Intel Core i9-12900KF vs Intel Core i5-12600

Processor comparisons 28-09-2022

   If you are thinking about choosing a CPU, you will be able to make a decision after reading the full tests Intel Core i9-12900KF vs Intel Core i5-12600 and understand which is better for games or simple use for machine learning, programming, streaming, video editing, rendering. Here is all information from various benchmarks or real streaming and video editing tests. A step-by-step analysis of all the technical characteristics, to make it easier to understand, is presented in the form of the table.
   From the video comparison, you can get the results of parallel examination in special test applications like AIDA64, Dolphin Emulator, Furmark, Gears 5, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, PassMark, Prime95, RealBench, MATLAB, 3DMark, Handbrake, Blender, UserBenchmark, PCMark 10, 7zip, WPrime, GeekBench 6, 5.2, DaVinci Resolve Studio, VeraCrypt, Blender, SuperPi.
   Gaming performance of processors in:

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

After reading the results of all benchmarks and videos, you already be able to understand which processor is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i5-12600 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 i5-12600

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 i5-12600. The data source is several popular tests. More detailed information of the benchmarks is below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Core i9-12900KF

61%

Core i5-12600

55%

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

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	108.9	97.6
Valorant	123.8	110.9
Cyberpunk 2077	69.3	62.1
Apex Legends	116.4	104.3
Call of Duty Warzone	92.8	83.2
Overwatch	100.3	89.8
Red Dead Redemption 2	85.4	76.5
DOOM Eternal	61.9	55.5
Warzone	96.5	86.5
Assassin's Creed	104.0	93.2
Valheim	102.7	92.1

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 comparisons not only were the equipped with different amounts of RAM and different video cards. 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. 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 i5-12600

96%

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 i5-12600 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, you need 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 machine learning, programming, streaming, video editing or video rendering, then first of all you need to pay attention to the performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, to reach maximum performance, the processor 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. 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 i5-12600
Cinbench 15 Single-core	474	326
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	4996	2380
Cinbench 20 Single-core	792	780
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	11107	5404
Cinbench 23 Single-core	2809	1824
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	31962	17812

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

	Intel Core i9-12900KF	Intel Core i5-12600
Single-Core	7320	4273
Multi-Core	54642	24937

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

	Intel Core i9-12900KF	Intel Core i5-12600
Single-Core	1967	1877
Multi-Core	20514	9425

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 later the processor is released, the longer it will last you. And the easier it will be to upgrade the system later. The same can be said about overclocking. If the processor can be overclocked, increasing its performance, then it will still be able to produce maximum FPS even in the newest games. Accordingly, you do not need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer. The economy are obvious!

	Intel Core i9-12900KF	Intel Core i5-12600
Announcement date	July 21, 2021	January 07, 2022
Type	Desktop	Desktop
Socket	FCLGA1700	FCLGA1700
Core name	Alder Lake	Alder Lake
Architecture	x86	x86
Generation	12	12
Turbo Frequency	5.2 MHz	4.8 MHz
Frequency	3.9 MHz	3.3 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 i5-12600 in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that Core i9-12900KF has 10 more core than Core i5-12600. 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: 30
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i5-12600 is better: 3
However, it should be understood that the summary data in the text above do not mean that taking them into account you should totally trust a simple comparison of these figures. Be sure to watch benchmarks video and read the opinion of real owners of Intel Core i9-12900KF and Intel Core i5-12600 before deciding 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 i5-12600 - all data

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

• Intel Core i5-12600 specs and review.