Intel Core i9-12900KF vs Intel Core i9-12900

Processor comparisons 10-01-2022

   If you can't decide which processor to buy, you can make a decision after reading the full tests Intel Core i9-12900KF vs Intel Core i9-12900 and decide which is better for games or normal use for video editing, streaming, rendering, programming, machine learning. Here you can find useful information from real streaming and video editing tests or various benchmarks. A step-by-step analysis of all the technical characteristics, to make it easier to understand, is summarized in the table.
   From the comparison video, you can get the results of joint testing in special testing software like Furmark, PassMark, SuperPi, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, UserBenchmark, Prime95, DaVinci Resolve Studio, Blender, Blender, 7zip, Handbrake, VeraCrypt, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), Gears 5, RealBench, GeekBench 6, 5.2, WPrime, MATLAB, PCMark 10, Dolphin Emulator, AIDA64, 3DMark.
   And how good the processors are in games:

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

After reading the results of parallel benchmarks and videos, you can already make an briefed decision about which processor is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i9-12900 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 i9-12900

65%

This shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Core i9-12900KF is 1% better than Core i9-12900. 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 i9-12900

59%

The maximum result in this parameter is 100 percent, which is the performance of the most powerful processor at the moment. And it is clear that this is a server processor, on which no one will run 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, just look at the FPS that it produces in real games in the final table below.
List of other games in which processors were compared: League of Legends (LOL), PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), Ghostrunner, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Monster Hunter World, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, NBA 2K20, Battlefield V, Hitman 3, Microsoft Flight Simulator, Metro Exodus, Half-Life: Alyx, Control, Horizon Zero Dawn, DOTA 2A, Forza Horizon 4.

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	108.9	104.3
Valorant	123.8	118.6
Cyberpunk 2077	69.3	66.4
Apex Legends	116.4	111.5
Call of Duty Warzone	92.8	88.9
Overwatch	100.3	96.0
Red Dead Redemption 2	85.4	81.8
DOOM Eternal	61.9	59.3
Warzone	96.5	92.5
Assassin's Creed	104.0	99.6
Valheim	102.7	98.4

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: 2K, 4K or FullHD. Therefore, 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 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 i9-12900

96%

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 i9-12900 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. It is necessary to count 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 machine learning, streaming, programming, video rendering or video editing, then the main parameter for you is its performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, the processor includes all threads and cores that it has to the maximum to achieve maximum performance. You will learn this data from the benchmark tables below. Before using the data from these tests, be sure to check whether the program 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 work, 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 i9-12900
Cinbench 15 Single-core	474	445
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	4996	4687
Cinbench 20 Single-core	792	743
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	11107	10420
Cinbench 23 Single-core	2809	2635
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	31962	29985

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

	Intel Core i9-12900KF	Intel Core i9-12900
Single-Core	7320	6867
Multi-Core	54642	51262

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

	Intel Core i9-12900KF	Intel Core i9-12900
Single-Core	1967	1885
Multi-Core	20514	16028

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 benefits from the presence of overclocking. If the processor can be overclocked, thereby increasing its performance, then it will still be able to produce maximum FPS 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 i9-12900
Announcement date	July 21, 2021	July 21, 2021
Type	Desktop	Desktop
Socket	FCLGA1700	FCLGA1700
Core name	Alder Lake	Alder Lake
Architecture	x86	x86
Generation	12	12
Turbo Frequency	5.2 MHz	5.1 MHz
Frequency	3.9 MHz	3.8 MHz
Cores	16	16
Threads	24	24
Bus rate	16 GT/s	16 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	7 nm	7 nm
Transistors count	12600 millions	12600 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	6400
Memory bandwidth	76.8 GB/s	76.8 GB/s
L1 cache	2 MB	2 MB
L2 cache	14 MB	12 MB
L3 cache	30 MB	30 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 2% better than Core i9-12900 in terms of CPU frequency. 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: 24
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i9-12900 is better: 1
Although it should be realized 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 reviews of of people who bought Intel Core i9-12900KF and Intel Core i9-12900 before making a selection 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 i9-12900 - all data

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

• Intel Core i9-12900 specs and review.