Core i9-10900 vs Core i5-1250P
Core i9-10900
Core i5-1250P
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 i9-10900
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-1250P
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i9-10900 | Core i5-1250P |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($426) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Comet Lake (2020−2025) / 14 nm) | ✨ Modern (Alder Lake-P (2022) / Intel 7 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i9-10900 | Core i5-1250P |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($426) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
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 i9-10900 and Core i5-1250P
Core i9-10900
The Core i9-10900 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 30 April 2020 (5 years ago). It is based on the Comet Lake (2020−2025) architecture. It features 10 cores and 20 threads. Base frequency is 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 5.1 GHz. L3 cache: 20 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1200. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2933. Passmark benchmark score: 19,163 points. Launch price was $299.
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.
Processing Power
The Core i9-10900 packs 10 cores / 20 threads, while the Core i5-1250P offers 12 cores / 16 threads — the Core i5-1250P has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5.1 GHz on the Core i9-10900 versus 4.4 GHz on the Core i5-1250P — a 14.7% clock advantage for the Core i9-10900 (base: 2.8 GHz vs 1.7 GHz). The Core i9-10900 uses the Comet Lake (2020−2025) architecture (14 nm), while the Core i5-1250P uses Alder Lake-P (2022) (Intel 7 nm). In PassMark, the Core i9-10900 scores 19,163 against the Core i5-1250P's 19,167 — a 0% lead for the Core i5-1250P. L3 cache: 20 MB (total) on the Core i9-10900 vs 12 MB (total) on the Core i5-1250P.
| Feature | Core i9-10900 | Core i5-1250P |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 10 / 20 | 12 / 16+20% |
| Boost Clock | 5.1 GHz+16% | 4.4 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.8 GHz+65% | 1.7 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 20 MB (total)+67% | 12 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 1.25 MB (per core)+400% |
| Process | 14 nm | Intel 7 nm-50% |
| Architecture | Comet Lake (2020−2025) | Alder Lake-P (2022) |
| PassMark | 19,163 | 19,167 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | — | 9,250 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 1,785 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 8,420 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i9-10900 uses the LGA1200 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i5-1250P uses FCBGA1744 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i9-10900 | Core i5-1250P |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1200 | FCBGA1744 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 4.0+33% |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR5-4800 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 64 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 20 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Core i9-10900) / VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-1250P). The Core i5-1250P includes integrated graphics (Iris Xe Graphics (80 EU)), while the Core i9-10900 requires a dedicated GPU.
| Feature | Core i9-10900 | Core i5-1250P |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | Iris Xe Graphics (80 EU) |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | Yes |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x, VT-d |
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