i9-12900KS vs i5-6500

Aggregate performance score

Core i5-6500
2015
4 cores / 4 threads, 65 Watt
3.68
Core i9-12900KS
2022
16 cores / 24 threads, 150 Watt
28.77
+682%

Core i9-12900KS outperforms Core i5-6500 by a whopping 682% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

Comparing Core i5-6500 and Core i9-12900KS processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking1513170
Place by popularity28not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluation0.75no data
Market segmentDesktop processorDesktop processor
SeriesIntel Core i5 (Desktop)no data
Power efficiency5.1617.49
Architecture codenameSkylake (2015−2016)Alder Lake-S (2022)
Release date1 September 2015 (9 years ago)5 April 2022 (2 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)$192no data

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

no data

Detailed specifications

Core i5-6500 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 cores4 (Quad-Core)16 (Hexadeca-Core)
Threads424
Base clock speed3.2 GHz3.4 GHz
Boost clock speed3.6 GHz5.3 GHz
Bus typeDMI 3.0no data
Bus rate4 × 8 GT/sno data
Multiplier32no data
L1 cache256 KB80K (per core)
L2 cache1 MB1.25 MB (per core)
L3 cache6 MB (shared)30 MB (shared)
Chip lithography14 nmIntel 7 nm
Die size122 mm2215 mm2
Maximum core temperatureno data90 °C
Maximum case temperature (TCase)72 °C72 °C
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibility-+
Unlocked multiplier-+

Compatibility

Information on Core i5-6500 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 configuration1 (Uniprocessor)1
SocketFCLGA1151FCLGA1700
Power consumption (TDP)65 Watt150 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i5-6500 and Core i9-12900KS. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensionsIntel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2Intel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2
AES-NI++
AVX++
vPro+no data
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)++
Speed Shiftno data+
Turbo Boost Technology2.02.0
Hyper-Threading Technology-+
TSX++
Idle States++
Thermal Monitoring++
SIPP+-
Turbo Boost Max 3.0no data+
Deep Learning Boost-+

Security technologies

Core i5-6500 and Core i9-12900KS technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXT++
EDB++
Secure Key++
MPX+-
Identity Protection+-
SGXYes with Intel® MEno data
OS Guard++

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i5-6500 and Core i9-12900KS are enumerated here.

AMD-V+-
VT-d++
VT-x++
EPT++

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i5-6500 and Core i9-12900KS. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesDDR3, DDR4DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200
Maximum memory size64 GB128 GB
Max memory channels22
Maximum memory bandwidth34.134 GB/s76.8 GB/s
ECC memory support-+

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics card
Compare
Intel HD Graphics 530Intel UHD Graphics 770
Max video memory64 GBno data
Quick Sync Video++
Clear Video+no data
Clear Video HD++
Graphics max frequency1.05 GHz1.55 GHz
Execution Unitsno data32
InTru 3D+no data

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core i5-6500 and Core i9-12900KS integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supported34
eDP+no data
DisplayPort+-
HDMI+-
DVI+no data

Graphics image quality

Maximum display resolutions supported by Core i5-6500 and Core i9-12900KS integrated GPUs, including resolutions over different interfaces.

4K resolution support+no data
Max resolution over HDMI 1.44096x2304@24Hz4096 x 2160 @ 60Hz
Max resolution over eDP4096x2304@60Hz5120 x 3200 @ 120Hz
Max resolution over DisplayPort4096x2304@60Hz7680 x 4320 @ 60Hz
Max resolution over VGAN/Ano data

Graphics API support

APIs supported by Core i5-6500 and Core i9-12900KS integrated GPUs, sometimes API versions are included.

DirectX1212
OpenGL4.54.5

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i5-6500 and Core i9-12900KS.

PCIe version3.05.0 and 4.0
PCI Express lanes1620

Synthetic benchmark performance

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


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.

i5-6500 3.68
i9-12900KS 28.77
+682%

Passmark

Passmark CPU Mark is a widespread benchmark, consisting of 8 different types of workload, including integer and floating point math, extended instructions, compression, encryption and physics calculation. There is also one separate single-threaded scenario measuring single-core performance.

i5-6500 5625
i9-12900KS 44022
+683%

GeekBench 5 Single-Core

GeekBench 5 Single-Core is a cross-platform application developed in the form of CPU tests that independently recreate certain real-world tasks with which to accurately measure performance. This version uses only a single CPU core.

i5-6500 1199
i9-12900KS 2695
+125%

GeekBench 5 Multi-Core

GeekBench 5 Multi-Core is a cross-platform application developed in the form of CPU tests that independently recreate certain real-world tasks with which to accurately measure performance. This version uses all available CPU cores.

i5-6500 3270
i9-12900KS 16236
+397%

Gaming performance

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 3.68 28.77
Integrated graphics card 2.59 6.15
Recency 1 September 2015 5 April 2022
Physical cores 4 16
Threads 4 24
Power consumption (TDP) 65 Watt 150 Watt

i5-6500 has 130.8% lower power consumption.

i9-12900KS, on the other hand, has a 681.8% higher aggregate performance score, 137.5% faster integrated GPU, an age advantage of 6 years, and 300% more physical cores and 500% more threads.

The Core i9-12900KS is our recommended choice as it beats the Core i5-6500 in performance tests.


Should you still have questions on choice between Core i5-6500 and Core i9-12900KS, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

Vote for your favorite

Do you think we are right or mistaken in our choice? Vote by clicking "Like" button near your favorite CPU.


Intel Core i5-6500
Core i5-6500
Intel Core i9-12900KS
Core i9-12900KS

Similar processor comparisons

We picked several similar comparisons of processors in the same market segment and performance relatively close to those reviewed on this page.

Community ratings

Here you can see how users rate the processors, as well as rate them yourself.


3.6 2261 vote

Rate Core i5-6500 on a scale of 1 to 5:

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
3.6 409 votes

Rate Core i9-12900KS on a scale of 1 to 5:

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5

Questions & comments

Here you can ask a question about Core i5-6500 or Core i9-12900KS, agree or disagree with our judgements, or report an error or mismatch.