Intel Core i5-12600K vs Intel Core i9-9960X

Processor comparisons   11-01-2022
   If you have difficulties with the choice of a processor, you will solve them by reading the comprehensive tests Intel Core i5-12600K vs Intel Core i9-9960X and decide which is better for games or normal use for streaming, rendering, machine learning, video editing, programming. Here is useful information from several benchmarks or real streaming and video editing tests. A careful review of all the technical characteristics, so that it can be easier to read, is presented in the form of the table.
   From the comparison video, you can get the results of joint testing in software tests like Cinebench 23 (20, 15), Furmark, Blender, MATLAB, SuperPi, UserBenchmark, Prime95, AIDA64, 3DMark, Blender, DaVinci Resolve Studio, RealBench, Gears 5, GeekBench 6, 5.2, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, Handbrake, PCMark 10, 7zip, PassMark, WPrime, Dolphin Emulator, VeraCrypt.
   Gaming performance of processors in:

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

After reading the results these benchmarks and videos, you already be able to understand which CPU is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i9-9960X or Intel Core i5-12600K.

Summary benchmark results

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

Core i5-12600K

60%

Core i9-9960X

59%

The number of this parameter shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Core i5-12600K is 1% better than Core i9-9960X. The data source is several popular tests. Detailed information can be found below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Core i5-12600K

57%

Core i9-9960X

60%

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

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	101.8	106.4
Valorant	115.7	120.9
Cyberpunk 2077	64.8	67.7
Apex Legends	108.7	113.6
Call of Duty Warzone	86.8	90.7
Overwatch	93.7	97.9
Red Dead Redemption 2	79.8	83.4
DOOM Eternal	57.8	60.5
Warzone	90.2	94.3
Assassin's Creed	97.2	101.6
Valheim	96.0	100.3

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 video cards and different amounts of RAM. 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. 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 i5-12600K

53%

Core i9-9960X

24%

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 i5-12600K is more energy efficient than the Core i9-9960X as it consumes less power: 125W vs. 165W. 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

For example you want to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for machine learning, video rendering or video editing, programming, streaming, 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 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. Because there are still many programs that can 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 i5-12600K	Intel Core i9-9960X
Cinbench 15 Single-core	466	200
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	3407	2872
Cinbench 20 Single-core	1116	457
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	7736	6671
Cinbench 23 Single-core	2611	1086
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	25497	22943

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

	Intel Core i5-12600K	Intel Core i9-9960X
Single-Core	6117	2684
Multi-Core	35696	30816

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

	Intel Core i5-12600K	Intel Core i9-9960X
Single-Core	2009	1230
Multi-Core	13528	18032

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 i5-12600K	Intel Core i9-9960X
Announcement date	January 07, 2022	January 01, 2019
Type	Desktop	Desktop
Socket	FCLGA1700	FCLGA2066
Core name	Alder Lake	Skylake
Architecture	x86	x86
Generation	12	9
Turbo Frequency	4.9 MHz	4.4 MHz
Frequency	3.6 MHz	3.1 MHz
Cores	10	16
Threads	16	32
Bus rate	8 GT/s	8 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	7 nm	14 nm
Transistors count	10200 millions	8600 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	125 W	165 W
Memory type	Up to DDR5 4800 MT/s Up to DDR4 3200 MT/s	DDR4-2666
Max. Memory	128 Gb	128 Gb
Memory Frequency
Memory bandwidth	76.8 GB/s	85 GB/s
L1 cache
L2 cache	9.5 MB
L3 cache	20 MB	22 MB
Overclocking	No	Yes
Supports ECC	No	No
Part number

In this comparison block, you should pay attention to the differences in clock speed and the number of cores. Here Core i5-12600K is 13% better than Core i9-9960X in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that Core i9-9960X has 6 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 i5-12600K is better: 17
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i9-9960X is better: 17
However, it should be realized that all the data that you have looked at here do not mean that you should be guided entirely by them and trust a simple quantitative comparison. Better to watch the testing video and read the opinion of real owners of Intel Core i5-12600K and Intel Core i9-9960X before deciding which CPU to buy for gaming and which not.

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.

• Intel Core i9-9960X specs and review.