Core i9-12900KF vs Core i5-9400F

Primary details

Comparing Core i5-9400F and Core i9-12900KF processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in performance ranking	1018	164
Place by popularity	29	not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluation	16.87	54.59
Market segment	Desktop processor	Desktop processor
Series	Intel Core i5	Intel Core i9
Architecture codename	Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019)	Alder Lake, Golden Cove, Gracemont (2021)
Release date	7 January 2019 (5 years ago)	27 October 2021 (2 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)	$182	$564
Current price	$138 (0.8x MSRP)	$475 (0.8x MSRP)

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

i9-12900KF has 224% better value for money than i5-9400F.

Detailed specifications

Core i5-9400F and Core i9-12900KF 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	6 (Hexa-Core)	16 (Hexadeca-Core)
Threads	6	24
Base clock speed	2.9 GHz	3.2 GHz
Boost clock speed	4.1 GHz	5.2 GHz
Bus support	4 × 8 GT/s	8 × 16 GT/s
L1 cache	385 KB	768 KB
L2 cache	1.5 MB	4 MB
L3 cache	9 MB (shared)	6 MB
Chip lithography	14 nm	Intel 7 nm
Die size	149 mm2	215.25 mm220.5 mm × 10.5 mm
Maximum core temperature	100 °C	100 °C
Maximum case temperature (TCase)	72 °C	72 °C
64 bit support	+	+
Windows 11 compatibility	+	+
Unlocked multiplier	No	Yes

Compatibility

Information on Core i5-9400F and Core i9-12900KF 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	FCLGA1151	FCLGA1700
Power consumption (TDP)	65 Watt	125 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i5-9400F and Core i9-12900KF. 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	no data	+
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	no data	+
Status	Discontinued	Launched

Security technologies

Core i5-9400F and Core i9-12900KF technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXT	-	no data
EDB	+	+
Secure Key	+	+
MPX	+	no data
Identity Protection	+	no data
SGX	Yes with Intel® ME	no data
OS Guard	+	+

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i5-9400F and Core i9-12900KF are enumerated here.

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

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i5-9400F and Core i9-12900KF. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory types	DDR4-2666	DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200
Maximum memory size	128 GB	128 GB
Max memory channels	2	2
Maximum memory bandwidth	41.6 GB/s	76.8 GB/s
ECC memory support	-	no data

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i5-9400F and Core i9-12900KF.

PCIe version	3.0	5.0 and 4.0
PCI Express lanes	16	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 i9-12900KF outperforms Core i5-9400F by 334% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

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Pros & cons summary

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Performance score	6.12	26.59
Recency	7 January 2019	27 October 2021
Physical cores	6	16
Threads	6	24
Cost	$182	$564
Power consumption (TDP)	65 Watt	125 Watt

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Should you still have questions on choice between Core i5-9400F and Core i9-12900KF, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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