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 i7-12700K

2021

Why buy it

✅Costs $330 less on MSRP ($409 MSRP vs $739 MSRP).
✅Delivers 42.6% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 84.0 vs 58.9 PassMark/$ ($409 MSRP vs $739 MSRP).
✅Draws 125W instead of 150W, a 25W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (34,347 vs 43,528).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (25 MB vs 30 MB).

Core i9-12900KS

2022

Why buy it

✅+20% larger total L3 cache (30 MB vs 25 MB).

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 58.9 vs 84.0 PassMark/$ ($739 MSRP vs $409 MSRP).
❌20% higher power demand at 150W vs 125W.

Core i7-12700K

2021

Core i9-12900KS

2022

Why buy it

✅Costs $330 less on MSRP ($409 MSRP vs $739 MSRP).
✅Delivers 42.6% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 84.0 vs 58.9 PassMark/$ ($409 MSRP vs $739 MSRP).
✅Draws 125W instead of 150W, a 25W reduction.

Why buy it

✅+20% larger total L3 cache (30 MB vs 25 MB).

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (34,347 vs 43,528).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (25 MB vs 30 MB).

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 58.9 vs 84.0 PassMark/$ ($739 MSRP vs $409 MSRP).
❌20% higher power demand at 150W vs 125W.

Quick Answers

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

Yes. Core i9-12900KS is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 2.3% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 26.7% better PassMark, 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 i9-12900KS is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 2.3% 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 i9-12900KS is the better fit. You are getting 26.7% better PassMark, 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 i9-12900KS is still the faster CPU overall, but Core i7-12700K makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. Core i9-12900KS is 80.7% more expensive on MSRP at $739 MSRP versus $409 MSRP, and it gives you a 2.3% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core i7-12700K is also 42.6% better value on MSRP (84.0 vs 58.9 PassMark/$), 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 i9-12900KS is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2022 vs 2021), 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 i7-12700K Benchmark Check

Core i9-12900KS Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i7-12700K	Core i9-12900KS
1080p
low	314 FPS	283 FPS
medium	295 FPS	269 FPS
high	246 FPS	225 FPS
ultra	193 FPS	192 FPS
1440p
low	269 FPS	235 FPS
medium	225 FPS	199 FPS
high	182 FPS	162 FPS
ultra	145 FPS	142 FPS
4K
low	170 FPS	158 FPS
medium	142 FPS	134 FPS
high	109 FPS	104 FPS
ultra	96 FPS	91 FPS

Open Core i7-12700K Open Core i9-12900KS

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i7-12700K	Core i9-12900KS
1080p
low	630 FPS	716 FPS
medium	533 FPS	603 FPS
high	450 FPS	501 FPS
ultra	410 FPS	443 FPS
1440p
low	536 FPS	617 FPS
medium	475 FPS	541 FPS
high	403 FPS	454 FPS
ultra	349 FPS	380 FPS
4K
low	312 FPS	363 FPS
medium	280 FPS	326 FPS
high	266 FPS	306 FPS
ultra	234 FPS	263 FPS

Open Core i7-12700K Open Core i9-12900KS

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i7-12700K	Core i9-12900KS
1080p
low	797 FPS	866 FPS
medium	633 FPS	686 FPS
high	556 FPS	605 FPS
ultra	472 FPS	502 FPS
1440p
low	704 FPS	748 FPS
medium	565 FPS	602 FPS
high	490 FPS	523 FPS
ultra	422 FPS	441 FPS
4K
low	510 FPS	523 FPS
medium	425 FPS	432 FPS
high	381 FPS	392 FPS
ultra	321 FPS	332 FPS

Open Core i7-12700K Open Core i9-12900KS

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i7-12700K	Core i9-12900KS
1080p
low	859 FPS	973 FPS
medium	802 FPS	879 FPS
high	699 FPS	763 FPS
ultra	628 FPS	693 FPS
1440p
low	760 FPS	812 FPS
medium	678 FPS	723 FPS
high	590 FPS	626 FPS
ultra	519 FPS	556 FPS
4K
low	535 FPS	555 FPS
medium	488 FPS	502 FPS
high	437 FPS	449 FPS
ultra	384 FPS	396 FPS

