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

Processor comparisons 29-01-2023

   If you can't decide which processor to buy, you can make a choice by looking at the Intel Core i5-13500H vs Intel Core i9-12900K tests and decide which is better for games or simple use for machine learning, rendering, video editing, programming, streaming. Here you can find useful information from many benchmarks or real video editing and streaming tests. A thorough analysis of all the technical characteristics, so that it can be easier to understand, is summarized in the table.
   From the comparison video, you can get the results of joint testing in software tests like Furmark, GeekBench 6, 5.2, Prime95, WPrime, Gears 5, DaVinci Resolve Studio, SuperPi, PCMark 10, 7zip, Blender, Dolphin Emulator, 3DMark, VeraCrypt, Blender, PassMark, UserBenchmark, MATLAB, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, Handbrake, RealBench, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), AIDA64.
   Gaming performance of CPUs in:

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

After reading the results these benchmarks and videos, you can already make an briefed decision about which CPU is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i9-12900K or Intel Core i5-13500H.

Summary benchmark results

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

Core i5-13500H

57%

Core i9-12900K

67%

This value shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Core i9-12900K is 14% better than Core i5-13500H. The data source is several popular tests. Detailed information can be found below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Core i5-13500H

56%

Core i9-12900K

64%

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 this processor costs several tens of thousands of dollars. Therefore, if you think that the selected CPU has a small 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: Half-Life: Alyx, Battlefield V, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Metro Exodus, Monster Hunter World, NBA 2K20, Forza Horizon 4, Hitman 3, DOTA 2A, Ghostrunner, League of Legends (LOL), Shadow of the Tomb Raider, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), Horizon Zero Dawn, Microsoft Flight Simulator, Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), Control.

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	99.0	113.8
Valorant	112.5	129.3
Cyberpunk 2077	63.0	72.4
Apex Legends	105.7	121.5
Call of Duty Warzone	84.4	97.0
Overwatch	91.1	104.7
Red Dead Redemption 2	77.6	89.2
DOOM Eternal	56.2	64.6
Warzone	87.7	100.8
Assassin's Creed	94.5	108.6
Valheim	93.4	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 video cards and different amounts of RAM. But users also tested them at different screen resolutions: FullHD, 2K or 4K. 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 i5-13500H

123%

Core i9-12900K

97%

To make a finishing 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 i5-13500H is more energy efficient than the Core i9-12900K as it consumes less power: 45W vs. 125W. Power consumption is particularly important for laptops. Also, when choosing a processor cooling system, it will be useful to know its TDP. 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 programming, video editing or video rendering, machine learning, streaming, then the main parameter for you is its performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, to reach maximum efficiency, the processor uses all threads and cores that it has. You will learn this data from the benchmark tables below. Before you take into account the data from these tests, be sure to find out whether the program 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 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 i5-13500H	Intel Core i9-12900K
Cinbench 15 Single-core	249	489
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	2288	5150
Cinbench 20 Single-core	393	816
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	5045	11450
Cinbench 23 Single-core	1302	2896
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	14449	32950

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

	Intel Core i5-13500H	Intel Core i9-12900K
Single-Core	1193	7546
Multi-Core	24604	56332

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

	Intel Core i5-13500H	Intel Core i9-12900K
Single-Core	1670	3641
Multi-Core	10773	25262

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the most useful will be the release date of the processor and the possibility of overclocking it. 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 can be said about overclocking. If the processor can be overclocked, thereby increasing its performance, then it will continue to maintain maximum FPS even 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 i5-13500H	Intel Core i9-12900K
Announcement date	January 21, 2023	July 21, 2021
Type	Laptop	Desktop
Socket	FCBGA1744	FCLGA1700
Core name	Raptor Lake	Alder Lake
Architecture	x86	x86
Generation	13	12
Turbo Frequency	4.7 MHz	5.2 MHz
Frequency	3.5 MHz	3.9 MHz
Cores	12	16
Threads	16	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)	45 W	125 W
Memory type	Up to DDR5 5200 MT/s Up to DDR4 3200 MT/s Up to LPDDR4x 4267 MT/s	Up to DDR5 4800 MT/s Up to DDR4 3200 MT/s
Max. Memory	64 Gb	128 Gb
Memory Frequency	6500	6400
Memory bandwidth	64 GB/s	76.8 GB/s
L1 cache	2 MB	2 MB
L2 cache	6 MB	14 MB
L3 cache	18 MB	30 MB
Overclocking	No	No
Supports ECC	No	No
Part number	Expansion Options

In this comparison block, you should pay attention to the differences in clock speed and the number of cores. Here Core i9-12900K is 10% better than Core i5-13500H in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that Core i9-12900K has 4 more core than Core i5-13500H. 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 i5-13500H is better: 6
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i9-12900K is better: 28
However, it should be realized that the summary data in the text above do not mean that taking them into account you should entirely trust a simple comparison of these figures. Better to watch the video tests and read the opinion of real owners of Intel Core i5-13500H and Intel Core i9-12900K before making a decision which CPU to buy for gaming and which not.

Intel Core i5-13500H - all data

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

• Intel Core i5-13500H 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.