Core i9-12900HK vs Core Ultra 7 165H
Core i9-12900HK
Core Ultra 7 165H
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 i9-12900HK
Performance Per Dollar Core Ultra 7 165H
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i9-12900HK | Core Ultra 7 165H |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | Balanced gaming performance | Balanced gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Alder Lake-H (2022) / Intel 7 nm) | ✨ Modern (Meteor Lake-H (2023) / 7 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i9-12900HK | Core Ultra 7 165H |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
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 i9-12900HK and Core Ultra 7 165H
Core i9-12900HK
The Core i9-12900HK is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 4 January 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Alder Lake-H (2022) architecture. It features 14 cores and 20 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 5 GHz. L3 cache: 24 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1744. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR4, DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 25,512 points. Launch price was $299.
Core Ultra 7 165H
The Core Ultra 7 165H is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 14 December 2023 (1 year ago). It is based on the Meteor Lake-H (2023) architecture. It features 16 cores and 22 threads. Base frequency is 3.8 GHz, with boost up to 5 GHz. L3 cache: 24 MB (total). L2 cache: 2 MB (per core). Built on 7 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA2049. Thermal design power (TDP): + 24 MB. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 25,849 points. Launch price was $460.
Processing Power
The Core i9-12900HK packs 14 cores / 20 threads, while the Core Ultra 7 165H offers 16 cores / 22 threads — the Core Ultra 7 165H has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5 GHz on the Core i9-12900HK versus 5 GHz on the Core Ultra 7 165H — identical boost frequencies (base: 2.5 GHz vs 3.8 GHz). The Core i9-12900HK uses the Alder Lake-H (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Core Ultra 7 165H uses Meteor Lake-H (2023) (7 nm). In PassMark, the Core i9-12900HK scores 25,512 against the Core Ultra 7 165H's 25,849 — a 1.3% lead for the Core Ultra 7 165H. Both processors carry 24 MB (total) of L3 cache.
| Feature | Core i9-12900HK | Core Ultra 7 165H |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 14 / 20 | 16 / 22+14% |
| Boost Clock | 5 GHz | 5 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.5 GHz | 3.8 GHz+52% |
| L3 Cache | 24 MB (total) | 24 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 1.25 MB (per core) | 2 MB (per core)+60% |
| Process | Intel 7 nm | 7 nm |
| Architecture | Alder Lake-H (2022) | Meteor Lake-H (2023) |
| PassMark | 25,512 | 25,849+1% |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | 18,197 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 1,938 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 13,317 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i9-12900HK uses the FCBGA1744 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Core Ultra 7 165H uses FCBGA2049 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i9-12900HK | Core Ultra 7 165H |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FCBGA1744 | FCBGA2049 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 5.0 | PCIe 5.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 64 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 28 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i9-12900HK) / not specified (Core Ultra 7 165H). The Core i9-12900HK includes integrated graphics (Iris Xe Graphics G7 (96EUs)), while the Core Ultra 7 165H requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i9-12900HK targets Enthusiast Gaming Laptop. Direct competitor: Core i9-12900HK rivals Ryzen 9 6900HX.
| Feature | Core i9-12900HK | Core Ultra 7 165H |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | — |
| IGPU Model | Iris Xe Graphics G7 (96EUs) | — |
| Unlocked | Yes | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d, EPT | — |
| Target Use | Enthusiast Gaming Laptop | — |
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