Intel Core i9-12900 vs Intel Core i7-12700K

Comparative analysis of Intel Core i9-12900 and Intel Core i7-12700K 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.

Intel Core i9-12900

Intel Core i7-12700K

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i9-12900

CPU is newer: launch date 2 month(s) later
Around 2% higher clock speed: 5.10 GHz vs 5.00 GHz
Around 67% more L1 cache; more data can be stored in the L1 cache for quick access later
Around 67% more L2 cache; more data can be stored in the L2 cache for quick access later
Around 20% more L3 cache; more data can be stored in the L3 cache for quick access later
Around 5% better performance in 3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score: 10536 vs 10013

Specifications (specs)
Launch date	4 Jan 2022 vs 4 Nov 2021
Maximum frequency	5.10 GHz vs 5.00 GHz
L1 cache	1280 KB vs 768 KB
L2 cache	20 MB vs 12 MB
L3 cache	30 MB vs 25 MB
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	4048 vs 4029
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score	10536 vs 10013

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i7-12700K

Around 1% better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 34597 vs 34284

Benchmarks
PassMark - CPU mark	34597 vs 34284

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Core i9-12900
CPU 2: Intel Core i7-12700K

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

4048

4029

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

34284

34597

3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score

CPU 1

CPU 2

10536

10013

Name	Intel Core i9-12900	Intel Core i7-12700K
PassMark - Single thread mark	4048	4029
PassMark - CPU mark	34284	34597
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score	10536	10013

Compare specifications (specs)

	Intel Core i9-12900	Intel Core i7-12700K
Essentials
Architecture codename	Alder Lake	Alder Lake
Launch date	4 Jan 2022	4 Nov 2021
Launch price (MSRP)	$568	$409 - $419
Place in performance rating	202	220
Processor Number	i9-12900	i7-12700K
Series	12th Generation Intel Core i9 Processors	12th Generation Intel Core i7 Processors
Vertical segment	Desktop	Desktop
Status		Launched
Performance
64 bit support
L1 cache	1280 KB	768 KB
L2 cache	20 MB	12 MB
L3 cache	30 MB	25 MB
Manufacturing process technology	7 nm	Intel 7
Maximum core temperature	100°C	100°C
Maximum frequency	5.10 GHz	5.00 GHz
Number of cores	16
Number of threads	24
Memory
Max memory channels	2	2
Maximum memory bandwidth	76.8 GB/s	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	Up to DDR5 4800 MT/s Up to DDR4 3200 MT/s
Graphics
Device ID	0x4680	0x4680
Execution Units	32	32
Graphics base frequency	300 MHz	300 MHz
Graphics max dynamic frequency	1.55 GHz	1.50 GHz
Intel® Clear Video HD technology
Intel® Quick Sync Video
Processor graphics	Intel UHD Graphics 770	Intel UHD Graphics 770
Graphics interfaces
Number of displays supported	4	4
Graphics image quality
Max resolution over DisplayPort	7680 x 4320 @ 60Hz	7680 x 4320 @ 60Hz
Max resolution over eDP	5120 x 3200 @ 120Hz	5120 x 3200 @ 120Hz
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	45.0 mm x 37.5 mm
Sockets supported	FCLGA1700	FCLGA1700
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	65 Watt
Thermal Solution	PCG 2020C	PCG 2020A
Peripherals
Max number of PCIe lanes	20	20
PCI Express revision	5.0 and 4.0	5.0 and 4.0
PCIe configurations	Up to 1x16+4, 2x8+4	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
Mode-based Execute Control (MBE)
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
Virtualization
Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x)
Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d)
Intel® VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT)