Core i9-12900KS Vs Core i9-13900K: Which Is Better In 2023?

In our last test, the Ryzen 5 5600X outperformed the Ryzen 9 3900X by 6.3%. Now, we’ll be doing a Core i9-12900KS vs Core i9-13900K comparison to see which processor reigns supreme.

Key Takeaways

• Moreover, the Core i9-13900K outperforms the Core i9-12900KS in gaming benchmarks with a 10.6% higher average FPS (187.3 FPS vs 168.4 FPS).
• The Core i9-12900KS consumed around 7.3% less power than the Core i9-13900K in our gaming tests, making it more power-efficient.
• Finally, the Core i9-12900KS outperformed the Core i9-13900K in thermal efficiency during benchmark tests, with an 11.4% higher efficiency.

Comparison Table

Architectural Differences

1. Core Count: The i9 13900K has an increased core count compared to the i9 12900KS. Though both processors have 8 performance cores, the 13900K has 16 efficiency cores, while the 12900KS only has 8 efficiency cores. This totals 24 threads for the 12900KS, while the total for the 13900K is 32 threads.
2. Frequency: The 12900KS clocks anywhere from 3.4GHz to 5.2GHz, while the 13900K improves on the boost frequency with a range of 3.0GHz to 5.4GHz.
3. L3 Cache: The shared cache on the 13900K is also larger at 36MB, while the 12900KS uses a little less cache at around 30MB.
4. Process Node: Both CPUs use the 10nm process nodes that Intel has been using for a while now.
5. TDP: The Core i9 13900K, despite its higher cores and clock speed, has a lower 125-watt PL1 TDP, while the 12900KS has a PL1 TDP of 150 watts.

Core i9-12900KS Vs Core i9-13900K: Gaming Benchmarks

Now that we have scrutinized the specs of the Core i9-12900KS and the Core i9-13900K, it’s time to investigate which of these processors is better for gaming. We conducted extensive testing on several popular games to compare their gaming capabilities and find out which one can deliver top-notch performance with consistent results.

Testing Rig

• Operating System: Windows 11
• GPU: GeForce RTX 4090 24GB
• RAM: G.SKILL Trident Z5 RGB 32GB DDR5 6000MHz CL38
• Motherboard: ASUS ROG Strix Z790-E Gaming
• SSD: Sabrent Rocket 4 Plus G 2TB
• Power Supply: ENERMAX REVOLUTION D.F. X 1050W
• CPU Cooler: be quiet! Dark Rock Pro 4

Cyberpunk 2077

• In the first game of our testing, Cyberpunk 2077 ran around 8.6% smoother on the newer processor at around 144 FPS, while the 12900K had an average of only 132 FPS.
• The difference in performance was bumped down to around 4.47% in 1% lows, with the 13900K going down to around 137 FPS, while the 12900KS had a minimum performance of around 131 FPS.

The Witcher 3

• We witnessed an average framerate of 81 FPS on the 13900K while testing The Witcher 3, whereas the 12900KS had an average of only 71 FPS. This translates to a massive 13.1% difference in performance.
• The 1% lows were around 7% higher on the 13900K, around 59 FPS compared to the 55 FPS of the 12900KS.

Forza Horizon 5

• Testing Forza Horizon 5 showed us an 11.3% increase in the average framerate for the 13900K. It had a framerate of 325 FPS, while the 12900KS was much further behind with an average of 290 FPS.
• The lows were around 233 FPS on the 13900K, while the i9 12900KS had a minimum of around 220 FPS, which computes a difference of around 5.7%.

Microsoft Flight Simulator

• The average framerate of the 13900K in MS Flight Sim 2020 was around 64 FPS, while the 12900KS had an average framerate of around 59 FPS, according to our tests. The difference here came out to be around 8.1%.
• There was a massive 29.7% difference in the 1% lows of these games, with the 13900K dipping to around 54 FPS, while the 12900KS dropped all the way down to 40 FPS.

