Intel Core i5-12500 vs Intel Core i9-9960X

Comparative analysis of Intel Core i5-12500 and Intel Core i9-9960X 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 i9-9960X

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i5-12500

CPU is newer: launch date 3 year(s) 3 month(s) later
Around 5% higher clock speed: 4.60 GHz vs 4.40 GHz
Around 18% higher maximum core temperature: 100°C vs 85°C
A newer manufacturing process allows for a more powerful, yet cooler running processor: 7 nm vs 14 nm
2.5x lower typical power consumption: 65 Watt vs 165 Watt
Around 42% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 3687 vs 2595

Specifications (specs)
Launch date	4 Jan 2022 vs October 2018
Maximum frequency	4.60 GHz vs 4.40 GHz
Maximum core temperature	100°C vs 85°C
Manufacturing process technology	7 nm vs 14 nm
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	65 Watt vs 165 Watt
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	3687 vs 2595

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i9-9960X

Processor is unlocked, an unlocked multiplier allows for easier overclocking
10 more cores, run more applications at once: 16 vs 6
20 more threads: 32 vs 12
2.1x more L1 cache, more data can be stored in the L1 cache for quick access later
2.1x more L2 cache, more data can be stored in the L2 cache for quick access later
Around 22% more L3 cache; more data can be stored in the L3 cache for quick access later
Around 52% better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 30254 vs 19910
2.2x better performance in 3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score: 13076 vs 6036

Specifications (specs)
Unlocked	Unlocked vs Locked
Number of cores	16 vs 6
Number of threads	32 vs 12
L1 cache	64K (per core) vs 480 KB
L2 cache	1 MB (per core) vs 7.5 MB
L3 cache	22 MB (shared) vs 18 MB
Benchmarks
PassMark - CPU mark	30254 vs 19910
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score	13076 vs 6036

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Core i5-12500
CPU 2: Intel Core i9-9960X

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

3687

2595

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

19910

30254

3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score

CPU 1

CPU 2

6036

13076

Name	Intel Core i5-12500	Intel Core i9-9960X
PassMark - Single thread mark	3687	2595
PassMark - CPU mark	19910	30254
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score	6036	13076
Geekbench 4 - Single Core		1158
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core		14294

Compare specifications (specs)

	Intel Core i5-12500	Intel Core i9-9960X
Essentials
Architecture codename	Alder Lake	Skylake
Launch date	4 Jan 2022	October 2018
Launch price (MSRP)	$232
Place in performance rating	567	598
Processor Number	i5-12500	i9-9960X
Series	12th Generation Intel Core i5 Processors	Intel® Core™ X-series Processors
Vertical segment	Desktop	Desktop
Status		Launched
Performance
64 bit support
L1 cache	480 KB	64K (per core)
L2 cache	7.5 MB	1 MB (per core)
L3 cache	18 MB	22 MB (shared)
Manufacturing process technology	7 nm	14 nm
Maximum core temperature	100°C	85°C
Maximum frequency	4.60 GHz	4.40 GHz
Number of cores	6	16
Number of threads	12	32
Base frequency		3.10 GHz
Bus Speed		8 GT/s DMI3
Number of QPI Links		0
Unlocked
Memory
Max memory channels	2	4
Maximum memory bandwidth	76.8 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
Graphics
Device ID	0x4690
Execution Units	32
Graphics base frequency	300 MHz
Graphics max dynamic frequency	1.45 GHz
Intel® Clear Video HD technology
Intel® Quick Sync Video
Processor graphics	Intel UHD Graphics 770
Graphics interfaces
Number of displays supported	4
Graphics image quality
Max resolution over DisplayPort	7680 x 4320 @ 60Hz
Max resolution over eDP	5120 x 3200 @ 120Hz
Graphics API support
DirectX	12
OpenGL	4.5
Compatibility
Max number of CPUs in a configuration	1	1
Package Size	45.0 mm x 37.5 mm
Sockets supported	FCLGA1700	FCLGA2066
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	65 Watt	165 Watt
Thermal Solution	PCG 2020C	PCG 2017X
Peripherals
Max number of PCIe lanes	20	44
PCI Express revision	5.0 and 4.0	3.0
PCIe configurations	Up to 1x16+4, 2x8+4
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
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® AVX-512
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 (AVX)
Number of AVX-512 FMA Units		2
Virtualization
Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x)
Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d)
Intel® VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT)