Intel Core i3-13300 vs Intel Core i9-12900K

Processor comparisons 01-02-2023

   Let's say you can't decide which processor to buy, you can make a decision after reading the comprehensive tests Intel Core i3-13300 vs Intel Core i9-12900K and see which is better for games or normal use for rendering, programming, machine learning, video editing, streaming. Here is useful information from real video editing and streaming tests or various benchmarks. A careful analysis of all the technical characteristics, to make it easier to understand, is summarized in the table.
   From the video comparison, you can get the results of parallel examination in special testing software such as RealBench, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, Blender, Dolphin Emulator, 3DMark, VeraCrypt, Prime95, PCMark 10, UserBenchmark, MATLAB, Blender, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), Handbrake, GeekBench 6, 5.2, WPrime, DaVinci Resolve Studio, 7zip, SuperPi, Furmark, AIDA64, Gears 5, PassMark.
   Gaming performance of processors in:

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

After reading the results of parallel benchmarks and videos, you already be able to figure out which CPU is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i9-12900K or Intel Core i3-13300.

Summary benchmark results

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

Core i3-13300

59%

Core i9-12900K

67%

The number of this parameter shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Core i9-12900K is 11% better than Core i3-13300. The data source is several popular tests. More detailed information of the benchmarks is below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Core i3-13300

54%

Core i9-12900K

64%

The maximum result in this parameter is 100 percent, which is the performance of the most powerful processor at the moment. And it is clear that this is a server processor, on which no one will run games. Because this processor costs several tens of thousands of dollars. Therefore, if you think 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 less popular games in which processors were compared: Ghostrunner, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Microsoft Flight Simulator, Hitman 3, Horizon Zero Dawn, Half-Life: Alyx, Battlefield V, Monster Hunter World, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), Forza Horizon 4, League of Legends (LOL), Control, Metro Exodus, DOTA 2A, NBA 2K20, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Resident Evil 7 Biohazard.

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	96.3	113.8
Valorant	109.4	129.3
Cyberpunk 2077	61.3	72.4
Apex Legends	102.8	121.5
Call of Duty Warzone	82.0	97.0
Overwatch	88.6	104.7
Red Dead Redemption 2	75.5	89.2
DOOM Eternal	54.7	64.6
Warzone	85.3	100.8
Assassin's Creed	91.9	108.6
Valheim	90.8	107.3

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 that were in the comparisons not only did they have 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. You will get more accurate information about how powerful 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 i3-13300

95%

Core i9-12900K

97%

To make a finishing decision on which processor is better, you should also consider the generation of its core. It is clear that the newer the generation, the better the performance of the processor in games and benchmarks, as well as its energy efficiency. In this case the Core i9-12900K is more energy efficient than the Core i3-13300 since it has less power consumption: 65W vs. 125W. Power consumption is particularly important for laptops. Also, when choosing a processor cooling system, you must know its TDP. You need to buy a cooler that has the TDP data specified in the specification was greater than the TDP of the compared processor.

Software benchmarks

For example you want to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for programming, machine learning, streaming, video editing or video rendering, then first of all you need to pay attention to the performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, the processor uses all cores and threads that it has to the maximum to achieve maximum performance. You will learn this data from the benchmark tables below. Before using the data from these tests, be sure to check whether the program you are going to use on your computer supports multi-threaded mode. Since there are still many programs that can 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 i3-13300	Intel Core i9-12900K
Cinbench 15 Single-core	296	489
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	2849	5150
Cinbench 20 Single-core	477	816
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	6299	11450
Cinbench 23 Single-core	1615	2896
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	18070	32950

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

	Intel Core i3-13300	Intel Core i9-12900K
Single-Core	1479	7546
Multi-Core	30781	56332

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

	Intel Core i3-13300	Intel Core i9-12900K
Single-Core	1858	3641
Multi-Core	8100	25262

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the most helpful will be the the possibility of overclocking it and release date of the processor. The newer the processor, the longer it will last in your computer. And the easier it will be to upgrade the system later. The same benefits from the presence of overclocking. When the processor can be overclocked, thereby increasing its performance, then it will still be able to produce maximum FPS in the newest games. Accordingly, there is no longer a need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer. The savings are obvious!

	Intel Core i3-13300	Intel Core i9-12900K
Announcement date	January 19, 2023	July 21, 2021
Type	Desktop	Desktop
Socket	FCLGA1700	FCLGA1700
Core name	Raptor Lake	Alder Lake
Architecture	x86	x86
Generation	13	12
Turbo Frequency	4.6 MHz	5.2 MHz
Frequency	3 MHz	3.9 MHz
Cores	8	16
Threads	12	24
Bus rate	14 GT/s	16 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	7 nm	7 nm
Transistors count	12400 millions	12400 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	65 W	125 W
Memory type	Up to DDR5 5200 MT/s Up to DDR4 3200 MT/s Up to LPDDR5/x 6400 MT/s Up to LPDDR4x 4267 MT/s	Up to DDR5 4800 MT/s Up to DDR4 3200 MT/s
Max. Memory	64 Gb	128 Gb
Memory Frequency	4800	6400
Memory bandwidth	68 GB/s	76.8 GB/s
L1 cache	1 MB	2 MB
L2 cache	4 MB	14 MB
L3 cache	12 MB	30 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 i9-12900K is 23% better than Core i3-13300 in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that Core i9-12900K has 8 more core than Core i3-13300. 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 i3-13300 is better: 4
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i9-12900K is better: 31
Although it should be realized that all the number that you have looked at here do not mean that you should be guided entirely by them and trust a simple comparison of these numbers. Better to watch benchmarks video and read the opinion of of people who bought Intel Core i3-13300 and Intel Core i9-12900K before making a selection which CPU to buy for gaming and which not.

Intel Core i3-13300 - all data

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

• Intel Core i3-13300 specs and review.

Intel Core i9-12900K - all data

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

• Intel Core i9-12900K specs and review.