Intel Core i9-12900KS vs Intel Core i5-11600KF

Processor comparisons   28-09-2022
   Perhaps you can't decide which processor to buy, you can make a choice by looking at the Intel Core i9-12900KS vs Intel Core i5-11600KF tests and decide which is better for games or normal use for streaming, video editing, rendering, programming, machine learning. Here is all information from real streaming and video editing tests or many benchmarks. A careful analysis of all the specifications, so that it can be easier to read, is summarized in the table.
   From the video comparison, you can get the results of parallel examination in software tests such as Prime95, Blender, MATLAB, RealBench, Gears 5, Handbrake, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, AIDA64, Dolphin Emulator, 7zip, GeekBench 6, 5.2, VeraCrypt, SuperPi, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), 3DMark, DaVinci Resolve Studio, PCMark 10, Furmark, PassMark, Blender, WPrime, UserBenchmark.
   Gaming performance of CPUs in:

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

After reading the results of parallel benchmarks and videos, you already be able to understand which CPU is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i5-11600KF or Intel Core i9-12900KS.

Summary benchmark results

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

Core i9-12900KS

73%

Core i5-11600KF

56%

This shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Core i9-12900KS is 23% better than Core i5-11600KF. The data source is several popular tests. More detailed information of the benchmarks is below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Core i9-12900KS

61%

Core i5-11600KF

54%

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

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	108.6	95.1
Valorant	123.4	108.0
Cyberpunk 2077	69.1	60.5
Apex Legends	116.0	101.6
Call of Duty Warzone	92.6	81.0
Overwatch	100.0	87.5
Red Dead Redemption 2	85.1	74.6
DOOM Eternal	61.7	54.0
Warzone	96.3	84.3
Assassin's Creed	103.7	90.8
Valheim	102.4	89.7

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 amounts of RAM and different video cards. But users also tested them at different screen resolutions: 4K, 2K or FullHD. 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 i9-12900KS

48%

Core i5-11600KF

42%

To make a final 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 i9-12900KS is more energy efficient than the Core i5-11600KF since it has less power consumption: 150W vs. 125W. Power consumption is particularly 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

For example you plan to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for machine learning, video rendering or video editing, streaming, programming, then the main parameter for you is its performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, to reach maximum efficiency, the CPU includes all threads and cores that it has. You will find out this data from the benchmark tables below. Before you take into account the data from these tests, be sure to make sure that the program 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 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 i9-12900KS	Intel Core i5-11600KF
Cinbench 15 Single-core	669	197
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	6984	1886
Cinbench 20 Single-core	1113	460
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	15520	4227
Cinbench 23 Single-core	3930	1201
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	44652	11189

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

	Intel Core i9-12900KS	Intel Core i5-11600KF
Single-Core	4211	2680
Multi-Core	76561	20410

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

	Intel Core i9-12900KS	Intel Core i5-11600KF
Single-Core	2187	1605
Multi-Core	20189	6942

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the processor release date and overclocking capability will be the most helpful. 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 benefits from the presence of overclocking. If the processor can be overclocked, increasing its performance, then it will continue to maintain maximum FPS in new games. Accordingly, you do not need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer. The economy are obvious!

	Intel Core i9-12900KS	Intel Core i5-11600KF
Announcement date	March 27, 2022	January 20, 2021
Type	Desktop	Desktop
Socket	FCLGA1700	FCLGA1200
Core name	Alder Lake	Rocket Lake
Architecture	x86	x86
Generation	12	11
Turbo Frequency	5.5 MHz	4.9 MHz
Frequency	4 MHz	3.9 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	12400 millions	5400 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	150 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	50 GB/s
L1 cache	2 MB
L2 cache	8 MB	3 MB
L3 cache	30 MB	12 MB
Overclocking	No	Yes
Supports ECC	Yes	No
Part number	Expansion Options

In this comparison block, you should pay attention to the differences in clock speed and the number of cores. Here Core i9-12900KS is 2% better than Core i5-11600KF in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that Core i9-12900KS has 10 more core than Core i5-11600KF. 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 i9-12900KS is better: 35
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i5-11600KF is better: 3
However, it should be realized that all the number that you have looked at here do not mean that taking them into account you should completely trust a simple quantitative comparison. Be sure to watch the video tests and read the reviews of of people who bought Intel Core i9-12900KS and Intel Core i5-11600KF before making a choice which processor to buy for gaming and which not.

Intel Core i9-12900KS - all data

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

• Intel Core i9-12900KS specs and review.

Intel Core i5-11600KF - all data

• Overwatch gaming benchmark
• Fortnite gaming benchmark
• GTA 5 gaming benchmark
• Apex Legends gaming benchmark
• Assassin's Creed gaming benchmark
• Roblox gaming benchmark
• Cyberpunk 2077 gaming benchmark
• Call of Duty: Warzone gaming benchmark
• Cinebench r15 score
• Cinebench r20 score
• Cinebench r23 score
• GeekBench 6, 5.2 score

• Intel Core i5-11600KF specs and review.