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Intel Core i9-12900KS vs Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i9-9900K: Comparison
Intel Core i9-12900KS and Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i9-9900K separate most on l2 cache: Intel Core i9-12900KS at 14 MB, Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i9-9900K at 2 MB, 86% in favour of Intel Core i9-12900KS. L3 Cache splits them by another 47%, again favouring Intel Core i9-12900KS. They match on 7 other specifications, including form factor, market segment and performance cores. In Blender Cycles (CPU) the Intel Core i9-12900KS scores 373 against 170 for the Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i9-9900K, a lead of 54%.
Specs
| Specification |  |  |
|---|---|---|
| Product Line | Core | Core i9 |
| Form Factor | Desktop | Desktop |
| Model Number | i9-12900KS | 9900K |
| Codename | Alder Lake | Coffee Lake Refresh |
| Release Year | 2022 | 2018 |
| TDP | 125 W | 95 W |
| iGPU | Intel UHD Graphics 770 | Intel UHD Graphics 630 |
| Market Segment | Desktop | Desktop |
| Socket | LGA 1700 | LGA 1151 |
| Socket Status | Mature | End of Life |
| Process Node | 10 nm | 14 nm |
| Performance Cores | 8 | 8 |
| Efficiency Cores | 8 | 0 |
| SMT Enabled | true | true |
| P-Core Base Clock | 3.4 | 3.6 GHz |
| P-Core Boost Clock | 5.5 | 5.0 GHz |
| L2 Cache | 14 MB | 2 MB-86% |
| L3 Cache | 30 MB | 16 MB-47% |
| Base Power | 150 W | 95 W |
| Max Turbo Power | 241 | 95 W |
| Memory Type | DDR5 or DDR4 | DDR4 |
| Max Memory Speed | 4800 | 2666 MT/s |
| Memory Channels | 2 | 2 |
| Integrated Graphics | Yes | Yes |
| iGPU Model | Intel UHD Graphics 770 | Intel UHD Graphics 630 |
| Copilot Plus Certified | false | false |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 5.0 | 3.0 |
| PCIe Lanes | 20 | 16-20% |
| Launch MSRP | 739 | $488 |
| Retail Availability | Boxed Retail | Retail |
| Architecture | Alder Lake | Coffee Lake Refresh, 9th Gen Intel Core |
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 i9-12900KS
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.
More comparisons in Processors (CPUs)
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- Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i9-9900K vs Intel Core Ultra 5 135UL
- Intel Core i9-12900KS vs Intel Core i9-13900KF
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