Open Core i7-12700K Open Core i9-12900KS

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

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

Core i7-12700K

The Core i7-12700K is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 4 November 2021 (4 years ago). It is based on the Alder Lake, Golden Cove, Gracemont (2021) architecture. It features 12 cores and 20 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 5 GHz. L3 cache: 25 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on 10 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1700. Thermal design power (TDP): 125 Watt. Memory support: DDR4, DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 34,347 points. Launch price was $409.

Core i9-12900KS

The Core i9-12900KS is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 5 April 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture. It features 16 cores and 24 threads. Base frequency is 3.4 GHz, with boost up to 5.3 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): 150 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 43,528 points. Launch price was $499.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i7-12700K packs 12 cores / 20 threads, while the Core i9-12900KS offers 16 cores / 24 threads — the Core i9-12900KS has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5 GHz on the Core i7-12700K versus 5.3 GHz on the Core i9-12900KS — a 5.8% clock advantage for the Core i9-12900KS (base: 3.6 GHz vs 3.4 GHz). The Core i7-12700K uses the Alder Lake, Golden Cove, Gracemont (2021) architecture (10 nm), while the Core i9-12900KS uses Alder Lake-S (2022) (Intel 7 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-12700K scores 34,347 against the Core i9-12900KS's 43,528 — a 23.6% lead for the Core i9-12900KS. L3 cache: 25 MB (total) on the Core i7-12700K vs 30 MB (total) on the Core i9-12900KS.

Feature	Core i7-12700K	Core i9-12900KS
Cores / Threads	12 / 20	16 / 24+33%
Boost Clock	5 GHz	5.3 GHz+6%
Base Clock	3.6 GHz+6%	3.4 GHz
L3 Cache	25 MB (total)	30 MB (total)+20%
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)	1.25 MB (per core)
Process	10 nm	Intel 7 nm-30%
Architecture	Alder Lake, Golden Cove, Gracemont (2021)	Alder Lake-S (2022)
PassMark	34,347	43,528+27%
Cinebench R23 Multi	—	27,796
Geekbench 6 Single	—	2,082

🧠

Memory & Platform

Both processors use the LGA1700 socket with PCIe 5.0. Maximum memory speed reaches 4800 on the Core i7-12700K versus DDR5-4800 on the Core i9-12900KS — the Core i7-12700K supports 199.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. Both support up to 128 of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 20 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: Z690,B660 (Core i7-12700K) and LGA1700 (Core i9-12900KS).

Feature	Core i7-12700K	Core i9-12900KS
Socket	LGA1700	LGA1700
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0	PCIe 5.0
Max RAM Speed	4800+95900%	DDR5-4800
Max RAM Capacity	128	128 GB+104857500%
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	20	20

🔧

Advanced Features

Both processors feature an unlocked multiplier for overclocking. Only the Core i9-12900KS supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Both support VT-x, VT-d virtualization. Both include integrated graphics — Intel UHD Graphics 770 (Core i7-12700K) and UHD 770 (Core i9-12900KS) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: Core i7-12700K rivals Ryzen 7 5800X.

Feature	Core i7-12700K	Core i9-12900KS
Integrated GPU	Yes	Yes
IGPU Model	Intel UHD Graphics 770	UHD 770
Unlocked	Yes	Yes
AVX-512	No	Yes
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	VT-x, VT-d

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i7-12700K launched at $409 MSRP, while the Core i9-12900KS debuted at $739. On MSRP ($409 vs $739), the Core i7-12700K is $330 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i7-12700K delivers 84.0 pts/$ vs 58.9 pts/$ for the Core i9-12900KS — making the Core i7-12700K the 35.1% better value option.