Intel Core 5 211E vs Intel Core i9-12900T Comparison
Intel Core 5 211E
Core i9-12900T
PERFORMANCE BENCHMARKS
Analysis: Intel Core 5 211E vs Intel Core i9-12900T
Head-to-Head Benchmarks
The benchmark database records 17 direct comparisons between the Intel Core 5 211E and the Intel Core i9-12900T. The i9-12900T claims 13 wins, while the Core 5 211E takes 4. The margin of victory, however, tells a more nuanced story than the raw win count.
The i9-12900T dominates across Cinebench suite entirely. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 24528 against 20389, a 16.9% advantage. The single-core test shows the same gap: 3462 versus 2878, again 16.9%. This exact delta repeats across Cinebench R15 and R20, both multi-core and single-core variants, all showing 16.9% to 17% leads for the i9-12900T. The consistency suggests a fundamental performance ceiling difference rather than workload-specific behavior.
PassMark results show a broader spread. The i9-12900T leads in integer math by 18.6% (108211 versus 88117) and in floating-point math by 12.3% (75741 versus 66402). Its multithread score of 29601 beats 23833, a 19.5% gap. Data encryption shows a 13.6% lead (20750 versus 17938), and random string sorting favors the i9 by 13.7% (39771 versus 34308).
Two workloads stand out as particularly lopsided. PassMark physics shows the i9-12900T at 1811 versus 702, a 61.2% advantage. Find prime numbers is even more extreme: 116 versus 43, a 62.9% gap. These are the largest deltas recorded between the two processors.
The Core 5 211E wins are smaller but meaningful. PassMark single-thread shows 4006 versus 3810, a 5.1% lead. Extended instructions score 21592 against 20054, a 7.7% edge. Data compression is nearly a tie: 346757 versus 345021, a 0.5% advantage for the Core 5 211E. The fourth win is the duplicate single-thread entry, also 5.1%.
Where Each One Wins
The i9-12900T is the clear choice for heavily threaded, compute-intensive workloads. Cinebench multi-core results, PassMark multithread, integer math, and floating-point math all favor it by double-digit percentages. The physics test and prime-number finding are extreme outliers where the i9-12900T is over 60% faster, indicating substantial raw computational throughput advantages in specific mathematical operations.
The Core 5 211E wins in lighter, latency-sensitive tasks. Its single-thread PassMark score of 4006 exceeds the i9's 3810, suggesting better per-core efficiency in certain scalar workloads. Extended instructions, which often reflect SIMD or specialized instruction throughput, also favor the Core 5 211E by 7.7%. Data compression is effectively a dead heat, with the Core 5 211E edging ahead by just 0.5%.
For content creation workflows that rely on Cinebench-class rendering, the i9-12900T is measurably stronger. For mixed desktop use where single-thread responsiveness matters, the Core 5 211E holds a modest edge in the PassMark single-thread metric.
FAQ
Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?
A: The Core 5 211E has an average benchmark score of 37829, while the i9-12900T averages 37112. The difference is approximately 1.9% in favor of the Core 5 211E.
Q: How do the two compare in Cinebench R23 multi-core?
A: The i9-12900T scores 24528 versus 20389 for the Core 5 211E, a 16.9% advantage for the i9.
Q: Is the Core 5 211E faster in any single benchmark?
A: Yes. It wins PassMark single-thread (4006 versus 3810, 5.1%), PassMark extended instructions (21592 versus 20054, 7.7%), and PassMark data compression (346757 versus 345021, 0.5%).
Q: What is the largest performance gap between the two?
A: PassMark find prime numbers shows the i9-12900T at 116 versus 43 for the Core 5 211E, a 62.9% difference. PassMark physics is nearly as large at 61.2%.
Q: How do their overall percentiles compare?
A: The Core 5 211E sits at the 86th percentile among all CPUs, while the i9-12900T is at the 85th percentile.
Q: Which processor wins more direct comparisons?
