Intel Core i5-13600 vs Intel Core i9-12900KS

Processor comparisons   12-11-2022
   If you can't decide which processor to buy, you can make a decision by looking at the Intel Core i5-13600 vs Intel Core i9-12900KS tests and see which is better for games or simple use for video editing, streaming, programming, machine learning, rendering. Here is all information from real video editing and streaming tests or different benchmarks. A careful 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 joint testing in synthetic type tests like 7zip, SuperPi, GeekBench 6, 5.2, Handbrake, 3DMark, Dolphin Emulator, Furmark, Blender, VeraCrypt, DaVinci Resolve Studio, Gears 5, UserBenchmark, PassMark, MATLAB, Blender, Prime95, WPrime, AIDA64, PCMark 10, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), RealBench.
   Gaming performance of CPUs in:

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

After reading the results of parallel benchmarks and videos, you can already make an informed decision about which processor is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i9-12900KS or Intel Core i5-13600.

Summary benchmark results

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

Core i5-13600

63%

Core i9-12900KS

73%

This shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Core i9-12900KS is 13% better than Core i5-13600. The data source is several popular tests. Detailed information can be found below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Core i5-13600

59%

Core i9-12900KS

61%

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

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	104.2	108.6
Valorant	118.4	123.4
Cyberpunk 2077	66.3	69.1
Apex Legends	111.3	116.0
Call of Duty Warzone	88.8	92.6
Overwatch	95.9	100.0
Red Dead Redemption 2	81.7	85.1
DOOM Eternal	59.2	61.7
Warzone	92.3	96.3
Assassin's Creed	99.5	103.7
Valheim	98.3	102.4

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 i5-13600

100%

Core i9-12900KS

48%

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 i5-13600 is more energy efficient than the Core i9-12900KS as it consumes less power: 65W vs. 150W. 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, machine learning, streaming, video rendering or video editing, then the main parameter for you is its 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 efficiency. 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. Since there are still many programs that can use only one core to work, and all the advantages 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 i5-13600	Intel Core i9-12900KS
Cinbench 15 Single-core	383	669
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	3979	6984
Cinbench 20 Single-core	637	1113
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	8839	15520
Cinbench 23 Single-core	2241	3930
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	25423	44652

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

	Intel Core i5-13600	Intel Core i9-12900KS
Single-Core	2048	4211
Multi-Core	43328	76561

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

	Intel Core i5-13600	Intel Core i9-12900KS
Single-Core	1965	2187
Multi-Core	15871	20189

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 you. And the easier it will be to upgrade the system in the future. The same benefits from the presence of overclocking. When the processor can be overclocked, thereby increasing its performance, then it will continue to maintain maximum FPS in the newest games. It turns out that there is no longer a need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer. The savings are obvious!

	Intel Core i5-13600	Intel Core i9-12900KS
Announcement date	December 10, 2022	March 27, 2022
Type	Desktop	Desktop
Socket	FCLGA1700	FCLGA1700
Core name	Adler Lake	Alder Lake
Architecture	x86	x86
Generation	13	12
Turbo Frequency	4.9 MHz	5.5 MHz
Frequency	3.5 MHz	4 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	150 W
Memory type	Up to DDR5 5600 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	6500	6400
Memory bandwidth	89.6 GB/s	76.8 GB/s
L1 cache	2 MB	2 MB
L2 cache	12 MB	8 MB
L3 cache	24 MB	30 MB
Overclocking	y	No
Supports ECC	Yes	Yes
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 i9-12900KS is 12% better than Core i5-13600 in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that Core i9-12900KS has 2 more core than Core i5-13600. 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 i5-13600 is better: 6
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i9-12900KS is better: 27
However, it should be understood that all the data in the article above do not mean that taking them into account you should undividedly trust a simple comparison of these numbers. Be sure to watch the testing video and read the reviews of of people who bought Intel Core i5-13600 and Intel Core i9-12900KS before making a selection which CPU to buy for gaming and which not.

Intel Core i5-13600 - all data

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

• Intel Core i5-13600 specs and review.

Intel Core i9-12900KS - all data

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

• Intel Core i9-12900KS specs and review.