Intel Core i7-12700TE vs Intel Core i9-10900E Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a clean sweep for the Intel Core i9-10900E across every benchmark in the comparison suite. The i9-10900E wins all eight head-to-head tests, with the largest margin appearing in the Geekbench multicore test, where it scores 8162 against the i7-12700TE’s 7217, a delta of 13.1%. That is a significant gap, indicating that in heavily threaded workloads the older Comet Lake part holds a decisive advantage over the Alder Lake-S chip.

In the Cinebench suite, the margins are narrower but consistent. The i9-10900E leads by 2.3% in Cinebench R15 multicore, scoring 1622 versus 1586. The single-core R15 test shows a 2.2% lead, 228 versus 223. Moving to Cinebench R20, the multicore result again favors the i9-10900E by 2.2%, 6759 versus 6612, and the single-core test shows the same 2.3% edge as R15, 954 versus 933. Cinebench R23 repeats the pattern: the i9-10900E posts 16093 multicore against 15745, a 2.2% lead, and 2272 single-core versus 2222, a 2.3% advantage.

The Geekbench single-core test is the closest contest, with the i9-10900E edging out the i7-12700TE by just 0.5%, 1575 versus 1567. This near tie is notable because the i7-12700TE belongs to a newer generation with a different architecture, yet the measured single-thread performance is almost identical. The multicore Geekbench result, however, breaks that pattern, with the i9-10900E’s 13.1% lead being the largest delta in the entire comparison.

In terms of aggregate standing, the i9-10900E achieves an average benchmark score of 4708, placing it in the 59th percentile among all CPUs in the database. The i7-12700TE averages 4513, sitting in the 58th percentile. The difference in average score is 195 points, roughly 4.3%, which aligns with the consistent but modest Cinebench margins and the larger Geekbench multicore gap.

Rival data reinforces the positioning. The i9-10900E’s nearest rivals include the Intel Core i9-11900T at an average score of 4685, just 0.5% behind, and the Intel Core i9-9900KS at 4738, 0.6% ahead. The i9-10900F trails at 4664, 0.9% behind. The i7-12700TE sits near the Intel Core i5-1250P at 4515, a 0% delta, and the AMD Ryzen Embedded V2748 at 4532, 0.4% behind. The Intel Core i5-1340P is 0.7% ahead at 4545, and the Intel Core i7-10700KF is 0.7% ahead at 4547. These proximity values show that both processors occupy similar performance tiers relative to their immediate competition, despite the i9-10900E holding a clear edge in the direct comparison.

The Verdict

The data points to a straightforward choice for workloads that stress multicore throughput. The Intel Core i9-10900E wins every benchmark in this comparison, and its Geekbench multicore score of 8162 is 13.1% higher than the i7-12700TE’s 7217. If the primary use case is rendering, encoding, or any parallel workload, the i9-10900E is the stronger performer based on the recorded measurements.

The i7-12700TE does not win a single head-to-head test, but its single-core results are close enough to be considered equivalent in practice. The Geekbench single-core delta of 0.5% and the Cinebench single-core deltas of 2.2% to 2.3% are small enough that everyday responsiveness and lightly threaded tasks would feel similar. The i7-12700TE also carries a lower TDP of 35 watts against the i9-10900E’s 65 watts, which the database indicates as a specification difference. For systems where thermal envelope or power draw is a constraint, the i7-12700TE offers a meaningful advantage without a catastrophic performance penalty, though it remains behind in every measured test.

The i9-10900E is the pick for maximum performance, especially in multicore scenarios. The i7-12700TE is the pick for a lower-power platform with comparable single-thread behavior, but the benchmark data does not support choosing it for raw speed. The i9-10900E’s 59th percentile ranking versus the i7-12700TE’s 58th percentile, combined with its 4708 average score against 4513, consolidates the verdict: the Comet Lake part is the faster CPU in this pairing.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel generations and use fundamentally different designs. The Intel Core i9-10900E is built on the Comet Lake architecture, using a 14 nm process node. The Intel Core i7-12700TE uses the Alder Lake architecture, specifically Alder Lake-S, on a 10 nm process node. This node difference is a core architectural distinction, though the benchmark results do not show the newer node delivering a performance advantage in this comparison.

