Intel Core i5-12500 vs Intel Core i9-9900X

Processor comparisons   11-01-2022
   You may have difficulties with the choice of a processor, you will solve them by reading the comprehensive tests Intel Core i5-12500 vs Intel Core i9-9900X and see which is better for games or simple use for rendering, video editing, streaming, programming, machine learning. Here you can find useful information from several benchmarks or real video editing and streaming tests. A step-by-step analysis of all the specifications, to make it easier to read, is made by the table.
   From the video comparison, you can get the results of parallel examination in special testing software like GeekBench 6, 5.2, 3DMark, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, SuperPi, 7zip, Dolphin Emulator, PCMark 10, MATLAB, UserBenchmark, DaVinci Resolve Studio, RealBench, Gears 5, WPrime, Furmark, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), PassMark, AIDA64, Handbrake, Blender, VeraCrypt, Prime95, Blender.
   Gaming performance of processors in:

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

After reading the results of all benchmarks and videos, you can already make an briefed decision about which processor is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i9-9900X or Intel Core i5-12500.

Summary benchmark results

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

Core i5-12500

56%

Core i9-9900X

56%

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Core i5-12500

55%

Core i9-9900X

56%

The maximum result in this parameter is 100 percent, which is the performance of the most powerful processor currently available. 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 low game result, look at the FPS that it produces in real games in the final table below.
List of other games in which CPU comparisons were performed: Half-Life: Alyx, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, DOTA 2A, Monster Hunter World, Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, Horizon Zero Dawn, NBA 2K20, Control, Microsoft Flight Simulator, Ghostrunner, Metro Exodus, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), Forza Horizon 4, League of Legends (LOL), PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), Hitman 3, Battlefield V, Shadow of the Tomb Raider.

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	97.2	100.3
Valorant	110.5	114.0
Cyberpunk 2077	61.9	63.8
Apex Legends	103.8	107.2
Call of Duty Warzone	82.8	85.5
Overwatch	89.5	92.3
Red Dead Redemption 2	76.2	78.7
DOOM Eternal	55.2	57.0
Warzone	86.2	88.9
Assassin's Creed	92.8	95.8
Valheim	91.7	94.6

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: 4K, 2K or FullHD. 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 i5-12500

86%

Core i9-9900X

25%

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 i5-12500 is more energy efficient than the Core i9-9900X since it has less power consumption: 65W 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

For example you want to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for streaming, video editing or video rendering, machine learning, programming, then the main parameter for you is its performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, the CPU turns on all threads and cores that it has to the maximum to achieve maximum performance. You will find out this data from the benchmark tables below. Before you take into account 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 use only one core to work, 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 i5-12500	Intel Core i9-9900X
Cinbench 15 Single-core	298	197
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	2182	2114
Cinbench 20 Single-core	715	455
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	4955	4855
Cinbench 23 Single-core	1672	1092
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	16334	13662

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

	Intel Core i5-12500	Intel Core i9-9900X
Single-Core	3919	2633
Multi-Core	22868	21769

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

	Intel Core i5-12500	Intel Core i9-9900X
Single-Core	1685	1281
Multi-Core	9016	12077

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 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, increasing its performance, then it will continue to maintain maximum FPS in the newest games. The economy are obvious! It turns out that you do not need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer.

	Intel Core i5-12500	Intel Core i9-9900X
Announcement date	January 07, 2022	October 01, 2018
Type	Desktop	Desktop
Socket	FCLGA1700	FCLGA2066
Core name	Alder Lake	Skylake
Architecture	x86	x86
Generation	12	10
Turbo Frequency	4.6 MHz	4.4 MHz
Frequency	3.3 MHz	3.5 MHz
Cores	6	10
Threads	12	20
Bus rate	8 GT/s	8 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	7 nm	14 nm
Transistors count	10200 millions	8600 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	65 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
L3 cache	18 MB	19.25 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 i9-9900X is 5% better than Core i5-12500 in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that Core i9-9900X has 4 more core than Core i5-12500. 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 i5-12500 is better: 15
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i9-9900X is better: 17
Although it should be realized that the summary data in the article above do not mean that taking them into account you should fully trust a simple comparison of these numbers. Be sure to watch benchmarks video and read the reviews of of people who bought Intel Core i5-12500 and Intel Core i9-9900X before deciding which of the CPUs to buy for gaming.

Intel Core i5-12500 - all data

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

• Intel Core i5-12500 specs and review.

Intel Core i9-9900X - all data

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

• Intel Core i9-9900X specs and review.