Intel Core i7-12700 vs Intel Core i9-11900 Comparison

FAQ

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

A: The Intel Core i7-12700 dominates in multi-threaded tests. It wins 16 out of 17 head-to-head benchmarks, with particularly large margins in Cinebench R15 multicore (64.7% ahead) and PassMark floating point math (65.9% ahead).

Q: Does the Core i9-11900 win any benchmark?

A: Yes, one. The Core i9-11900 wins Cinebench R23 single-core with a score of 2680 against the Core i7-12700's 1894, a 29.3% advantage. This is the only test where the older flagship comes out ahead.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The Core i7-12700 has an average benchmark score of 32942, while the Core i9-11900 scores 32226. The i7-12700 sits at the 83rd percentile of all CPUs, and the i9-11900 sits at the 82nd percentile.

Q: What are the core and thread counts?

A: The Core i7-12700 has 12 cores and 20 threads, while the Core i9-11900 has 8 cores and 16 threads. This gives the i7-12700 a 50% advantage in core count and a 25% advantage in thread count.

Q: Which socket does each processor use?

A: The Core i7-12700 uses Intel Socket 1700, while the Core i9-11900 uses Intel Socket 1200. These are physically incompatible, so a motherboard upgrade is required when moving between these platforms.

Q: Are these processors still in production?

A: The Core i7-12700 is listed as Active in production status. The Core i9-11900 is marked as End-of-life, with a release date of 2021-03-15.

Architecture Differences

The Core i7-12700 is built on Intel's Alder Lake architecture, specifically the Alder Lake-S desktop variant, fabricated on a 10 nm process node. The Core i9-11900 uses the older Rocket Lake architecture on a 14 nm process node. This process difference is reflected in the die sizes: the Alder Lake chip measures 215 mm², while the Rocket Lake chip is substantially larger at 276 mm² despite having fewer cores.

The core configurations differ significantly. The Core i7-12700 packs 12 cores and 20 threads, which indicates a hybrid arrangement with performance and efficiency cores. The Core i9-11900 uses a conventional 8-core, 16-thread layout. Cache hierarchies also differ: the i7-12700 provides 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 25 MB of shared L3 cache. The i9-11900 offers 64 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3 cache. The i7-12700's L3 cache is 56.25% larger, which helps in workloads with large working sets.

Memory support is another clear generational split. The Core i7-12700 supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, while the Core i9-11900 is limited to DDR4 only. Both use dual-channel memory buses. The i9-11900 has a recorded memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s, while no such figure is recorded for the i7-12700. PCIe support also differs: the i7-12700 offers Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes, while the i9-11900 offers Gen 4 with 20 CPU lanes.

Integrated graphics differ as well. The i7-12700 includes UHD Graphics 770, while the i9-11900 includes UHD Graphics 750. Neither processor supports ECC memory. Base clocks are 2.10 GHz for the i7-12700 and 2.50 GHz for the i9-11900, but the i9-11900 boosts higher at 5.20 GHz compared to the i7-12700's 4.90 GHz. Both parts have a 65 W TDP and neither has an unlocked multiplier.

The production status tells a story of platform maturity. The Core i9-11900 is end-of-life, released on 2021-03-15, while the Core i7-12700 is still active and current.

The Verdict

The benchmark data paints a decisive picture: the Core i7-12700 is the stronger processor in nearly every measurable way. It wins 16 of 17 head-to-head tests, and its wins are often by substantial margins. The i9-12700's average benchmark score of 32942 puts it just ahead of the Core i9-11900's 32226, and its 83rd percentile ranking versus the i9-11900's 82nd confirms the overall performance edge.

The one bright spot for the Core i9-11900 is Cinebench R23 single-core, where it beats the i7-12700 by 29.3%. This is a meaningful result for lightly threaded workloads that rely heavily on a single core and respond well to the i9-11900's 5.20 GHz boost clock. But it is a single win against a broad sweep.

For a builder choosing between these two today, the Core i7-12700 is the obvious pick for virtually all workloads. It offers more cores, more threads, more cache, newer architecture, newer memory support, and a smaller die. The Core i9-11900 makes sense only in a very narrow scenario: if you already own an LGA 1200 board, need the best possible single-thread performance in a specific application, and cannot justify a platform change. For new builds, the data overwhelmingly favors the Alder Lake part.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every fundamental specification.

Core and Thread Count: The Core i7-12700 has 12 cores and 20 threads. The Core i9-11900 has 8 cores and 16 threads.