Hogwarts Legacy

• The average framerate of the 13900K was around 71 FPS in our test of Hogwarts Legacy, while the i9 12900KS had a framerate of around 67 FPS on average. This comes to an advantage of around 5.7% for the newer chip.
• The gap between 1% lows in this test was larger, around 7.6%. The 13900K had a minimum framerate of around 54 FPS, while the 12900KS dropped all the way to 50 FPS.

Players Unknown Battleground

• Our test of PUBG showed a difference of around 12.4% between the two chips, with the 12900KS getting an average framerate of 286 FPS, while the 13900K averages around 324 FPS.
• The 13900K sustained lows of around 195 FPS in our testing, while the 12900KS dipped down to around 183 FPS. The difference here was around 6.3%.

Spider-Man Miles Morales

• Our test of Insomniac’s second Spiderman game showed a 7% difference between the performance of these processors, with the 13900K averaging a performance of around 133 FPS, while the 12900KS gets around 124 FPS.
• Furthermore, the Core i9-13900K boasts a better 1% lows performance than the Core i9-12900KS, producing 102 FPS, which is 6% higher than the latter’s 96 FPS.

Hitman 3

• According to our benchmark fo Hitman 3, the 13900K was around 15.8% faster, with an average framerate of 273 FPS, which is significantly greater than the 233 FPS that the 12900KS could muster.
• The 1% lows were also smoother on the newer processor, hanging around 235 FPS, 14.1% higher than the 204 FPS minimums of the 12900KS.

God Of War

• Finally, the final game of our tests had a 6.4% advantage for the 13900K, with a framerate of 271 FPS on average compared to the 254 FPS of the 12900KS.
• 1% lows were also higher on the 13900K in this game by around 2.2%, hanging out around 185 FPS instead of the 181 FPS minimums of the 12900KS.

Overall Gaming Performance

The 13900K consistently beat the 12900KS in our testing by a significant margin. The average framerate of the newer chip was around 187 FPS in our testing, which was around 11% greater than the 168 FPS average that the 12900KS had across the games we tested.

Bear in mind that these tests were performed at 1080p, and the difference in performance between these chips becomes less apparent the further you raise your resolution.

Average Power Consumption

Our tests showed that the 12900KS used around 104.8 watts of power on average, while the 13900K used around 112.8 watts on average.

This comes to a difference of around 7.3%, which scales almost linearly to the increase in performance between the two processors. The extra cores that the 13900K is driving also consume extra power.

Average Thermal Statistics

According to our thermal benchmarks, the Core i9-13900K generates more heat than the Core i9-12900KS.

During our benchmark tests, we also found that the Core i9-12900KS exhibited better thermal performance than the Core i9-13900K with an average temperature of 61.5°C instead of 69°C.

This accumulates to a difference of around 11%, which funnily exactly matches the difference we saw in performance between the two processors.

Pricing And Availability

After examining the benchmarks, we analyzed the availability and cost of the Core i9-12900KS and Core i9-13900K processors. While both are high priced, the Core i9-12900KS is more expensive, with an MSRP of $739, while the Core i9-13900K costs $589, which is 22.5% less.

Core i9-12900KS Vs Core i9-13900K: What We Recommend

The Core i9-13900K has an advantage in performance, providing a 10.6% increase in average FPS relative to the Core i9-12900KS. Additionally, the Core i9-13900K is more budget-friendly, costing 22.5% less than its counterpart. This makes it the winner of our comparison, giving more power for less money.

However, in terms of thermal efficiency, the Core i9-12900KS outperforms the Core i9-13900K, being 11.4% more thermally efficient. Moreover, the processor also utilizes 7.3% less power than the Core i9-13900K, but the average gamer would not care about the advantages the 12900KS has over the 13900K.

Finally, your choice will depend on whether you want superior FPS performance or saving electric bills. The Core i9-13900K is a more affordable and better-performing option, while the Core i9-12900KS is the better option for those seeking power efficiency and thermal performance.