A: The i9-12900T wins 13 of 17 head-to-head benchmarks. The Core 5 211E wins 4.
Specification Differences
The two processors share the same socket (Intel Socket 1700), memory support (DDR4 and DDR5), dual-channel memory bus, and 10 nm process node. Both are Intel parts with active production status and desktop market segment.
Core counts differ significantly. The i9-12900T has 16 cores and 24 threads, while the Core 5 211E has 10 cores and 16 threads. Base clock also diverges sharply: the i9-12900T lists a 1400.00 MHz base clock, while the Core 5 211E runs at 2.70 GHz. Boost clocks are identical at 4.90 GHz.
Thermal design power favors the i9-12900T on paper: 35 W versus 65 W. The i9-12900T is also multiplier-unlocked, while the Core 5 211E is locked. The i9-12900T supports 20 PCIe Gen 5 lanes (CPU only), compared to 16 lanes for the Core 5 211E. ECC memory is supported only on the Core 5 211E. Integrated graphics differ: UHD Graphics 770 on the i9-12900T versus UHD Graphics 730 on the Core 5 211E.
Die size is smaller on the i9-12900T at 215 mm², versus 257 mm² for the Core 5 211E. Launch MSRP for the i9-12900T is $489; for the Core 5 211E, launch MSRP is $221. Release dates are January 2022 for the i9-12900T and January 2025 for the Core 5 211E. Part numbers are SRL4M and SRQERQ65F respectively.
Architecture Differences
The i9-12900T uses Alder Lake architecture with the Alder Lake-S codename, belonging to the Core 12th Gen series. The Core 5 211E uses Bartlett Lake architecture with the Bartlett Lake codename, part of the Core 5 (Bartlett Lake) generation. Both are built on a 10 nm node at Intel's foundry.
Cache hierarchy differs in L2 and L3. The Core 5 211E has 2 MB L2 per core and 20 MB shared L3. The i9-12900T has 1.25 MB L2 per core and 30 MB shared L3. Both have 80 KB L1 per core. The i9-12900T's larger L3 (30 MB versus 20 MB) aligns with its higher core count.
Memory bandwidth is listed only for the Core 5 211E at 76.8 GB/s; no bandwidth figure is recorded for the i9-12900T. The i9-12900T supports ECC memory, while the Core 5 211E does not. PCIe lane allocation differs as noted, with the i9 offering 20 lanes versus 16.
The i9-12900T's unlocked multiplier enables overclocking, whereas the Core 5 211E is locked. The base clock disparity (1400 MHz versus 2700 MHz) likely reflects the i9's hybrid architecture with efficiency cores running at lower frequencies, though the database records only the aggregate base figure.
The Verdict
Data supports the i9-12900T for users prioritizing raw multi-core throughput. It leads in every Cinebench test by 16.9% to 17%, in PassMark multithread by 19.5%, and in integer and floating-point math by 12.3% to 18.6%. The physics and prime-number gaps, both over 60%, indicate exceptional performance in mathematically intensive single-application scenarios.
The Core 5 211E is the better choice for workloads matching its four wins. Single-thread PassMark performance is 5.1% higher, extended instructions are 7.7% higher, and data compression is marginally ahead. Its 86th percentile versus 85th for the i9-12900T also reflects a slightly higher overall standing in the database.
Users needing ECC memory support must select the Core 5 211E, as the i9-12900T does not support it. Those wanting an unlocked multiplier for overclocking should pick the i9-12900T. The i9-12900T also provides more PCIe lanes (20 versus 16) and a larger L3 cache (30 MB versus 20 MB).
For rendering, scientific computing, or heavily threaded productivity, the i9-12900T is the measured winner. For general desktop use where single-thread responsiveness and specialized instruction throughput matter, the Core 5 211E holds a narrow but real advantage. The average benchmark scores are close enough that the deciding factors should be workload profile and the specific feature differences above.