Clock Speeds: The Core i7-12700 runs at a 2.10 GHz base clock and boosts to 4.90 GHz. The Core i9-11900 runs at a 2.50 GHz base clock and boosts to 5.20 GHz.

Process Node: The Core i7-12700 uses a 10 nm process. The Core i9-11900 uses a 14 nm process.

Die Size: The Core i7-12700 measures 215 mm². The Core i9-11900 measures 276 mm².

L1 Cache: The Core i7-12700 has 80 KB per core. The Core i9-11900 has 64 KB per core.

L2 Cache: The Core i7-12700 has 1.25 MB per core. The Core i9-11900 has 512 KB per core.

L3 Cache: The Core i7-12700 has 25 MB shared. The Core i9-11900 has 16 MB shared.

Memory Support: The Core i7-12700 supports DDR4 and DDR5. The Core i9-11900 supports DDR4 only.

Memory Bandwidth: The Core i9-11900 has a recorded memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s. No figure is recorded for the Core i7-12700.

PCIe Support: The Core i7-12700 offers Gen 5 with 16 CPU-only lanes. The Core i9-11900 offers Gen 4 with 20 CPU-only lanes.

Integrated Graphics: The Core i7-12700 includes UHD Graphics 770. The Core i9-11900 includes UHD Graphics 750.

Socket: The Core i7-12700 uses Intel Socket 1700. The Core i9-11900 uses Intel Socket 1200.

Production Status: The Core i7-12700 is Active. The Core i9-11900 is End-of-life.

Part Number: The Core i7-12700 is SRL4Q. The Core i9-11900 is SRKNJ.

Both processors share the same 65 W TDP, dual-channel memory bus, lack of ECC support, locked multipliers, desktop market segment, and Intel as both manufacturer and foundry.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Core i7-12700 wins 16 of 17 head-to-head benchmarks, and the margins tell a consistent story of generational improvement.

The largest win comes in PassMark floating point math, where the i7-12700 scores 81191 against the i9-11900's 48948, a 65.9% advantage. Cinebench R15 multicore shows a similar gap: 3151 versus 1913, a 64.7% lead. PassMark find prime numbers also heavily favors the i7-12700 with a 60.3% advantage (101 versus 63). PassMark physics follows at 59.5% (1558 versus 977).

The i7-12700's lead continues across other multi-threaded tests. PassMark data encryption shows a 44.5% advantage (20143 versus 13942). PassMark multithread delivers a 34.8% lead (30273 versus 22456). Cinebench R20 multicore shows 10639 versus 7973, a 33.4% advantage, and Cinebench R20 single-core shows the same 33.4% margin (1501 versus 1125). PassMark data compression comes in at 31.8% (375950 versus 285159). PassMark integer math shows a 27% edge (106554 versus 83893). PassMark extended instructions gives a 23% lead (24184 versus 19654). PassMark random string sorting is closer at 17.9% (38970 versus 33054).

The single-thread results are tighter. Cinebench R15 single-core goes to the i7-12700 by just 0.7% (272 versus 270). PassMark single-thread shows a 14.6% advantage for the i7-12700 (3864 versus 3373). Cinebench R23 single-core is the single exception to the sweep: the i9-11900 wins 2680 versus 1894, a 29.3% margin.

Where Each One Wins

The Core i7-12700 is the clear choice for multi-threaded productivity. It leads by massive margins in Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 multicore tests, with deltas ranging from 14.6% to 64.7%. The PassMark suite reinforces this: physics, floating point math, integer math, data compression, data encryption, extended instructions, and random string sorting all favor the i7-12700 by 17.9% to 65.9%. For rendering, video encoding, compilation, scientific computing, or any workload that scales across cores, the 12-core, 20-thread Alder Lake part is decisively faster.

The Core i7-12700 also wins the single-thread tests in PassMark and Cinebench R15 and R20. Its 3864 PassMark single-thread score beats the i9-11900's 3373 by 14.6%, and its Cinebench R15 single-core score of 272 edges out 270. For most everyday responsiveness and lightly threaded applications, the i7-12700 remains ahead.

The Core i9-11900's only victory is Cinebench R23 single-core, where it scores 2680 against 1894, a 29.3% lead. This is a notable result. If a specific application relies heavily on Cinebench R23-style single-thread performance and is highly sensitive to clock speed, the i9-11900's 5.20 GHz boost clock gives it a real advantage. This is the narrow use case: existing LGA 1200 owners who need maximum performance in that specific benchmark and do not want to change platforms. For everyone else, the Core i7-12700's combination of core count, cache, modern architecture, and broad benchmark dominance makes it the recommended processor.