Intel Core i9-12900K vs Intel Core i9-10900K

Comparative analysis of Intel Core i9-12900K and Intel Core i9-10900K 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 i9-12900K

Intel Core i9-10900K

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i9-12900K

Around 50% more L3 cache; more data can be stored in the L3 cache for quick access later
Around 33% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 4142 vs 3118
Around 83% better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 41322 vs 22562
Around 30% better performance in 3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score: 11648 vs 8935

Specifications (specs)
L3 cache	30 MB vs 20 MB
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	4142 vs 3118
PassMark - CPU mark	41322 vs 22562
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score	11648 vs 8935

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i9-10900K

Around 2% higher clock speed: 5.30 GHz vs 5.20 GHz

Maximum frequency	5.30 GHz vs 5.20 GHz

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Core i9-12900K
CPU 2: Intel Core i9-10900K

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

4142

3118

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

41322

22562

3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score

CPU 1

CPU 2

11648

8935

Name	Intel Core i9-12900K	Intel Core i9-10900K
PassMark - Single thread mark	4142	3118
PassMark - CPU mark	41322	22562
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score	11648	8935

Compare specifications (specs)

	Intel Core i9-12900K	Intel Core i9-10900K
Essentials
Architecture codename	Alder Lake	Comet Lake
Launch date	4 Nov 2021	Q2'20
Launch price (MSRP)	$589 - $599	$488 - $499
Place in performance rating	122	525
Processor Number	i9-12900K	i9-10900K
Series	12th Generation Intel Core i9 Processors	10th Generation Intel Core i9 Processors
Status	Launched	Launched
Vertical segment	Desktop	Desktop
Performance
64 bit support
L1 cache	1 MB
L2 cache	14 MB
L3 cache	30 MB	20 MB
Manufacturing process technology	Intel 7	14 nm
Maximum core temperature	100°C	100°C
Maximum frequency	5.20 GHz	5.30 GHz
Base frequency		3.70 GHz
Bus Speed		8 GT/s
Number of cores		10
Number of threads		20
Memory
Max memory channels	2	2
Maximum memory bandwidth	76.8 GB/s	45.8 GB/s
Maximum memory size	128 GB	128 GB
Supported memory types	Up to DDR5 4800 MT/s Up to DDR4 3200 MT/s	DDR4-2933
Graphics
Device ID	0x4680	0x9BC5
Execution Units	32
Graphics base frequency	300 MHz	350 MHz
Graphics max dynamic frequency	1.55 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		4096x2160@30Hz
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	37.5mm x 37.5mm
Sockets supported	FCLGA1700	FCLGA1200
Thermal Solution	PCG 2020A	PCG 2015D
Configurable TDP-down		95 Watt
Configurable TDP-down Frequency		3.30 GHz
Thermal Design Power (TDP)		125 Watt
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	Up to 1x16, 2x8, 1x8+2x4
Scalability	1S Only	1S Only
Security & Reliability
Execute Disable Bit (EDB)
Intel® OS Guard
Intel® Secure Key technology
Mode-based Execute Control (MBE)
Secure Boot
Intel® Identity Protection technology
Intel® Software Guard Extensions (Intel® SGX)
Intel® Trusted Execution technology (TXT)
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® Stable Image Platform Program (SIPP)
Intel® Thermal Velocity Boost
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)