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

Processor comparisons 08-10-2022

   Perhaps you can't decide which processor to buy, you can make a decision by looking at the Intel Core i9-13900 vs Intel Core i9-12900K tests and see which is better for games or simple use for rendering, machine learning, streaming, video editing, programming. Here is useful information from real streaming and video editing tests or several benchmarks. A thorough analysis of all the technical characteristics, so that it can be easier to understand, is made by the table.
   From the video comparison, you can get the results of joint testing in software tests like Handbrake, SuperPi, VeraCrypt, Furmark, Blender, DaVinci Resolve Studio, MATLAB, AIDA64, Prime95, Blender, GeekBench 6, 5.2, Dolphin Emulator, WPrime, RealBench, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), 7zip, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, PassMark, 3DMark, Gears 5, PCMark 10, UserBenchmark.
   Gaming performance of CPUs in:

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

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 i9-12900K or Intel Core i9-13900.

Summary benchmark results

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

Core i9-13900

67%

Core i9-12900K

67%

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Core i9-13900

62%

Core i9-12900K

64%

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. Therefore, if you think that the selected CPU has a small game result, 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: Metro Exodus, Horizon Zero Dawn, Microsoft Flight Simulator, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), Control, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), Half-Life: Alyx, Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, Ghostrunner, Battlefield V, NBA 2K20, Monster Hunter World, Hitman 3, DOTA 2A, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, League of Legends (LOL), Forza Horizon 4.

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	110.5	113.8
Valorant	125.6	129.3
Cyberpunk 2077	70.3	72.4
Apex Legends	118.1	121.5
Call of Duty Warzone	94.2	97.0
Overwatch	101.7	104.7
Red Dead Redemption 2	86.7	89.2
DOOM Eternal	62.8	64.6
Warzone	98.0	100.8
Assassin's Creed	105.5	108.6
Valheim	104.2	107.3

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 participating in the comparing not only were the equipped with 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. To be sure exactly how much performance 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 i9-13900

56%

Core i9-12900K

97%

To make a final resolution 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 i9-12900K is more energy efficient than the Core i9-13900 as it consumes less power: 115W vs. 125W. Power consumption is especially important for laptops. Also, when choosing a processor cooling system, you need 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 want to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for programming, video editing or video rendering, machine learning, streaming, then the main parameter for you is its performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, the CPU uses all threads and cores that it has to the maximum to reach maximum performance. You will find out this data from the benchmark tables below. Before you take into account the data from these tests, be sure to check whether the program you are going to use on your computer supports multi-threaded mode. Because there are still many programs that can use only one core to work, and all the benefit 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 i9-13900	Intel Core i9-12900K
Cinbench 15 Single-core	521	489
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	5424	5150
Cinbench 20 Single-core	865	816
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	12052	11450
Cinbench 23 Single-core	3054	2896
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	34668	32950

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

	Intel Core i9-13900	Intel Core i9-12900K
Single-Core	2791	7546
Multi-Core	59086	56332

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

	Intel Core i9-13900	Intel Core i9-12900K
Single-Core	1965	3641
Multi-Core	22085	25262

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 i9-13900	Intel Core i9-12900K
Announcement date	December 13, 2022	July 21, 2021
Type	Desktop	Desktop
Socket	FCLGA1700	FCLGA1700
Core name	Raptor Lake	Alder Lake
Architecture	x86	x86
Generation	13	12
Turbo Frequency	5.6 MHz	5.2 MHz
Frequency	3 MHz	3.9 MHz
Cores	24	16
Threads	32	24
Bus rate	16 GT/s	16 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	7 nm	7 nm
Transistors count	14200 millions	12400 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	115 W	125 W
Memory type	Up to DDR5 5600 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	6500	6400
Memory bandwidth	89.6 GB/s	76.8 GB/s
L1 cache	2 MB	2 MB
L2 cache	8 MB	14 MB
L3 cache	36 MB	30 MB
Overclocking	No	No
Supports ECC	Yes	No
Part number

In this comparison block, you should pay attention to the differences in clock speed and the number of cores. Here Core i9-12900K is 23% better than Core i9-13900 in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that Core i9-13900 has 8 more core than Core i9-12900K. 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 i9-13900 is better: 19
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i9-12900K is better: 15
However, it should be realized that the summary data in the table above do not mean that taking them into account you should fully trust a simple comparison of these numbers. Better to watch the video tests and read the reviews of of people who bought Intel Core i9-13900 and Intel Core i9-12900K before making a choice which of the CPUs to buy for gaming.

Intel Core i9-13900 - all data

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

• Intel Core i9-13900 specs and review.

Intel Core i9-12900K - all data

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

• Intel Core i9-12900K specs and review.