Intel Core i5-12600 vs Intel Core i9-9920X

Processor comparisons 11-01-2022

   For example you are thinking about choosing a CPU, you will be able to make a decision after reading the full tests Intel Core i5-12600 vs Intel Core i9-9920X and understand which is better for games or simple use for machine learning, programming, rendering, streaming, video editing. Here is all information from real streaming and video editing tests or many benchmarks. A step-by-step analysis of all the specifications, so that it can be easier to understand, is summarized in the table.
   From the video comparison, you can get the results of parallel examination in special testing software like RealBench, Furmark, VeraCrypt, Gears 5, PCMark 10, Dolphin Emulator, GeekBench 6, 5.2, Prime95, Blender, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, 3DMark, DaVinci Resolve Studio, PassMark, Handbrake, 7zip, SuperPi, AIDA64, MATLAB, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), WPrime, Blender, UserBenchmark.
   Gaming performance of processors in:

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

After looking at the data these benchmarks and videos, you can already make an informed decision about which CPU is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i9-9920X or Intel Core i5-12600.

Summary benchmark results

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

Core i5-12600

57%

Core i9-9920X

57%

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Core i5-12600

55%

Core i9-9920X

58%

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 run games. Because this processor costs several tens of thousands of dollars. Therefore, if you think 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 CPU comparisons were performed: PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), Metro Exodus, DOTA 2A, Hitman 3, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Horizon Zero Dawn, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, League of Legends (LOL), Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), Control, Battlefield V, Half-Life: Alyx, Monster Hunter World, Ghostrunner, Microsoft Flight Simulator, Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, NBA 2K20, Forza Horizon 4.

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	97.6	102.9
Valorant	110.9	116.9
Cyberpunk 2077	62.1	65.5
Apex Legends	104.3	109.9
Call of Duty Warzone	83.2	87.7
Overwatch	89.8	94.7
Red Dead Redemption 2	76.5	80.6
DOOM Eternal	55.5	58.4
Warzone	86.5	91.2
Assassin's Creed	93.2	98.2
Valheim	92.1	97.0

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 amounts of RAM and different video cards. 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. 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 i5-12600

96%

Core i9-9920X

25%

To make a final resolution 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 i5-12600 is more energy efficient than the Core i9-9920X since it has less power consumption: 65W vs. 165W. Power consumption is especially important for laptops. Also, when choosing a processor cooling system, you need to know its TDP. 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

If you plan to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for programming, machine learning, video editing or video rendering, streaming, then the main parameter for you is its performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, to achieve maximum performance, the CPU includes all threads and cores that it has. You will find out 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. Since there are still many programs that use only one core to work, and all the benefit 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 i5-12600	Intel Core i9-9920X
Cinbench 15 Single-core	326	197
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	2380	2245
Cinbench 20 Single-core	780	455
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	5404	5179
Cinbench 23 Single-core	1824	1484
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	17812	14791

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

	Intel Core i5-12600	Intel Core i9-9920X
Single-Core	4273	2650
Multi-Core	24937	25286

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

	Intel Core i5-12600	Intel Core i9-9920X
Single-Core	1877	1282
Multi-Core	9425	14563

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the processor release date and overclocking capability will be the most useful. The later the processor is released, the longer it will last you. And the easier it will be to upgrade the system in the future. The same benefits from the presence of overclocking. If the processor can be overclocked, thereby increasing its performance, then it will continue to maintain maximum FPS even in new games. The savings are obvious! Accordingly, there is no longer a need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer.

	Intel Core i5-12600	Intel Core i9-9920X
Announcement date	January 07, 2022	October 01, 2018
Type	Desktop	Desktop
Socket	FCLGA1700	FCLGA2066
Core name	Alder Lake	Skylake
Architecture	x86	x86
Generation	12	9
Turbo Frequency	4.8 MHz	4.5 MHz
Frequency	3.3 MHz	3.5 MHz
Cores	6	12
Threads	12	24
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	Yes
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 i9-9920X is 5% better than Core i5-12600 in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that Core i9-9920X has 6 more core than Core i5-12600. 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 i5-12600 is better: 14
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i9-9920X is better: 19
Although it should be understood that all the data in the article above do not mean that taking them into account you should fully trust a simple quantitative comparison. Be sure to watch the video tests and read the reviews of real owners of Intel Core i5-12600 and Intel Core i9-9920X before making a selection which of the CPUs to buy for gaming.

Intel Core i5-12600 - all data

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

• Intel Core i5-12600 specs and review.

• Intel Core i9-9920X specs and review.