Intel Core i5-12500 vs Intel Core i9-9900

Comparative analysis of Intel Core i5-12500 and Intel Core i9-9900 processors for all known characteristics in the following categories: Essentials, Performance, Memory, Graphics, Graphics interfaces, Graphics image quality, Graphics API support, Compatibility, Peripherals, Security & Reliability, Advanced Technologies, Virtualization. Benchmark processor performance analysis: PassMark - Single thread mark, PassMark - CPU mark, 3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score, Geekbench 4 - Single Core, Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core.

Intel Core i5-12500

Intel Core i9-9900

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i5-12500

CPU is newer: launch date 2 year(s) 8 month(s) later
A newer manufacturing process allows for a more powerful, yet cooler running processor: 7 nm vs 14 nm
3.8x more L2 cache, more data can be stored in the L2 cache for quick access later
Around 13% more L3 cache; more data can be stored in the L3 cache for quick access later
Around 31% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 3675 vs 2808
Around 22% better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 19852 vs 16336

Specifications (specs)
Launch date	4 Jan 2022 vs 23 April 2019
Manufacturing process technology	7 nm vs 14 nm
L2 cache	7.5 MB vs 2 MB
L3 cache	18 MB vs 16 MB
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	3675 vs 2808
PassMark - CPU mark	19852 vs 16336

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i9-9900

2 more cores, run more applications at once: 8 vs 6
4 more threads: 16 vs 12
Around 9% higher clock speed: 5.00 GHz vs 4.60 GHz
Around 7% more L1 cache; more data can be stored in the L1 cache for quick access later
Around 12% better performance in 3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score: 6750 vs 6030

Specifications (specs)
Number of cores	8 vs 6
Number of threads	16 vs 12
Maximum frequency	5.00 GHz vs 4.60 GHz
L1 cache	512 KB vs 480 KB
Benchmarks
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score	6750 vs 6030

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Core i5-12500
CPU 2: Intel Core i9-9900

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

3675

2808

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

19852

16336

3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score

CPU 1

CPU 2

6030

6750

Name	Intel Core i5-12500	Intel Core i9-9900
PassMark - Single thread mark	3675	2808
PassMark - CPU mark	19852	16336
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score	6030	6750
Geekbench 4 - Single Core		1263
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core		7913

Compare specifications (specs)

	Intel Core i5-12500	Intel Core i9-9900
Essentials
Architecture codename	Alder Lake	Coffee Lake
Launch date	4 Jan 2022	23 April 2019
Launch price (MSRP)	$232	$439, $449
Place in performance rating	552	974
Processor Number	i5-12500	i9-9900
Series	12th Generation Intel Core i5 Processors
Vertical segment	Desktop	Desktop
Family		Core i9
Performance
64 bit support
L1 cache	480 KB	512 KB
L2 cache	7.5 MB	2 MB
L3 cache	18 MB	16 MB
Manufacturing process technology	7 nm	14 nm
Maximum core temperature	100°C	100 °C
Maximum frequency	4.60 GHz	5.00 GHz
Number of cores	6	8
Number of threads	12	16
Base frequency		3.10 GHz
Bus Speed		8 GT/s DMI3
Memory
Max memory channels	2	2
Maximum memory bandwidth	76.8 GB/s	41.6 GB/s
Maximum memory size	128 GB	128 GB
Supported memory types	Up to DDR5 4800 MT/s Up to DDR4 3200 MT/s	DDR4-2666
ECC memory support
Graphics
Device ID	0x4690	0x3E98
Execution Units	32
Graphics base frequency	300 MHz	350 MHz
Graphics max dynamic frequency	1.45 GHz	1.20 GHz
Intel® Clear Video HD technology
Intel® Quick Sync Video
Processor graphics	Intel UHD Graphics 770	Intel UHD Graphics 630
Intel® Clear Video technology
Intel® InTru™ 3D technology
Max video memory		64 GB
Graphics interfaces
Number of displays supported	4	3
Graphics image quality
Max resolution over DisplayPort	7680 x 4320 @ 60Hz	4096x2304@60Hz
Max resolution over eDP	5120 x 3200 @ 120Hz	4096x2304@60Hz
4K resolution support
Max resolution over HDMI 1.4		4096x2304@24Hz
Graphics API support
DirectX	12	12
OpenGL	4.5	4.5
Compatibility
Max number of CPUs in a configuration	1	1
Package Size	45.0 mm x 37.5 mm
Sockets supported	FCLGA1700	FCLGA1151
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	65 Watt	65 Watt
Thermal Solution	PCG 2020C	PCG 2015C (65W)
Peripherals
Max number of PCIe lanes	20	16
PCI Express revision	5.0 and 4.0	3.0
PCIe configurations	Up to 1x16+4, 2x8+4	1x16, 2x8, 1x8+2x4
Scalability	1S Only	1S Only
Security & Reliability
Execute Disable Bit (EDB)
Intel® OS Guard
Intel® Secure Key technology
Intel® Trusted Execution technology (TXT)
Secure Boot
Intel® Identity Protection technology
Intel® Memory Protection Extensions (Intel® MPX)
Intel® Software Guard Extensions (Intel® SGX)
Advanced Technologies
Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® technology
Idle States
Instruction set extensions	Intel SSE4.1, Intel SSE4.2, Intel AVX2	Intel SSE4.1, Intel SSE4.2, Intel AVX2
Intel 64
Intel® AES New Instructions
Intel® Hyper-Threading technology
Intel® Optane™ Memory Supported
Intel® Turbo Boost technology
Intel® Volume Management Device (VMD)
Speed Shift technology
Thermal Monitoring
Intel® Advanced Vector Extensions 2 (AVX2)
Intel® Stable Image Platform Program (SIPP)
Intel® TSX-NI
Intel® vPro™ Platform Eligibility
Virtualization
Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x)
Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d)
Intel® VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT)