Intel Core i7-12700TE vs Intel Core i9-9900KS Comparison

The Intel Core i7-12700TE and the Intel Core i9-9900KS represent two very different design philosophies from the same manufacturer. The i7-12700TE is a 12th Gen Alder Lake part with 12 cores and 20 threads, built on a 10 nm process with a 35W TDP. The i9-9900KS is a Coffee Lake Refresh flagship with 8 cores and 16 threads on a 14 nm process with a 127W TDP. Despite the i7's newer architecture and higher core count, the recorded benchmark data shows the i9-9900KS winning all eight head-to-head tests, with margins ranging from 4.2% to 26.1%. The i9-9900KS also holds a higher average benchmark score of 4738 versus 4513 for the i7-12700TE, and a slightly higher percentile ranking of 59 versus 58.

Architecture Differences

The two processors differ at nearly every architectural level. The i7-12700TE uses Alder Lake-S architecture on Intel's 10 nm process, while the i9-9900KS uses Coffee Lake-R on a 14 nm process. The i7 has 12 cores and 20 threads, compared to 8 cores and 16 threads for the i9. The i7's cache hierarchy consists of 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 25 MB of shared L3. The i9 has 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3.

Clock speeds tell a different story. The i7-12700TE has a base clock of 1400 MHz and a boost clock of 4.60 GHz. The i9-9900KS has a base clock of 4.00 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. The i9's higher clocks, especially its 5.00 GHz boost, help explain its benchmark advantage despite fewer cores. The i9 also carries a much higher TDP of 127W versus 35W for the i7, which reflects its more aggressive power delivery.

Memory support differs as well. The i7-12700TE supports both DDR4 and DDR5 in a dual-channel configuration, while the i9-9900KS supports DDR4 only, also dual-channel. The i9 has a recorded memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s; no such figure is recorded for the i7. The i7 uses PCIe Gen 5 with 20 lanes, while the i9 uses PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes. The i7 has UHD Graphics 770 integrated, the i9 has UHD 630. The i7 is not multiplier unlocked, while the i9 is. The i7 uses Socket 1700, the i9 uses Socket 1151. The i7 has a die size of 215 mm², the i9 has 180 mm². The i7 is in active production, while the i9 is end-of-life.

Where Each One Wins

The head-to-head data is a clean sweep. The i9-9900KS wins all eight recorded comparisons, and the i7-12700TE wins none. The i9's margins are consistent in Cinebench tests, hovering around 4.2% to 4.3% across R15, R20, and R23 in both single-core and multicore. The Geekbench results show a wider gap, with the i9 leading by 8.6% in single-core and 26.1% in multicore.

The i7-12700TE's advantages are not visible in benchmark scores but in platform features. Its 35W TDP makes it suitable for power-constrained systems. Its support for DDR5 memory and PCIe Gen 5 connectivity provides a modern platform foundation. Its 12 cores and 20 threads exceed the i9's 8 cores and 16 threads, yet the benchmark data shows the i9's higher clock speeds and architecture delivering superior measured performance in every test.

The i9-9900KS also has additional 3DMark results in the database: 7376 in the 16-thread test, 1670 in 2-thread, 3276 in 4-thread, 5787 in 8-thread, 7360 in max-thread, and 841 in single-thread. The i7-12700TE has no 3DMark results recorded.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i7-12700TE has 12 cores and 20 threads, while the Intel Core i9-9900KS has 8 cores and 16 threads.

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

A: The i9-9900KS wins every single-core test. In Cinebench R23 single-core, it scores 2321 versus 2222 for the i7-12700TE, a 4.3% advantage. In Geekbench single-core, it leads 1715 to 1567, an 8.6% margin.

Q: What is the largest performance gap between the two?

A: The largest gap is in Geekbench multicore, where the i9-9900KS scores 9771 versus 7217 for the i7-12700TE, a 26.1% difference.

Q: Which processor supports DDR5 memory?

A: The i7-12700TE supports both DDR4 and DDR5, while the i9-9900KS supports DDR4 only.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The i9-9900KS has a boost clock of 5.00 GHz, while the i7-12700TE boosts to 4.60 GHz.

Q: Which processor is still in production?

A: The i7-12700TE is listed as Active, while the i9-9900KS is End-of-life.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results show a consistent pattern. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the i9-9900KS scores 1657 against 1586 for the i7-12700TE, a 4.3% margin. The R15 single-core test shows 233 versus 223, also 4.3%. Cinebench R20 multicore: 6907 versus 6612, a 4.3% margin. R20 single-core: 974 versus 933, a 4.2% margin. Cinebench R23 multicore: 16446 versus 15745, a 4.3% margin. R23 single-core: 2321 versus 2222, a 4.3% margin.

The Geekbench results show a wider spread. In Geekbench multicore, the i9 scores 9771 versus 7217, a 26.1% margin. In Geekbench single-core, the i9 scores 1715 versus 1567, an 8.6% margin. The multicore Geekbench gap is particularly notable because the i7 has 12 cores and 20 threads, yet the i9's 8 cores and 16 threads still deliver a 26.1% advantage.

The i9-9900KS also has 3DMark results that the i7-12700TE lacks entirely. These include 7376 in the 16-thread test, 7360 in max-thread, 5787 in 8-thread, 3276 in 4-thread, 1670 in 2-thread, and 841 in single-thread.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous. The Intel Core i9-9900KS is the faster processor in every recorded benchmark, winning all eight head-to-head tests. Its average benchmark score of 4738 exceeds the i7-12700TE's 4513, and its percentile ranking of 59 edges out the i7's 58. The i9's nearest rivals in the database include the Intel Core i7-6950X with a 0.1% delta, the Intel Core i9-10900E at 0.6%, and the AMD EPYC 7252 at -0.7%. The i7-12700TE's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i5-1250P at 0% delta, the AMD Ryzen Embedded V2748 at -0.4%, and the Intel Core i5-1340P at -0.7%.

The i7-12700TE is the appropriate choice for systems where its 35W TDP, DDR5 support, and PCIe Gen 5 connectivity are priorities. Its active production status and modern platform make it a viable option for new builds that value efficiency and platform longevity. The i9-9900KS, despite being end-of-life, is the choice for users who want maximum measured performance and have the power budget for its 127W TDP. Its unlocked multiplier also allows for overclocking, a feature the i7 lacks.

Specification Differences

| Field | Intel Core i7-12700TE | Intel Core i9-9900KS |

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

| Cores | 12 | 8 |

| Threads | 20 | 16 |

| Base clock | 1400 MHz | 4.00 GHz |

| Boost clock | 4.60 GHz | 5.00 GHz |

| TDP | 35W | 127W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1700 | Intel Socket 1151 |

| Architecture | Alder Lake | Coffee Lake |

| Process node | 10 nm | 14 nm |

| L1 cache | 80 KB per core | 64 KB per core |

| L2 cache | 1.25 MB per core | 256 KB per core |

| L3 cache | 25 MB shared | 16 MB shared |

| Memory support | DDR4, DDR5 | DDR4 |

| Memory bandwidth | Not recorded | 42.7 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 5, 20 lanes | Gen 3, 16 lanes |

| Integrated graphics | UHD Graphics 770 | UHD 630 |

| Production status | Active | End-of-life |

| Launch MSRP | $344 | $513 |

| Multiplier unlocked | No | Yes |

| Die size | 215 mm² | 180 mm² |