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Intel Core i9-12900K

Intel Core i9-12900K

Intel Core i9-12900K: Full Review of the 2025 Processor

Architecture, Performance and Build Tips

Key Features: Hybrid Architecture and Record Frequencies

The Intel Core i9-12900K processor, released in late 2021, remains relevant for enthusiasts by 2025 thanks to its unique Alder Lake hybrid architecture.

Architecture and Technology Process

- Hybrid Cores: 16 cores (8 Performance cores with Hyper-Threading and 8 Efficient cores) and 24 threads. P-cores handle heavy tasks (gaming, rendering), while E-cores manage background processes.

- Intel 7 (10nm Enhanced SuperFin): Improved energy efficiency and transistor density.

- Frequencies: Base frequency — 3.2 GHz, maximum turbo frequency — 5.1 GHz for P-cores. In real-world tests (e.g., Cinebench R23), the processor achieves up to 27,000 points in multi-threaded mode.

- Cache: 30 MB L3 — reduces latency when working with resource-intensive applications.

- Intel UHD Graphics 770: Basic graphics for office tasks, but not for gaming.

Key Features:

- Intel Thread Director: Optimizes task distribution among cores in Windows 11.

- Support for PCIe 5.0: Bandwidth is twice that of PCIe 4.0 — essential for next-gen SSDs and graphics cards.

Compatible Motherboards: LGA 1700 Socket and Chipsets

The processor utilizes the LGA 1700 socket, supported by Z690, H670, B660, and H610 chipsets.

Selection Recommendations

- For Overclocking: Only the Z690/Z790 chipset (e.g., ASUS ROG Strix Z790-E, approx. $350).

- Without Overclocking: B660 (MSI MAG B660 Tomahawk, approx. $180) — optimal for most users.

- Features:

- PCIe 5.0 x16 for graphics cards and PCIe 4.0 x4 for NVMe.

- Some boards support both DDR4 and DDR5 (choice depends on budget).

Practical Example: The Gigabyte Z690 AORUS Master allows overclocking the i9-12900K to 5.3 GHz on P-cores using AIO cooling.

Supported Memory: DDR4 vs DDR5

The processor is compatible with both memory types, but there are nuances:

- DDR4-3200: Cheaper (32 GB approx. $90), but limited in bandwidth.

- DDR5-6000: More expensive (32 GB approx. $150), but offers higher performance in tasks like rendering (up to +15% in Blender).

Tip: For gaming, the difference is minimal (1-3% FPS), but DDR5 is beneficial for professionals.

Power Supplies: Power Calculation

With a TDP of 125 watts, actual energy consumption under load reaches 250 watts (with overclocking).

Recommendations:

- Without discrete graphics: 500 watts.

- With a graphics card (e.g., RTX 4080): 850–1000 watts (Corsair RM850x, approx. $140).

- Criteria: 80 Plus Gold/Platinum certification, modular cables.

Important: Cheap power supplies (e.g., EVGA 600W) may not handle peak loads properly, leading to reboots.

Pros and Cons of i9-12900K

Advantages:

1. Best single-threaded performance (Geekbench 6 Single Core — 2611) — ideal for gaming (Cyberpunk 2077, 144+ FPS at 1440p).

2. Support for DDR5 and PCIe 5.0 — future-proofing.

3. Hybrid architecture — optimized power consumption.

Disadvantages:

1. High temperatures: Without AIO cooling (e.g., NZXT Kraken X63), temperatures can reach 100°C under load.

2. Price: In 2025, the processor costs around $450, while the Ryzen 9 7900X is $400.

3. Requires Windows 11 for proper Thread Director operation.

Use Cases

Gaming:

- Maximum FPS in CPU-bound games (CS2, Dota 2).

- Compatible with 240 Hz monitors.

Working Tasks:

- Rendering in Blender is 30% faster than i9-11900K.

- Video encoding in Premiere Pro — 8K in 12–15 minutes.

Multimedia:

- Streaming (OBS + game) without lag due to E-cores.

Comparison with Competitors

1. AMD Ryzen 9 7950X (16 cores, 32 threads):

- Pros: Better in multi-threaded tasks (Geekbench 6 Multi Core — 16,200 vs 15,434 for Intel).

- Cons: Higher price ($550), worse in gaming (-7% FPS).

2. Intel Core i9-13900K:

- Pros: +15% performance, but more expensive (approx. $600).

Conclusion: The i9-12900K is a sweet spot between price and performance.

Practical Assembly Tips

1. Cooling: Minimum — tower cooler (Noctua NH-D15), optimally — 280mm AIO.

2. Case: Good airflow (Lian Li Lancool III) + at least 3 fans.

3. BIOS Update: For compatibility with Windows 11 and new SSDs.

4. Memory: If budget is tight — DDR4-3600 CL16 (G.Skill Ripjaws V).

Conclusion: Who Should Choose the i9-12900K?

