Intel Core i9-12900K vs Intel Core i5-11600KF

Processor comparisons   28-09-2022
   For example you are thinking about choosing a CPU, you will be able to make a choice by looking at the Intel Core i9-12900K vs Intel Core i5-11600KF tests and see which is better for games or normal use for programming, video editing, streaming, machine learning, rendering. Here is useful information from several benchmarks or real video editing and streaming tests. A step-by-step analysis of all the specifications, to make it easier to read, is summarized in the table.
   From the video comparison, you can get the results of joint testing in special testing software such as Dolphin Emulator, PCMark 10, VeraCrypt, DaVinci Resolve Studio, PassMark, Handbrake, Blender, Furmark, Gears 5, 3DMark, GeekBench 6, 5.2, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), SuperPi, Prime95, Blender, WPrime, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, RealBench, UserBenchmark, 7zip, AIDA64, MATLAB.
   Gaming performance of CPUs in:

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

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 i5-11600KF or Intel Core i9-12900K.

Summary benchmark results

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

Core i9-12900K

67%

Core i5-11600KF

56%

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 16% better than Core i5-11600KF. The data source is several popular tests. More detailed information of the benchmarks is below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Core i9-12900K

64%

Core i5-11600KF

54%

For the maximum in this test, the results of the most powerful processor in the site database are taken. 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. Therefore, if you think that the selected CPU has a small game result, just look at the FPS that it produces in real games in the final table below.
List of other games in which processors were compared: Metro Exodus, NBA 2K20, Microsoft Flight Simulator, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Control, Monster Hunter World, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), League of Legends (LOL), Hitman 3, DOTA 2A, Ghostrunner, Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Battlefield V, Forza Horizon 4, Horizon Zero Dawn, Half-Life: Alyx, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG).

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	113.8	95.1
Valorant	129.3	108.0
Cyberpunk 2077	72.4	60.5
Apex Legends	121.5	101.6
Call of Duty Warzone	97.0	81.0
Overwatch	104.7	87.5
Red Dead Redemption 2	89.2	74.6
DOOM Eternal	64.6	54.0
Warzone	100.8	84.3
Assassin's Creed	108.6	90.8
Valheim	107.3	89.7

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 that were in the comparisons not only did they have different video cards and different amounts of RAM. But users also tested them at different screen resolutions: 2K, 4K or FullHD. So 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 compare it in one assembly with the video card that is installed in your computer.

Power consumption

Core i9-12900K

97%

Core i5-11600KF

42%

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 i5-11600KF since it has less power consumption: 125W vs. 125W. 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

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 the main parameter for you is its performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, to reach maximum efficiency, the CPU turns on 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 find out whether the software that you are going to use on your computer can work in multi-threaded mode. Since there are still many programs that 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 i9-12900K	Intel Core i5-11600KF
Cinbench 15 Single-core	489	197
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	5150	1886
Cinbench 20 Single-core	816	460
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	11450	4227
Cinbench 23 Single-core	2896	1201
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	32950	11189

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

	Intel Core i9-12900K	Intel Core i5-11600KF
Single-Core	7546	2680
Multi-Core	56332	20410

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

	Intel Core i9-12900K	Intel Core i5-11600KF
Single-Core	3641	1605
Multi-Core	25262	6942

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the processor release date and overclocking capability will be the most useful. The newer the processor, the longer it will last in your computer. 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 new games. The economy are obvious! Accordingly, you do not need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer.

	Intel Core i9-12900K	Intel Core i5-11600KF
Announcement date	July 21, 2021	January 20, 2021
Type	Desktop	Desktop
Socket	FCLGA1700	FCLGA1200
Core name	Alder Lake	Rocket Lake
Architecture	x86	x86
Generation	12	11
Turbo Frequency	5.2 MHz	4.9 MHz
Frequency	3.9 MHz	3.9 MHz
Cores	16	6
Threads	24	12
Bus rate	16 GT/s	8 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	7 nm	14 nm
Transistors count	12400 millions	5400 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	125 W	125 W
Memory type	Up to DDR5 4800 MT/s Up to DDR4 3200 MT/s	DDR4-3200
Max. Memory	128 Gb	128 Gb
Memory Frequency	6400	3200
Memory bandwidth	76.8 GB/s	50 GB/s
L1 cache	2 MB
L2 cache	14 MB	3 MB
L3 cache	30 MB	12 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. Another difference is that Core i9-12900K has 10 more core than Core i5-11600KF. 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 i9-12900K is better: 32
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i5-11600KF is better: 3
Although it should be understood that the summary data in the text above do not mean that taking them into account you should fully trust a simple quantitative comparison. Better to watch the video tests and read the reviews of real owners of Intel Core i9-12900K and Intel Core i5-11600KF before making a choice which processor to buy for gaming and which not.

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.

Intel Core i5-11600KF - all data

• Overwatch gaming benchmark
• Fortnite gaming benchmark
• GTA 5 gaming benchmark
• Apex Legends gaming benchmark
• Assassin's Creed gaming benchmark
• Roblox gaming benchmark
• Cyberpunk 2077 gaming benchmark
• Call of Duty: Warzone gaming benchmark
• Cinebench r15 score
• Cinebench r20 score
• Cinebench r23 score
• GeekBench 6, 5.2 score

• Intel Core i5-11600KF specs and review.