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

Processor comparisons   28-08-2022
   For example you have difficulties with the choice of a CPU, you will solve them by reading the detailed tests Intel Core i9-12900KS vs Intel Core i9-12900KF and understand which is better for games or simple use for programming, rendering, video editing, streaming, machine learning. Here is all information from real streaming and video editing tests or several benchmarks. A careful analysis of all the technical characteristics, to make it easier to understand, is made by the table.
   From the video comparison, you can get the results of joint testing in synthetic type tests such as PCMark 10, 3DMark, Dolphin Emulator, SuperPi, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, PassMark, Gears 5, Blender, WPrime, UserBenchmark, DaVinci Resolve Studio, MATLAB, Blender, Handbrake, 7zip, Furmark, Prime95, RealBench, VeraCrypt, GeekBench 6, 5.2, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), AIDA64.
   Gaming performance of processors in:

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

After looking at the data these benchmarks and videos, you already be able to know which processor is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i9-12900KF 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 i9-12900KF

66%

This shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Core i9-12900KS is 9% better than Core i9-12900KF. The data source is several popular tests. Detailed information can be found below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Core i9-12900KS

61%

Core i9-12900KF

61%

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 play games. Because this processor costs several tens of thousands of dollars. And if it seems to you that the selected CPU has a little game result, 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, Half-Life: Alyx, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), NBA 2K20, Ghostrunner, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Forza Horizon 4, Microsoft Flight Simulator, Hitman 3, Metro Exodus, League of Legends (LOL), Monster Hunter World, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), Horizon Zero Dawn, DOTA 2A, Battlefield V, Control.

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	108.6	108.9
Valorant	123.4	123.8
Cyberpunk 2077	69.1	69.3
Apex Legends	116.0	116.4
Call of Duty Warzone	92.6	92.8
Overwatch	100.0	100.3
Red Dead Redemption 2	85.1	85.4
DOOM Eternal	61.7	61.9
Warzone	96.3	96.5
Assassin's Creed	103.7	104.0
Valheim	102.4	102.7

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 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 i9-12900KS

48%

Core i9-12900KF

52%

To make a final resolution 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 i9-12900KF is more energy efficient than the Core i9-12900KS since it has less power consumption: 150W vs. 125W. Power consumption is especially important for laptops. And TDP should be taken into account when choosing a processor cooling system. 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

If you want 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 achieve maximum performance, the processor includes all cores and threads 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 find out whether 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 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 i9-12900KS	Intel Core i9-12900KF
Cinbench 15 Single-core	669	474
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	6984	4996
Cinbench 20 Single-core	1113	792
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	15520	11107
Cinbench 23 Single-core	3930	2809
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	44652	31962

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

	Intel Core i9-12900KS	Intel Core i9-12900KF
Single-Core	4211	7320
Multi-Core	76561	54642

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

	Intel Core i9-12900KS	Intel Core i9-12900KF
Single-Core	2187	1967
Multi-Core	20189	20514

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 in your computer. And the easier it will be to upgrade the system later. The same benefits from the presence of overclocking. When the processor can be overclocked, increasing its performance, then it will still be able to produce maximum FPS even in new games. The savings are obvious! Accordingly, you do not need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer.

	Intel Core i9-12900KS	Intel Core i9-12900KF
Announcement date	March 27, 2022	July 21, 2021
Type	Desktop	Desktop
Socket	FCLGA1700	FCLGA1700
Core name	Alder Lake	Alder Lake
Architecture	x86	x86
Generation	12	12
Turbo Frequency	5.5 MHz	5.2 MHz
Frequency	4 MHz	3.9 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	12400 millions	12600 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	150 W	125 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	8 MB	14 MB
L3 cache	30 MB	30 MB
Overclocking	No	No
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 i9-12900KF 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 i9-12900KS is better: 13
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i9-12900KF is better: 15
However, it should be realized that all the data in the table above do not mean that taking them into account you should undividedly trust a simple quantitative comparison. Be sure to watch benchmarks video and read the opinion of of people who bought Intel Core i9-12900KS and Intel Core i9-12900KF before making a decision 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 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.