Core i9-12900K vs Core i5-12600K
CPU Head-to-Head · FPS & Value Comparison
Core i9-12900K vs Core i5-12600K: Gaming Performance Comparison in 1080p Ultra
In gaming, the Core i9-12900K delivers approximately +10% higher frame rates compared to the Core i5-12600K in 1080p Ultra. For budget-conscious buyers, the Core i5-12600K currently offers +45.8% better value, available at a $124 price difference.
Core i9-12900K Advantages
Up to 10% faster in gaming benchmarks on average – 172 vs 157 FPS
More processing cores – 16 vs 10 cores
Core i5-12600K Advantages
Up to 45.8% better value for money – $1.32 vs $1.93/FPS
Costs only 63% of the price – $208 vs $332 (37% cheaper)
Performance Analytics
Average FPS across 21 games · all benchmarks use the same test suite
1080p Low
Full HD — min settings
When you see two FPS numbers, there are two common but different ways to show the difference:
This compares the slower card to the faster card.
Example: (157 ÷ 172) × 100 = 91%
This shows how much more the faster card performs compared to the slower one.
Example: ((172 - 157) ÷ 157) × 100 = 10%
You naturally think: "If Core i5-12600K is only 91% as fast, then Core i9-12900K should be 9% faster" — but that's incorrect.
The "10% faster" is measured against the slower card, not against the faster one. So both numbers (91% of and 10% faster) are mathematically correct at the same time.
Efficiency Coefficient 1080p Ultra (Higher = Better Value)
Performance delivered per currency unit: FPS/$