Intel Core i5-12600K vs Intel Core i9-12900. Specifications, performance, tests

Background information about the processors being compared, series, generation and market segment.

• CPU group
  Intel Core i 12000 Intel Core i 12000
• Family
  12th Generation Intel Core i5 Processors Intel Core i9
• Generation
  12 12
• Predecessor
  Intel Core i5-11600K Intel Core i9-11900
• Processor Number
  i5-12600K -
• Segment
  Desktop Desktop / Server

Core counts, threads, cache and clock modes describe the CPU configuration. Performance depends on the workload and comparable measured results.

• A-Core
  6x Golden Cove 8x Golden Cove
• B-Core
  4x Gracemont 8x Gracemont
• Base Frequency
  3.7 GHz 2.4 GHz
• Core architecture
  hybrid (big.LITTLE) hybrid (big.LITTLE)
• CPU Cores
  10 16
• CPU Threads
  16 24
• E-core Base Clock
  2.8 GHz -
• E-core Max Turbo
  3.6 GHz -
• Efficient Cores
  4 -
• Hyperthreading / SMT
  Yes Yes
• Max. Boost Clock
  4.9 GHz -
• Overclocking
  Yes No
• P-core Base Clock
  3.7 GHz -
• P-core Max Turbo
  4.9 GHz -
• Performance Cores
  6 -
• Turbo Frequency (1 Core)
  4.9 GHz 5.1 GHz
• Turbo Frequency (10 Cores)
  4.5 GHz -
• Turbo Frequency (16 Cores)
  - 4.2 GHz

Internal Graphics does not affect the performance of the CPU, performs the work of the graphics card in its absence or on mobile devices.

• DirectX Version
  12 12
• Execution units
  32 32
• Generation
  12 11
• GPU Frequency
  400 MHz 300 MHz
• GPU name
  Intel UHD Graphics 770 Intel UHD Graphics 770
• GPU Turbo
  1450 MHz 1550 MHz
• Graphics Base Frequency
  300 MHz -
• Graphics Output
  eDP 1.4b, DP 1.4a, HDMI 2.1 -
• Max. displays
  4 3
• Max. GPU Memory
  16 GB -
• Release date
  Q4/2021 Q4/2021
• Shader
  256 256
• Technology
  10 nm 10 nm

Built-in codecs used to encode and decode content. Significantly speeds up the required operations.

• AV1
  Decode Decode
• H.264 / AVC
  Decode / Encode Decode / Encode
• h265 / HEVC (8 bit)
  Decode / Encode Decode / Encode
• h265 / HEVC (10 bit)
  Decode / Encode Decode / Encode
• JPEG
  Decode / Encode Decode / Encode
• VC-1
  Decode Decode
• VP8
  Decode Decode / Encode
• VP9
  Decode / Encode Decode / Encode

Types, channel quantity of RAM supported by Intel Core i9-12900 and Intel Core i5-12600K. Depending on the motherboards, higher or lower memory frequencies may be supported.

• ECC
  Yes No
• Max. Memory
  128 GB 128 GB
• Memory channels
  2 2
• Memory type
  Up to DDR5 4800 MT/s Up to DDR4 3200 MT/s DDR4-3200DDR5-4800
• PCIe lanes
  20 -
• PCIe version
  5.0 and 4.0 -
• PCIe
  - 5.0 x 20

• AES-NI
  Yes Yes

Compare the TDP requirements of TDP Intel Core i5-12600K and Intel Core i9-12900 Power specifications describe different manufacturer limits. TDP, base power and maximum turbo power are separate values; they do not establish measured system consumption.

• Maximum Operating Temperature
  100 °C 100 °C
• Maximum Turbo Power
  150 W -
• Processor Base Power (PBP)
  125 W -
• TDP (PL1, legacy label)
  125 W 65 W
• TDP (PL2)
  228 W / 56 s 202 W

Architecture, interfaces, additional instructions supported by Intel Core i5-12600K and Intel Core i9-12900, virtual machine technologies and process technology.

• Architecture
  Alder Lake S Alder Lake S
• Cache (manufacturer label)
  20 MB Intel Smart Cache -
• Codename
  Products formerly Alder Lake -
• Instruction set (ISA)
  x86-64 (64 bit) x86-64 (64 bit)
• ISA extensions
  SSE4.1, SSE4.2, AVX2, AVX2+ SSE4.1, SSE4.2, AVX2, AVX2+
• L2-Cache
  9.5 MB (Total cache capacity) 14 MB
• L3-Cache
  20 MB 30 MB
• Marketing Status (manufacturer label)
  Launched -
• Part Number
  BX8071512600K -
• Release date
  Q4/2021 Q1/2022
• Socket
  FCLGA1700 LGA 1700
• Technology
  Intel 7 (Manufacturer process designation) 10 nm
• Use Conditions
  PC/Client/Tablet, Workstation -
• Virtualization
  VT-x, VT-x EPT, VT-d VT-x, VT-x EPT, VT-d