Intel Core i9-12900KS vs Intel Core i5-12600K

Processor comparisons   28-09-2022
   Let's say you are thinking about choosing a CPU, you will be able to make a choice by looking at the Intel Core i9-12900KS vs Intel Core i5-12600K tests and see which is better for games or simple use for programming, machine learning, streaming, rendering, video editing. Here is useful information from real video editing and streaming tests or various benchmarks. A careful analysis of all the technical characteristics, to make it easier to read, is made by the table.
   From the video comparison, you can get the results of parallel examination in synthetic type tests such as PCMark 10, 3DMark, DaVinci Resolve Studio, Dolphin Emulator, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), WPrime, AIDA64, SuperPi, Blender, GeekBench 6, 5.2, Handbrake, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, PassMark, Prime95, VeraCrypt, Furmark, MATLAB, RealBench, 7zip, UserBenchmark, Gears 5, Blender.
   And how good the processors are in games:

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

After reading the results of joint benchmarks and videos, you already be able to know which processor is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i5-12600K 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 i5-12600K

60%

This shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Core i9-12900KS 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 i9-12900KS

61%

Core i5-12600K

57%

The maximum result in this parameter is 100 percent, which is the performance of the most powerful processor currently available. 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 little game result, look at the FPS that it produces in real games in the final table below.
List of less popular games in which processors were compared: Hitman 3, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Metro Exodus, Forza Horizon 4, Battlefield V, Half-Life: Alyx, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), Ghostrunner, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), Microsoft Flight Simulator, Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Control, DOTA 2A, League of Legends (LOL), Monster Hunter World, Horizon Zero Dawn, NBA 2K20.

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	108.6	101.8
Valorant	123.4	115.7
Cyberpunk 2077	69.1	64.8
Apex Legends	116.0	108.7
Call of Duty Warzone	92.6	86.8
Overwatch	100.0	93.7
Red Dead Redemption 2	85.1	79.8
DOOM Eternal	61.7	57.8
Warzone	96.3	90.2
Assassin's Creed	103.7	97.2
Valheim	102.4	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 video cards and different amounts of RAM. But users also tested them at different screen resolutions: FullHD, 2K or 4K. 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 i5-12600K

53%

To make a finishing choice 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 i9-12900KS 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

For example you want to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for streaming, video editing or video rendering, machine learning, programming, then first of all you need to pay attention to the performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, to reach maximum performance, the CPU includes all threads and cores 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 program that you are going to use on your computer can work in multi-threaded mode. Because there are still many programs that use only one core to run, 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 i5-12600K
Cinbench 15 Single-core	669	466
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	6984	3407
Cinbench 20 Single-core	1113	1116
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	15520	7736
Cinbench 23 Single-core	3930	2611
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	44652	25497

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

	Intel Core i9-12900KS	Intel Core i5-12600K
Single-Core	4211	6117
Multi-Core	76561	35696

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

	Intel Core i9-12900KS	Intel Core i5-12600K
Single-Core	2187	2009
Multi-Core	20189	13528

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 i5-12600K
Announcement date	March 27, 2022	January 07, 2022
Type	Desktop	Desktop
Socket	FCLGA1700	FCLGA1700
Core name	Alder Lake	Alder Lake
Architecture	x86	x86
Generation	12	12
Turbo Frequency	5.5 MHz	4.9 MHz
Frequency	4 MHz	3.6 MHz
Cores	16	10
Threads	24	16
Bus rate	16 GT/s	8 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	7 nm	7 nm
Transistors count	12400 millions	10200 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
Memory bandwidth	76.8 GB/s	76.8 GB/s
L1 cache	2 MB
L2 cache	8 MB	9.5 MB
L3 cache	30 MB	20 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 9% better than Core i5-12600K in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that Core i9-12900KS 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 i9-12900KS is better: 29
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i5-12600K is better: 5
Although it should be realized that all the data in the table above do not mean that taking them into account you should fully trust a simple quantitative comparison. Be sure to watch benchmarks video and read the opinion of real owners of Intel Core i9-12900KS and Intel Core i5-12600K before deciding 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 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.