Core i5-12600HE vs Core i9-12900TE
Core i5-12600HE
Core i9-12900TE
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 i5-12600HE
Performance Per Dollar Core i9-12900TE
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-12600HE | Core i9-12900TE |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($664) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Alder Lake-H (2022) / 10 nm) | ✨ Modern (Alder Lake-S (2022) / 10 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-12600HE | Core i9-12900TE |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($664) |
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 i5-12600HE and Core i9-12900TE
Core i5-12600HE
The Core i5-12600HE is manufactured by Intel. It was released in Janeiro 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Alder Lake-H (2022) architecture. It features 12 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 4.5 GHz. L3 cache: 18 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on 10 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1744. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR4, DDR5 Dual-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 22,827 points. Launch price was $299.
Core i9-12900TE
The Core i9-12900TE is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 4 January 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture. It features 16 cores and 24 threads. Base frequency is 1.1 GHz, with boost up to 4.8 GHz. L3 cache: 30 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on 10 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1700. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR4, DDR5 Dual-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 22,887 points. Launch price was $299.
Processing Power
The Core i5-12600HE packs 12 cores / 16 threads, while the Core i9-12900TE offers 16 cores / 24 threads — the Core i9-12900TE has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.5 GHz on the Core i5-12600HE versus 4.8 GHz on the Core i9-12900TE — a 6.5% clock advantage for the Core i9-12900TE (base: 2.5 GHz vs 1.1 GHz). The Core i5-12600HE uses the Alder Lake-H (2022) architecture (10 nm), while the Core i9-12900TE uses Alder Lake-S (2022) (10 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-12600HE scores 22,827 against the Core i9-12900TE's 22,887 — a 0.3% lead for the Core i9-12900TE. L3 cache: 18 MB (total) on the Core i5-12600HE vs 30 MB (total) on the Core i9-12900TE.
| Feature | Core i5-12600HE | Core i9-12900TE |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 12 / 16 | 16 / 24+33% |
| Boost Clock | 4.5 GHz | 4.8 GHz+7% |
| Base Clock | 2.5 GHz+127% | 1.1 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 18 MB (total) | 30 MB (total)+67% |
| L2 Cache | 1.25 MB (per core) | 1.25 MB (per core) |
| Process | 10 nm | 10 nm |
| Architecture | Alder Lake-H (2022) | Alder Lake-S (2022) |
| PassMark | 22,827 | 22,887 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 2,200 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i5-12600HE uses the FCBGA1744 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i9-12900TE uses LGA1700 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i5-12600HE | Core i9-12900TE |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FCBGA1744 | LGA1700 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 5.0+67% |
| Max RAM Speed | LPDDR5-5200 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 64 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 28 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-12600HE) / not specified (Core i9-12900TE). The Core i5-12600HE includes integrated graphics (Iris Xe Graphics 80EU), while the Core i9-12900TE requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-12600HE targets Embedded. Direct competitor: Core i5-12600HE rivals Ryzen Embedded V3000.
| Feature | Core i5-12600HE | Core i9-12900TE |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | — |
| IGPU Model | Iris Xe Graphics 80EU | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d, EPT | — |
| Target Use | Embedded | — |
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