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Intel Core i9-12900K vs Intel Core i9-12900KS: Comparison
Intel Core i9-12900K and Intel Core i9-12900KS differ on p-core base clock: Intel Core i9-12900K at 3.2, Intel Core i9-12900KS at 3.4. They match on 32 other specifications, including product line, form factor and codename. In Blender Cycles (CPU) the Intel Core i9-12900KS scores 373 against 354 for the Intel Core i9-12900K, a lead of 5%.
Specs
| Specification |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Product Line | Core | Core |
| Form Factor | Desktop | Desktop |
| Model Number | i9-12900K | i9-12900KS |
| Codename | Alder Lake | Alder Lake |
| Release Year | 2022 | 2022 |
| TDP | 125 W | 125 W |
| iGPU | Intel UHD Graphics 770 | Intel UHD Graphics 770 |
| Market Segment | Desktop | Desktop |
| Socket | LGA 1700 | LGA 1700 |
| Socket Status | Mature | Mature |
| Process Node | 10 nm | 10 nm |
| Performance Cores | 8 | 8 |
| Efficiency Cores | 8 | 8 |
| SMT Enabled | true | true |
| P-Core Base Clock | 3.2 | 3.4 |
| P-Core Boost Clock | 5.2 | 5.5 |
| E-Core Base Clock | 2.4 | 2.5 |
| E-Core Boost Clock | 3.9 | 4.0 |
| Unlocked Multiplier | true | true |
| L2 Cache | 14 MB | 14 MB |
| L3 Cache | 30 MB | 30 MB |
| Base Power | 125 W | 150 W |
| Max Turbo Power | 241 | 241 |
| Bundled Cooler | None | None |
| Memory Type | DDR5 or DDR4 | DDR5 or DDR4 |
| Max Memory Speed | 4800 | 4800 |
| Memory Channels | 2 | 2 |
| Max Memory Capacity | 128 | 128 |
| Integrated Graphics | Yes | Yes |
| iGPU Model | Intel UHD Graphics 770 | Intel UHD Graphics 770 |
| iGPU Compute Units | 32 | 32 |
| Copilot Plus Certified | false | false |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 5.0 | PCIe 5.0 |
| PCIe Lanes | 20 | 20 |
| Launch MSRP | 589 | 739 |
| Retail Availability | Boxed Retail | Boxed Retail |
| Cores | 16 | 16 |
| Threads | 24 | 24 |
| Architecture | Alder Lake | Alder Lake |
Benchmarks
Measured results, not specifications. Percentages are the gap to the leading product in each test.
Blender Cycles (CPU)
Blender 4.5, Blender Open Data (CC0). Median of monster + junkshop + classroom, combined samples/min.
Blender renders 3D scenes by tracing light through them, which loads every core at once. The score measures sustained multi-core throughput, so a chip that wins here can still lose at gaming, where one or two fast cores matter more. Figures come from Blender's Open Data project, which places no restriction on reuse, and we publish the median of every submission for that chip on the same Blender version.
Verdict
Intel Core i9-12900K
7.9 / 10 Expert Rating
The Intel Core i9-12900K is an unlocked overclockable chip, well suited to enthusiast gaming and productivity builds.
Intel Core i9-12900KS
8.7 / 10 Expert Rating
The Intel Core i9-12900KS is an unlocked flagship desktop chip, a top pick for enthusiasts who want to overclock.