Intel Core i5-13600KF vs Intel Core i9-12900K

Processor comparisons 29-09-2022

   For example you can't decide which CPU to buy, you can make a choice after reading the detailed tests Intel Core i5-13600KF vs Intel Core i9-12900K and understand which is better for games or simple use for programming, rendering, streaming, machine learning, video editing. Here is all information from real streaming and video editing tests or various benchmarks. A careful analysis of all the specifications, to make it easier to understand, is summarized in the table.
   From the video comparison, you can get the results of parallel examination in software tests such as 3DMark, PassMark, WPrime, GeekBench 6, 5.2, Gears 5, RealBench, SuperPi, Blender, Dolphin Emulator, MATLAB, Handbrake, VeraCrypt, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, Blender, Prime95, PCMark 10, 7zip, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), DaVinci Resolve Studio, UserBenchmark, Furmark, AIDA64.
   And how good the CPUs are in games:

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

After reading the results of all benchmarks and videos, you already be able to figure out which processor is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i9-12900K or Intel Core i5-13600KF.

Summary benchmark results

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

Core i5-13600KF

63%

Core i9-12900K

67%

The number of this parameter shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Core i9-12900K is 5% better than Core i5-13600KF. The data source is several popular tests. More detailed information of the benchmarks is below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Core i5-13600KF

58%

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 of course, this is a server processor, on which no one will play games. Because the cost of this processor reaches several tens of thousands of dollars. And if it seems to you that the selected CPU has a small game result, look at the FPS that it produces in real games in the summary table below.
List of less popular games in which CPU comparisons were performed: Shadow of the Tomb Raider, NBA 2K20, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Monster Hunter World, Hitman 3, Half-Life: Alyx, Forza Horizon 4, Metro Exodus, Control, DOTA 2A, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), Battlefield V, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), Horizon Zero Dawn, Microsoft Flight Simulator, League of Legends (LOL), Ghostrunner, Resident Evil 7 Biohazard.

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	102.3	113.8
Valorant	116.2	129.3
Cyberpunk 2077	65.1	72.4
Apex Legends	109.2	121.5
Call of Duty Warzone	87.1	97.0
Overwatch	94.1	104.7
Red Dead Redemption 2	80.2	89.2
DOOM Eternal	58.1	64.6
Warzone	90.6	100.8
Assassin's Creed	97.6	108.6
Valheim	96.4	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 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 i5-13600KF

45%

Core i9-12900K

97%

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 i9-12900K is more energy efficient than the Core i5-13600KF as it consumes less power: 125W vs. 125W. Power consumption is particularly important for laptops. And TDP should be taken into account when choosing a processor cooling system. 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, video rendering or video editing, machine learning, streaming, then first of all you need to pay attention to the performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, to achieve maximum efficiency, the processor uses all threads and cores that it has. 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. Because there are still many programs that use only one core to run, 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 i5-13600KF	Intel Core i9-12900K
Cinbench 15 Single-core	390	489
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	4188	5150
Cinbench 20 Single-core	658	816
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	9322	11450
Cinbench 23 Single-core	2352	2896
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	26841	32950

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

	Intel Core i5-13600KF	Intel Core i9-12900K
Single-Core	2148	7546
Multi-Core	45756	56332

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

	Intel Core i5-13600KF	Intel Core i9-12900K
Single-Core	1721	3641
Multi-Core	13972	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 in your computer. And the easier it will be to upgrade the system later. The same benefits from the presence of overclocking. When the processor can be overclocked, increasing its performance, then it will still be able to produce maximum FPS even in new games. The savings are obvious! Accordingly, you do not need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer.

	Intel Core i5-13600KF	Intel Core i9-12900K
Announcement date	December 10, 2022	July 21, 2021
Type	Desktop	Desktop
Socket	FCLGA1700	FCLGA1700
Core name	Raptor Lake	Alder Lake
Architecture	x86	x86
Generation	13	12
Turbo Frequency	5.1 MHz	5.2 MHz
Frequency	3.9 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)	125 W	125 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	8 MB	14 MB
L3 cache	24 MB	30 MB
Overclocking	No	No
Supports ECC	Yes	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 i9-12900K has 2 more core than Core i5-13600KF. 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 i5-13600KF is better: 7
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i9-12900K is better: 25
Although it should be understood that all the number in the article above do not mean that taking them into account you should fully trust a simple quantitative comparison. Be sure to watch benchmarks video and read the opinion of real owners of Intel Core i5-13600KF and Intel Core i9-12900K before making a choice which of the processors to buy for gaming.

Intel Core i5-13600KF - all data

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

• Intel Core i5-13600KF 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.