Intel Core i9-12900KS vs Intel Core i9-10850K

Processor comparisons   28-09-2022
   For example you are thinking about choosing a processor, you will be able to make a decision by looking at the Intel Core i9-12900KS vs Intel Core i9-10850K tests and understand which is better for games or simple use for rendering, machine learning, video editing, streaming, programming. Here you can find useful information from real streaming and video editing tests or various benchmarks. A careful review of all the specifications, to make it easier to understand, is made by the table.
   From the video comparison, you can get the results of joint testing in special test applications like Blender, PCMark 10, Handbrake, Dolphin Emulator, RealBench, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, Furmark, 3DMark, GeekBench 6, 5.2, MATLAB, VeraCrypt, Blender, UserBenchmark, Prime95, WPrime, Gears 5, AIDA64, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), 7zip, PassMark, SuperPi, DaVinci Resolve Studio.
   Gaming performance of CPUs in:

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

After reading the results of joint benchmarks and videos, you already be able to understand which processor is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i9-10850K 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 i9-10850K

57%

This parameter shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Core i9-12900KS is 21% better than Core i9-10850K. 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 i9-10850K

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. And if it seems to you that the selected CPU has a low game result, just look at the FPS that it produces in real games in the summary table below.
List of other games in which CPU comparisons were performed: The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Metro Exodus, Microsoft Flight Simulator, Half-Life: Alyx, Battlefield V, Forza Horizon 4, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), Horizon Zero Dawn, Monster Hunter World, Control, Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, Hitman 3, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), DOTA 2A, Ghostrunner, NBA 2K20, League of Legends (LOL).

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	108.6	99.8
Valorant	123.4	113.4
Cyberpunk 2077	69.1	63.5
Apex Legends	116.0	106.6
Call of Duty Warzone	92.6	85.1
Overwatch	100.0	91.9
Red Dead Redemption 2	85.1	78.3
DOOM Eternal	61.7	56.7
Warzone	96.3	88.5
Assassin's Creed	103.7	95.3
Valheim	102.4	94.1

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 that were in the comparisons not only did they have different video cards and different amounts of RAM. But users also tested them at different screen resolutions: 2K, 4K 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 compare it in one assembly with the video card that is installed in your computer.

Power consumption

Core i9-12900KS

48%

Core i9-10850K

36%

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 i9-12900KS is more energy efficient than the Core i9-10850K since it has less power consumption: 150W vs. 125W. Power consumption is especially important for laptops. Also, when choosing a processor cooling system, you must 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

Let's say you want to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for streaming, machine learning, programming, video editing or video rendering, then first of all you need to pay attention to the performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, the CPU uses all cores and threads that it has to the maximum to reach maximum performance. You will find out this data from the benchmark tables below. Before using 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. Because there are still many programs that use only one core to work, 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 i9-10850K
Cinbench 15 Single-core	669	229
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	6984	2616
Cinbench 20 Single-core	1113	536
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	15520	6318
Cinbench 23 Single-core	3930	1367
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	44652	16820

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

	Intel Core i9-12900KS	Intel Core i9-10850K
Single-Core	4211	3074
Multi-Core	76561	23350

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

	Intel Core i9-12900KS	Intel Core i9-10850K
Single-Core	2187	1383
Multi-Core	20189	11578

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the most useful will be the release date of the processor and the possibility of overclocking it. The newer the processor, the longer it will last you. And the easier it will be to upgrade the system in the future. The same can be said about overclocking. If the processor can be overclocked, thereby increasing its performance, then it will continue to maintain maximum FPS in the newest games. Accordingly, you do not need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer. The savings are obvious!

	Intel Core i9-12900KS	Intel Core i9-10850K
Announcement date	March 27, 2022	April 01, 2020
Type	Desktop	Desktop
Socket	FCLGA1700	FCLGA1200
Core name	Alder Lake	Comet Lake
Architecture	x86	x86
Generation	12	10
Turbo Frequency	5.5 MHz	5.1 MHz
Frequency	4 MHz	3.6 MHz
Cores	16	10
Threads	24	20
Bus rate	16 GT/s	8 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	7 nm	14 nm
Transistors count	12400 millions	9200 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	150 W	125 W
Memory type	Up to DDR5 4800 MT/s Up to DDR4 3200 MT/s	DDR4-2933
Max. Memory	128 Gb	128 Gb
Memory Frequency	6400
Memory bandwidth	76.8 GB/s	45.8 GB/s
L1 cache	2 MB
L2 cache	8 MB
L3 cache	30 MB	20 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 9% better than Core i9-10850K in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that Core i9-12900KS has 6 more core than Core i9-10850K. 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 i9-10850K is better: 3
Although it should be understood that all the number in the article above do not mean that taking them into account you should fully trust a simple comparison of these numbers. Be sure to watch the video tests and read the reviews of real owners of Intel Core i9-12900KS and Intel Core i9-10850K before deciding which of the CPUs to buy for gaming.

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 i9-10850K specs and review.