Intel Core i9-12900KF
Intel Core i9-12900KF Specifications and Performance Analysis
The Intel Core i9-12900KF is based on the Alder Lake-S architecture and is manufactured using the 10 nm process at the Intel foundry. It is compatible with the LGA 1700 socket used by Z690, W680, H670, Q670, B660, H610, Z790, H770, B760 chipsets and supports PCIe Gen 4, 16 Lanes (CPU only), as well as DDR4, DDR5 memory with speeds of up to 3200 MT/s across Dual-channel memory. This processor features a hybrid core configuration with 8 performance cores operating at a base clock of 3.20 GHz and boosting up to 5.20 GHz, alongside 8 efficiency cores running at a base clock of 1.80 GHz and boosting up to 3.80 GHz, for a total of 24 threads. It is equipped with 80 kB of L1 cache, 1280 kB of L2 cache, and 30 MB of L3 cache. The efficiency cores feature 96 kB of L1 cache and 2048 kB of L2 cache.
This CPU is designed for a mainstream desktop platform. It supports consumer-grade memory configurations and modern expansion standards, making it suitable for everyday computing, gaming, and productivity workloads.The Intel Core i9-12900KF has a base TDP of 125 W and a very high maximum TDP of 241 W. A high-performance air cooler is the bare minimum, but a premium liquid cooling solution is strongly recommended. Additionally, a PC case with excellent airflow and a high-quality power supply are essential for stable operation.
This CPU does not include integrated graphics. A discrete graphics card is required for display output.
Application Performance
Intel Core i9-12900KF is an upper mid-range CPU, achieving a relative application performance score of 60.46% of the best possible desktop CPU performance. This CPU is ideal for multitasking and can handle professional applications such as 3D rendering, video editing, and other heavy workloads, though not at the same speed or efficiency as higher-end models.
Intel Core i9-12900KF delivers a balanced application performance-per-price ratio of 52.7%. It provides good value for users looking for a practical balance between cost and performance.
Gaming Performance
Intel Core i9-12900KF is a mid-range gaming CPU, achieving a relative gaming performance score at 1080p resolution of 76.20% compared to the best possible desktop CPU gaming performance. This CPU provides solid mid-level gaming, performance and is best paired with corresponding mid-range graphics cards. Note that CPU-related performance limitations decrease as GPU performance lowers—particularly at higher resolutions—since the GPU becomes the bottleneck.
The gaming performance-per-price score of 43.6%, this CPU does not offer strong value in this category. As this CPU does not deliver top-tier gaming performance and also has a low gaming performance-to-price ratio, it represents poor value. More competitive options are available at a similar price point.
General Information
| CPU Name | Intel Core i9-12900KF |
|---|---|
| Release Price | $564.00 |
| Current Price on Amazon | $344 |
| Amazon Price Updated | 57 minutes ago. |
| Launch Date | 4 years, 8 months ago. |
| CPU Available | True |
| Architecture | Alder Lake-S |
|---|---|
| Foundry | Intel |
| Process | 10 nm |
| Socket | LGA 1700 |
| Chipsets | Z690, W680, H670, Q670, B660, H610, Z790, H770, B760 |
| Die Size | 215 mm² |
| PCIe Version | Gen 4, 16 Lanes (CPU only) |
| Secondary PCIe | Gen 4, 4 Lanes |
| Cores / Threads | 16 / 24 |
|---|---|
| Performance Cores / Small Cores | 8 / 8 |
| Perf. Cores Base / Boost Clock | 3.20 GHz / 5.20 GHz |
| Small Cores Base / Boost Clock | 1.80 GHz / 3.80 GHz |
| Memory Support / Max Speed | DDR4, DDR5 / 3200 MT/s |
|---|---|
| Memory Bandwidth | 76.8 GB/s |
| Memory Channels | Dual-channel |
| L1 Cache (per core) | 80 kB |
|---|---|
| L2 Cache (per core) | 1280 kB |
| L3 Cache (shared) | 30 MB |
| E-Core L1 Cache (per core) | 96 kB |
| E-Core L2 Cache (per module) | 2048 MB |
| Base TDP | 125 W |
