Intel Core i9-12900KF vs Intel Core i5-12600KF

Comparative analysis of Intel Core i9-12900KF and Intel Core i5-12600KF processors for all known characteristics in the following categories: Essentials, Performance, Memory, 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 i9-12900KF

Intel Core i5-12600KF

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i9-12900KF

Around 6% higher clock speed: 5.20 GHz vs 4.90 GHz
2.7x more L1 cache, more data can be stored in the L1 cache for quick access later
Around 87% more L2 cache; more data can be stored in the L2 cache for quick access later
Around 67% more L3 cache; more data can be stored in the L3 cache for quick access later
Around 6% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 4167 vs 3934
Around 50% better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 41155 vs 27434
Around 46% better performance in 3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score: 11666 vs 7997

Specifications (specs)
Maximum frequency	5.20 GHz vs 4.90 GHz
L1 cache	1 MB vs 384 KB
L2 cache	14 MB vs 7.5 MB
L3 cache	30 MB vs 18 MB
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	4167 vs 3934
PassMark - CPU mark	41155 vs 27434
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score	11666 vs 7997

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Core i9-12900KF
CPU 2: Intel Core i5-12600KF

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

4167

3934

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

41155

27434

3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score

CPU 1

CPU 2

11666

7997

Name	Intel Core i9-12900KF	Intel Core i5-12600KF
PassMark - Single thread mark	4167	3934
PassMark - CPU mark	41155	27434
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score	11666	7997

Compare specifications (specs)

	Intel Core i9-12900KF	Intel Core i5-12600KF
Essentials
Architecture codename	Alder Lake	Alder Lake
Launch date	4 Nov 2021	4 Nov 2021
Launch price (MSRP)	$564 - $574	$264 - $274
Place in performance rating	178	381
Processor Number	i9-12900KF	i5-12600KF
Series	12th Generation Intel Core i9 Processors	12th Generation Intel Core i5 Processors
Status	Launched	Launched
Vertical segment	Desktop	Desktop
Performance
64 bit support
L1 cache	1 MB	384 KB
L2 cache	14 MB	7.5 MB
L3 cache	30 MB	18 MB
Manufacturing process technology	Intel 7	Intel 7
Maximum core temperature	100°C	100°C
Maximum frequency	5.20 GHz	4.90 GHz
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
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 Solution	PCG 2020A	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
Mode-based Execute Control (MBE)
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 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)