i9-12900KF vs i5-10400

Aggregate performance score

Core i5-10400
2020
6 cores / 12 threads, 65 Watt
7.92
Core i9-12900KF
2021
16 cores / 24 threads, 125 Watt
26.87
+239%

Core i9-12900KF outperforms Core i5-10400 by a whopping 239% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

Comparing Core i5-10400 and Core i9-12900KF processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking955185
Place by popularity88not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluationno data38.87
Market segmentDesktop processorDesktop processor
Seriesno dataIntel Core i9
Power efficiency11.1119.60
Architecture codenameComet Lake (2020)Alder Lake, Golden Cove, Gracemont (2021)
Release date30 April 2020 (4 years ago)27 October 2021 (3 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)no data$564

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

no data

Detailed specifications

Core i5-10400 and Core i9-12900KF basic parameters such as number of cores, number of threads, base frequency and turbo boost clock, lithography, cache size and multiplier lock state. These parameters indirectly say of CPU speed, though for more precise assessment you have to consider their test results.

Physical cores6 (Hexa-Core)16 (Hexadeca-Core)
Threads1224
Base clock speed2.9 GHz3.2 GHz
Boost clock speed4.3 GHz5.2 GHz
Bus typeno dataDMI 4.0
Bus rate8 GT/s8 × 16 GT/s
Multiplierno data32
L1 cache64K (per core)768 KB
L2 cache256K (per core)4 MB
L3 cache12 MB (shared)6 MB
Chip lithography14 nmIntel 7 nm
Die sizeno data215.25 mm2
Maximum core temperature100 °C100 °C
Maximum case temperature (TCase)72 °C72 °C
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibility++
Unlocked multiplier-+

Compatibility

Information on Core i5-10400 and Core i9-12900KF compatibility with other computer components: motherboard (look for socket type), power supply unit (look for power consumption) etc. Useful when planning a future computer configuration or upgrading an existing one. Note that power consumption of some processors can well exceed their nominal TDP, even without overclocking. Some can even double their declared thermals given that the motherboard allows to tune the CPU power parameters.

Number of CPUs in a configuration11
SocketFCLGA1200FCLGA1700
Power consumption (TDP)65 Watt125 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i5-10400 and Core i9-12900KF. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensionsIntel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2Intel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2
AES-NI++
AVX++
vProno data+
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)++
Speed Shiftno data+
Turbo Boost Technology2.02.0
Hyper-Threading Technology++
Idle States++
Thermal Monitoring++
Turbo Boost Max 3.0-+
Deep Learning Boost-+

Security technologies

Core i5-10400 and Core i9-12900KF technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXT+no data
EDB++
Secure Key++
Identity Protection+-
SGXYes with Intel® MEno data
OS Guard++

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i5-10400 and Core i9-12900KF are enumerated here.

VT-d++
VT-x++
EPT++

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i5-10400 and Core i9-12900KF. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesDDR4-2666DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200
Maximum memory size128 GB128 GB
Max memory channels22
Maximum memory bandwidth41.6 GB/s76.805 GB/s

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics cardIntel UHD Graphics 630no data
Max video memory64 GBno data
Quick Sync Video+-
Clear Video+no data
Clear Video HD+no data
Graphics max frequency1.1 GHzno data
InTru 3D+no data

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core i5-10400 and Core i9-12900KF integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supported3no data

Graphics image quality

Maximum display resolutions supported by Core i5-10400 and Core i9-12900KF integrated GPUs, including resolutions over different interfaces.

4K resolution support+no data
Max resolution over HDMI 1.44096 x 2160@30Hzno data
Max resolution over eDP4096 x 2304@60Hzno data
Max resolution over DisplayPort4096 x 2304@60Hzno data

Graphics API support

APIs supported by Core i5-10400 and Core i9-12900KF integrated GPUs, sometimes API versions are included.

DirectX12no data
OpenGL4.5no data

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i5-10400 and Core i9-12900KF.

PCIe version3.05.0 and 4.0
PCI Express lanes1620

Synthetic benchmark performance

Various benchmark results of the processors in comparison. Overall score is measured in points in 0-100 range, higher is better.


Combined synthetic benchmark score

This is our combined benchmark performance rating. We are regularly improving our combining algorithms, but if you find some perceived inconsistencies, feel free to speak up in comments section, we usually fix problems quickly.

i5-10400 7.92
i9-12900KF 26.87
+239%

Passmark

Passmark CPU Mark is a widespread benchmark, consisting of 8 different types of workload, including integer and floating point math, extended instructions, compression, encryption and physics calculation. There is also one separate single-threaded scenario measuring single-core performance.

i5-10400 12114
i9-12900KF 41120
+239%

GeekBench 5 Single-Core

GeekBench 5 Single-Core is a cross-platform application developed in the form of CPU tests that independently recreate certain real-world tasks with which to accurately measure performance. This version uses only a single CPU core.

i5-10400 1446
i9-12900KF 2594
+79.4%

GeekBench 5 Multi-Core

GeekBench 5 Multi-Core is a cross-platform application developed in the form of CPU tests that independently recreate certain real-world tasks with which to accurately measure performance. This version uses all available CPU cores.

i5-10400 5528
i9-12900KF 15043
+172%

Gaming performance

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 7.92 26.87
Recency 30 April 2020 27 October 2021
Physical cores 6 16
Threads 12 24
Power consumption (TDP) 65 Watt 125 Watt

i5-10400 has 92.3% lower power consumption.

i9-12900KF, on the other hand, has a 239.3% higher aggregate performance score, an age advantage of 1 year, and 166.7% more physical cores and 100% more threads.

The Core i9-12900KF is our recommended choice as it beats the Core i5-10400 in performance tests.


Should you still have questions on choice between Core i5-10400 and Core i9-12900KF, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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Intel Core i5-10400
Core i5-10400
Intel Core i9-12900KF
Core i9-12900KF

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Community ratings

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Questions & comments

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