Intel Core i9-12900K vs Intel Core i9-10900K

Processor comparisons 28-09-2022

   For example 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 i9-10900K tests and see which is better for games or normal use for rendering, programming, streaming, video editing, machine learning. Here you can find all information from many benchmarks or real video editing and streaming tests. A thorough review of all the specifications, to make it easier to read, is summarized in the table.
   From the video comparison, you can get the results of joint testing in software tests like UserBenchmark, AIDA64, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, Prime95, DaVinci Resolve Studio, WPrime, Furmark, PassMark, Blender, MATLAB, VeraCrypt, Blender, RealBench, GeekBench 6, 5.2, Handbrake, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), Dolphin Emulator, PCMark 10, Gears 5, 7zip, 3DMark, SuperPi.
   Gaming performance of processors in:

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

After reading the results these benchmarks and videos, you already be able to figure out which CPU is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i9-10900K 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 i9-10900K

57%

This parameter shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Core i9-12900K is 14% better than Core i9-10900K. 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 i9-10900K

58%

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

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	113.8	102.7
Valorant	129.3	116.7
Cyberpunk 2077	72.4	65.3
Apex Legends	121.5	109.7
Call of Duty Warzone	97.0	87.5
Overwatch	104.7	94.5
Red Dead Redemption 2	89.2	80.5
DOOM Eternal	64.6	58.3
Warzone	100.8	91.0
Assassin's Creed	108.6	98.0
Valheim	107.3	96.8

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. 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 i9-10900K

43%

To make a final choice on which processor is better, you should also consider the generation of its core. It is clear that the newer the generation, the better the performance of the processor in games and benchmarks, as well as its energy efficiency. In this case the Core i9-12900K is more energy efficient than the Core i9-10900K as it consumes less power: 125W vs. 125W. Power consumption is particularly important for laptops. Also, when choosing a processor cooling system, you must 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

Let's say you plan to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for streaming, programming, video rendering or video editing, machine learning, then first of all you need to pay attention to the performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, to achieve maximum performance, the CPU turns on all threads and cores 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 check whether the software you are going to use on your computer supports multi-threaded mode. Since there are still many programs that 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 i9-10900K
Cinbench 15 Single-core	489	234
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	5150	2677
Cinbench 20 Single-core	816	539
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	11450	6399
Cinbench 23 Single-core	2896	1418
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	32950	17325

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

	Intel Core i9-12900K	Intel Core i9-10900K
Single-Core	7546	3141
Multi-Core	56332	24010

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

	Intel Core i9-12900K	Intel Core i9-10900K
Single-Core	3641	1617
Multi-Core	25262	14374

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the most useful will be the release date of the processor and the possibility of overclocking it. 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, thereby increasing its performance, then it will continue to maintain maximum FPS in the newest games. Accordingly, you do not need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer. The savings are obvious!

	Intel Core i9-12900K	Intel Core i9-10900K
Announcement date	July 21, 2021	April 01, 2020
Type	Desktop	Desktop
Socket	FCLGA1700	FCLGA1200
Core name	Alder Lake	Comet Lake
Architecture	x86	x86
Generation	12	10
Turbo Frequency	5.2 MHz	5.3 MHz
Frequency	3.9 MHz	3.7 MHz
Cores	16	10
Threads	24	20
Bus rate	16 GT/s	8 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	7 nm	14 nm
Transistors count	12400 millions	9200 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	125 W	125 W
Memory type	Up to DDR5 4800 MT/s Up to DDR4 3200 MT/s	DDR4-2933
Max. Memory	128 Gb	128 Gb
Memory Frequency	6400
Memory bandwidth	76.8 GB/s	45.8 GB/s
L1 cache	2 MB
L2 cache	14 MB
L3 cache	30 MB	20 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 5% better than Core i9-10900K in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that Core i9-12900K has 6 more core than Core i9-10900K. 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: 33
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i9-10900K is better: 2
However, it should be understood that all the figures that you have looked at here do not mean that taking them into account you should entirely 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 i9-10900K 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 i9-10900K specs and review.