Intel Core i9-12900K vs Intel Core i5-12500

Processor comparisons   28-09-2022
   For example you are thinking about choosing a CPU, you will be able to make a decision after reading the detailed tests Intel Core i9-12900K vs Intel Core i5-12500 and see which is better for games or normal use for machine learning, programming, rendering, video editing, streaming. Here is useful information from real streaming and video editing tests or several benchmarks. A careful review 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 special testing software such as Handbrake, Furmark, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, MATLAB, PCMark 10, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), SuperPi, GeekBench 6, 5.2, Prime95, 3DMark, 7zip, UserBenchmark, Gears 5, Blender, VeraCrypt, RealBench, WPrime, Blender, DaVinci Resolve Studio, Dolphin Emulator, AIDA64, PassMark.
   And how good the processors are in games:

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

After looking at the data of joint benchmarks and videos, you already be able to figure out which CPU is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i5-12500 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 i5-12500

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 i5-12500. 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 i5-12500

55%

For the maximum in this test, the results of the most powerful processor in the site database are taken. And it is clear that this is a server processor, on which no one will run 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 summary table below.
List of less popular games in which CPU comparisons were performed: Horizon Zero Dawn, DOTA 2A, Half-Life: Alyx, Control, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Ghostrunner, Hitman 3, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Battlefield V, Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, Microsoft Flight Simulator, Forza Horizon 4, Metro Exodus, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), League of Legends (LOL), Monster Hunter World, NBA 2K20.

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	113.8	97.2
Valorant	129.3	110.5
Cyberpunk 2077	72.4	61.9
Apex Legends	121.5	103.8
Call of Duty Warzone	97.0	82.8
Overwatch	104.7	89.5
Red Dead Redemption 2	89.2	76.2
DOOM Eternal	64.6	55.2
Warzone	100.8	86.2
Assassin's Creed	108.6	92.8
Valheim	107.3	91.7

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 i5-12500

86%

To make a finishing 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 i5-12500 as it consumes less power: 125W vs. 65W. Power consumption is especially important for laptops. Also, when choosing a processor cooling system, you must know its TDP. 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 streaming, video rendering or video editing, programming, machine learning, then the main parameter for you is its performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, to reach maximum performance, the processor uses all cores and threads that it has. You will learn 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 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 i9-12900K	Intel Core i5-12500
Cinbench 15 Single-core	489	298
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	5150	2182
Cinbench 20 Single-core	816	715
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	11450	4955
Cinbench 23 Single-core	2896	1672
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	32950	16334

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

	Intel Core i9-12900K	Intel Core i5-12500
Single-Core	7546	3919
Multi-Core	56332	22868

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

	Intel Core i9-12900K	Intel Core i5-12500
Single-Core	3641	1685
Multi-Core	25262	9016

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the most helpful will be the the possibility of overclocking it and release date of the processor. The newer the processor, the longer it will last you. 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 still be able to produce maximum FPS in the newest games. The savings are obvious! Accordingly, you do not need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer.

	Intel Core i9-12900K	Intel Core i5-12500
Announcement date	July 21, 2021	January 07, 2022
Type	Desktop	Desktop
Socket	FCLGA1700	FCLGA1700
Core name	Alder Lake	Alder Lake
Architecture	x86	x86
Generation	12	12
Turbo Frequency	5.2 MHz	4.6 MHz
Frequency	3.9 MHz	3.3 MHz
Cores	16	6
Threads	24	12
Bus rate	16 GT/s	8 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	7 nm	7 nm
Transistors count	12400 millions	10200 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	125 W	65 W
Memory type	Up to DDR5 4800 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	6400
Memory bandwidth	76.8 GB/s	76.8 GB/s
L1 cache	2 MB
L2 cache	14 MB
L3 cache	30 MB	18 MB
Overclocking	No	No
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 i9-12900K is 15% better than Core i5-12500 in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that Core i9-12900K has 10 more core than Core i5-12500. 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: 30
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i5-12500 is better: 3
However, it should be understood that all the number in the table above do not mean that taking them into account you should undividedly trust a simple comparison of these figures. Be sure to watch the video tests and read the opinion of real owners of Intel Core i9-12900K and Intel Core i5-12500 before deciding which of the CPUs to buy for gaming.

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 i5-12500 - all data

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

• Intel Core i5-12500 specs and review.