Intel Core i5-13500 vs Intel Core i9-12900K

Processor comparisons   08-10-2022
   For example you can't decide which processor to buy, you can make a choice by looking at the Intel Core i5-13500 vs Intel Core i9-12900K tests and decide which is better for games or normal use for programming, video editing, machine learning, streaming, rendering. Here is all information from different benchmarks or real streaming and video editing tests. A thorough analysis of all the technical characteristics, to make it easier to read, is summarized in the table.
   From the video comparison, you can get the results of parallel examination in software tests such as UserBenchmark, Prime95, Blender, Blender, SuperPi, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), 7zip, 3DMark, GeekBench 6, 5.2, WPrime, Dolphin Emulator, MATLAB, PCMark 10, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, Furmark, Handbrake, DaVinci Resolve Studio, PassMark, VeraCrypt, Gears 5, RealBench, AIDA64.
   And how good the processors are in games:

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

After reading the results these benchmarks and videos, you already be able to know which CPU is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i9-12900K or Intel Core i5-13500.

Summary benchmark results

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

Core i5-13500

61%

Core i9-12900K

67%

This shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Core i9-12900K is 8% better than Core i5-13500. The data source is several popular tests. More detailed information of the benchmarks is below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Core i5-13500

59%

Core i9-12900K

64%

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. And if it seems to you that the selected CPU has a little game result, just look at the FPS that it produces in real games in the summary table below.
List of less popular games in which processors were compared: Ghostrunner, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Microsoft Flight Simulator, Hitman 3, Horizon Zero Dawn, Half-Life: Alyx, Battlefield V, Monster Hunter World, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), Forza Horizon 4, League of Legends (LOL), Control, Metro Exodus, DOTA 2A, NBA 2K20, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Resident Evil 7 Biohazard.

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	104.0	113.8
Valorant	118.2	129.3
Cyberpunk 2077	66.2	72.4
Apex Legends	111.1	121.5
Call of Duty Warzone	88.6	97.0
Overwatch	95.7	104.7
Red Dead Redemption 2	81.6	89.2
DOOM Eternal	59.1	64.6
Warzone	92.2	100.8
Assassin's Creed	99.3	108.6
Valheim	98.1	107.3

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 i5-13500

94%

Core i9-12900K

97%

To make a finishing 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 i9-12900K is more energy efficient than the Core i5-13500 since it has less power consumption: 65W vs. 125W. Power consumption is especially important for laptops. Also, when choosing a processor cooling system, you must 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 plan to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for streaming, machine learning, video rendering or video editing, programming, then first of all you need to pay attention to the performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, to achieve maximum performance, the CPU includes 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 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 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 i5-13500	Intel Core i9-12900K
Cinbench 15 Single-core	336	489
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	3353	5150
Cinbench 20 Single-core	549	816
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	7434	11450
Cinbench 23 Single-core	1895	2896
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	21360	32950

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

	Intel Core i5-13500	Intel Core i9-12900K
Single-Core	1732	7546
Multi-Core	36394	56332

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

	Intel Core i5-13500	Intel Core i9-12900K
Single-Core	1846	3641
Multi-Core	15694	25262

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 i5-13500	Intel Core i9-12900K
Announcement date	September 23, 2022	July 21, 2021
Type	Desktop	Desktop
Socket	FCLGA1700	FCLGA1700
Core name	Raptor Lake	Alder Lake
Architecture	x86	x86
Generation	13	12
Turbo Frequency	4.8 MHz	5.2 MHz
Frequency	2.5 MHz	3.9 MHz
Cores	14	16
Threads	20	24
Bus rate	16 GT/s	16 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	7 nm	7 nm
Transistors count	14200 millions	12400 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	65 W	125 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	4800	6400
Memory bandwidth	68 GB/s	76.8 GB/s
L1 cache	2 MB	2 MB
L2 cache	4 MB	14 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. Here Core i9-12900K is 35% better than Core i5-13500 in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that Core i9-12900K has 2 more core than Core i5-13500. 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 i5-13500 is better: 5
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i9-12900K is better: 28
However, it should be understood that all the figures in the table above do not mean that you should be guided entirely by them and trust a simple comparison of these numbers. Better to watch the testing video and read the reviews of of people who bought Intel Core i5-13500 and Intel Core i9-12900K before making a decision which processor to buy for gaming and which not.

Intel Core i5-13500 - all data

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

• Intel Core i5-13500 specs and review.

Intel Core i9-12900K - all data

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

• Intel Core i9-12900K specs and review.