Intel Core i9-12900KF vs Intel Core i5-11400F

Processor comparisons   28-09-2022
   If you can't decide which CPU to buy, you can make a decision by looking at the Intel Core i9-12900KF vs Intel Core i5-11400F tests and decide which is better for games or normal use for programming, machine learning, video editing, rendering, streaming. Here is useful information from real streaming and video editing tests or different benchmarks. A thorough review 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 testing software such as PassMark, MATLAB, DaVinci Resolve Studio, VeraCrypt, Prime95, Furmark, Handbrake, SuperPi, RealBench, 3DMark, Dolphin Emulator, Blender, GeekBench 6, 5.2, WPrime, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, PCMark 10, UserBenchmark, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), Gears 5, 7zip, AIDA64, Blender.
   Gaming performance of CPUs in:

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

After looking at the data of joint benchmarks and videos, you already be able to understand which processor is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i5-11400F or Intel Core i9-12900KF.

Summary benchmark results

As a percentage of the maximum value based on a sample from the entire base of all processors
Processor Benchmark

Core i9-12900KF

66%

Core i5-11400F

55%

The number of this parameter shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Core i9-12900KF is 16% better than Core i5-11400F. The data source is several popular tests. Detailed information can be found below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Core i9-12900KF

61%

Core i5-11400F

55%

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 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 low game result, look at the FPS that it produces in real games in the final table below.
List of other games in which processors were compared: Horizon Zero Dawn, Monster Hunter World, Half-Life: Alyx, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Ghostrunner, Battlefield V, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, Microsoft Flight Simulator, DOTA 2A, Control, Hitman 3, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Metro Exodus, Forza Horizon 4, NBA 2K20, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), League of Legends (LOL).

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	108.9	98.4
Valorant	123.8	111.8
Cyberpunk 2077	69.3	62.6
Apex Legends	116.4	105.1
Call of Duty Warzone	92.8	83.9
Overwatch	100.3	90.6
Red Dead Redemption 2	85.4	77.1
DOOM Eternal	61.9	55.9
Warzone	96.5	87.2
Assassin's Creed	104.0	93.9
Valheim	102.7	92.8

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 computers that were in the comparisons not only did they have different video cards and different amounts of RAM. But users also tested them at different screen resolutions: 2K, 4K or FullHD. 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 i9-12900KF

52%

Core i5-11400F

118%

To make a final 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 i5-11400F is more energy efficient than the Core i9-12900KF since it has less power consumption: 125W vs. 65W. Power consumption is especially important for laptops. Also, when choosing a processor cooling system, it will be useful 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

Let's say you plan to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for streaming, video rendering or video editing, machine learning, programming, then the main parameter for you is its performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, to achieve maximum performance, the CPU includes 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 check whether the software you are going to use on your computer supports multi-threaded mode. Because there are still many programs that use only one core to run, 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 i9-12900KF	Intel Core i5-11400F
Cinbench 15 Single-core	474	180
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	4996	1726
Cinbench 20 Single-core	792	421
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	11107	3865
Cinbench 23 Single-core	2809	1099
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	31962	10233

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

	Intel Core i9-12900KF	Intel Core i5-11400F
Single-Core	7320	2451
Multi-Core	54642	18669

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

	Intel Core i9-12900KF	Intel Core i5-11400F
Single-Core	1967	2309
Multi-Core	20514	10184

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 i9-12900KF	Intel Core i5-11400F
Announcement date	July 21, 2021	January 20, 2021
Type	Desktop	Desktop
Socket	FCLGA1700	FCLGA1200
Core name	Alder Lake	Rocket Lake
Architecture	x86	x86
Generation	12	11
Turbo Frequency	5.2 MHz	4.4 MHz
Frequency	3.9 MHz	2.6 MHz
Cores	16	6
Threads	24	12
Bus rate	16 GT/s	8 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	7 nm	14 nm
Transistors count	12600 millions	5400 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	125 W	65 W
Memory type	Up to DDR5 4800 MT/s Up to DDR4 3200 MT/s	DDR4-3200
Max. Memory	128 Gb	128 Gb
Memory Frequency	6400	3200
Memory bandwidth	76.8 GB/s	50 GB/s
L1 cache	2 MB
L2 cache	14 MB	3 MB
L3 cache	30 MB	12 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 i9-12900KF is 33% better than Core i5-11400F in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that Core i9-12900KF has 10 more core than Core i5-11400F. 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 i9-12900KF is better: 32
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i5-11400F is better: 4
Although it should be understood that the summary data in the article above do not mean that you should be guided entirely by them and trust a simple comparison of these numbers. Be sure to watch benchmarks video and read the opinion of of people who bought Intel Core i9-12900KF and Intel Core i5-11400F before making a decision which of the processors to buy for gaming.

Intel Core i9-12900KF - all data

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

• Intel Core i9-12900KF specs and review.

Intel Core i5-11400F - all data

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

• Intel Core i5-11400F specs and review.