Intel Core i5-12600K vs Intel Core i9-11980HK

Processor comparisons 11-01-2022

   If there are difficulties with the choice of a processor, you will solve them by reading the detailed tests Intel Core i5-12600K vs Intel Core i9-11980HK and see which is better for games or simple use for programming, machine learning, video editing, streaming, rendering. Here you can find all information from real streaming and video editing tests or various benchmarks. A thorough review of all the specifications, to make it easier to read, is summarized in the table.
   From the comparison video, you can get the results of parallel examination in special test applications such as Handbrake, MATLAB, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), GeekBench 6, 5.2, RealBench, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, Furmark, Blender, UserBenchmark, VeraCrypt, DaVinci Resolve Studio, AIDA64, WPrime, Dolphin Emulator, PassMark, SuperPi, Blender, Gears 5, 3DMark, Prime95, PCMark 10, 7zip.
   Gaming performance of CPUs in:

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

After looking at the data of all benchmarks and videos, you already be able to figure out which CPU is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i9-11980HK or Intel Core i5-12600K.

Summary benchmark results

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

Core i5-12600K

60%

Core i9-11980HK

58%

This parameter shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Core i5-12600K is 3% better than Core i9-11980HK. The data source is several popular tests. More detailed information of the benchmarks is below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Core i5-12600K

57%

Core i9-11980HK

55%

The maximum result in this parameter is 100 percent, which is the performance of the most powerful processor at the moment. And it is clear that 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 small game result, just 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, Half-Life: Alyx, Metro Exodus, NBA 2K20, Control, Hitman 3, Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), Ghostrunner, League of Legends (LOL), The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Monster Hunter World, DOTA 2A, Battlefield V, Horizon Zero Dawn, Microsoft Flight Simulator.

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	101.8	98.4
Valorant	115.7	111.8
Cyberpunk 2077	64.8	62.6
Apex Legends	108.7	105.1
Call of Duty Warzone	86.8	83.9
Overwatch	93.7	90.6
Red Dead Redemption 2	79.8	77.2
DOOM Eternal	57.8	55.9
Warzone	90.2	87.2
Assassin's Creed	97.2	93.9
Valheim	96.0	92.8

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 computers participating in the comparing not only were the equipped with 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. 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 i5-12600K

53%

Core i9-11980HK

82%

To make a final 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 i9-11980HK is more energy efficient than the Core i5-12600K as it consumes less power: 125W vs. 65W. Power consumption is particularly important for laptops. Also, when choosing a processor cooling system, it will be useful to 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

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 i5-12600K	Intel Core i9-11980HK
Cinbench 15 Single-core	466	298
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	3407	2704
Cinbench 20 Single-core	1116	668
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	7736	6009
Cinbench 23 Single-core	2611	1735
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	25497	17294

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

	Intel Core i5-12600K	Intel Core i9-11980HK
Single-Core	6117	3989
Multi-Core	35696	29565

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

	Intel Core i5-12600K	Intel Core i9-11980HK
Single-Core	2009	1599
Multi-Core	13528	10219

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

	Intel Core i5-12600K	Intel Core i9-11980HK
Announcement date	January 07, 2022	February 21, 2021
Type	Desktop	Laptop
Socket	FCLGA1700	FCBGA1787
Core name	Alder Lake	Tiger Lake
Architecture	x86	x86
Generation	12	11
Turbo Frequency	4.9 MHz	5 MHz
Frequency	3.6 MHz	3.3 MHz
Cores	10	8
Threads	16	16
Bus rate	8 GT/s	8 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	7 nm	10 nm
Transistors count	10200 millions	9800 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	125 W	65 W
Memory type	Up to DDR5 4800 MT/s Up to DDR4 3200 MT/s	Up to 3200 MT/s
Max. Memory	128 Gb	128 Gb
Memory Frequency		3200
Memory bandwidth	76.8 GB/s	51.2 GB/s
L1 cache
L2 cache	9.5 MB	4 MB
L3 cache	20 MB	24 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 i5-12600K is 8% better than Core i9-11980HK in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that Core i5-12600K has 2 more core than Core i9-11980HK. 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 i5-12600K is better: 29
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i9-11980HK is better: 4
Although it should be understood that all the number in the text above do not mean that taking them into account you should totally trust a simple comparison of these figures. Better to watch the video tests and read the opinion of of people who bought Intel Core i5-12600K and Intel Core i9-11980HK before making a choice which of the CPUs to buy for gaming.

Intel Core i5-12600K - all data

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

• Intel Core i5-12600K specs and review.

Intel Core i9-11980HK - all data

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

• Intel Core i9-11980HK specs and review.