|---|---|
| Max Turbo Power | 241 W |
| PL1 (Long Duration Power) | 241 W |
| Integrated Graphics | False |
|---|
Cinebench R24 Performance
| Cinebench R24 Multi-core | 1585 |
|---|---|
| Cinebench R24 Single-core | 122 |
CPU Normalized Performance Chart
Intel Core i9-12900KF Compared to Similar Performance CPUs
CPU Price / Performance Table
| CPU (Desc) | Price (Desc) | Performance (Desc) | Game_Perf (Desc) | Combined (Desc) | Perf/Price (Desc) | Game/Price (Desc) | Combined/Price (Desc) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
$310
|
↓
-1.9%
|
63.5%
|
79.2%
|
71.3%
|
61.5%
|
50.3%
|
57.5%
|
|
|
$372
|
0.0%
|
63.5%
|
79.2%
|
71.3%
|
51.3%
|
42.0%
|
48.0%
|
|
|
$316
|
↓
0.0%
|
63.0%
|
76.4%
|
69.7%
|
59.8%
|
47.7%
|
55.2%
|
|
|
$344
|
0.0%
|
60.5%
|
76.2%
|
68.3%
|
52.7%
|
43.6%
|
49.7%
|
|
|
$430
|
0.0%
|
60.5%
|
76.2%
|
68.3%
|
42.2%
|
34.9%
|
39.7%
|
|
|
$484
|
0.0%
|
59.0%
|
100.0%
|
79.5%
|
36.6%
|
40.7%
|
41.1%
|
|
|
$399
|
0.0%
|
58.8%
|
79.9%
|
69.4%
|
44.2%
|
39.5%
|
43.5%
|
|
|
$400
|
0.0%
|
58.8%
|
79.9%
|
69.4%
|
44.1%
|
39.4%
|
43.3%
|
|
|
$445
|
0.0%
|
58.1%
|
98.8%
|
78.5%
|
39.2%
|
43.7%
|
44.1%
|
Processor Comparison and Detail Specifications Table
| Specification | Perf Chart | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price |
$310
|
↓
-1.9%
|
$372
|
0.0%
|
$316
|
↓
0.0%
|
$344
|
0.0%
|
$430
|
0.0%
|
$484
|
0.0%
|
$399
|
0.0%
|
$400
|
0.0%
|
$445
|
0.0%
|
| Manufacturer | Intel | Intel | AMD | Intel | Intel | AMD | Intel | Intel | AMD |
| C/SC/T | 20 / 12 / 20 | 20 / 12 / 20 | 12 / 0 / 24 | 16 / 8 / 24 | 16 / 8 / 24 | 8 / 0 / 16 | 16 / 8 / 24 | 16 / 8 / 24 | 8 / 0 / 16 |
| L2 / L3 Cache | 3072.0 kB / 30.0 MB | 3072.0 kB / 30.0 MB | 1024.0 kB / 64.0 MB | 1280.0 kB / 30.0 MB | 1280.0 kB / 30.0 MB | 1024.0 kB / 96.0 MB | 2048.0 kB / 30.0 MB | 2048.0 kB / 30.0 MB | 1024.0 kB / 96.0 MB |
| Base / Boost | 2.40 GHz / 5.30 GHz | 2.40 GHz / 5.30 GHz | 3.70 GHz / 5.40 GHz | 3.20 GHz / 5.20 GHz | 3.20 GHz / 5.20 GHz | 4.70 GHz / 5.60 GHz | 2.10 GHz / 5.20 GHz | 2.10 GHz / 5.20 GHz | 4.70 GHz / 5.20 GHz |
| Memory | DDR5 / 6400 MT/s | DDR5 / 6400 MT/s | DDR5 / 5200 MT/s | DDR4, DDR5 / 3200 MT/s | DDR4, DDR5 / 3200 MT/s | DDR5 / 5600 MT/s | DDR4, DDR5 / 5600 MT/s | DDR4, DDR5 / 5600 MT/s | DDR5 / 5600 MT/s |
| Arch / Node | Arrow Lake-S / 3 nm | Arrow Lake-S / 3 nm | Raphael / 5 nm | Alder Lake-S / 10 nm | Alder Lake-S / 10 nm | Granite Ridge / 4 nm | Raptor Lake-S / 10 nm | Raptor Lake-S / 10 nm | Granite Ridge / 4 nm |
| TDP / Max | 65 W / 182 W | 65 W / 182 W | 65 W / 88 W | 125 W / 241 W | 125 W / 241 W | 120 W / 162 W | 65 W / 219 W | 65 W / 219 W | 120 W / 162 W |
| Socket | LGA 1851 | LGA 1851 | AM5 | LGA 1700 | LGA 1700 | AM5 | LGA 1700 | LGA 1700 | AM5 |
| Int. GPU | None | Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 32EU | Radeon Graphics | None | UHD Graphics 770 | Radeon Graphics | None | UHD Graphics 770 | Radeon Graphics |
CPU Performance in Rendering, Encoding and Compression-Decompression
| CPU (Desc) | CB24_MC (Desc) | CB24_SC (Desc) | CB24_rel (Desc) | Blender (Desc) | Encoding_AV1 (Desc) | Encoding_h265 (Desc) | 7-zip_Pack (Desc) | 7-zip_Unpack (Desc) | Performance (Desc) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1600 | 133 |
63.3%
|
66.3%
|
77.1%
|
71.8%
|
61.8%
|
40.8%
|
63.5%
|
|
| 1600 | 133 |
63.3%
|
66.3%
|
77.1%
|
71.8%
|
61.8%
|
40.8%
|
63.5%
|
|
| 1549 | 117 |
61.3%
|
53.6%
|
68.3%
|
62.8%
|
68.2%
|
63.6%
|
63.0%
|
|
| 1585 | 122 |
62.7%
|
56.5%
|
66.6%
|
66.7%
|
60.0%
|
50.3%
|
60.5%
|
|
| 1585 | 122 |
62.7%
|
56.5%
|
66.6%
|
66.7%
|
60.0%
|
50.3%
|
60.5%
|
|
| 1386 | 141 |
54.8%
|
52.0%
|
76.9%
|
58.4%
|
60.9%
|
51.0%
|
59.0%
|
|
| 1398 | 121 |
55.3%
|
52.8%
|
69.1%
|
68.7%
|
58.2%
|
48.6%
|
58.8%
|
|
| 1398 | 121 |
55.3%
|
52.8%
|
69.1%
|
68.7%
|
58.2%
|
48.6%
|
58.8%
|
|
| 1370 | 133 |
54.2%
|
51.9%
|
76.1%
|
57.7%
|
59.1%
|
50.0%
|
58.1%
|
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