i9-12900F vs i5-12600KF

Primary details

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

Place in the ranking	358	231
Place by popularity	not in top-100	not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluation	48.72	no data
Market segment	Desktop processor	Desktop processor
Series	Intel Core i5	no data
Power efficiency	13.31	33.28
Architecture codename	Alder Lake, Golden Cove, Gracemont (2021)	Alder Lake-S (2022)
Release date	4 November 2021 (3 years ago)	4 January 2022 (2 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)	$264	no data

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

Detailed specifications

Core i5-12600KF and Core i9-12900F 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	2.4 GHz
Boost clock speed	4.9 GHz	5.1 GHz
Bus type	DMI 4.0	no data
Bus rate	8 × 16 GT/s	no data
Multiplier	37	no data
L1 cache	80K (per core)	80K (per core)
L2 cache	9.5 MB	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 mm2	215 mm2
Maximum core temperature	100 °C	100 °C
Maximum case temperature (TCase)	72 °C	72 °C
64 bit support	+	+
Windows 11 compatibility	+	+
Unlocked multiplier	+	+

Compatibility

Information on Core i5-12600KF and Core i9-12900F 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	65 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i5-12600KF and Core i9-12900F. 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	+	+
AVX	+	+
vPro	+	no data
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)	+	+
Speed Shift	+	+
Turbo Boost Technology	2.0	2.0
Hyper-Threading Technology	+	+
TSX	-	+
Idle States	+	+
Thermal Monitoring	+	+
Turbo Boost Max 3.0	-	+
Deep Learning Boost	+	+

Security technologies

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

TXT	no data	+
EDB	+	+
Secure Key	+	+
OS Guard	+	+

Virtualization technologies

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

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

Memory specs

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

Supported memory types	DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200	DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200
Maximum memory size	128 GB	128 GB
Max memory channels	2	2
Maximum memory bandwidth	76.805 GB/s	76.8 GB/s

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i5-12600KF and Core i9-12900F.

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.

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Pros & cons summary

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Performance score	17.57	22.84
Recency	4 November 2021	4 January 2022
Physical cores	10	16
Threads	16	24
Power consumption (TDP)	125 Watt	65 Watt

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

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