The i9-10900E has 10 cores and 20 threads, while the i7-12700TE has 12 cores and 20 threads. Despite having fewer physical cores, the i9-10900E still outpaces the i7-12700TE in all multicore tests, which suggests that the Comet Lake core design, running at higher base and boost clocks, compensates for the core count deficit. The i9-10900E’s base clock is 2.80 GHz and boost clock is 4.70 GHz. The i7-12700TE’s base clock is listed as 1400.00 MHz, which is 1.40 GHz, and its boost clock is 4.60 GHz. The i9-10900E’s 2.80 GHz base is substantially higher, and its 4.70 GHz boost is also higher than the i7-12700TE’s 4.60 GHz.

Cache configurations also differ. The i9-10900E has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 cache per core, and 20 MB of shared L3 cache. The i7-12700TE has 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 25 MB of shared L3. The i7-12700TE’s larger per-core L2 and total L3 cache do not translate into a benchmark win, which is notable given the architectural shift.

The i9-10900E supports DDR4 memory only, while the i7-12700TE supports both DDR4 and DDR5. The i9-10900E has a rated memory bandwidth of 46.9 GB/s, while the i7-12700TE’s memory bandwidth is not recorded in the database. The i9-10900E uses PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU, whereas the i7-12700TE uses PCIe Gen 5 with 20 lanes. The i7-12700TE’s integrated graphics are UHD Graphics 770, while the i9-10900E uses UHD Graphics 630. Neither processor supports ECC memory.

The i9-10900E is built for Intel Socket 1200, while the i7-12700TE uses Intel Socket 1700. The i9-10900E has a die size of 206 mm², and the i7-12700TE has a die size of 215 mm². The i9-10900E was released on 2020-04-29, while the i7-12700TE’s release date is not recorded. The i9-10900E has a part number of SRJFD, while the i7-12700TE’s part number is not recorded. Both processors are marked as Active in production status.

Specification Differences

The two CPUs differ across several key specification fields. Core count is different: the i9-10900E has 10 cores, the i7-12700TE has 12. Thread count is the same at 20. Base clock differs significantly, with the i9-10900E at 2.80 GHz and the i7-12700TE at 1.40 GHz. Boost clock is close, with the i9-10900E at 4.70 GHz and the i7-12700TE at 4.60 GHz. TDP differs, with the i9-10900E at 65 watts and the i7-12700TE at 35 watts.

Socket compatibility differs: the i9-10900E uses Intel Socket 1200, the i7-12700TE uses Intel Socket 1700. Architecture differs, with Comet Lake versus Alder Lake. Process node differs, 14 nm versus 10 nm. L1 cache differs, 64 KB per core versus 80 KB per core. L2 cache differs, 256 KB per core versus 1.25 MB per core. L3 cache differs, 20 MB shared versus 25 MB shared.

Memory support differs, with the i9-10900E limited to DDR4 and the i7-12700TE supporting DDR4 and DDR5. Memory bandwidth is recorded for the i9-10900E at 46.9 GB/s, while the i7-12700TE has no recorded bandwidth figure. PCIe support differs, with the i9-10900E at Gen 3 with 16 lanes and the i7-12700TE at Gen 5 with 20 lanes. Integrated graphics differ, UHD Graphics 630 versus UHD Graphics 770.

The launch MSRP for the i9-10900E is $488, and for the i7-12700TE it is $344. The die size differs, 206 mm² versus 215 mm². The i9-10900E has a recorded release date of 2020-04-29, the i7-12700TE does not. The i9-10900E has a part number, SRJFD, the i7-12700TE does not. Both processors have locked multipliers and no ECC support.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher multicore performance in Geekbench?

A: The Intel Core i9-10900E scores 8162 in Geekbench multicore, while the Intel Core i7-12700TE scores 7217. The i9-10900E leads by 13.1%, the largest margin in the comparison.

Q: How close is single-core performance between the two CPUs?

A: The i9-10900E wins every single-core test, but the margins are small. In Geekbench single-core, the i9-10900E scores 1575 against 1567, a 0.5% lead. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the i9-10900E scores 2272 against 2222, a 2.3% lead.

Q: Does the i7-12700TE ever outperform the i9-10900E in any benchmark?

A: No. The head-to-head data shows the i9-10900E winning all eight benchmark tests, with the i7-12700TE recording zero wins.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two processors?

A: The i9-10900E has a TDP of 65 watts, while the i7-12700TE has a TDP of 35 watts. The i7-12700TE is rated for a lower power envelope.

Q: How do these processors rank among all CPUs in the database?

A: The i9-10900E sits in the 59th percentile with an average benchmark score of 4708. The i7-12700TE sits in the 58th percentile with an average score of 4513.

Q: Do the two CPUs support the same memory types?

A: No. The i9-10900E supports DDR4 only, while the i7-12700TE supports both DDR4 and DDR5.