Intel Core i9-12900K vs Intel Core i7-12850HX

Processor comparisons   28-09-2022
   Let's say you are thinking about choosing a processor, you will be able to make a choice by looking at the Intel Core i9-12900K vs Intel Core i7-12850HX tests and understand which is better for games or normal use for streaming, video editing, programming, rendering, machine learning. Here is useful information from real streaming and video editing tests or different benchmarks. A thorough analysis of all the technical characteristics, so that it can be easier to understand, is made by the table.
   From the comparison video, you can get the results of parallel examination in synthetic type tests such as VeraCrypt, PassMark, 3DMark, DaVinci Resolve Studio, Gears 5, GeekBench 6, 5.2, Dolphin Emulator, Blender, Handbrake, Furmark, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, AIDA64, PCMark 10, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), SuperPi, Prime95, UserBenchmark, Blender, MATLAB, 7zip, WPrime, RealBench.
   And how good the processors are in games:

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

After looking at the data these benchmarks and videos, you can already make an informed decision about which CPU is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i7-12850HX 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 i7-12850HX

61%

This parameter shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Core i9-12900K is 8% better than Core i7-12850HX. 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 i7-12850HX

58%

The maximum result in this parameter is 100 percent, which is the performance of the most powerful processor at the moment. And of course, this is a server processor, on which no one will play games. Because this processor costs 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 less popular games in which CPU comparisons were performed: Half-Life: Alyx, Horizon Zero Dawn, Forza Horizon 4, Battlefield V, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), Metro Exodus, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, NBA 2K20, Control, Monster Hunter World, Microsoft Flight Simulator, Ghostrunner, League of Legends (LOL), DOTA 2A, Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), Hitman 3.

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	113.8	102.4
Valorant	129.3	116.4
Cyberpunk 2077	72.4	65.2
Apex Legends	121.5	109.4
Call of Duty Warzone	97.0	87.3
Overwatch	104.7	94.3
Red Dead Redemption 2	89.2	80.3
DOOM Eternal	64.6	58.2
Warzone	100.8	90.8
Assassin's Creed	108.6	97.8
Valheim	107.3	96.6

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: 2K, 4K or FullHD. 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 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 i7-12850HX

109%

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 i7-12850HX is more energy efficient than the Core i9-12900K as it consumes less power: 125W vs. 55W. Power consumption is particularly 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

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 first of all you need to pay attention to the performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, the CPU uses all cores and threads that it has to the maximum to reach maximum performance. 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 software 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 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 i7-12850HX
Cinbench 15 Single-core	489	491
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	5150	3628
Cinbench 20 Single-core	816	1184
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	11450	8244
Cinbench 23 Single-core	2896	2780
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	32950	27196

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

	Intel Core i9-12900K	Intel Core i7-12850HX
Single-Core	7546	6519
Multi-Core	56332	38078

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

	Intel Core i9-12900K	Intel Core i7-12850HX
Single-Core	3641	1813
Multi-Core	25262	14133

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 in your computer. And the easier it will be to upgrade the system later. The same benefits from the presence of overclocking. If the processor can be overclocked, increasing its performance, then it will continue to maintain maximum FPS in new 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 i7-12850HX
Announcement date	July 21, 2021	June 15, 2022
Type	Desktop	Laptop
Socket	FCLGA1700	FCBGA1964
Core name	Alder Lake	Alder Lake
Architecture	x86	x86
Generation	12	12
Turbo Frequency	5.2 MHz	4.8 MHz
Frequency	3.9 MHz	3.4 MHz
Cores	16	16
Threads	24	24
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	25 MB
Overclocking	No	No
Supports ECC	No	Yes
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 12% better than Core i7-12850HX in terms of CPU frequency. 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: 26
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i7-12850HX is better: 6
Although it should be realized that all the data in the text above do not mean that taking them into account you should undividedly trust a simple quantitative comparison. Be sure to watch benchmarks video and read the opinion of real owners of Intel Core i9-12900K and Intel Core i7-12850HX before making a choice 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 i7-12850HX - all data

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

• Intel Core i7-12850HX specs and review.