Intel Core i5-12600KF vs Intel Core i9-12900T

Processor comparisons 11-01-2022

   If you have difficulties with the choice of a CPU, you will solve them by reading the comprehensive tests Intel Core i5-12600KF vs Intel Core i9-12900T and decide which is better for games or normal use for rendering, programming, video editing, machine learning, streaming. Here you can find useful information from real streaming and video editing tests or several benchmarks. A careful review 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 joint testing in software tests such as Furmark, GeekBench 6, 5.2, 3DMark, MATLAB, AIDA64, PassMark, SuperPi, Dolphin Emulator, 7zip, Blender, PCMark 10, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), Gears 5, WPrime, Blender, UserBenchmark, Prime95, Handbrake, VeraCrypt, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, RealBench, DaVinci Resolve Studio.
   Gaming performance of processors in:

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

After looking at the data these benchmarks and videos, you already be able to know which CPU is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i9-12900T or Intel Core i5-12600KF.

Summary benchmark results

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

Core i5-12600KF

61%

Core i9-12900T

65%

This parameter shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Core i9-12900T is 6% better than Core i5-12600KF. The data source is several popular tests. Detailed information can be found below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Core i5-12600KF

58%

Core i9-12900T

59%

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, 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	102.9	104.0
Valorant	117.0	118.2
Cyberpunk 2077	65.5	66.2
Apex Legends	110.0	111.1
Call of Duty Warzone	87.7	88.7
Overwatch	94.8	95.7
Red Dead Redemption 2	80.7	81.6
DOOM Eternal	58.5	59.1
Warzone	91.2	92.2
Assassin's Creed	98.3	99.3
Valheim	97.1	98.1

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 i5-12600KF

57%

Core i9-12900T

175%

To make a final decision 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 i9-12900T is more energy efficient than the Core i5-12600KF as it consumes less power: 125W vs. 35W. Power consumption is particularly 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 machine learning, programming, streaming, video rendering or video editing, then first of all you need to pay attention to the performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, the CPU turns on all cores and threads that it has to the maximum to reach maximum performance. 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 program that you are going to use on your computer can work in multi-threaded mode. Since there are still many programs that use only one core to run, 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 i5-12600KF	Intel Core i9-12900T
Cinbench 15 Single-core	485	436
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	3543	4593
Cinbench 20 Single-core	1161	728
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	8045	10212
Cinbench 23 Single-core	2715	2582
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	26517	29385

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

	Intel Core i5-12600KF	Intel Core i9-12900T
Single-Core	6362	6730
Multi-Core	37124	50237

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

	Intel Core i5-12600KF	Intel Core i9-12900T
Single-Core	2144	1847
Multi-Core	14653	15707

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the most helpful will be the release date of the processor and the possibility of overclocking it. The newer the processor, the longer it will last in your computer. 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, increasing its performance, then it will still be able to produce maximum FPS even in new games. The economy are obvious! Accordingly, you do not need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer.

	Intel Core i5-12600KF	Intel Core i9-12900T
Announcement date	January 07, 2022	July 21, 2021
Type	Desktop	Desktop
Socket	FCLGA1700	FCLGA1700
Core name	Alder Lake	Alder Lake
Architecture	x86	x86
Generation	12	12
Turbo Frequency	4.9 MHz	4.9 MHz
Frequency	3.6 MHz	3.6 MHz
Cores	10	16
Threads	16	24
Bus rate	8 GT/s	16 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	7 nm	7 nm
Transistors count	10200 millions	12600 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	125 W	35 W
Memory type	Up to DDR5 4800 MT/s Up to DDR4 3200 MT/s	Up to DDR5 4800 MT/s Up to DDR4 3200 MT/s
Max. Memory	128 Gb	128 Gb
Memory Frequency		6400
Memory bandwidth	76.8 GB/s	76.8 GB/s
L1 cache		2 MB
L2 cache	9.5 MB	12 MB
L3 cache	20 MB	30 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. Another difference is that Core i9-12900T has 6 more core than Core i5-12600KF. 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 i5-12600KF is better: 7
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i9-12900T is better: 24
However, it should be realized that the summary data in the table above do not mean that taking them into account you should entirely trust a simple comparison of these figures. Better to watch benchmarks video and read the reviews of real owners of Intel Core i5-12600KF and Intel Core i9-12900T before making a choice which processor to buy for gaming and which not.

Intel Core i5-12600KF - all data

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

• Intel Core i5-12600KF specs and review.

Intel Core i9-12900T - all data

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

• Intel Core i9-12900T specs and review.