i9-12900K vs i7-4790S

Aggregate performance score

Core i7-4790S
2014
4 cores / 8 threads, 65 Watt
4.42
Core i9-12900K
2021
16 cores / 24 threads, 125 Watt
26.11
+491%

Core i9-12900K outperforms Core i7-4790S by a whopping 491% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

Comparing Core i7-4790S and Core i9-12900K processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking1329185
Place by popularitynot in top-100not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluation0.7735.74
Market segmentDesktop processorDesktop processor
SeriesCore i7 (Desktop)Intel Core i9
Power efficiency6.4419.77
Architecture codenameHaswell (2013−2015)Alder Lake, Golden Cove, Gracemont (2021)
Release date1 May 2014 (10 years ago)4 November 2021 (3 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)$303$589

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

i9-12900K has 4542% better value for money than i7-4790S.

Detailed specifications

Core i7-4790S and Core i9-12900K 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)
Threads824
Base clock speed3.2 GHz3.2 GHz
Boost clock speed4 GHz5.2 GHz
Bus typeno dataDMI 4.0
Bus rate5 GT/s8 × 16 GT/s
Multiplierno data32
L1 cache64K (per core)80K (per core)
L2 cache256K (per core)1.25 MB (per core)
L3 cache8 MB (shared)30 MB (shared)
Chip lithography22 nm10 nm
Die size177 mm2215.25 mm2"
Maximum core temperatureno data100 °C
Maximum case temperature (TCase)71 °C72 °C
Number of transistors1,400 millionno data
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibility-+
Unlocked multiplier-+

Compatibility

Information on Core i7-4790S and Core i9-12900K 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 configuration11
SocketFCLGA1150FCLGA1700
Power consumption (TDP)65 Watt125 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i7-4790S and Core i9-12900K. 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++
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)++
Speed Shiftno data+
My WiFi+no data
Turbo Boost Technology2.02.0
Hyper-Threading Technology++
Idle States++
Thermal Monitoring++
SIPP++
Turbo Boost Max 3.0no data+
FDI+no data
Deep Learning Boost-+

Security technologies

Core i7-4790S and Core i9-12900K technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXT++
EDB++
Secure Key++
Identity Protection+-
OS Guard++
Anti-Theft+no data

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i7-4790S and Core i9-12900K are enumerated here.

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

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i7-4790S and Core i9-12900K. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesDDR3DDR4, DDR5
Maximum memory size32 GB128 GB
Max memory channels22
Maximum memory bandwidth25.6 GB/s76.805 GB/s
ECC memory support-+

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics card
Compare
Intel HD Graphics 4600Intel UHD Graphics 770
Max video memory2 GBno data
Quick Sync Video++
Clear Video HD++
Graphics max frequency1.2 GHz1.55 GHz
Execution Unitsno data32
InTru 3D+no data

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core i7-4790S and Core i9-12900K integrated GPUs.

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

Graphics image quality

Maximum display resolutions supported by Core i7-4790S and Core i9-12900K integrated GPUs, including resolutions over different interfaces.

Max resolution over HDMI 1.44096x2304@24Hz4096 x 2160 @ 60Hz
Max resolution over eDP3840x2160@60Hz5120 x 3200 @ 120Hz
Max resolution over DisplayPort3840x2160@60Hz7680 x 4320 @ 60Hz
Max resolution over VGA1920x1200@60Hzno data

Graphics API support

APIs supported by Core i7-4790S and Core i9-12900K integrated GPUs, sometimes API versions are included.

DirectX11.2/1212
OpenGL4.34.5

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i7-4790S and Core i9-12900K.

PCIe versionUp to 3.05.0 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.

i7-4790S 4.42
i9-12900K 26.11
+491%

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.

i7-4790S 7022
i9-12900K 41471
+491%

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.

i7-4790S 1225
i9-12900K 2652
+116%

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.

i7-4790S 3822
i9-12900K 15572
+307%

Cinebench 10 32-bit single-core

Cinebench R10 is an ancient ray tracing benchmark for processors by Maxon, authors of Cinema 4D. Its single core version uses just one CPU thread to render a futuristic looking motorcycle.

i7-4790S 5566
i9-12900K 9859
+77.1%

Cinebench 10 32-bit multi-core

Cinebench Release 10 Multi Core is a variant of Cinebench R10 using all the processor threads. Possible number of threads is limited by 16 in this version.

i7-4790S 21072
i9-12900K 71819
+241%

Cinebench 11.5 64-bit multi-core

Cinebench Release 11.5 Multi Core is a variant of Cinebench R11.5 which uses all the processor threads. A maximum of 64 threads is supported in this version.

i7-4790S 8
i9-12900K 46
+486%

Cinebench 15 64-bit multi-core

Cinebench Release 15 Multi Core is a variant of Cinebench R15 which uses all the processor threads.

i7-4790S 714
i9-12900K 4057
+468%

Cinebench 15 64-bit single-core

Cinebench R15 (standing for Release 15) is a benchmark made by Maxon, authors of Cinema 4D. It was superseded by later versions of Cinebench, which use more modern variants of Cinema 4D engine. The Single Core version (sometimes called Single-Thread) only uses a single processor thread to render a room full of reflective spheres and light sources.

i7-4790S 150
i9-12900K 289
+92.7%

Cinebench 11.5 64-bit single-core

Cinebench R11.5 is an old benchmark by Maxon, authors of Cinema 4D. It was superseded by later versions of Cinebench, which use more modern variants of Cinema 4D engine. The Single Core version loads a single thread with ray tracing to render a glossy room full of crystal spheres and light sources.

i7-4790S 1.72
i9-12900K 3.5
+103%

Gaming performance

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 4.42 26.11
Integrated graphics card 1.84 6.15
Recency 1 May 2014 4 November 2021
Physical cores 4 16
Threads 8 24
Chip lithography 22 nm 10 nm
Power consumption (TDP) 65 Watt 125 Watt

i7-4790S has 92.3% lower power consumption.

i9-12900K, on the other hand, has a 490.7% higher aggregate performance score, 234.2% faster integrated GPU, an age advantage of 7 years, 300% more physical cores and 200% more threads, and a 120% more advanced lithography process.

The Core i9-12900K is our recommended choice as it beats the Core i7-4790S in performance tests.


Should you still have questions on choice between Core i7-4790S and Core i9-12900K, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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Intel Core i7-4790S
Core i7-4790S
Intel Core i9-12900K
Core i9-12900K

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Community ratings

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