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

Processor comparisons   28-09-2022
   Perhaps you are thinking about choosing a CPU, you will be able to make a decision by looking at the Intel Core i9-12900K vs Intel Core i7-12700F tests and understand which is better for games or normal use for video editing, streaming, rendering, machine learning, programming. Here you can find useful information from real streaming and video editing tests or various benchmarks. A careful review of all the specifications, to make it easier to read, is made by the table.
   From the comparison video, you can get the results of parallel examination in special testing software such as SuperPi, 3DMark, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), GeekBench 6, 5.2, PCMark 10, Furmark, Prime95, Handbrake, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, DaVinci Resolve Studio, RealBench, Dolphin Emulator, 7zip, Gears 5, WPrime, UserBenchmark, AIDA64, Blender, Blender, VeraCrypt, MATLAB, PassMark.
   And how good the CPUs are in games:

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

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 i7-12700F 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 i7-12700F

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 i7-12700F. 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 i7-12700F

57%

The maximum result in this parameter is 100 percent, which is the performance of the most powerful processor currently available. And it is clear that 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 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 CPU comparisons were performed: PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), DOTA 2A, Control, Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, Half-Life: Alyx, NBA 2K20, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), Horizon Zero Dawn, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Metro Exodus, League of Legends (LOL), Ghostrunner, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Forza Horizon 4, Battlefield V, Microsoft Flight Simulator, Hitman 3, Monster Hunter World.

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	113.8	101.0
Valorant	129.3	114.8
Cyberpunk 2077	72.4	64.3
Apex Legends	121.5	107.9
Call of Duty Warzone	97.0	86.1
Overwatch	104.7	93.0
Red Dead Redemption 2	89.2	79.2
DOOM Eternal	64.6	57.4
Warzone	100.8	89.5
Assassin's Creed	108.6	96.4
Valheim	107.3	95.3

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 comparing 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. 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 i7-12700F

93%

To make a final resolution 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 i7-12700F as it consumes less power: 125W vs. 65W. Power consumption is especially important for laptops. Also, when choosing a processor cooling system, you need 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

For example you want to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for machine learning, video rendering or video editing, programming, streaming, then the main parameter for you is its performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, to reach maximum performance, the CPU uses all threads and cores that it has. 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. Since there are still many programs that 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 i7-12700F
Cinbench 15 Single-core	489	422
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	5150	3076
Cinbench 20 Single-core	816	1008
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	11450	6981
Cinbench 23 Single-core	2896	2358
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	32950	23014

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

	Intel Core i9-12900K	Intel Core i7-12700F
Single-Core	7546	5522
Multi-Core	56332	32222

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

	Intel Core i9-12900K	Intel Core i7-12700F
Single-Core	3641	1817
Multi-Core	25262	12764

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the processor release date and overclocking capability will be the most helpful. The newer the processor, 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. If 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 i7-12700F
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 i7-12700F in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that Core i9-12900K has 4 more core than Core i7-12700F. 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 i7-12700F is better: 4
Although it should be understood that all the figures in the article above do not mean that taking them into account you should totally trust a simple quantitative comparison. Better to watch benchmarks video and read the reviews of real owners of Intel Core i9-12900K and Intel Core i7-12700F before making a decision which CPU 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 i7-12700F - all data

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

• Intel Core i7-12700F specs and review.