This processor is ideal for:

- Gamers looking for maximum FPS.

- Professionals working with 3D and video.

- Enthusiasts who appreciate a balance of price and new technologies.

Alternatives: For pure multi-threaded work — Ryzen 9 7950X, for savings — i7-13700K.

In 2025, the i9-12900K remains a great choice, especially on the secondary market (price approx. $300), but newer models are more power-efficient and better optimized.

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Basic

Label Name
Intel
Platform
Desktop
Launch Date
November 2021
Model Name
?
The Intel processor number is just one of several factors - along with processor brand, system configurations, and system-level benchmarks - to be considered when choosing the right processor for your computing needs.
i9-12900K
Code Name
Alder Lake

CPU Specifications

Total Cores
?
Cores is a hardware term that describes the number of independent central processing units in a single computing component (die or chip).
16
Total Threads
?
Where applicable, Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology is only available on Performance-cores.
24
Performance-cores
8
Efficient-cores
8
Max Turbo Frequency
?
Max Turbo Frequency is the maximum single-core frequency at which the processor is capable of operating using Intel® Turbo Boost Technology and, if present, Intel® Turbo Boost Max Technology 3.0 and Intel® Thermal Velocity Boost. Frequency is typically measured in gigahertz (GHz), or billion cycles per second.
5.20 GHz
Performance-core Base Frequency
3.20 GHz
Efficient-core Base Frequency
2.40 GHz
Performance-core Max Turbo Frequency
?
Maximum P-core turbo frequency derived from Intel® Turbo Boost Technology.
5.10 GHz
Efficient-core Max Turbo Frequency
?
Maximum E-core turbo frequency derived from Intel® Turbo Boost Technology.
3.90 GHz
Intel Turbo Boost Technology
?
Intel® Turbo Boost Technology dynamically increases the processor's frequency as needed by taking advantage of thermal and power headroom to give you a burst of speed when you need it, and increased energy efficiency when you don’t.
2.0
Intel Hyper-Threading Technology
?
Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology (Intel® HT Technology) delivers two processing threads per physical core. Highly threaded applications can get more work done in parallel, completing tasks sooner.
Yes
Intel Turbo Boost Max Technology 3.0 Frequency
?
Intel® Turbo Boost Max Technology 3.0 identifies the best performing core(s) on a processor and provides increased performance on those cores through increasing frequency as needed by taking advantage of power and thermal headroom. Intel® Turbo Boost Max Technology 3.0 frequency is the clock frequency of the CPU when running in this mode.
5.20 GHz
Intel Turbo Boost Max Technology 3.0
?
Intel® Turbo Boost Max Technology 3.0 identifies the best performing core(s) on a processor and provides increased performance on those cores through increasing frequency as needed by taking advantage of power and thermal headroom.
Yes
L3 Cache
30 MB
CPU Socket
?
The socket is the component that provides the mechanical and electrical connections between the processor and motherboard.
FCLGA1700
Technology
?
Lithography refers to the semiconductor technology used to manufacture an integrated circuit, and is reported in nanometer (nm), indicative of the size of features built on the semiconductor.
Intel 7
TDP
125 W
Processor Base Power
?
The time-averaged power dissipation that the processor is validated to not exceed during manufacturing while executing an Intel-specified high complexity workload at Base Frequency and at the junction temperature as specified in the Datasheet for the SKU segment and configuration.
125 W
Maximum Turbo Power
?
The maximum sustained (>1s) power dissipation of the processor as limited by current and/or temperature controls. Instantaneous power may exceed Maximum Turbo Power for short durations (<=10ms). Note: Maximum Turbo Power is configurable by system vendor and can be system specific.
241 W
Max. Operating Temperature
?
Junction Temperature is the maximum temperature allowed at the processor die.
100°C
PCI Express Version
?
PCI Express Revision is the supported version of the PCI Express standard. Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (or PCIe) is a high-speed serial computer expansion bus standard for attaching hardware devices to a computer. The different PCI Express versions support different data rates.
5.0 and 4.0
Number of PCI Express Lanes
?
A PCI Express (PCIe) lane consists of two differential signaling pairs, one for receiving data, one for transmitting data, and is the basic unit of the PCIe bus. Max # of PCI Express Lanes is the total number of supported lanes.
20
Intel 64
?
Intel® 64 architecture delivers 64-bit computing on server, workstation, desktop and mobile platforms when combined with supporting software.¹ Intel 64 architecture improves performance by allowing systems to address more than 4 GB of both virtual and physical memory.
Yes
Instruction Set
?
The instruction set is a hard program stored inside the CPU that guides and optimizes CPU operations. With these instruction sets, the CPU can run more efficiently. There are many manufacturers that design CPUs, which results in different instruction sets, such as the 8086 instruction set for the Intel camp and the RISC instruction set for the ARM camp. x86, ARM v8, and MIPS are all codes for instruction sets. Instruction sets can be extended; for example, x86 added 64-bit support to create x86-64. Manufacturers developing CPUs that are compatible with a certain instruction set need authorization from the instruction set patent holder. A typical example is Intel authorizing AMD, enabling the latter to develop CPUs compatible with the x86 instruction set.
64-bit
PCI Express Configurations
?
PCI Express (PCIe) Configurations describe the available PCIe lane configurations that can be used to link to PCIe devices.
Up to 1x16+4 | 2x8+4

