quality settings (Ultra, Medium, Normal), the results may differ quite significantly. We recommend that you better study the results of the Cinebench, GeekBench and Passmark becnmarks.
The tested computers not only did they have different video cards and different amounts of RAM. But users also tested them at different screen resolutions: 2K, FullHD or 4K. So the game benchmark data is approximate. But all video cards met the average system requirements of games. You will get more accurate information about how powerful the processor will be in games, if you get acquainted with the benchmarks that are made with the same video card that is installed in your computer.

Power consumption

Core i5-12600HE

130%

Core i9-7960X

22%

To make a finishing decision on which processor is better, you should also consider the generation of its core. The newer the processor generation, the better its performance in games and benchmarks, as well as its energy efficiency. In this case the Core i5-12600HE is more energy efficient than the Core i9-7960X since it has less power consumption: 45W vs. 165W. Power consumption is especially important for laptops. Also, when choosing a processor cooling system, you must know its TDP. It is necessary to count so that the TDP data specified in the cooler specification is greater than the TDP of the compared processor.

Software benchmarks

Let's say you want to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for programming, machine learning, streaming, video rendering or video editing, then first of all you need to pay attention to the performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, to achieve maximum efficiency, the processor includes all cores and threads that it has. You will find out this data from the benchmark tables below. Before using the data from these tests, be sure to find out whether the program that you are going to use on your computer can work in multi-threaded mode. Because there are still many programs that can use only one core to run, and all the benefit of multi-core mode are unused.
Cinebench 23, 20 an 15
The results of this benchmark show Single-threaded and Multi-threaded CPU performance

	Intel Core i5-12600HE	Intel Core i9-7960X
Cinbench 15 Single-core	363	184
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	2647	3161
Cinbench 20 Single-core	867	611
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	6010	5496
Cinbench 23 Single-core	2029	1103
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	19815	22189

Passmark
This popular benchmark displays Multi-threaded and Single-threaded processor performance

	Intel Core i5-12600HE	Intel Core i9-7960X
Single-Core	4752	2605
Multi-Core	27739	27039

GeekBench 6, 5.2
This benchmark shows Multi-threaded and Single-threaded processor performance

	Intel Core i5-12600HE	Intel Core i9-7960X
Single-Core	1760	1113
Multi-Core	10247	18501

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the most helpful will be the release date of the processor and the possibility of overclocking it. The later the processor is released, the longer it will last in your computer. And the easier it will be to upgrade the system in the future. The same benefits from the presence of overclocking. When the processor can be overclocked, thereby increasing its performance, then it will continue to maintain maximum FPS in new games. Accordingly, you do not need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer. The savings are obvious!

	Intel Core i5-12600HE	Intel Core i9-7960X
Announcement date	January 07, 2022	October 01, 2017
Type	Embedded	Desktop
Socket	FCBGA1744	FCLGA2066
Core name	Alder Lake	Skylake
Architecture	x86	x86
Generation	12	7
Turbo Frequency	4.5 MHz	4.2 MHz
Frequency	3.3 MHz	2.8 MHz
Cores	12	16
Threads	16	32
Bus rate	8 GT/s	8 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	7 nm
Transistors count	10200 millions	7800 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	45 W	165 W
Memory type	Up to DDR5 4800 MT/s Up to DDR4 3200 MT/s Up to LPDDR5 5200 MT/s Up to LPDDR4x 4267 MT/s	DDR4-2666
Max. Memory	64 Gb	128 Gb
Memory Frequency
Memory bandwidth	45.8 GB/s	85 GB/s
L1 cache
L2 cache
L3 cache	18 MB	22 MB
Overclocking	No	No
Supports ECC	No	No
Part number

In this comparison block, you should pay attention to the differences in clock speed and the number of cores. Here Core i5-12600HE is 15% better than Core i9-7960X in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that Core i9-7960X has 4 more core than Core i5-12600HE. Also keep in mind that high CPU frequency affects battery life through power consumption (relevant for laptops).

Result:
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i5-12600HE is better: 13
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i9-7960X is better: 20
Although it should be realized that the summary data in the text above do not mean that you should be guided entirely by them and trust a simple comparison of these numbers. Better to watch the video tests and read the opinion of real owners of Intel Core i5-12600HE and Intel Core i9-7960X before making a choice which processor to buy for gaming and which not.

Intel Core i5-12600HE - all data

• Cinebench r15 score
• Cinebench r20 score
• Cinebench r23 score
• GeekBench 6, 5.2 score

• Intel Core i5-12600HE specs and review.

• Intel Core i9-7960X specs and review.