Intel Core i9-10900K vs Intel Core i9-12900K

Every spec side by side, from each maker's published figures.

Only show differences

Better figure, where one is clearly better

Share comparison

Core i9-10900K compared with Core i9-12900K

	IntelCore i9-10900K	IntelCore i9-12900K
Overview
Released
Released	May 2020	November 2021
Cores and clocks
Cores
Cores	10	16 (8 performance, 8 efficiency) (better)
Threads
Threads	20	24 (better)
Base clock
Base clock	3.7 GHz	3.2 GHz
Boost clock
Boost clock	5.3 GHz (better)	5.2 GHz
L3 cache
L3 cache	20 MB	30 MB (better)
Cores
Cores	Hyper-Threading, Turbo Boost Max 3.0 and Thermal Velocity Boost supported.	8 P-cores and 8 E-cores; 24 threads. Intel Thread Director supported.
Clocks
Clocks	Up to 5.3 GHz with Thermal Velocity Boost at its 70°C temperature threshold; up to 5.2 GHz with Turbo Boost Max 3.0, or 5.1 GHz with Turbo Boost 2.0. Configurable TDP-down to 95 W with a 3.3 GHz base clock. Tom's Hardware reports 250 W during boost; the current Intel specification page publishes TDP only.	P-cores: 3.2 GHz base, up to 5.1 GHz Turbo Boost 2.0 and 5.2 GHz Turbo Boost Max 3.0; E-cores: 2.4 GHz base, up to 3.9 GHz turbo.
Cache
Cache	–	30 MB Intel Smart Cache (L3); 14 MB total L2.
Graphics and AI
Built-in graphics
Built-in graphics	Yes	Yes
Graphics
Graphics	Intel UHD Graphics 630; 350 MHz base, up to 1.2 GHz; up to 64 GB shared graphics memory; three displays. HDMI up to 4096×2160 at 30 Hz; DisplayPort up to 4096×2304 at 60 Hz; Quick Sync Video supported.	Intel UHD Graphics 770; 32 execution units; 300 MHz base, up to 1.55 GHz; Quick Sync Video; up to four displays.
Platform
Socket
Socket	LGA1200	LGA1700
Base power
Base power	125 W	125 W
Maximum power
Maximum power	–	241 W
Unlocked
Unlocked	Yes	Yes
Cooler in the box
Cooler in the box	No	No
Memory support
Memory support	Up to 128 GB; two channels; DDR4-2933; 45.8 GB/s maximum bandwidth; ECC not supported.	Up to 128 GB; two channels; DDR5-4800 or DDR4-3200; 76.8 GB/s; ECC supported with an appropriate platform.
PCIe
PCIe	PCIe 3.0; 16 CPU lanes, configured as 1×16, 2×8 or 1×8+2×4.	PCIe 5.0 and 4.0; 20 CPU lanes: 1 × 16 + 4 or 2 × 8 + 4; DMI 4.0 × 8.
Process
Process	14 nm; Comet Lake; 37.5 × 37.5 mm package; 100°C maximum junction temperature.	Intel 7; Alder Lake; 45 × 37.5 mm package; 100°C maximum junction temperature.
Cooler
Cooler	No cooler included with the boxed processor (Tom's Hardware exact-model review); an LGA1200-compatible thermal solution is required.	No cooler included with the boxed K processor (Intel support).