Intel Core i9-12900K vs Intel Core i7-12700

Processor comparisons 28-09-2022

   For example there are difficulties with the choice of a processor, you will solve them by reading the comprehensive tests Intel Core i9-12900K vs Intel Core i7-12700 and see which is better for games or simple use for video editing, programming, rendering, machine learning, streaming. Here is all information from many benchmarks or real streaming and video editing tests. A careful analysis of all the technical characteristics, so that it can be easier to read, is presented in the form of the table.
   From the video comparison, you can get the results of joint testing in special test applications like Prime95, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), Handbrake, MATLAB, VeraCrypt, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, GeekBench 6, 5.2, UserBenchmark, DaVinci Resolve Studio, Gears 5, PCMark 10, 3DMark, RealBench, WPrime, Blender, PassMark, 7zip, Blender, Dolphin Emulator, Furmark, SuperPi, AIDA64.
   Gaming performance of processors in:

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

After reading the results of joint benchmarks and videos, you already be able to figure out which processor is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i7-12700 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 i7-12700

59%

This value shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Core i9-12900K is 11% better than Core i7-12700. 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 i7-12700

56%

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

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	113.8	100.0
Valorant	129.3	113.7
Cyberpunk 2077	72.4	63.7
Apex Legends	121.5	106.9
Call of Duty Warzone	97.0	85.3
Overwatch	104.7	92.1
Red Dead Redemption 2	89.2	78.4
DOOM Eternal	64.6	56.8
Warzone	100.8	88.7
Assassin's Creed	108.6	95.5
Valheim	107.3	94.4

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 video cards and different amounts of RAM. But users also tested them at different screen resolutions: FullHD, 2K or 4K. Therefore, 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 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 i7-12700

85%

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 i9-12900K is more energy efficient than the Core i7-12700 since it has less power consumption: 125W vs. 65W. Power consumption is especially important for laptops. And TDP should be taken into account when choosing a processor cooling system. 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

For example you want to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for video rendering or video editing, streaming, programming, machine learning, 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 you take into account the data from these tests, be sure to check whether the software you are going to use on your computer supports multi-threaded mode. Since there are still many programs that can use only one core to work, 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 i9-12900K	Intel Core i7-12700
Cinbench 15 Single-core	489	431
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	5150	3140
Cinbench 20 Single-core	816	1029
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	11450	7127
Cinbench 23 Single-core	2896	2408
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	32950	23496

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

	Intel Core i9-12900K	Intel Core i7-12700
Single-Core	7546	5637
Multi-Core	56332	32896

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

	Intel Core i9-12900K	Intel Core i7-12700
Single-Core	3641	1667
Multi-Core	25262	11810

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the most useful will be the the possibility of overclocking it and release date of the processor. The later the processor is released, the longer it will last you. And the easier it will be to upgrade the system in the future. The same can be said about overclocking. When the processor can be overclocked, thereby increasing its performance, then it will continue to maintain maximum FPS even in the newest 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 i7-12700
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	4.9 MHz
Frequency	3.9 MHz	3.6 MHz
Cores	16	12
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	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	12 MB
L3 cache	30 MB	25 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 7% better than Core i7-12700 in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that Core i9-12900K has 4 more core than Core i7-12700. 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 i7-12700 is better: 4
Although it should be understood that the summary data in the table above do not mean that you should be guided entirely by them and trust a simple comparison of these figures. Better to watch the video tests and read the opinion of of people who bought Intel Core i9-12900K and Intel Core i7-12700 before making a choice which of the processors 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 i7-12700 - all data

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

• Intel Core i7-12700 specs and review.