Intel Core i5-12600HX vs Intel Core i9-7940X

Processor comparisons 11-09-2022

   Perhaps you are thinking about choosing a CPU, you will be able to make a choice by looking at the Intel Core i5-12600HX vs Intel Core i9-7940X tests and decide which is better for games or simple use for video editing, rendering, programming, machine learning, streaming. Here is useful information from many benchmarks or real video editing and streaming tests. 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 synthetic type tests like VeraCrypt, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, Furmark, PCMark 10, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), PassMark, 3DMark, DaVinci Resolve Studio, Prime95, UserBenchmark, SuperPi, Handbrake, Gears 5, 7zip, WPrime, MATLAB, Blender, RealBench, GeekBench 6, 5.2, AIDA64, Dolphin Emulator, Blender.
   And how good the CPUs are in games:

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

After looking at the data these benchmarks and videos, you can already make an informed decision about which processor is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i9-7940X or Intel Core i5-12600HX.

Summary benchmark results

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

Core i5-12600HX

57%

Core i9-7940X

58%

This value shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Core i9-7940X is 1% better than Core i5-12600HX. The data source is several popular tests. Detailed information can be found below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Core i5-12600HX

54%

Core i9-7940X

58%

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

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	96.3	103.4
Valorant	109.5	117.5
Cyberpunk 2077	61.3	65.8
Apex Legends	102.9	110.5
Call of Duty Warzone	82.1	88.2
Overwatch	88.7	95.2
Red Dead Redemption 2	75.5	81.1
DOOM Eternal	54.7	58.8
Warzone	85.4	91.7
Assassin's Creed	92.0	98.7
Valheim	90.9	97.6

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 tested computers not only did they have different video cards and different amounts of RAM. But users also tested them at different screen resolutions: 4K, 2K or FullHD. 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 i5-12600HX

113%

Core i9-7940X

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 i5-12600HX is more energy efficient than the Core i9-7940X since it has less power consumption: 55W 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

Let's say you want to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for machine learning, programming, streaming, video editing or video rendering, then the main parameter for you is its performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, to achieve maximum efficiency, the processor turns on all cores and threads that it has. You will find out this data from the benchmark tables below. Before you take into account the data from these tests, be sure to make sure that the software 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 run, 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 i5-12600HX	Intel Core i9-7940X
Cinbench 15 Single-core	343	188
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	2450	2849
Cinbench 20 Single-core	808	607
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	5554	5465
Cinbench 23 Single-core	1880	1578
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	18289	15728

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

	Intel Core i5-12600HX	Intel Core i9-7940X
Single-Core	4393	2533
Multi-Core	25601	26889

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

	Intel Core i5-12600HX	Intel Core i9-7940X
Single-Core	1875	1263
Multi-Core	8167	15127

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the processor release date and overclocking capability will be the most helpful. 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 benefits from the presence of overclocking. If the processor can be overclocked, increasing its performance, then it will continue to maintain 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 i5-12600HX	Intel Core i9-7940X
Announcement date	June 12, 2022	April 01, 2017
Type	Laptop	Desktop
Socket	FCBGA1964	FCLGA2066
Core name	Alder Lake	Skylake
Architecture	x86	x86
Generation	12	7
Turbo Frequency	4.6 MHz	4.3 MHz
Frequency	3.3 MHz	3.1 MHz
Cores	12	14
Threads	16	28
Bus rate	8 GT/s	8 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	7 nm
Transistors count	10200 millions	7800 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	55 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	Yes	No
Part number

In this comparison block, you should pay attention to the differences in clock speed and the number of cores. Here Core i5-12600HX is 6% better than Core i9-7940X in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that Core i9-7940X has 2 more core than Core i5-12600HX. 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 i5-12600HX is better: 14
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i9-7940X is better: 19
However, it should be realized that all the data that you have looked at here do not mean that you should be guided entirely by them and trust a simple comparison of these figures. Better to watch the video tests and read the reviews of real owners of Intel Core i5-12600HX and Intel Core i9-7940X before deciding which of the processors to buy for gaming.

Intel Core i5-12600HX - all data

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

• Intel Core i5-12600HX specs and review.

• Intel Core i9-7940X specs and review.