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

Processor comparisons   11-01-2022
   Perhaps you are thinking about choosing a CPU, you will be able to make a decision by looking at the Intel Core i5-12600T vs Intel Core i9-7960X tests and understand which is better for games or simple use for programming, streaming, video editing, rendering, machine learning. Here you can find all information from various benchmarks or real streaming and video editing tests. A step-by-step analysis of all the specifications, to make it easier to read, is summarized in the table.
   From the video comparison, you can get the results of parallel examination in synthetic type tests like UserBenchmark, PCMark 10, GeekBench 6, 5.2, RealBench, Prime95, Blender, WPrime, DaVinci Resolve Studio, Handbrake, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, SuperPi, 7zip, Blender, Dolphin Emulator, VeraCrypt, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), PassMark, AIDA64, 3DMark, Furmark, MATLAB, Gears 5.
   Gaming performance of CPUs in:

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

After reading the results these benchmarks and videos, you can already make an briefed decision about which processor is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i9-7960X or Intel Core i5-12600T.

Summary benchmark results

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

Core i5-12600T

57%

Core i9-7960X

58%

This parameter shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Core i9-7960X is 1% better than Core i5-12600T. The data source is several popular tests. More detailed information of the benchmarks is below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Core i5-12600T

55%

Core i9-7960X

60%

The maximum result in this parameter is 100 percent, which is the performance of the most powerful processor at the moment. And of course, this is a server processor, on which no one will play games. Because the cost of this processor reaches several tens of thousands of dollars. And if it seems to you that the selected CPU has a small game result, look at the FPS that it produces in real games in the summary table below.
List of other games in which processors were compared: Hitman 3, Battlefield V, Microsoft Flight Simulator, Ghostrunner, Control, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), NBA 2K20, Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Forza Horizon 4, Horizon Zero Dawn, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Metro Exodus, Monster Hunter World, League of Legends (LOL), DOTA 2A, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), Half-Life: Alyx.

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	97.3	106.9
Valorant	110.6	121.4
Cyberpunk 2077	61.9	68.0
Apex Legends	103.9	114.2
Call of Duty Warzone	82.9	91.1
Overwatch	89.6	98.4
Red Dead Redemption 2	76.3	83.8
DOOM Eternal	55.3	60.7
Warzone	86.2	94.7
Assassin's Creed	92.9	102.0
Valheim	91.8	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 computers participating in the comparisons not only were the equipped with different amounts of RAM and different video cards. But users also tested them at different screen resolutions: 2K, FullHD or 4K. Therefore, the game benchmark data is approximate. But all video cards met the average system requirements of games. To be sure exactly how much performance the processor will be in games, if you compare it in one assembly with the video card that is installed in your computer.

Power consumption

Core i5-12600T

172%

Core i9-7960X

22%

To make a final 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 i5-12600T is more energy efficient than the Core i9-7960X as it consumes less power: 35W vs. 165W. Power consumption is especially important for laptops. And TDP should be taken into account when choosing a processor cooling system. It is necessary to calculate so that the TDP data specified in the cooler specification is greater than the TDP of the compared processor.

Software benchmarks

For example you plan to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for video rendering or video editing, streaming, machine learning, programming, then the main parameter for you is its performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, to reach maximum efficiency, the processor includes all cores and threads that it has. You will learn this data from the benchmark tables below. Before using the data from these tests, be sure to make sure that the program that you are going to use on your computer can work in multi-threaded mode. Since there are still many programs that use only one core to work, and all the advantages 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 i5-12600T	Intel Core i9-7960X
Cinbench 15 Single-core	315	184
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	2302	3161
Cinbench 20 Single-core	754	611
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	5227	5496
Cinbench 23 Single-core	1764	1103
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	17228	22189

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

	Intel Core i5-12600T	Intel Core i9-7960X
Single-Core	4133	2605
Multi-Core	24119	27039

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

	Intel Core i5-12600T	Intel Core i9-7960X
Single-Core	1816	1113
Multi-Core	9116	18501

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the most useful will be the release date of the processor and the possibility of overclocking it. The newer the processor, the longer it will last you. And the easier it will be to upgrade the system later. The same benefits from the presence of overclocking. If the processor can be overclocked, increasing its performance, then it will still be able to produce 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 i5-12600T	Intel Core i9-7960X
Announcement date	January 07, 2022	October 01, 2017
Type	Desktop	Desktop
Socket	FCLGA1700	FCLGA2066
Core name	Alder Lake	Skylake
Architecture	x86	x86
Generation	12	7
Turbo Frequency	4.6 MHz	4.2 MHz
Frequency	3.3 MHz	2.8 MHz
Cores	6	16
Threads	12	32
Bus rate	8 GT/s	8 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	7 nm
Transistors count	10200 millions	7800 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	35 W	165 W
Memory type	Up to DDR5 4800 MT/s Up to DDR4 3200 MT/s	DDR4-2666
Max. Memory	128 Gb	128 Gb
Memory Frequency
Memory bandwidth	76.8 GB/s	85 GB/s
L1 cache
L2 cache	7.5 MB
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 i5-12600T is 15% better than Core i9-7960X in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that Core i9-7960X has 10 more core than Core i5-12600T. 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 i5-12600T is better: 12
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i9-7960X is better: 21
However, it should be realized that all the data in the article above do not mean that taking them into account you should undividedly trust a simple comparison of these figures. Be sure to watch the video tests and read the opinion of real owners of Intel Core i5-12600T and Intel Core i9-7960X before making a decision which processor to buy for gaming and which not.

Intel Core i5-12600T - all data

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

• Intel Core i5-12600T specs and review.

• Intel Core i9-7960X specs and review.