Core i5-1250P vs Core i9-9900KS

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.

Core i5-1250P vs Core i9-9900KS FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with GeForce RTX 5090 to isolate CPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

Core i5-1250P vs Core i9-9900KS: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

Core i5-1250P

2022

Why buy it

✅Draws 28W instead of 127W, a 99W reduction.
✅Newer platform on FCBGA1744 with DDR5 support instead of LGA1151 and DDR4.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Iris Xe Graphics (80 EU), while Core i9-9900KS needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i9-9900KS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (19,167 vs 19,397).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 16 MB).

Core i9-9900KS

2019

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +18.8% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+33.3% larger total L3 cache (16 MB vs 12 MB).

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $513 MSRP, while Core i5-1250P mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌353.6% higher power demand at 127W vs 28W.
❌Older platform position on LGA1151 with DDR4, while Core i5-1250P moves to FCBGA1744 and DDR5.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i5-1250P can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i9-9900KS better than Core i5-1250P?

Yes. Core i9-9900KS is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 18.8% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data and 1.2% better PassMark, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core i9-9900KS is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 18.8% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i9-9900KS is the stronger fit. You are getting 1.2% better PassMark, backed by 8 cores and 16 threads. It also has the larger cache pool with 33.3% larger total L3 cache (16 MB vs 12 MB).

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Core i9-9900KS is the better buy right now. Core i9-9900KS comes in at an unclear MSRP at $513 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 18.8% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (37.8 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Core i5-1250P makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2022 vs 2019) and a healthier platform with FCBGA1744 and DDR5 instead of LGA1151. That gives you a healthier platform runway for motherboard, RAM, and later CPU upgrades.

Core i5-1250P vs Core i9-9900KS Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

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 i9-9900KS

The Core i9-9900KS is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 28 October 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 4 GHz, with boost up to 5 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 127 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 19,397 points. Launch price was $513.

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Processing Power

The Core i5-1250P packs 12 cores / 16 threads, while the Core i9-9900KS offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Core i5-1250P has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.4 GHz on the Core i5-1250P versus 5 GHz on the Core i9-9900KS — a 12.8% clock advantage for the Core i9-9900KS (base: 1.7 GHz vs 4 GHz). The Core i5-1250P uses the Alder Lake-P (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Core i9-9900KS uses Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-1250P scores 19,167 against the Core i9-9900KS's 19,397 — a 1.2% lead for the Core i9-9900KS. L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Core i5-1250P vs 16 MB (total) on the Core i9-9900KS.

Feature	Core i5-1250P	Core i9-9900KS
Cores / Threads	12 / 16+50%	8 / 16
Boost Clock	4.4 GHz	5 GHz+14%
Base Clock	1.7 GHz	4 GHz+135%
L3 Cache	12 MB (total)	16 MB (total)+33%
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)+400%	256 kB (per core)
Process	Intel 7 nm-50%	14 nm
Architecture	Alder Lake-P (2022)	Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019)
PassMark	19,167	19,397+1%
Cinebench R23 Multi	9,250	—
Geekbench 6 Single	1,785	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	8,420	—

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Memory & Platform

The Core i5-1250P uses the FCBGA1744 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Core i9-9900KS uses LGA1151 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Core i5-1250P	Core i9-9900KS
Socket	FCBGA1744	LGA1151
PCIe Generation	PCIe 4.0	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-4800	—
Max RAM Capacity	64 GB	—
RAM Channels	2	—
ECC Support	No	—
PCIe Lanes	20	—

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Advanced Features

Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-1250P) / not specified (Core i9-9900KS). The Core i5-1250P includes integrated graphics (Iris Xe Graphics (80 EU)), while the Core i9-9900KS requires a dedicated GPU.