Intel Core i9-12900 vs Intel Core i9-10980XE

Processor comparisons 10-01-2022

   Let's say you are thinking about choosing a CPU, you will be able to make a choice after reading the detailed tests Intel Core i9-12900 vs Intel Core i9-10980XE and decide which is better for games or normal use for rendering, video editing, machine learning, programming, streaming. Here you can find all information from different benchmarks or real streaming and video editing tests. 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 synthetic type tests like VeraCrypt, DaVinci Resolve Studio, SuperPi, Furmark, Blender, Handbrake, Gears 5, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, Dolphin Emulator, PCMark 10, 7zip, UserBenchmark, AIDA64, MATLAB, RealBench, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), Blender, WPrime, Prime95, PassMark, 3DMark, GeekBench 6, 5.2.
   And how good the processors are in games:

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

After reading the results of all benchmarks and videos, you can already make an informed decision about which processor is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i9-10980XE or Intel Core i9-12900.

Summary benchmark results

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

Core i9-12900

65%

Core i9-10980XE

60%

This parameter shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Core i9-12900 is 7% better than Core i9-10980XE. The data source is several popular tests. Detailed information can be found below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Core i9-12900

59%

Core i9-10980XE

61%

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: Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), Forza Horizon 4, Half-Life: Alyx, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), Horizon Zero Dawn, Ghostrunner, Metro Exodus, Control, Battlefield V, League of Legends (LOL), Hitman 3, DOTA 2A, NBA 2K20, Microsoft Flight Simulator, Monster Hunter World, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Resident Evil 7 Biohazard.

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	104.3	108.7
Valorant	118.6	123.5
Cyberpunk 2077	66.4	69.2
Apex Legends	111.5	116.1
Call of Duty Warzone	88.9	92.6
Overwatch	96.0	100.0
Red Dead Redemption 2	81.8	85.2
DOOM Eternal	59.3	61.8
Warzone	92.5	96.3
Assassin's Creed	99.6	103.7
Valheim	98.4	102.5

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 computers participating in the comparing not only were the equipped with different amounts of RAM and different video cards. But users also tested them at different screen resolutions: 4K, 2K or FullHD. 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 i9-12900

96%

Core i9-10980XE

28%

To make a finishing resolution 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 i9-12900 is more energy efficient than the Core i9-10980XE as it consumes less power: 65W vs. 165W. Power consumption is especially 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

If you want to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for streaming, programming, video rendering or video editing, machine learning, then the main parameter for you is its performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, to achieve maximum efficiency, the CPU includes all threads and cores that it has. You will find out 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. Because there are still many programs that can 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 i9-12900	Intel Core i9-10980XE
Cinbench 15 Single-core	445	211
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	4687	3800
Cinbench 20 Single-core	743	480
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	10420	8848
Cinbench 23 Single-core	2635	1191
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	29985	24309

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

	Intel Core i9-12900	Intel Core i9-10980XE
Single-Core	6867	2626
Multi-Core	51262	34005

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

	Intel Core i9-12900	Intel Core i9-10980XE
Single-Core	1885	1417
Multi-Core	16028	20280

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 newer the processor, the longer it will last you. And the easier it will be to upgrade the system later. The same benefits from the presence of overclocking. If the processor can be overclocked, increasing its performance, then it will still be able to produce maximum FPS in new games. Accordingly, you do not need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer. The savings are obvious!

	Intel Core i9-12900	Intel Core i9-10980XE
Announcement date	July 21, 2021	October 01, 2019
Type	Desktop	Desktop
Socket	FCLGA1700	FCLGA2066
Core name	Alder Lake	Cascade Lake
Architecture	x86	x86
Generation	12	10
Turbo Frequency	5.1 MHz	4.8 MHz
Frequency	3.8 MHz	3 MHz
Cores	16	18
Threads	24	36
Bus rate	16 GT/s	8 GT/s DMI3
Bit	64	64
Lithography	7 nm	14 nm
Transistors count	12600 millions	9200 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	65 W	165 W
Memory type	Up to DDR5 4800 MT/s Up to DDR4 3200 MT/s	DDR4-2933
Max. Memory	128 Gb	256 Gb
Memory Frequency	6400
Memory bandwidth	76.8 GB/s	94 GB/s
L1 cache	2 MB
L2 cache	12 MB
L3 cache	30 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 i9-12900 is 21% better than Core i9-10980XE in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that Core i9-10980XE has 2 more core than Core i9-12900. 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 i9-12900 is better: 20
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i9-10980XE is better: 18
Although it should be understood 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 benchmarks video and read the opinion of of people who bought Intel Core i9-12900 and Intel Core i9-10980XE before making a decision which CPU to buy for gaming and which not.

Intel Core i9-12900 - all data

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

• Intel Core i9-12900 specs and review.

• Intel Core i9-10980XE specs and review.