Memory Specifications

Memory Type
?
Intel® processors come in four different types: Single Channel, Dual Channel, Triple Channel, and Flex Mode. Maximum supported memory speed may be lower when populating multiple DIMMs per channel on products that support multiple memory channels.
Up to DDR5 4800 MT/s Up to DDR4 3200 MT/s
Max Memory Size
?
Max memory size refers to the maximum memory capacity supported by the processor.
128 GB
Memory Channels
?
The number of memory channels refers to the bandwidth operation for real world application.
2
Max Memory Bandwidth
?
Max Memory bandwidth is the maximum rate at which data can be read from or stored into a semiconductor memory by the processor (in GB/s).
76.8 GB/s
ECC Memory Supported
?
ECC Memory Supported indicates processor support for Error-Correcting Code memory. ECC memory is a type of system memory that can detect and correct common kinds of internal data corruption. Note that ECC memory support requires both processor and chipset support.
Yes

GPU Specifications

Integrated Graphics Model
?
An integrated GPU refers to the graphics core that is integrated into the CPU processor. Leveraging the processor's powerful computational capabilities and intelligent power efficiency management, it delivers outstanding graphics performance and a smooth application experience at a lower power consumption.
Intel® UHD Graphics 770
Graphics Base Frequency
?
Graphics Base frequency refers to the rated/guaranteed graphics render clock frequency in MHz.
300 MHz
Graphics Frequency
?
Graphics max dynamic frequency refers to the maximum opportunistic graphics render clock frequency (in MHz) that can be supported using Intel® HD Graphics with Dynamic Frequency feature.
1.55 GHz
DirectX Support
?
DirectX* Support indicates support for a specific version of Microsoft’s collection of APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) for handling multimedia compute tasks.
12
Execution Units
?
The Execution Unit is the foundational building block of Intel’s graphics architecture. Execution Units are compute processors optimized for simultaneous Multi-Threading for high throughput compute power.
32
Max Resolution (HDMI)
?
Max Resolution (HDMI) is the maximum resolution supported by the processor via the HDMI interface (24bits per pixel & 60Hz). System or device display resolution is dependent on multiple system design factors; actual resolution may be lower on your system.
4096 x 2160 @ 60Hz
Max Resolution (DP)
?
Max Resolution (DP) is the maximum resolution supported by the processor via the DP interface (24bits per pixel & 60Hz). System or device display resolution is dependent on multiple system design factors; actual resolution may be lower on your system.
7680 x 4320 @ 60Hz
Max Resolution (eDP - Integrated Flat Panel)
?
Max Resolution (Integrated Flat Panel) is the maximum resolution supported by the processor for a device with an integrated flat panel (24bits per pixel & 60Hz). System or device display resolution is dependent on multiple system design factors; actual resolution may be lower on your device.
5120 x 3200 @ 120Hz
Number of Displays Supported
4
Graphics Output
?
Graphics Output defines the interfaces available to communicate with display devices.
eDP 1.4b | DP 1.4a | HDMI 2.1

