Intel Core i5-12500HL vs Intel Core i9-7960X

Processor comparisons 11-09-2022

   Let's say you are thinking about choosing a processor, you will be able to make a choice by looking at the Intel Core i5-12500HL vs Intel Core i9-7960X tests and understand which is better for games or normal use for streaming, video editing, rendering, programming, machine learning. Here is all information from real video editing and streaming tests or several benchmarks. A careful review of all the technical characteristics, 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 Gears 5, GeekBench 6, 5.2, WPrime, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), Handbrake, 7zip, MATLAB, RealBench, Prime95, PCMark 10, AIDA64, VeraCrypt, UserBenchmark, DaVinci Resolve Studio, Blender, Furmark, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, Blender, 3DMark, SuperPi, Dolphin Emulator, PassMark.
   And how good the processors are in games:

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

After reading the results of all benchmarks and videos, you can already make an briefed decision about which CPU is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i9-7960X or Intel Core i5-12500HL.

Summary benchmark results

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

Core i5-12500HL

57%

Core i9-7960X

58%

This value shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Core i9-7960X is 1% better than Core i5-12500HL. The data source is several popular tests. Detailed information can be found below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Core i5-12500HL

56%

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. Therefore, if you think that the selected CPU has a little game result, look at the FPS that it produces in real games in the final table below.
List of less popular games in which processors were compared: Forza Horizon 4, Horizon Zero Dawn, Microsoft Flight Simulator, Hitman 3, Battlefield V, Half-Life: Alyx, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, League of Legends (LOL), PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), NBA 2K20, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), Ghostrunner, Metro Exodus, DOTA 2A, Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, Control, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Monster Hunter World.

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	98.8	106.9
Valorant	112.2	121.4
Cyberpunk 2077	62.9	68.0
Apex Legends	105.5	114.2
Call of Duty Warzone	84.2	91.1
Overwatch	90.9	98.4
Red Dead Redemption 2	77.4	83.8
DOOM Eternal	56.1	60.7
Warzone	87.5	94.7
Assassin's Creed	94.3	102.0
Valheim	93.2	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 i5-12500HL

130%

Core i9-7960X

22%

To make a final resolution 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 i5-12500HL 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. 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

Let's say you want to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for programming, streaming, video editing or video rendering, machine learning, then the main parameter for you is its performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, to reach maximum efficiency, the CPU uses 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 check whether the software you are going to use on your computer supports multi-threaded mode. Because there are still many programs that use only one core to work, and all the advantages of multi-core mode turns out to be unnecessary.

Cinebench 23, 20 an 15
The results of this benchmark show Single-threaded and Multi-threaded CPU performance

	Intel Core i5-12500HL	Intel Core i9-7960X
Cinbench 15 Single-core	322	184
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	2332	3161
Cinbench 20 Single-core	767	611
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	5291	5496
Cinbench 23 Single-core	1788	1103
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	17431	22189

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

	Intel Core i5-12500HL	Intel Core i9-7960X
Single-Core	4185	2605
Multi-Core	24401	27039

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

	Intel Core i5-12500HL	Intel Core i9-7960X
Single-Core	1759	1113
Multi-Core	10557	18501

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the processor release date and overclocking capability will be the most helpful. The newer the processor, the longer it will last you. And the easier it will be to upgrade the system later. The same can be said about overclocking. If the processor can be overclocked, thereby increasing its performance, then it will still be able to produce maximum FPS even in new games. It turns out that there is no longer a need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer. The savings are obvious!

	Intel Core i5-12500HL	Intel Core i9-7960X
Announcement date	September 27, 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	2.5 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	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	Expansion Options

In this comparison block, you should pay attention to the differences in clock speed and the number of cores. Here Core i9-7960X is 10% better than Core i5-12500HL in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that Core i9-7960X has 4 more core than Core i5-12500HL. 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 i5-12500HL is better: 10
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i9-7960X is better: 23
However, it should be realized that all the number that you have looked at here do not mean that taking them into account you should completely trust a simple comparison of these figures. Be sure to watch the video tests and read the reviews of real owners of Intel Core i5-12500HL and Intel Core i9-7960X before making a selection which CPU to buy for gaming and which not.

Intel Core i5-12500HL - all data

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

• Intel Core i5-12500HL specs and review.

• Intel Core i9-7960X specs and review.