i9-12900H vs i5-6600

Aggregate performance score

Core i5-6600
2015
4 cores / 4 threads, 65 Watt
3.81
Core i9-12900H
2022
14 cores / 20 threads, 45 Watt
17.58
+361%

Core i9-12900H outperforms Core i5-6600 by a whopping 361% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

Comparing Core i5-6600 and Core i9-12900H processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking1465351
Place by popularitynot in top-100not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluation0.77no data
Market segmentDesktop processorLaptop
SeriesIntel Core i5Intel Alder Lake-P
Power efficiency10.3036.97
Architecture codenameSkylake (2015−2016)Alder Lake-H (2022)
Release date1 July 2015 (9 years ago)4 January 2022 (2 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)$224no data

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

no data

Detailed specifications

Core i5-6600 and Core i9-12900H 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 cores4 (Quad-Core)14 (Tetradeca-Core)
Threads420
Base clock speed3.3 GHz2.5 GHz
Boost clock speed3.9 GHz5 GHz
Bus typeDMI 3.0no data
Bus rate4 × 8 GT/sno data
Multiplier33no data
L1 cache64 KB (per core)80K (per core)
L2 cache256 KB (per core)1.25 MB (per core)
L3 cache6 MB (shared)24 MB (shared)
Chip lithography14 nmIntel 7 nm
Die size177 mm2217 mm2
Maximum core temperatureno data100 °C
Maximum case temperature (TCase)66 °Cno data
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibility-+

Compatibility

Information on Core i5-6600 and Core i9-12900H 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 configuration1 (Uniprocessor)1
SocketFCLGA1151FCBGA1744
Power consumption (TDP)65 Watt45 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i5-6600 and Core i9-12900H. 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++
FMA-+
AVX++
vPro+no data
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)++
Speed Shiftno data+
Turbo Boost Technology2.0no data
Hyper-Threading Technology-+
TSX++
Idle States+no data
Thermal Monitoring++
Flex Memory Accessno data+
SIPP++
Turbo Boost Max 3.0no data+
Deep Learning Boost-+

Security technologies

Core i5-6600 and Core i9-12900H technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXT++
EDB++
Secure Key++
MPX+-
Identity Protection+-
SGXYes with Intel® MEno data
OS Guard++

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i5-6600 and Core i9-12900H are enumerated here.

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

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i5-6600 and Core i9-12900H. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesDDR4DDR4, DDR5
Maximum memory size64 GB64 GB
Max memory channels22
Maximum memory bandwidth34.134 GB/sno data

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics cardIntel HD Graphics 530Intel® Iris® Xe Graphics eligible
Max video memory64 GBno data
Quick Sync Video++
Clear Video+no data
Clear Video HD+no data
Graphics max frequency1.15 GHz1.45 GHz
Execution Unitsno data96
InTru 3D+no data

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core i5-6600 and Core i9-12900H integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supported34
eDP+no data
DisplayPort+-
HDMI+-
DVI+no data

Graphics image quality

Maximum display resolutions supported by Core i5-6600 and Core i9-12900H integrated GPUs, including resolutions over different interfaces.

4K resolution support+no data
Max resolution over HDMI 1.44096x2304@24Hz4096 x 2304 @ 60Hz
Max resolution over eDP4096x2304@60Hz4096 x 2304 @ 120Hz
Max resolution over DisplayPort4096x2304@60Hz7680 x 4320 @ 60Hz
Max resolution over VGAN/Ano data

Graphics API support

APIs supported by Core i5-6600 and Core i9-12900H integrated GPUs, sometimes API versions are included.

DirectX1212.1
OpenGL4.54.6

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i5-6600 and Core i9-12900H.

PCIe version3.04.0
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.

i5-6600 3.81
i9-12900H 17.58
+361%

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.

i5-6600 6058
i9-12900H 27924
+361%

Gaming performance

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 3.81 17.58
Recency 1 July 2015 4 January 2022
Physical cores 4 14
Threads 4 20
Power consumption (TDP) 65 Watt 45 Watt

i9-12900H has a 361.4% higher aggregate performance score, an age advantage of 6 years, 250% more physical cores and 400% more threads, and 44.4% lower power consumption.

The Core i9-12900H is our recommended choice as it beats the Core i5-6600 in performance tests.

Note that Core i5-6600 is a desktop processor while Core i9-12900H is a notebook one.


Should you still have questions on choice between Core i5-6600 and Core i9-12900H, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

Vote for your favorite

Do you think we are right or mistaken in our choice? Vote by clicking "Like" button near your favorite CPU.


Intel Core i5-6600
Core i5-6600
Intel Core i9-12900H
Core i9-12900H

Similar processor comparisons

We picked several similar comparisons of processors in the same market segment and performance relatively close to those reviewed on this page.

Community ratings

Here you can see how users rate the processors, as well as rate them yourself.


3.8 670 votes

Rate Core i5-6600 on a scale of 1 to 5:

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
4 616 votes

Rate Core i9-12900H on a scale of 1 to 5:

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5

Questions & comments

Here you can ask a question about Core i5-6600 or Core i9-12900H, agree or disagree with our judgements, or report an error or mismatch.