Intel Core i5-12600KF vs Intel Core i9-7980XE

Processor comparisons 11-01-2022

   Let's say you are thinking about choosing a CPU, you will be able to make a choice by looking at the Intel Core i5-12600KF vs Intel Core i9-7980XE tests and understand which is better for games or simple use for video editing, machine learning, programming, streaming, rendering. Here you can find all information from different 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 presented in the form of the table.
   From the video comparison, you can get the results of parallel examination in software tests like UserBenchmark, WPrime, Handbrake, Blender, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, Prime95, SuperPi, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), Blender, DaVinci Resolve Studio, 7zip, PCMark 10, Dolphin Emulator, GeekBench 6, 5.2, Gears 5, PassMark, Furmark, AIDA64, MATLAB, VeraCrypt, 3DMark, RealBench.
   Gaming performance of CPUs in:

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

After looking at the data of all benchmarks and videos, you already be able to understand which CPU is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i9-7980XE 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 i9-7980XE

58%

The number of this parameter shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Core i5-12600KF is 4% better than Core i9-7980XE. The data source is several popular tests. More detailed information of the benchmarks is below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Core i5-12600KF

58%

Core i9-7980XE

60%

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

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	102.9	107.0
Valorant	117.0	121.6
Cyberpunk 2077	65.5	68.1
Apex Legends	110.0	114.3
Call of Duty Warzone	87.7	91.2
Overwatch	94.8	98.5
Red Dead Redemption 2	80.7	83.9
DOOM Eternal	58.5	60.8
Warzone	91.2	94.9
Assassin's Creed	98.3	102.2
Valheim	97.1	100.9

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: FullHD, 2K or 4K. 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 get acquainted with the benchmarks that are made with the same video card that is installed in your computer.

Power consumption

Core i5-12600KF

57%

Core i9-7980XE

23%

To make a finishing choice 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 i5-12600KF is more energy efficient than the Core i9-7980XE as it consumes less power: 125W vs. 165W. Power consumption is especially important for laptops. Also, when choosing a processor cooling system, you must 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, streaming, machine learning, video rendering or video editing, then the main parameter for you is its performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, the processor turns on all threads and cores that it has to the maximum to achieve maximum performance. You will learn this data from the benchmark tables below. Before you take into account the data from these tests, be sure to check whether the program 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 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 i5-12600KF	Intel Core i9-7980XE
Cinbench 15 Single-core	485	184
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	3543	3455
Cinbench 20 Single-core	1161	446
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	8045	7671
Cinbench 23 Single-core	2715	1281
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	26517	28196

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

	Intel Core i5-12600KF	Intel Core i9-7980XE
Single-Core	6362	2490
Multi-Core	37124	29612

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

	Intel Core i5-12600KF	Intel Core i9-7980XE
Single-Core	2144	1158
Multi-Core	14653	18658

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 newer the processor, 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, thereby increasing its performance, then it will still be able to produce maximum FPS in the newest games. The savings are obvious! Accordingly, you do not need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer.

	Intel Core i5-12600KF	Intel Core i9-7980XE
Announcement date	January 07, 2022	April 01, 2017
Type	Desktop	Desktop
Socket	FCLGA1700	FCLGA2066
Core name	Alder Lake	Skylake
Architecture	x86	x86
Generation	12	9
Turbo Frequency	4.9 MHz	4.2 MHz
Frequency	3.6 MHz	2.6 MHz
Cores	10	18
Threads	16	36
Bus rate	8 GT/s	8 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	7 nm	14 nm
Transistors count	10200 millions	7800 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	125 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	9.5 MB
L3 cache	20 MB	24.75 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 i5-12600KF is 27% better than Core i9-7980XE in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that Core i9-7980XE has 8 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: 16
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i9-7980XE is better: 18
Although it should be realized that all the figures in the article above do not mean that taking them into account you should fully trust a simple comparison of these numbers. Better to watch the testing video and read the reviews of real owners of Intel Core i5-12600KF and Intel Core i9-7980XE before making a selection which of the processors to buy for gaming.

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 i9-7980XE specs and review.