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

✅Better for gaming: +7.9% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $80 less on MSRP ($409 MSRP vs $489 MSRP).
✅Delivers 38.7% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 84.0 vs 60.5 PassMark/$ ($409 MSRP vs $489 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (25 MB vs 30 MB).
❌257.1% higher power demand at 125W vs 35W.

Core i9-12900T

2022

Why buy it

✅+20% larger total L3 cache (30 MB vs 25 MB).
✅Draws 35W instead of 125W, a 90W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-12700K across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (29,601 vs 34,347).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 60.5 vs 84.0 PassMark/$ ($489 MSRP vs $409 MSRP).

Core i7-12700K

2021

Core i9-12900T

2022

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +7.9% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $80 less on MSRP ($409 MSRP vs $489 MSRP).
✅Delivers 38.7% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 84.0 vs 60.5 PassMark/$ ($409 MSRP vs $489 MSRP).

Why buy it

✅+20% larger total L3 cache (30 MB vs 25 MB).
✅Draws 35W instead of 125W, a 90W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (25 MB vs 30 MB).
❌257.1% higher power demand at 125W vs 35W.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-12700K across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (29,601 vs 34,347).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 60.5 vs 84.0 PassMark/$ ($489 MSRP vs $409 MSRP).

Quick Answers

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

Yes. Core i7-12700K is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 7.9% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data and 16% better PassMark, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core i7-12700K is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 7.9% 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 i7-12700K is the better fit. You are getting 16% better PassMark, backed by 12 cores and 20 threads.

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

Core i7-12700K is the smarter buy today. Core i7-12700K is $80 cheaper on MSRP at $409 MSRP versus $489 MSRP, and it gives you a 7.9% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 38.7% better value on MSRP (84.0 vs 60.5 PassMark/$), so the better CPU is not just faster, it is also the cleaner value play 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 a newer CPU generation (2022 vs 2021) and 20% larger total L3 cache (30 MB vs 25 MB). That makes it the safer long-term pick.

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 i9-12900T Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i7-12700K	Core i9-12900T
1080p
low	314 FPS	269 FPS
medium	295 FPS	259 FPS
high	246 FPS	214 FPS
ultra	193 FPS	184 FPS
1440p
low	269 FPS	230 FPS
medium	225 FPS	198 FPS
high	182 FPS	159 FPS
ultra	145 FPS	140 FPS
4K
low	170 FPS	159 FPS
medium	142 FPS	136 FPS
high	109 FPS	106 FPS
ultra	96 FPS	93 FPS

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

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i7-12700K	Core i9-12900T
1080p
low	630 FPS	315 FPS
medium	533 FPS	268 FPS
high	450 FPS	225 FPS
ultra	410 FPS	206 FPS
1440p
low	536 FPS	260 FPS
medium	475 FPS	230 FPS
high	403 FPS	199 FPS
ultra	349 FPS	173 FPS
4K
low	312 FPS	161 FPS
medium	280 FPS	143 FPS
high	266 FPS	135 FPS
ultra	234 FPS	120 FPS

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

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i7-12700K	Core i9-12900T
1080p
low	797 FPS	740 FPS
medium	633 FPS	615 FPS
high	556 FPS	544 FPS
ultra	472 FPS	461 FPS
1440p
low	704 FPS	689 FPS
medium	565 FPS	552 FPS
high	490 FPS	482 FPS
ultra	422 FPS	414 FPS
4K
low	510 FPS	496 FPS
medium	425 FPS	414 FPS
high	381 FPS	371 FPS
ultra	321 FPS	312 FPS

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

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i7-12700K	Core i9-12900T
1080p
low	859 FPS	740 FPS
medium	802 FPS	740 FPS
high	699 FPS	666 FPS
ultra	628 FPS	591 FPS
1440p
low	760 FPS	737 FPS
medium	678 FPS	652 FPS
high	590 FPS	561 FPS
ultra	519 FPS	488 FPS
4K
low	535 FPS	518 FPS
medium	488 FPS	469 FPS
high	437 FPS	415 FPS
ultra	384 FPS	361 FPS

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

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

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

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 i9-12900T

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.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i7-12700K 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 5 GHz on the Core i7-12700K versus 4.9 GHz on the Core i9-12900T — a 2% clock advantage for the Core i7-12700K (base: 3.6 GHz vs 1.4 GHz). The Core i7-12700K uses the Alder Lake, Golden Cove, Gracemont (2021) architecture (10 nm), while the Core i9-12900T uses Alder Lake-S (2022) (Intel 7 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-12700K scores 34,347 against the Core i9-12900T's 29,601 — a 14.8% lead for the Core i7-12700K. L3 cache: 25 MB (total) on the Core i7-12700K vs 30 MB (total) on the Core i9-12900T.

Feature	Core i7-12700K	Core i9-12900T
Cores / Threads	12 / 20	16 / 24+33%
Boost Clock	5 GHz+2%	4.9 GHz
Base Clock	3.6 GHz+157%	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	10 nm	Intel 7 nm-30%
Architecture	Alder Lake, Golden Cove, Gracemont (2021)	Alder Lake-S (2022)
PassMark	34,347+16%	29,601
Cinebench R23 Multi	—	22,809
Geekbench 6 Single	—	2,331
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	12,116

🧠

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 i9-12900T — 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 i9-12900T).

Feature	Core i7-12700K	Core i9-12900T
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

Only the Core i7-12700K has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Only the Core i9-12900T 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 Graphics 770 (Core i9-12900T) — 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 i9-12900T
Integrated GPU	Yes	Yes
IGPU Model	Intel UHD Graphics 770	UHD Graphics 770
Unlocked	Yes	No
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 i9-12900T debuted at $489. On MSRP ($409 vs $489), the Core i7-12700K is $80 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i7-12700K delivers 84.0 pts/$ vs 60.5 pts/$ for the Core i9-12900T — making the Core i7-12700K the 32.4% better value option.