
Core i5-1250P vs Core i9-10900

Core i5-1250P

Core i9-10900
Performance Spectrum - CPU
About PassMark
PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-1250P
Performance Per Dollar Core i9-10900
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-1250P | Core i9-10900 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($426) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Alder Lake-P (2022) / Intel 7 nm) | ✨ Modern (Comet Lake (2020−2025) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-1250P | Core i9-10900 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($426) |
Performance Check
To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.
Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-1250P and Core i9-10900

Core i5-1250P
The Core i5-1250P is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 23 February 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Alder Lake-P (2022) architecture. It features 12 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 1.7 GHz, with boost up to 4.4 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1744. Thermal design power (TDP): 28 Watt. Memory support: DDR4, DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 19,167 points. Launch price was $299.

Core i9-10900
The Core i9-10900 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 30 April 2020 (5 years ago). It is based on the Comet Lake (2020−2025) architecture. It features 10 cores and 20 threads. Base frequency is 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 5.1 GHz. L3 cache: 20 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1200. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2933. Passmark benchmark score: 19,163 points. Launch price was $299.
Processing Power
The Core i5-1250P packs 12 cores / 16 threads, while the Core i9-10900 offers 10 cores / 20 threads — the Core i5-1250P has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.4 GHz on the Core i5-1250P versus 5.1 GHz on the Core i9-10900 — a 14.7% clock advantage for the Core i9-10900 (base: 1.7 GHz vs 2.8 GHz). The Core i5-1250P uses the Alder Lake-P (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Core i9-10900 uses Comet Lake (2020−2025) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-1250P scores 19,167 against the Core i9-10900's 19,163 — a 0% lead for the Core i5-1250P. L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Core i5-1250P vs 20 MB (total) on the Core i9-10900.
| Feature | Core i5-1250P | Core i9-10900 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 12 / 16+20% | 10 / 20 |
| Boost Clock | 4.4 GHz | 5.1 GHz+16% |
| Base Clock | 1.7 GHz | 2.8 GHz+65% |
| L3 Cache | 12 MB (total) | 20 MB (total)+67% |
| L2 Cache | 1.25 MB (per core)+400% | 256K (per core) |
| Process | Intel 7 nm-50% | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Alder Lake-P (2022) | Comet Lake (2020−2025) |
| PassMark | 19,167 | 19,163 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | 9,250 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 1,785 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 8,420 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i5-1250P uses the FCBGA1744 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Core i9-10900 uses LGA1200 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i5-1250P | Core i9-10900 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FCBGA1744 | LGA1200 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 4.0+33% | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR5-4800 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 64 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 20 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-1250P) / not specified (Core i9-10900). The Core i5-1250P includes integrated graphics (Iris Xe Graphics (80 EU)), while the Core i9-10900 requires a dedicated GPU.
| Feature | Core i5-1250P | Core i9-10900 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | — |
| IGPU Model | Iris Xe Graphics (80 EU) | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | Yes | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d | — |
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