Intel Core i9-13900KS vs Intel Core i5-12600K

Processor comparisons 29-09-2022

   If there are difficulties with the choice of a CPU, you will solve them by reading the detailed tests Intel Core i9-13900KS vs Intel Core i5-12600K and see which is better for games or normal use for machine learning, rendering, video editing, streaming, programming. Here you can find all information from real streaming and video editing tests or several benchmarks. A step-by-step analysis of all the technical characteristics, so that it can be easier to understand, is summarized in the table.
   From the video comparison, you can get the results of parallel examination in software tests like Prime95, PassMark, Blender, Dolphin Emulator, WPrime, SuperPi, MATLAB, 7zip, DaVinci Resolve Studio, GeekBench 6, 5.2, UserBenchmark, VeraCrypt, Furmark, Gears 5, Handbrake, Blender, PCMark 10, RealBench, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), AIDA64, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, 3DMark.
   Gaming performance of processors in:

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

After looking at the data these benchmarks and videos, you can already make an briefed decision about which CPU is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i5-12600K or Intel Core i9-13900KS.

Summary benchmark results

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

Core i9-13900KS

73%

Core i5-12600K

60%

This parameter shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Core i9-13900KS is 17% better than Core i5-12600K. The data source is several popular tests. More detailed information of the benchmarks is below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Core i9-13900KS

66%

Core i5-12600K

57%

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

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	117.3	101.8
Valorant	133.2	115.7
Cyberpunk 2077	74.6	64.8
Apex Legends	125.2	108.7
Call of Duty Warzone	99.9	86.8
Overwatch	107.9	93.7
Red Dead Redemption 2	91.9	79.8
DOOM Eternal	66.6	57.8
Warzone	103.9	90.2
Assassin's Creed	111.9	97.2
Valheim	110.6	96.0

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 i9-13900KS

71%

Core i5-12600K

53%

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 i9-13900KS is more energy efficient than the Core i5-12600K as it consumes less power: 125W vs. 125W. Power consumption is especially important for laptops. Also, when choosing a processor cooling system, you need to 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

If you want to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for video editing or video rendering, programming, streaming, machine learning, then first of all you need to pay attention to the performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, the processor uses all cores and threads that it has to the maximum to reach maximum performance. You will learn this data from the benchmark tables below. Before you take into account the data from these tests, be sure to make sure that the software that you are going to use on your computer can work in multi-threaded mode. Since there are still many programs that can 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 i9-13900KS	Intel Core i5-12600K
Cinbench 15 Single-core	631	466
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	6774	3407
Cinbench 20 Single-core	1056	1116
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	15135	7736
Cinbench 23 Single-core	3757	2611
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	43688	25497

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

	Intel Core i9-13900KS	Intel Core i5-12600K
Single-Core	3134	6117
Multi-Core	76304	35696

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

	Intel Core i9-13900KS	Intel Core i5-12600K
Single-Core	2675	2009
Multi-Core	28679	13528

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the processor release date and overclocking capability will be the most useful. 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 can be said about overclocking. When the processor can be overclocked, increasing its performance, then it will still be able to produce maximum FPS even in the newest games. It turns out that there is no longer a need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer. The economy are obvious!

	Intel Core i9-13900KS	Intel Core i5-12600K
Announcement date	October 12, 2022	January 07, 2022
Type	Desktop	Desktop
Socket	FCLGA1700	FCLGA1700
Core name	Raptor Lake	Alder Lake
Architecture	x86	x86
Generation	13	12
Turbo Frequency	5.9 MHz	4.9 MHz
Frequency	4.5 MHz	3.6 MHz
Cores	24	10
Threads	32	16
Bus rate	16 GT/s	8 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	7 nm	7 nm
Transistors count	14200 millions	10200 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	125 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
Memory bandwidth	89.6 GB/s	76.8 GB/s
L1 cache	2 MB
L2 cache	8 MB	9.5 MB
L3 cache	36 MB	20 MB
Overclocking	Yes	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 i9-13900KS is 19% better than Core i5-12600K in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that Core i9-13900KS has 14 more core than Core i5-12600K. 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 i9-13900KS is better: 32
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i5-12600K is better: 4
All the figures in the table above do not mean that taking them into account you should undividedly trust a simple quantitative comparison. Be sure to watch the testing video and read the opinion of real owners of Intel Core i9-13900KS and Intel Core i5-12600K before making a selection which of the processors to buy for gaming.

Intel Core i9-13900KS - all data

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

• Intel Core i9-13900KS specs and review.

Intel Core i5-12600K - all data

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

• Intel Core i5-12600K specs and review.