Intel Core i9-12900K vs Intel Core i7-11700K

Processor comparisons 28-09-2022

   If you can't decide which CPU to buy, you can make a choice after reading the full tests Intel Core i9-12900K vs Intel Core i7-11700K and understand which is better for games or normal use for programming, machine learning, streaming, video editing, rendering. Here is useful information from real video editing and streaming tests or different benchmarks. A thorough review of all the technical characteristics, 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 test applications such as MATLAB, Blender, SuperPi, PCMark 10, Furmark, WPrime, Dolphin Emulator, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, VeraCrypt, DaVinci Resolve Studio, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), 3DMark, AIDA64, Gears 5, UserBenchmark, PassMark, Prime95, RealBench, Handbrake, 7zip, Blender, GeekBench 6, 5.2.
   Gaming performance of processors in:

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

After reading the results of all benchmarks and videos, you can already make an briefed decision about which processor is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i7-11700K 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 i7-11700K

58%

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 13% better than Core i7-11700K. The data source is several popular tests. Detailed information can be found below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Core i9-12900K

64%

Core i7-11700K

56%

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

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	113.8	100.2
Valorant	129.3	113.8
Cyberpunk 2077	72.4	63.7
Apex Legends	121.5	107.0
Call of Duty Warzone	97.0	85.4
Overwatch	104.7	92.2
Red Dead Redemption 2	89.2	78.5
DOOM Eternal	64.6	56.9
Warzone	100.8	88.8
Assassin's Creed	108.6	95.6
Valheim	107.3	94.5

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

97%

Core i7-11700K

47%

To make a final decision 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 i9-12900K is more energy efficient than the Core i7-11700K since it has less power consumption: 125W vs. 125W. Power consumption is especially important for laptops. And TDP should be taken into account when choosing a processor cooling system. 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 machine learning, video editing or video rendering, streaming, programming, then the main parameter for you is its performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, to reach maximum efficiency, the processor includes all cores and threads 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 find out whether 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 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 i7-11700K
Cinbench 15 Single-core	489	262
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	5150	2507
Cinbench 20 Single-core	816	612
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	11450	5618
Cinbench 23 Single-core	2896	1596
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	32950	14869

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

	Intel Core i9-12900K	Intel Core i7-11700K
Single-Core	7546	3562
Multi-Core	56332	27126

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

	Intel Core i9-12900K	Intel Core i7-11700K
Single-Core	3641	1793
Multi-Core	25262	11929

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 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 continue to maintain maximum FPS in the newest games. The economy are obvious! It turns out that you do not need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer.

	Intel Core i9-12900K	Intel Core i7-11700K
Announcement date	July 21, 2021	January 20, 2021
Type	Desktop	Desktop
Socket	FCLGA1700	FCLGA1200
Core name	Alder Lake	Rocket Lake-S
Architecture	x86	x86
Generation	12	11
Turbo Frequency	5.2 MHz	5 MHz
Frequency	3.9 MHz	3.6 MHz
Cores	16	8
Threads	24	16
Bus rate	16 GT/s	12 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	7 nm	14 nm
Transistors count	12400 millions	8200 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	64 GB/s
L1 cache	2 MB
L2 cache	14 MB	4 MB
L3 cache	30 MB	16 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 i9-12900K is 7% better than Core i7-11700K in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that Core i9-12900K has 8 more core than Core i7-11700K. 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: 34
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i7-11700K is better: 2
Although it should be realized that all the figures in the table above do not mean that taking them into account you should undividedly trust a simple quantitative comparison. Be sure to watch the video tests and read the opinion of real owners of Intel Core i9-12900K and Intel Core i7-11700K 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 i7-11700K specs and review.