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.

Head-to-Head Verdict, Benchmarks, Value & Long-Term Outlook

This comparison brings together gaming FPS, productivity performance, platform differences, power efficiency, pricing context, and upgrade path so you can see which CPU actually makes more sense.

Core i7-12700

2022

Why buy it

✅Costs $239 less on MSRP ($250 MSRP vs $489 MSRP).
✅Delivers 98.6% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 120.2 vs 60.5 PassMark/$ ($250 MSRP vs $489 MSRP).
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Core i9-12900T.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i9-12900T across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (21,568 vs 22,809).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (25 MB vs 30 MB).
❌85.7% higher power demand at 65W vs 35W.

Core i9-12900T

2022

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +8.2% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+20% larger total L3 cache (30 MB vs 25 MB).
✅Draws 35W instead of 65W, a 30W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 60.5 vs 120.2 PassMark/$ ($489 MSRP vs $250 MSRP).
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i7-12700.

Core i7-12700

2022

Core i9-12900T

2022

Why buy it

✅Costs $239 less on MSRP ($250 MSRP vs $489 MSRP).
✅Delivers 98.6% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 120.2 vs 60.5 PassMark/$ ($250 MSRP vs $489 MSRP).
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Core i9-12900T.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +8.2% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+20% larger total L3 cache (30 MB vs 25 MB).
✅Draws 35W instead of 65W, a 30W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i9-12900T across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (21,568 vs 22,809).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (25 MB vs 30 MB).
❌85.7% higher power demand at 65W vs 35W.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 60.5 vs 120.2 PassMark/$ ($489 MSRP vs $250 MSRP).
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i7-12700.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i9-12900T better than Core i7-12700?

Yes. Core i9-12900T is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 8.2% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 5.8% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, and the stronger long-term platform, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core i9-12900T is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 8.2% 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 i9-12900T is the better fit. You are getting 5.8% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, backed by 16 cores and 24 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 20% larger total L3 cache (30 MB vs 25 MB).

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

Core i9-12900T is still the faster CPU overall, but Core i7-12700 makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. Core i9-12900T is 95.6% more expensive on MSRP at $489 MSRP versus $250 MSRP, and it gives you a 8.2% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core i7-12700 is also 98.6% better value on MSRP (120.2 vs 60.5 PassMark/$), which is why it is easier to justify for price-conscious builds on paper.

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

Core i9-12900T is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting 20% larger total L3 cache (30 MB vs 25 MB) and more multi-core headroom with 16 cores / 24 threads instead of 12/20. That extra compute headroom should age better as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Games Benchmarks

Paired with RTX 4090

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.

Core i7-12700 Benchmark Check

Core i9-12900T Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i7-12700	Core i9-12900T
1080p
low	257 FPS	269 FPS
medium	248 FPS	259 FPS
high	207 FPS	214 FPS
ultra	177 FPS	184 FPS
1440p
low	226 FPS	230 FPS
medium	194 FPS	198 FPS
high	156 FPS	159 FPS
ultra	137 FPS	140 FPS
4K
low	157 FPS	159 FPS
medium	134 FPS	136 FPS
high	103 FPS	106 FPS
ultra	91 FPS	93 FPS

Open Core i7-12700 Open Core i9-12900T

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i7-12700	Core i9-12900T
1080p
low	312 FPS	315 FPS
medium	265 FPS	268 FPS
high	224 FPS	225 FPS
ultra	204 FPS	206 FPS
1440p
low	257 FPS	260 FPS
medium	228 FPS	230 FPS
high	198 FPS	199 FPS
ultra	172 FPS	173 FPS
4K
low	157 FPS	161 FPS
medium	141 FPS	143 FPS
high	133 FPS	135 FPS
ultra	118 FPS	120 FPS

Open Core i7-12700 Open Core i9-12900T

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i7-12700	Core i9-12900T
1080p
low	751 FPS	740 FPS
medium	610 FPS	615 FPS
high	540 FPS	544 FPS
ultra	458 FPS	461 FPS
1440p
low	683 FPS	689 FPS
medium	547 FPS	552 FPS
high	479 FPS	482 FPS
ultra	411 FPS	414 FPS
4K
low	493 FPS	496 FPS
medium	412 FPS	414 FPS
high	369 FPS	371 FPS
ultra	311 FPS	312 FPS

