Core i9-12900KS vs Core i5-12600K

Primary details

Comparing Core i5-12600K and Core i9-12900KS processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in performance ranking	307	148
Place by popularity	not in top-100	not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluation	56.22	71.02
Market segment	Desktop processor	Desktop processor
Series	Intel Core i5	no data
Architecture codename	Alder Lake-S (2022)	Alder Lake-S (2022)
Release date	4 November 2021 (2 years ago)	5 April 2022 (2 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)	$289	no data
Current price	$268 (0.9x MSRP)	$399

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

i9-12900KS has 26% better value for money than i5-12600K.

Detailed specifications

Core i5-12600K and Core i9-12900KS basic parameters such as number of cores, number of threads, base frequency and turbo boost clock, lithography, cache size and multiplier lock state. These parameters indirectly say of CPU speed, though for more precise assessment you have to consider their test results.

Physical cores	10 (Deca-Core)	16 (Hexadeca-Core)
Threads	16	24
Base clock speed	3.7 GHz	3.4 GHz
Boost clock speed	4.9 GHz	5.3 GHz
L1 cache	80K (per core)	80K (per core)
L2 cache	1.25 MB (per core)	1.25 MB (per core)
L3 cache	20 MB (shared)	30 MB (shared)
Chip lithography	Intel 7 nm	Intel 7 nm
Die size	215.25 mm220.5 mm × 10.5 mm	215 mm2
Maximum core temperature	100 °C	90 °C
Maximum case temperature (TCase)	72 °C	72 °C
64 bit support	+	+
Windows 11 compatibility	+	+
Unlocked multiplier	Yes	Yes

Compatibility

Information on Core i5-12600K and Core i9-12900KS compatibility with other computer components: motherboard (look for socket type), power supply unit (look for power consumption) etc. Useful when planning a future computer configuration or upgrading an existing one. Note that power consumption of some processors can well exceed their nominal TDP, even without overclocking. Some can even double their declared thermals given that the motherboard allows to tune the CPU power parameters.

Number of CPUs in a configuration	1	1
Socket	FCLGA1700	FCLGA1700
Power consumption (TDP)	125 Watt	150 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i5-12600K and Core i9-12900KS. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensions	Intel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2	Intel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2
AES-NI	+	+
FMA	+	no data
AVX	+	+
vPro	+	no data
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)	+	+
Speed Shift	+	+
Turbo Boost Technology	2.0	2.0
Hyper-Threading Technology	+	+
TSX	no data	+
Idle States	+	+
Thermal Monitoring	+	+
SIPP	+	no data
Turbo Boost Max 3.0	-	+
Status	Launched	Launched

Security technologies

Core i5-12600K and Core i9-12900KS technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXT	+	+
EDB	+	+
Secure Key	+	+
OS Guard	+	+

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i5-12600K and Core i9-12900KS are enumerated here.

VT-d	+	+
VT-x	+	+
EPT	+	+

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i5-12600K and Core i9-12900KS. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory types	DDR4, DDR5	DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200
Maximum memory size	128 GB	128 GB
Max memory channels	2	2
Maximum memory bandwidth	76.8 GB/s	76.8 GB/s
ECC memory support	+	+

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics card	Intel UHD Graphics 770	Intel UHD Graphics 770
Quick Sync Video	+	+
Clear Video HD	+	+
Graphics max frequency	1.45 GHz	1.55 GHz
Execution Units	32	32

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core i5-12600K and Core i9-12900KS integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supported

4

4

Graphics image quality

Maximum display resolutions supported by Core i5-12600K and Core i9-12900KS integrated GPUs, including resolutions over different interfaces.

Max resolution over HDMI 1.4	4096 x 2160 @ 60Hz	4096 x 2160 @ 60Hz
Max resolution over eDP	5120 x 3200 @ 120Hz	5120 x 3200 @ 120Hz
Max resolution over DisplayPort	7680 x 4320 @ 60Hz	7680 x 4320 @ 60Hz

Graphics API support

APIs supported by Core i5-12600K and Core i9-12900KS integrated GPUs, sometimes API versions are included.

DirectX	12	12
OpenGL	4.5	4.5

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i5-12600K and Core i9-12900KS.

PCIe version	5.0 and 4.0	5.0 and 4.0
PCI Express lanes	20	20

Synthetic benchmark performance

Various benchmark results of the processors in comparison. Overall score is measured in points in 0-100 range, higher is better.

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Combined synthetic benchmark score

This is our combined benchmark performance rating. We are regularly improving our combining algorithms, but if you find some perceived inconsistencies, feel free to speak up in comments section, we usually fix problems quickly.

Core i9-12900KS outperforms Core i5-12600K by 59% based on our aggregated benchmark results.

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Pros & cons summary

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Performance score	17.94	28.48
Recency	4 November 2021	5 April 2022
Physical cores	10	16
Threads	16	24
Power consumption (TDP)	125 Watt	150 Watt

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Should you still have questions on choice between Core i5-12600K and Core i9-12900KS, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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