Core i5-12500 vs Core i9-10900

General info

Comparing Core i9-10900 and Core i5-12500 processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in performance ranking	528	526
Place by popularity	not in top-100	not in top-100
Value for money	22.17	34.45
Market segment	Desktop processor	Desktop processor
Architecture codename	Comet Lake (2020)	Alder Lake-S (2022)
Release date	30 April 2020 (3 years old)	4 January 2022 (2 years old)
Current price	$391	$296

i5-12500 has 55% better value for money than i9-10900.

Technical specs

Core i9-10900 and Core i5-12500 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)	6 (Hexa-Core)
Threads	20	12
Base clock speed	2.8 GHz	3 GHz
Boost clock speed	5.1 GHz	4.6 GHz
L1 cache	64K (per core)	80K (per core)
L2 cache	256K (per core)	1.25 MB (per core)
L3 cache	20 MB (shared)	18 MB (shared)
Chip lithography	14 nm	Intel 7 nm
Die size	no data	163 mm2
Maximum core temperature	100 °C	100 °C
Maximum case temperature (TCase)	72 °C	no data
64 bit support	+	+
Windows 11 compatibility	+	+
Unlocked multiplier	No	No

Compatibility

Information on Core i9-10900 and Core i5-12500 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	FCLGA1200	FCLGA1700
Power consumption (TDP)	65 Watt	65 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i9-10900 and Core i5-12500. 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	+	+
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)	+	+
Speed Shift	no data	+
Turbo Boost Technology	2.0	2.0
Hyper-Threading Technology	+	+
TSX	-	+
Idle States	+	+
Thermal Monitoring	+	+
SIPP	+	+
Turbo Boost Max 3.0	+	-
Status	Discontinued	Launched

Security technologies

Core i9-10900 and Core i5-12500 technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

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

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i9-10900 and Core i5-12500 are enumerated here.

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

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i9-10900 and Core i5-12500. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory types	DDR4-2933	DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200
Maximum memory size	128 GB	128 GB
Max memory channels	2	2
Maximum memory bandwidth	45.8 GB/s	76.8 GB/s
ECC memory support	-	+

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics card Compare	Intel UHD Graphics 630	Intel UHD Graphics 770
Max video memory	64 GB	no data
Quick Sync Video	+	+
Clear Video	+	no data
Clear Video HD	+	+
Graphics max frequency	1.2 GHz	1.45 GHz
Execution Units	no data	32
InTru 3D	+	no data

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core i9-10900 and Core i5-12500 integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supported

3

4

Graphics image quality

Maximum display resolutions supported by Core i9-10900 and Core i5-12500 integrated GPUs, including resolutions over different interfaces.

4K resolution support	+	no data
Max resolution over HDMI 1.4	4096 x 2160@30Hz	4096 x 2160 @ 60Hz
Max resolution over eDP	4096 x 2304@60Hz	5120 x 3200 @ 120Hz
Max resolution over DisplayPort	4096 x 2304@60Hz	7680 x 4320 @ 60Hz

Graphics API support

APIs supported by Core i9-10900 and Core i5-12500 integrated GPUs, sometimes API versions are included.

DirectX	12	12
OpenGL	4.5	4.5

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i9-10900 and Core i5-12500.

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.

Advantages and disadvantages

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Performance score	12.99	13.01
Integrated graphics card	3.08	6.13
Recency	30 April 2020	4 January 2022
Physical cores	10	6
Threads	20	12

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Should you still have questions on choice between Core i9-10900 and Core i5-12500, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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