Intel Core i9-12900KF vs Intel Core i7-11700KF

Processor comparisons 28-09-2022

   If you can't decide which CPU to buy, you can make a choice after reading the detailed tests Intel Core i9-12900KF vs Intel Core i7-11700KF and see which is better for games or normal use for video editing, rendering, streaming, machine learning, programming. Here you can find useful information from many benchmarks or real streaming and video editing tests. A careful review of all the specifications, so that it can be easier to understand, is made by the table.
   From the comparison video, you can get the results of parallel examination in special testing software such as WPrime, Dolphin Emulator, PCMark 10, Gears 5, SuperPi, PassMark, VeraCrypt, GeekBench 6, 5.2, MATLAB, 3DMark, RealBench, UserBenchmark, 7zip, Blender, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, AIDA64, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), DaVinci Resolve Studio, Handbrake, Blender, Prime95, Furmark.
   Gaming performance of processors in:

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

After reading the results these benchmarks and videos, you can already make an briefed decision about which CPU is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i7-11700KF 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 i7-11700KF

58%

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 12% better than Core i7-11700KF. 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 i7-11700KF

56%

For the maximum in this test, the results of the most powerful processor in the site database are taken. And of course, this is a server processor, on which no one will run games. Because this processor costs several tens of thousands of dollars. Therefore, if you think that the selected CPU has a small game result, just look at the FPS that it produces in real games in the final table below.
List of less popular games in which processors were compared: League of Legends (LOL), Hitman 3, Forza Horizon 4, Microsoft Flight Simulator, Control, DOTA 2A, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), Monster Hunter World, Horizon Zero Dawn, Half-Life: Alyx, Metro Exodus, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Battlefield V, Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, Ghostrunner, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, NBA 2K20.

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	108.9	99.1
Valorant	123.8	112.6
Cyberpunk 2077	69.3	63.1
Apex Legends	116.4	105.9
Call of Duty Warzone	92.8	84.5
Overwatch	100.3	91.2
Red Dead Redemption 2	85.4	77.7
DOOM Eternal	61.9	56.3
Warzone	96.5	87.9
Assassin's Creed	104.0	94.6
Valheim	102.7	93.5

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 amounts of RAM and different video cards. But users also tested them at different screen resolutions: 4K, 2K 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 i7-11700KF

47%

To make a finishing decision 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 i9-12900KF is more energy efficient than the Core i7-11700KF since it has less power consumption: 125W vs. 125W. Power consumption is particularly important for laptops. Also, when choosing a processor cooling system, it will be useful to 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

Let's say you plan to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for programming, streaming, machine learning, video editing or video rendering, then the main parameter for you is its performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, to achieve 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 make sure that the software 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 i9-12900KF	Intel Core i7-11700KF
Cinbench 15 Single-core	474	259
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	4996	2482
Cinbench 20 Single-core	792	606
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	11107	5562
Cinbench 23 Single-core	2809	1580
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	31962	14720

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

	Intel Core i9-12900KF	Intel Core i7-11700KF
Single-Core	7320	3526
Multi-Core	54642	26855

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

	Intel Core i9-12900KF	Intel Core i7-11700KF
Single-Core	1967	1793
Multi-Core	20514	10909

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the processor release date and overclocking capability will be the most helpful. 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. If the processor can be overclocked, thereby increasing its performance, then it will still be able to produce maximum FPS even in new games. It turns out that there is no longer a need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer. The savings are obvious!

	Intel Core i9-12900KF	Intel Core i7-11700KF
Announcement date	July 21, 2021	January 20, 2021
Type	Desktop	Desktop
Socket	FCLGA1700	FCLGA1200
Core name	Alder Lake	Rocket Lake-S
Architecture	x86	x86
Generation	12	11
Turbo Frequency	5.2 MHz	5 MHz
Frequency	3.9 MHz	3.6 MHz
Cores	16	8
Threads	24	16
Bus rate	16 GT/s	12 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	7 nm	14 nm
Transistors count	12600 millions	8200 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	125 W	125 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	64 GB/s
L1 cache	2 MB
L2 cache	14 MB	4 MB
L3 cache	30 MB	16 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 i9-12900KF is 7% better than Core i7-11700KF in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that Core i9-12900KF has 8 more core than Core i7-11700KF. 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: 34
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i7-11700KF is better: 2
Although it should be understood that all the data in the article above do not mean that taking them into account you should totally trust a simple comparison of these numbers. Be sure to watch the video tests and read the opinion of of people who bought Intel Core i9-12900KF and Intel Core i7-11700KF before making a decision which CPU to buy for gaming and which not.

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 i7-11700KF specs and review.