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Intel Core i9-12900K
Intel · CPU · Alder Lake

Intel Core i9-12900K — Benchmarks & Specs

16 cores24 threads125W TDP$589 MSRP2021
Compare 2 current listings ↓ Find Intel Core i9-12900K on eBay → View Current Price on Amazon → Details →

Amazon listing: $1,449.99

This Amazon listing is above the Intel Core i9-12900K's $589 launch MSRP. Compare new and used listings on eBay before buying.

*Price sourced from Amazon.com. Last updated 2026-10-08. Price and availability subject to change.

Bottom line: how fast is the Intel Core i9-12900K?

In PassMark CPU Mark it scores 41,132 points, per PassMark.

Every figure above is a row in the tables below, and each row links out to the review or public benchmark database the number was taken from. SpecPicks aggregates published measurements; it does not report first-party benchmark runs.

The Intel Core i9-12900K is a processor from the Alder Lake family released in 2021 from Intel. Key on-paper specs include 16 cores / 24 threads, 125W TDP. It launched with a $589 MSRP, though street prices typically diverge meaningfully from launch pricing — see the linked product cards below for current listings. Data on this page draws on 17 synthetic benchmark results (top 10 shown), 4 measured game frame-rate results, compiled from Gamers Nexus, PassMark, CGDirector, CGMagazine, GadgetVersus, Geekbench Browser, NanoReview, Notebookcheck, technical.city, TechSpot; each table row links to its source. Read this page when shopping the Intel Core i9-12900K, comparing it against other processors in your build, or sizing it for a specific workload (gaming at 1080p/1440p/4K or synthetic benchmark scores).

Gaming Performance (measured FPS)

Average and 1% low frame rates by game, resolution, and quality preset. Bars are scaled against the fastest result on this page.

Measured gaming frame rates for the Intel Core i9-12900K by game, resolution, and quality preset. “1% low” is the frame-time floor that determines perceived smoothness. Each row links to its original review or benchmark database.
Game Resolution Settings Relative Avg FPS 1% low Source
Starfield 1080p Low 124 fps — Gamers Nexus 2025-01-06
Cyberpunk 2077 1080p Ultra 104 fps — CGMagazine 2022-07-01
Dragon's Dogma 2 1080p High 100 fps — Gamers Nexus 2025-01-06
Baldur's Gate 3 1080p Medium 96 fps — Gamers Nexus 2025-01-06

Synthetic Benchmarks

Higher is better. Bars are scaled within each benchmark family (multi-thread, single-thread, etc.) so you can compare like-with-like at a glance.

Synthetic benchmark scores for the Intel Core i9-12900K — higher is better. Each row links to the public database the number was taken from.
Benchmark Relative Score Source
PassMark CPU Mark 41,132 points PassMark Software 2026-06-13
PassMark CPU Mark 41,111 points PassMark 2026-09-04
Cinebench R23 multi 27,767 points GadgetVersus 2022-01-01
Cinebench R23 multi 27,483 points CGDirector 2024-01-09
Cinebench R23 multi 27,300 points TechSpot 2021-11-04
Cinebench R23 multi 26,125 points Notebookcheck 2021-11-04
Geekbench 6 multi 17,450 points Geekbench Browser 2023-06-01
Geekbench 6 multi 17,450 points technical.city 2023-06-01
Geekbench 6 multi 17,003 points NanoReview (Geekbench Browser aggregate, 461 samples) 2024-06-01
PassMark Single Thread Rating 4,128 points PassMark Software 2026-10-04

Products Featuring the Intel Core i9-12900K

Systems with the Intel Core i9-12900K

Laptops and desktops that ship with the Intel Core i9-12900K — whole systems, listed separately from the part itself.

Full Specifications

pciePCIe 5.0
cores16
tdp w125
socketLGA1700
e cores8
p cores8
processIntel 7 (10nm ESF)
threads24
l2 cache mb14
l3 cache mb30
base clock ghz3.2
memory supportDDR5-4800, DDR4-3200
boost clock ghz e3.9
boost clock ghz p5.2
max turbo power w241
integrated graphicsIntel UHD Graphics 770

Intel Core i9-12900K — Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Intel Core i9-12900K best used for?
Intel Core i9-12900K is a 16-core Alder Lake-family processor. Workstation compute and multi-threaded productivity are the typical workloads.
When was the Intel Core i9-12900K released, and what was its launch MSRP?
Intel Core i9-12900K launched in 2021 at a $589 MSRP. Street prices drift from launch pricing over a product's life, so check the current listing before buying.
Where do the Intel Core i9-12900K benchmark numbers come from?
Each benchmark row on this page names its source (public benchmark databases such as TechPowerUp, PassMark, Geekbench and Cinebench, and community reports such as r/LocalLLaMA threads) and links to it, so every number can be checked against the original.
How many cores does the Intel Core i9-12900K have, and how does it benchmark?
Intel Core i9-12900K has 16 cores and 24 threads. Synthetic benchmark results (PassMark CPU Mark, Cinebench, Geekbench) are in the Synthetic Benchmarks section.
Where can I buy the Intel Core i9-12900K?
Amazon listings for the Intel Core i9-12900K are linked at the top of this page and in the Products Featuring the Intel Core i9-12900K section. SpecPicks earns a small affiliate commission on qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to the buyer.

Buying guides that rank the Intel Core i9-12900K's class

This page is the raw performance data. The guides below turn it into a ranked pick for a specific build.

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Intel Core i9-12900K
Intel Core i9-12900K
$1449.99
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