Intel Core i5-12500TE vs Intel Core i9-9900 Comparison

The Intel Core i9-9900 and the Intel Core i5-12500TE present a fascinating generational clash. The i9-9900 is a legacy desktop flagship, while the i5-12500TE is an active, low-power Alder Lake part. Benchmark data reveals a split personality: the older chip dominates multi-threaded workloads, but the newer chip strikes back decisively in a key single-thread test.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The data shows a clear pattern across most tests, with the Intel Core i9-9900 taking the lion’s share of victories. It wins seven out of eight head-to-head benchmarks, but the margins tell a nuanced story. In the Cinebench suite, the i9-9900 consistently edges out the i5-12500TE. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the i9-9900 scores 1361 against the i5-12500TE’s 1330, a 2.3% lead. The single-core result in R15 is closer in percentage terms, with the i9-9900 winning 192 to 187, a 2.7% advantage. This pattern repeats in Cinebench R20, where the i9-9900 scores 5673 versus 5545 in multicore and 800 versus 782 in single-core, both representing a 2.3% delta.

The trend continues in Cinebench R23. The i9-9900 posts a multicore score of 13509, outpacing the i5-12500TE’s 13203 by 2.3%. In single-core, the i9-9900’s 1907 beats the i5-12500TE’s 1863 by 2.4%. These are consistent, albeit modest, wins for the older processor. The i9-9900’s advantage is attributable to its higher core count and thread count, which are significant in heavily threaded rendering workloads.

The Geekbench results introduce a stark divergence. In Geekbench multicore, the i9-9900 wins with a score of 8175 against the i5-12500TE’s 7781, a 5.1% margin. However, in Geekbench single-core, the tables turn completely. The i5-12500TE delivers a score of 1976, while the i9-9900 manages only 1687. This represents a 14.6% win for the Alder Lake part, the largest delta in any test. This is a substantial victory, highlighting the architectural efficiency of the newer chip in lightly threaded tasks. The i9-9900’s high boost clock of 5.00 GHz cannot overcome the i5-12500TE’s superior per-core performance in this specific benchmark.

Looking at aggregate performance, the i9-9900 holds a slim overall lead. Its average benchmark score is 4163, placing it in the 57th percentile of all CPUs. The i5-12500TE is close behind with an average score of 4083, also in the 57th percentile. The i9-9900’s nearest rivals include the Intel Core i5-11500H (avg 4187, -0.6%), the AMD Ryzen 9 5980HS (avg 4121, 1%), and the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 2700X (avg 4114, 1.2%). The i5-12500TE sits near the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1900X (avg 4073, 0.2%) and the Intel Xeon E-2278G (avg 4052, 0.8%). These comparisons show both chips performing in a similar overall band, despite their very different architectures and power profiles.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on fundamentally different platforms. The Intel Core i9-9900 uses the Coffee Lake architecture, specifically the Coffee Lake-R refresh, and is fabricated on Intel’s 14 nm process node. It features a die size of 180.3 mm². In contrast, the Intel Core i5-12500TE is based on Alder Lake-S and uses a 10 nm process node, with a smaller die size of 163 mm². This process advantage is a key factor in the i5-12500TE’s efficiency and single-thread performance.

Core configurations differ significantly. The i9-9900 offers 8 cores and 16 threads, while the i5-12500TE provides 6 cores and 12 threads. This gives the i9-9900 a raw parallel processing advantage, explaining its wins in multicore benchmarks. Cache hierarchies also vary. The i9-9900 has 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 per core, with a shared 16 MB L3 cache. The i5-12500TE ups the per-core capacity with 80 KB of L1 and a much larger 1.25 MB of L2 per core, alongside an 18 MB shared L3 cache. The larger L2 cache on the i5-12500TE is a hallmark of the newer architecture, improving data access speeds.

