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

Processor comparisons 11-09-2022

   For example you can't decide which CPU to buy, you can make a decision by looking at the Intel Core i5-12600HL vs Intel Core i9-7960X tests and decide which is better for games or simple use for video editing, programming, machine learning, streaming, rendering. Here is useful information from real video editing and streaming tests or many benchmarks. A step-by-step analysis of all the technical characteristics, so that it can be easier to understand, is summarized in the table.
   From the comparison video, you can get the results of parallel examination in software tests like WPrime, GeekBench 6, 5.2, Prime95, 3DMark, 7zip, UserBenchmark, AIDA64, Furmark, DaVinci Resolve Studio, VeraCrypt, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, Blender, PCMark 10, Blender, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), Handbrake, Gears 5, Dolphin Emulator, MATLAB, RealBench, SuperPi, PassMark.
   Gaming performance of CPUs in:

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

After looking at the data these benchmarks and videos, you already be able to understand which CPU is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i9-7960X or Intel Core i5-12600HL.

Summary benchmark results

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

Core i5-12600HL

58%

Core i9-7960X

58%

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Core i5-12600HL

55%

Core i9-7960X

60%

For the maximum in this test, the results of the most powerful processor in the site database are taken. And of course, 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 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: Ghostrunner, Control, Forza Horizon 4, Hitman 3, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Battlefield V, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), Shadow of the Tomb Raider, NBA 2K20, League of Legends (LOL), Half-Life: Alyx, Monster Hunter World, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), Microsoft Flight Simulator, Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, DOTA 2A, Metro Exodus, Horizon Zero Dawn.

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	98.3	106.9
Valorant	111.7	121.4
Cyberpunk 2077	62.5	68.0
Apex Legends	105.0	114.2
Call of Duty Warzone	83.7	91.1
Overwatch	90.4	98.4
Red Dead Redemption 2	77.0	83.8
DOOM Eternal	55.8	60.7
Warzone	87.1	94.7
Assassin's Creed	93.8	102.0
Valheim	92.7	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 i5-12600HL

127%

Core i9-7960X

22%

To make a finishing 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 i5-12600HL 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. 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 plan to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for video editing or video rendering, machine learning, programming, streaming, then the main parameter for you is its performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, the CPU turns on all cores and threads that it has to the maximum to achieve maximum efficiency. You will learn this data from the benchmark tables below. Before you take into account 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 can 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 i5-12600HL	Intel Core i9-7960X
Cinbench 15 Single-core	353	184
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	2597	3161
Cinbench 20 Single-core	848	611
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	5900	5496
Cinbench 23 Single-core	1990	1103
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	19457	22189

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

	Intel Core i5-12600HL	Intel Core i9-7960X
Single-Core	4665	2605
Multi-Core	27241	27039

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

	Intel Core i5-12600HL	Intel Core i9-7960X
Single-Core	1726	1113
Multi-Core	10061	18501

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 later the processor is released, the longer it will last in your computer. And the easier it will be to upgrade the system later. The same can be said about overclocking. When the processor can be overclocked, increasing its performance, then it will continue to maintain maximum FPS even in the newest games. The savings are obvious! It turns out that you do not need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer.

	Intel Core i5-12600HL	Intel Core i9-7960X
Announcement date	September 16, 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	2.7 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 3% better than Core i5-12600HL in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that Core i9-7960X has 4 more core than Core i5-12600HL. 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 i5-12600HL is better: 12
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i9-7960X is better: 21
Although it should be realized that the summary data in the article above do not mean that taking them into account you should totally trust a simple quantitative comparison. Be sure to watch the testing video and read the opinion of real owners of Intel Core i5-12600HL and Intel Core i9-7960X before deciding which of the CPUs to buy for gaming.

Intel Core i5-12600HL - all data

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

• Intel Core i5-12600HL specs and review.

• Intel Core i9-7960X specs and review.