Intel Core i9-12900K vs Intel Core i9-10980XE

Processor comparisons 22-07-2021

   You may have difficulties with the choice of a processor, you will solve them by reading the comprehensive tests Intel Core i9-12900K vs Intel Core i9-10980XE and understand which is better for games or simple use for streaming, video editing, rendering, programming, machine learning. Here you can find all information from many benchmarks or real streaming and video editing tests. A thorough analysis of all the technical characteristics, so that it can be easier to understand, is made by the table.
   From the video comparison, you can get the results of joint testing in special testing software like UserBenchmark, WPrime, AIDA64, Handbrake, DaVinci Resolve Studio, VeraCrypt, Prime95, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), Geekbench 5.2, 3DMark, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, Dolphin Emulator, PassMark, Gears 5, PCMark 10, Blender, 7zip, Blender, MATLAB, Furmark, RealBench, SuperPi.
   Gaming performance of CPUs in:

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

After looking at the data of parallel benchmarks and videos, you can already make an briefed decision about which CPU is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i9-10980XE 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

76%

Core i9-10980XE

65%

This value shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Core i9-12900K is 14% better than Core i9-10980XE. The data source is several popular tests. Detailed information can be found below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Core i9-12900K

72%

Core i9-10980XE

67%

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 play games. Because this processor costs several tens of thousands of dollars. Therefore, if you think that the selected CPU has a low 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: Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, League of Legends (LOL), Half-Life: Alyx, Horizon Zero Dawn, DOTA 2A, Forza Horizon 4, Hitman 3, Ghostrunner, Control, Battlefield V, NBA 2K20, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), Monster Hunter World, Microsoft Flight Simulator, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Metro Exodus.

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	127.0	119.3
Valorant	144.4	135.6
Cyberpunk 2077	80.8	75.9
Apex Legends	135.7	127.5
Call of Duty Warzone	108.3	101.7
Overwatch	116.9	109.8
Red Dead Redemption 2	99.6	93.6
DOOM Eternal	72.2	67.8
Warzone	112.6	105.8
Assassin's Creed	121.3	113.9
Valheim	119.8	112.6

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 tested computers not only did they have different amounts of RAM and different video cards. 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. You will get more accurate information about how powerful 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 i9-10980XE

28%

To make a finishing decision 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 i9-10980XE as it consumes less power: 125W vs. 165W. 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

For example you plan to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for video rendering or video editing, streaming, machine learning, programming, then the main parameter for you is its performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, to reach maximum efficiency, the processor includes all cores and threads that it has. You will learn this data from the benchmark tables below. Before using the data from these tests, be sure to make sure that 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 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 i9-10980XE
Cinbench 15 Single-core	489	211
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	5150	3800
Cinbench 20 Single-core	816	480
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	11450	8848
Cinbench 23 Single-core	2896	1191
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	32950	24309

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

	Intel Core i9-12900K	Intel Core i9-10980XE
Single-Core	7546	2626
Multi-Core	56332	34005

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

	Intel Core i9-12900K	Intel Core i9-10980XE
Single-Core	3641	1417
Multi-Core	25262	20280

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 newer the processor, the longer it will last you. And the easier it will be to upgrade the system later. The same can be said about overclocking. When the processor can be overclocked, increasing its performance, then it will continue to maintain maximum FPS in new games. Accordingly, there is no longer a need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer. The economy are obvious!

	Intel Core i9-12900K	Intel Core i9-10980XE
Announcement date	July 21, 2021	October 01, 2019
Type	Desktop	Desktop
Socket	FCLGA1700	FCLGA2066
Core name	Alder Lake	Cascade Lake
Architecture	x86	x86
Generation	12	10
Turbo Frequency	5.2 MHz	4.8 MHz
Frequency	3.9 MHz	3 MHz
Cores	16	18
Threads	24	36
Bus rate	16 GT/s	8 GT/s DMI3
Bit	64	64
Lithography	7 nm	14 nm
Transistors count	2950 millions	9200 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	125 W	165 W
Memory type	Up to DDR5 4800 MT/s Up to DDR4 3200 MT/s	DDR4-2933
Max. Memory	128 Gb	256 Gb
Memory Frequency	6400
Memory bandwidth	76.8 GB/s	94 GB/s
L1 cache	2 MB
L2 cache	14 MB
L3 cache	30 MB	24.75 MB
Overclocking	No	Yes
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 23% better than Core i9-10980XE in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that Core i9-10980XE has 2 more core than Core i9-12900K. 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: 31
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i9-10980XE is better: 7
However, it should be realized that all the data in the table above do not mean that you should be guided entirely by them and trust a simple comparison of these figures. Be sure to watch the testing video and read the reviews of of people who bought Intel Core i9-12900K and Intel Core i9-10980XE before making a decision which of the processors to buy for gaming.
• Cinebench r20 score
• Cinebench r23 score
• GeekBench 5 score
• Cinebench r15 score

Versus Battle of the Processors
• Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5995WX Vs Core i9-12900K
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• Core i9-13900K Vs Core i9-12900K
• Vs EPYC 7702
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• Vs EPYC 7713P
• Vs EPYC 75F3
• Vs EPYC 7713
• Vs EPYC 7742
• Vs Ryzen Threadripper 3970X

• Intel Core i9-12900K specs and review.

• Intel Core i9-10980XE specs and review.