Memory support is another differentiator. The i9-9900 supports only DDR4 memory over a dual-channel bus, with a memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s. The i5-12500TE supports both DDR4 and DDR5, also over a dual-channel bus, though its memory bandwidth is not listed in the data. Platform connectivity has also been upgraded. The i9-9900 uses PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU, while the i5-12500TE features PCIe Gen 5 with 20 lanes, offering greater bandwidth and expandability. The i5-12500TE also integrates newer graphics, with UHD Graphics 770, compared to the UHD Graphics 630 in the i9-9900.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in multi-core workloads?

A: The Intel Core i9-9900 consistently wins in multi-threaded tests. It leads in Cinebench R23 multicore with a score of 13509 versus 13203, and in Geekbench multicore with 8175 versus 7781.

Q: Why does the i5-12500TE win in Geekbench single-core?

A: The i5-12500TE scores 1976 in Geekbench single-core, which is 14.6% higher than the i9-9900’s 1687. This is due to the newer Alder Lake architecture’s improved per-core performance, despite the i9-9900’s higher boost clock of 5.00 GHz.

Q: What are the differences in core and thread counts?

A: The i9-9900 has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the i5-12500TE has 6 cores and 12 threads. This gives the i9-9900 an advantage in heavily parallel tasks.

Q: How do the power requirements compare?

A: The i9-9900 has a TDP of 65 watts, while the i5-12500TE is rated at a much lower 35 watts. This makes the i5-12500TE significantly more power-efficient.

Q: Do these CPUs support the same memory types?

A: No. The i9-9900 supports only DDR4 memory. The i5-12500TE supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory.

Q: Which processor is still in production?

A: The i5-12500TE is marked as active in production status. The i9-9900 is end-of-life, having been released on 2019-04-22.

The Verdict

The data presents two distinct use cases. The Intel Core i9-9900 is the choice for multi-threaded performance. It wins all Cinebench multicore tests and Geekbench multicore, with leads ranging from 2.3% to 5.1%. Its 8-core, 16-thread configuration and 65-watt TDP make it a capable desktop part for rendering and parallel workloads, despite its end-of-life status. Its launch MSRP was $423.

The Intel Core i5-12500TE is the pick for single-thread performance and efficiency. Its 14.6% victory in Geekbench single-core is the most significant performance delta between the two. Its 35-watt TDP, support for DDR5, and PCIe Gen 5 connectivity make it a more modern and power-conscious option. The i5-12500TE’s 6 cores and 12 threads are sufficient for many tasks, but it trails the i9-9900 in multi-core tests.

For users prioritizing raw multi-threaded throughput, the i9-9900 is the better choice based on the benchmark data. For those who value per-core speed, lower power consumption, and modern platform features, the i5-12500TE is superior. The overall average benchmark scores are close, with the i9-9900 at 4163 and the i5-12500TE at 4083, but the nature of the workloads matters more than the aggregate.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i9-9900 | Intel Core i5-12500TE |

|---|---|---|

| Cores | 8 | 6 |

| Threads | 16 | 12 |

| Base Clock | 3.10 GHz | 1900.00 MHz |

| Boost Clock | 5.00 GHz | 4.30 GHz |

| TDP | 65 W | 35 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1151 | Intel Socket 1700 |

| Architecture | Coffee Lake | Alder Lake |

| Process Node | 14 nm | 10 nm |

| Die Size | 180.3 mm² | 163 mm² |

| L1 Cache | 64 KB (per core) | 80 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 256 KB (per core) | 1.25 MB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 16 MB (shared) | 18 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR4 | DDR4, DDR5 |

| Memory Bandwidth | 42.7 GB/s | null |

| PCIe | Gen 3, 16 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 5, 20 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | UHD Graphics 630 | UHD Graphics 770 |

| Production Status | End-of-life | Active |

| Release Date | 2019-04-22T17:00:00.000Z | null |

| Launch MSRP | $423 | null |

| Part Number | SRG18 | null |