Intel Core i9-12900KS vs Intel Core i9-13900K

Processor comparisons   28-08-2022
   For example you are thinking about choosing a processor, you will be able to make a choice after reading the detailed tests Intel Core i9-12900KS vs Intel Core i9-13900K and see which is better for games or normal use for programming, streaming, video editing, machine learning, rendering. Here is useful information from several benchmarks or real streaming and video editing tests. A careful analysis of all the technical characteristics, to make it easier to read, is presented in the form of the table.
   From the video comparison, you can get the results of joint testing in software tests such as Dolphin Emulator, Blender, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), Furmark, 3DMark, SuperPi, WPrime, UserBenchmark, Blender, Handbrake, MATLAB, DaVinci Resolve Studio, VeraCrypt, Prime95, PCMark 10, GeekBench 6, 5.2, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, PassMark, AIDA64, 7zip, RealBench, Gears 5.
   Gaming performance of processors in:

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

After looking at the data these benchmarks and videos, you already be able to figure out which CPU is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i9-13900K 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 i9-13900K

68%

This shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Core i9-12900KS is 6% better than Core i9-13900K. 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 i9-13900K

64%

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

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	108.6	114.3
Valorant	123.4	129.9
Cyberpunk 2077	69.1	72.7
Apex Legends	116.0	122.1
Call of Duty Warzone	92.6	97.4
Overwatch	100.0	105.2
Red Dead Redemption 2	85.1	89.6
DOOM Eternal	61.7	64.9
Warzone	96.3	101.3
Assassin's Creed	103.7	109.1
Valheim	102.4	107.8

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: 2K, FullHD or 4K. 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 compare it in one assembly with the video card that is installed in your computer.

Power consumption

Core i9-12900KS

48%

Core i9-13900K

66%

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 i9-13900K is more energy efficient than the Core i9-12900KS 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. 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 streaming, machine learning, video rendering or video editing, programming, then the main parameter for you is its performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, to reach maximum efficiency, the CPU turns on all threads and cores that it has. You will find out this data from the benchmark tables below. Before using 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 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 i9-13900K
Cinbench 15 Single-core	669	531
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	6984	5603
Cinbench 20 Single-core	1113	887
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	15520	12458
Cinbench 23 Single-core	3930	3150
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	44652	35852

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

	Intel Core i9-12900KS	Intel Core i9-13900K
Single-Core	4211	2879
Multi-Core	76561	61110

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

	Intel Core i9-12900KS	Intel Core i9-13900K
Single-Core	2187	2502
Multi-Core	20189	25761

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the most helpful will be the release date of the processor and the possibility of overclocking it. The later the processor is released, the longer it will last in your computer. And the easier it will be to upgrade the system in the future. The same benefits from the presence of overclocking. When the processor can be overclocked, thereby 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 savings are obvious!

	Intel Core i9-12900KS	Intel Core i9-13900K
Announcement date	March 27, 2022	December 13, 2022
Type	Desktop	Desktop
Socket	FCLGA1700	FCLGA1700
Core name	Alder Lake	Raptor Lake
Architecture	x86	x86
Generation	12	13
Turbo Frequency	5.5 MHz	5.8 MHz
Frequency	4 MHz	4.3 MHz
Cores	16	24
Threads	24	32
Bus rate	16 GT/s	16 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	7 nm	7 nm
Transistors count	12400 millions	14200 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 5600 MT/s Up to DDR4 3200 MT/s
Max. Memory	128 Gb	128 Gb
Memory Frequency	6400	6500
Memory bandwidth	76.8 GB/s	89.6 GB/s
L1 cache	2 MB	2 MB
L2 cache	8 MB	8 MB
L3 cache	30 MB	36 MB
Overclocking	No	yes
Supports ECC	Yes	Yes
Part number	Expansion Options	Expansion Options

In this comparison block, you should pay attention to the differences in clock speed and the number of cores. Here Core i9-13900K is 6% better than Core i9-12900KS in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that Core i9-13900K has 8 more core than Core i9-12900KS. 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: 8
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i9-13900K is better: 24
Although it should be understood that all the data in the article above do not mean that taking them into account you should fully trust a simple quantitative comparison. Be sure to watch the video tests and read the reviews of real owners of Intel Core i9-12900KS and Intel Core i9-13900K before making a selection 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 i9-13900K - all data

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

• Intel Core i9-13900K specs and review.