Miscellaneous

Intel Deep Learning Boost (Intel DL Boost) on CPU
?
A new set of embedded processor technologies designed to accelerate AI deep learning use cases. It extends Intel AVX-512 with a new Vector Neural Network Instruction (VNNI) that significantly increases deep learning inference performance over previous generations.
Yes
Intel Virtualization Technology (VT-x)
?
Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x) allows one hardware platform to function as multiple “virtual” platforms. It offers improved manageability by limiting downtime and maintaining productivity by isolating computing activities into separate partitions.
Yes
Intel Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d)
?
Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d) continues from the existing support for IA-32 (VT-x) and Itanium® processor (VT-i) virtualization adding new support for I/O-device virtualization. Intel VT-d can help end users improve security and reliability of the systems and also improve performance of I/O devices in virtualized environments.
Yes
Intel Standard Manageability (ISM)
?
Intel® Standard Manageability is the manageability solution for Intel vPro® Essentials platforms and is a subset of Intel® AMT with out-of-band management over Ethernet and Wi-Fi, but no KVM or new life cycle management features.
Intel® SSE4.1 | Intel® SSE4.2 | Intel® AVX2
Enhanced Intel SpeedStep Technology
?
Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® Technology is an advanced means of enabling high performance while meeting the power-conservation needs of mobile systems. Conventional Intel SpeedStep® Technology switches both voltage and frequency in tandem between high and low levels in response to processor load. Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® Technology builds upon that architecture using design strategies such as Separation between Voltage and Frequency Changes, and Clock Partitioning and Recovery.
Yes
Execute Disable Bit
?
Execute Disable Bit is a hardware-based security feature that can reduce exposure to viruses and malicious-code attacks and prevent harmful software from executing and propagating on the server or network.
Yes
Cache
?
CPU Cache is an area of fast memory located on the processor. Intel® Smart Cache refers to the architecture that allows all cores to dynamically share access to the last level cache.
30 MB Intel® Smart Cache
Intel AES New Instructions
?
Intel® AES New Instructions (Intel® AES-NI) are a set of instructions that enable fast and secure data encryption and decryption. AES-NI are valuable for a wide range of cryptographic applications, for example: applications that perform bulk encryption/decryption, authentication, random number generation, and authenticated encryption.
Yes
Intel Active Management Technology (AMT)
Yes
Intel Volume Management Device (VMD)
?
Intel® Volume Management Device (VMD) provides a common, robust method of hot plug and LED management for NVMe-based solid state drives.
Yes
Intel Boot Guard
?
Intel® Device Protection Technology with Boot Guard helps protect the system’s pre-OS environment from viruses and malicious software attacks.
Yes
Intel Hardware Shield Eligibility
Yes
Intel Clear Video HD Technology
?
Intel® Clear Video HD Technology, like its predecessor, Intel® Clear Video Technology, is a suite of image decode and processing technologies built into the integrated processor graphics that improve video playback, delivering cleaner, sharper images, more natural, accurate, and vivid colors, and a clear and stable video picture. Intel® Clear Video HD Technology adds video quality enhancements for richer color and more realistic skin tones.
Yes
Intel VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT)
?
Intel® VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT), also known as Second Level Address Translation (SLAT), provides acceleration for memory intensive virtualized applications. Extended Page Tables in Intel® Virtualization Technology platforms reduces the memory and power overhead costs and increases battery life through hardware optimization of page table management.
Yes
Intel Control-Flow Enforcement Technology
?
CET - Intel Control-flow Enforcement Technology (CET) helps protect against the misuse of legitimate code snippets through return-oriented programming (ROP) control-flow hijacking attacks.
Yes
Intel OS Guard
Yes
OpenGL Support
?
OpenGL (Open Graphics Library) is a cross-language, multi-platform API (Application Programming Interface) for rendering 2D and 3D vector graphics.
4.5
OpenCL Support
?
OpenCL (Open Computing Language) is a multi-platform API (Application Programming Interface) for heterogeneous parallel programming.
3.0
Intel Quick Sync Video
?
Intel® Quick Sync Video delivers fast conversion of video for portable media players, online sharing, and video editing and authoring.
Yes

Benchmarks

Geekbench 6
Single Core Score
2611
Geekbench 6
Multi Core Score
15434
Geekbench 5
Single Core Score
2010
Geekbench 5
Multi Core Score
15795
Passmark CPU
Single Core Score
4173
Passmark CPU
Multi Core Score
41363

Compared to Other CPU

Geekbench 6 Single Core
Core Ultra 5 245
3007 +15.2%
Ryzen 5 7600
2734 +4.7%
Core i9-12900K
2611
Core i9-12900HX
2448 -6.2%
M1
2318 -11.2%
Geekbench 6 Multi Core
Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7965WX
23294 +50.9%
M1 Ultra
18219 +18%
Core i9-12900K
15434
Ryzen 5 9600X
14047 -9%
Core i7-13800HE
12833 -16.9%
Geekbench 5 Single Core
Core i9-14900KS
2536 +26.2%
Core i9-12900K
2010
Core i7-13705H
1870 -7%
Core i9-11900KF
1768 -12%
Ryzen 7 7700
1690 -15.9%
Geekbench 5 Multi Core
EPYC 7343
22840 +44.6%
EPYC 7663
19074 +20.8%
Core i9-12900K
15795
Core i7-14650HX
14326 -9.3%
Core i7-12800HL
12860 -18.6%
Passmark CPU Single Core
Core i9-13900KF
4626 +10.9%
Core i9-12900KS
4354 +4.3%
Core i9-12900K
4173
Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7965WX
4093 -1.9%
EPYC 4244P
3950 -5.3%
Passmark CPU Multi Core
Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5955WX
50024 +20.9%
Xeon Gold 6526Y
46000 +11.2%
Core i9-12900K
41363
Xeon Gold 6346
37722 -8.8%
Core i7-12700K
34652 -16.2%