i9-12900E vs i5-8260U

VS

Aggregate performance score

Core i5-8260U
2019
4 cores / 8 threads, 15 Watt
4.66
Core i9-12900E
2022
16 cores / 24 threads, 65 Watt
16.79
+260%

Core i9-12900E outperforms Core i5-8260U by a whopping 260% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

Comparing Core i5-8260U and Core i9-12900E processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking1289393
Place by popularitynot in top-100not in top-100
Market segmentLaptopDesktop processor
Power efficiency29.2524.32
Architecture codenameCoffee Lake (2017−2019)Alder Lake-S (2022)
Release date21 August 2019 (5 years ago)4 January 2022 (2 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)$297no data

Detailed specifications

Core i5-8260U and Core i9-12900E 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)16 (Hexadeca-Core)
Threads824
Base clock speed1.6 GHz2.3 GHz
Boost clock speed3.9 GHz5 GHz
Bus rate4 GT/s OPIno data
L1 cache256 KB80K (per core)
L2 cache1 MB1.25 MB (per core)
L3 cache6 MB30 MB (shared)
Chip lithography14 nm10 nm
Die sizeno data215 mm2
Maximum core temperature100 °Cno data
Maximum case temperature (TCase)no data72 °C
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibility++
Unlocked multiplier-+

Compatibility

Information on Core i5-8260U and Core i9-12900E 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
SocketFCBGA15281700
Power consumption (TDP)15 Watt65 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i5-8260U and Core i9-12900E. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensionsIntel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2no data
AES-NI++
AVX++
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)++
Speed Shift+no data
My WiFi+no data
Turbo Boost Technology2.0no data
Hyper-Threading Technology+no data
TSX-+
Idle States+no data
Thermal Monitoring+-
Flex Memory Access+no data
Smart Response+no data

Security technologies

Core i5-8260U and Core i9-12900E technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

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

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i5-8260U and Core i9-12900E are enumerated here.

AMD-V+-
VT-d++
VT-x++
EPT+no data

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i5-8260U and Core i9-12900E. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesDDR4DDR4, DDR5 Dual-channel
Maximum memory size64 GBno data
Max memory channels2no data
Maximum memory bandwidth37.5 GB/sno data

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics card
Compare
Intel UHD Graphics 620Intel UHD Graphics 770
Max video memory32 GBno data
Quick Sync Video+-
Clear Video+no data
Clear Video HD+no data
Graphics max frequency1.1 GHzno data

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core i5-8260U and Core i9-12900E integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supported3no data
eDP+no data
DisplayPort+-
HDMI+-
DVI+no data

Graphics image quality

Maximum display resolutions supported by Core i5-8260U and Core i9-12900E integrated GPUs, including resolutions over different interfaces.

4K resolution support+no data
Max resolution over HDMI 1.44096x2304@24Hzno data
Max resolution over eDP4096x2304@60Hzno data
Max resolution over DisplayPort4096x2304@60Hzno data

Graphics API support

APIs supported by Core i5-8260U and Core i9-12900E integrated GPUs, sometimes API versions are included.

DirectX12no data
OpenGL4.5no data

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i5-8260U and Core i9-12900E.

PCIe version3.05.0
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.

i5-8260U 4.66
i9-12900E 16.79
+260%

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.

i5-8260U 7398
i9-12900E 26666
+260%

Gaming performance

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 4.66 16.79
Integrated graphics card 2.67 6.16
Recency 21 August 2019 4 January 2022
Physical cores 4 16
Threads 8 24
Chip lithography 14 nm 10 nm
Power consumption (TDP) 15 Watt 65 Watt

i5-8260U has 333.3% lower power consumption.

i9-12900E, on the other hand, has a 260.3% higher aggregate performance score, 130.7% faster integrated GPU, an age advantage of 2 years, 300% more physical cores and 200% more threads, and a 40% more advanced lithography process.

The Core i9-12900E is our recommended choice as it beats the Core i5-8260U in performance tests.

Be aware that Core i5-8260U is a notebook processor while Core i9-12900E is a desktop one.


Should you still have questions on choice between Core i5-8260U and Core i9-12900E, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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Intel Core i5-8260U
Core i5-8260U
Intel Core i9-12900E
Core i9-12900E

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Community ratings

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Questions & comments

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