Intel Core i9-12900KF vs Intel Core i5-12400

Processor comparisons   28-09-2022
   If you have difficulties with the choice of a processor, you will solve them by reading the detailed tests Intel Core i9-12900KF vs Intel Core i5-12400 and see which is better for games or simple use for machine learning, programming, video editing, rendering, streaming. Here is all information from many benchmarks or real streaming and video editing tests. A step-by-step analysis of all the specifications, so that it can be easier to understand, is summarized in the table.
   From the video comparison, you can get the results of parallel examination in synthetic type tests such as AIDA64, RealBench, DaVinci Resolve Studio, Dolphin Emulator, Blender, VeraCrypt, UserBenchmark, Gears 5, GeekBench 6, 5.2, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), Blender, PCMark 10, SuperPi, Furmark, 7zip, Handbrake, 3DMark, Prime95, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, MATLAB, PassMark, WPrime.
   Gaming performance of processors in:

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

After reading the results of parallel benchmarks and videos, you already be able to know which CPU is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i5-12400 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 i5-12400

57%

This parameter shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Core i9-12900KF is 13% better than Core i5-12400. 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 i5-12400

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 this processor costs 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 other games in which processors were compared: Ghostrunner, Battlefield V, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), Half-Life: Alyx, Hitman 3, NBA 2K20, Metro Exodus, Monster Hunter World, Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, Forza Horizon 4, League of Legends (LOL), Control, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Horizon Zero Dawn, DOTA 2A, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Microsoft Flight Simulator.

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	108.9	97.5
Valorant	123.8	110.8
Cyberpunk 2077	69.3	62.0
Apex Legends	116.4	104.1
Call of Duty Warzone	92.8	83.1
Overwatch	100.3	89.7
Red Dead Redemption 2	85.4	76.4
DOOM Eternal	61.9	55.4
Warzone	96.5	86.4
Assassin's Creed	104.0	93.0
Valheim	102.7	91.9

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, FullHD 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 i9-12900KF

52%

Core i5-12400

91%

To make a finishing resolution 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 i5-12400 is more energy efficient than the Core i9-12900KF as it consumes less power: 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 programming, machine learning, video rendering or video editing, streaming, then the main parameter for you is its performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, the processor uses all cores and threads that it has to the maximum to achieve maximum efficiency. 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. Since there are still many programs that can use only one core to run, and all the advantages of multi-core mode turns out to be unnecessary.
Cinebench 23, 20 an 15
The results of this benchmark show Single-threaded and Multi-threaded CPU performance

	Intel Core i9-12900KF	Intel Core i5-12400
Cinbench 15 Single-core	474	337
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	4996	2465
Cinbench 20 Single-core	792	808
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	11107	5598
Cinbench 23 Single-core	2809	1889
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	31962	18452

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

	Intel Core i9-12900KF	Intel Core i5-12400
Single-Core	7320	4427
Multi-Core	54642	25834

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

	Intel Core i9-12900KF	Intel Core i5-12400
Single-Core	1967	1785
Multi-Core	20514	9275

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 in the future. The same benefits from the presence of overclocking. When the processor can be overclocked, increasing its performance, then it will continue to maintain maximum FPS in the newest games. The savings are obvious! It turns out that there is no longer a need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer.

	Intel Core i9-12900KF	Intel Core i5-12400
Announcement date	July 21, 2021	January 07, 2022
Type	Desktop	Desktop
Socket	FCLGA1700	FCBGA1744
Core name	Alder Lake	Alder Lake
Architecture	x86	x86
Generation	12	12
Turbo Frequency	5.2 MHz	4.4 MHz
Frequency	3.9 MHz	3.3 MHz
Cores	16	6
Threads	24	12
Bus rate	16 GT/s	8 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	7 nm	7 nm
Transistors count	12600 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
L3 cache	30 MB	18 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 15% better than Core i5-12400 in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that Core i9-12900KF has 10 more core than Core i5-12400. 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: 29
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i5-12400 is better: 4
However, it should be realized that all the figures that you have looked at here do not mean that you should be guided entirely by them and trust a simple quantitative comparison. Better to watch the video tests and read the reviews of of people who bought Intel Core i9-12900KF and Intel Core i5-12400 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 i5-12400 - all data

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

• Intel Core i5-12400 specs and review.