Intel Core i9-12900K vs Intel Core i7-12650HX

Processor comparisons   28-09-2022
   Let's say you can't decide which processor to buy, you can make a choice after reading the full tests Intel Core i9-12900K vs Intel Core i7-12650HX and see which is better for games or simple use for rendering, programming, streaming, video editing, machine learning. Here you can find useful information from different benchmarks or real video editing and streaming tests. 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 synthetic type tests such as Dolphin Emulator, VeraCrypt, GeekBench 6, 5.2, Handbrake, 7zip, AIDA64, MATLAB, PCMark 10, Blender, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, 3DMark, PassMark, DaVinci Resolve Studio, RealBench, Prime95, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), UserBenchmark, SuperPi, Furmark, Blender, Gears 5, WPrime.
   Gaming performance of CPUs in:

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

After reading the results these benchmarks and videos, you already be able to know which processor is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i7-12650HX 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 i7-12650HX

59%

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 11% better than Core i7-12650HX. 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 i7-12650HX

56%

The maximum result in this parameter is 100 percent, which is the performance of the most powerful processor currently available. And of course, this is a server processor, on which no one will run games. Because this processor costs several tens of thousands of dollars. And if it seems to you that the selected CPU has a small 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: Metro Exodus, DOTA 2A, Battlefield V, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), Forza Horizon 4, Ghostrunner, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Monster Hunter World, NBA 2K20, Hitman 3, Horizon Zero Dawn, Microsoft Flight Simulator, Half-Life: Alyx, League of Legends (LOL), Control.

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	113.8	100.2
Valorant	129.3	113.9
Cyberpunk 2077	72.4	63.8
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	78.6
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 tested computers not only did they have different amounts of RAM and different video cards. But users also tested them at different screen resolutions: 2K, FullHD or 4K. 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 i9-12900K

97%

Core i7-12650HX

124%

To make a finishing choice 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 i7-12650HX is more energy efficient than the Core i9-12900K as it consumes less power: 125W vs. 55W. 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

Let's say you plan to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for video rendering or video editing, programming, machine learning, streaming, then the main parameter for you is its performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, the CPU uses all threads and cores that it has to the maximum to achieve maximum efficiency. You will learn this data from the benchmark tables below. Before using 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 can use only one core to work, 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 i7-12650HX
Cinbench 15 Single-core	489	428
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	5150	3094
Cinbench 20 Single-core	816	1018
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	11450	7017
Cinbench 23 Single-core	2896	2373
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	32950	23118

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

	Intel Core i9-12900K	Intel Core i7-12650HX
Single-Core	7546	5551
Multi-Core	56332	32362

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

	Intel Core i9-12900K	Intel Core i7-12650HX
Single-Core	3641	2059
Multi-Core	25262	11959

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 later the processor is released, 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, increasing its performance, then it will still be able to produce maximum FPS even in the newest games. Accordingly, you do not need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer. The economy are obvious!

	Intel Core i9-12900K	Intel Core i7-12650HX
Announcement date	July 21, 2021	June 24, 2022
Type	Desktop	Laptop
Socket	FCLGA1700	FCBGA1964
Core name	Alder Lake	Alder Lake
Architecture	x86	x86
Generation	12	12
Turbo Frequency	5.2 MHz	4.7 MHz
Frequency	3.9 MHz	3.3 MHz
Cores	16	14
Threads	24	20
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	55 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	24 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 i7-12650HX in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that Core i9-12900K has 2 more core than Core i7-12650HX. 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: 29
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i7-12650HX is better: 4
However, it should be understood that the summary data in the table above do not mean that taking them into account you should fully trust a simple quantitative comparison. Be sure to watch the testing video and read the opinion of of people who bought Intel Core i9-12900K and Intel Core i7-12650HX 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 i7-12650HX - all data

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

• Intel Core i7-12650HX specs and review.