Open Core i7-12700 Open Core i9-12900T

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i7-12700	Core i9-12900T
1080p
low	751 FPS	740 FPS
medium	751 FPS	740 FPS
high	664 FPS	666 FPS
ultra	590 FPS	591 FPS
1440p
low	730 FPS	737 FPS
medium	651 FPS	652 FPS
high	560 FPS	561 FPS
ultra	487 FPS	488 FPS
4K
low	513 FPS	518 FPS
medium	468 FPS	469 FPS
high	414 FPS	415 FPS
ultra	360 FPS	361 FPS

Open Core i7-12700 Open Core i9-12900T

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i7-12700 and Core i9-12900T

Core i7-12700

The Core i7-12700 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in Janeiro 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture. It features 12 cores and 20 threads. Base frequency is 2.1 GHz, with boost up to 4.9 GHz. L3 cache: 25 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1700. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 30,055 points. Launch price was $349.

Core i9-12900T

The Core i9-12900T 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 1.4 GHz, with boost up to 4.9 GHz. L3 cache: 30 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1700. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 29,601 points. Launch price was $299.

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Processing Power

The Core i7-12700 packs 12 cores / 20 threads, while the Core i9-12900T offers 16 cores / 24 threads — the Core i9-12900T has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.9 GHz on the Core i7-12700 versus 4.9 GHz on the Core i9-12900T — identical boost frequencies (base: 2.1 GHz vs 1.4 GHz). Both are built on the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture using a Intel 7 nm process. In PassMark, the Core i7-12700 scores 30,055 against the Core i9-12900T's 29,601 — a 1.5% lead for the Core i7-12700. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 21,568 vs 22,809 (5.6% advantage for the Core i9-12900T). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 2,497 vs 2,331, a 6.9% lead for the Core i7-12700 that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 12,448 vs 12,116 (2.7% advantage for the Core i7-12700). L3 cache: 25 MB (total) on the Core i7-12700 vs 30 MB (total) on the Core i9-12900T.

Feature	Core i7-12700	Core i9-12900T
Cores / Threads	12 / 20	16 / 24+33%
Boost Clock	4.9 GHz	4.9 GHz
Base Clock	2.1 GHz+50%	1.4 GHz
L3 Cache	25 MB (total)	30 MB (total)+20%
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)	1.25 MB (per core)
Process	Intel 7 nm	Intel 7 nm
Architecture	Alder Lake-S (2022)	Alder Lake-S (2022)
PassMark	30,055+2%	29,601
Cinebench R23 Multi	21,568	22,809+6%
Geekbench 6 Single	2,497+7%	2,331
Geekbench 6 Multi	12,448+3%	12,116

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Memory & Platform

Both processors use the LGA1700 socket with PCIe 5.0. Both support up to DDR5-4800 / DDR4-3200 memory speed. Both support up to 128 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 20 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: H610,B660,H670,Z690,B760,Z790 (Core i7-12700) and LGA1700 (Core i9-12900T).

Feature	Core i7-12700	Core i9-12900T
Socket	LGA1700	LGA1700
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0	PCIe 5.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-4800 / DDR4-3200	DDR5-4800
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	128 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	20	20

🔧

Advanced Features

Neither processor supports overclocking. Only the Core i9-12900T supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: VT-x / VT-d / EPT (Core i7-12700) vs VT-x, VT-d (Core i9-12900T). Both include integrated graphics — Intel UHD Graphics 770 (Core i7-12700) and UHD Graphics 770 (Core i9-12900T) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i7-12700 targets Gaming. Direct competitor: Core i7-12700 rivals Ryzen 7 5700X.

Feature	Core i7-12700	Core i9-12900T
Integrated GPU	Yes	Yes
IGPU Model	Intel UHD Graphics 770	UHD Graphics 770
Unlocked	No	No
AVX-512	No	Yes
Virtualization	VT-x / VT-d / EPT	VT-x, VT-d
Target Use	Gaming	—

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i7-12700 launched at $250 MSRP, while the Core i9-12900T debuted at $489. On MSRP ($250 vs $489), the Core i7-12700 is $239 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i7-12700 delivers 120.2 pts/$ vs 60.5 pts/$ for the Core i9-12900T — making the Core i7-12700 the 66% better value option.