Intel Core i9-12900 vs Intel Core i9-12950HX Comparison

The Intel Core i9-12900 and Intel Core i9-12950HX are two 16-core, 24-thread Alder Lake parts that share a name but target different platforms. The desktop i9-12900, with its 65W TDP and Socket 1700, and the mobile i9-12950HX, with its 55W TDP and BGA 1964 socket, deliver distinct benchmark profiles despite their architectural kinship. The data shows the desktop part wins 12 of 17 head-to-head tests, but the mobile chip counters with notable single-core and specialized workload victories.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i9-12900 leads with an average benchmark score of 42906, while the Intel Core i9-12950HX trails at 42487. This places the desktop chip 1% ahead of the mobile part in the nearestRivals comparison.

Q: How do these CPUs compare in Cinebench R23 multi-core performance?

A: The Intel Core i9-12950HX is the winner in Cinebench R23 multi-core, scoring 20263 versus the i9-12900's 18628. That is a significant 8.1% advantage for the mobile processor in this specific test.

Q: What is the performance gap in single-threaded Passmark tests?

A: The Intel Core i9-12900 wins the Passmark single-thread test with a score of 4003, beating the i9-12950HX's 3778 by 6%. The desktop chip also wins the single-thread Cinebench R20 test by 8.5%, though the mobile part wins Cinebench R15 and R23 single-core.

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core i9-12900 has a boost clock of 5.10 GHz, which is higher than the i9-12950HX's 5.00 GHz. The desktop chip also has a higher base clock at 2.40 GHz versus 2.30 GHz.

Q: Are these CPUs unlocked for overclocking?

A: Yes, the Intel Core i9-12900 has an unlocked multiplier. The Intel Core i9-12950HX does not have an unlocked multiplier.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: Yes, both the Intel Core i9-12900 and the Intel Core i9-12950HX support ECC memory, according to the specification data.

Architecture Differences

Both processors are built on Intel's 10 nm process node and share the Alder Lake architecture, but they belong to different sub-families. The i9-12900 is an Alder Lake-S part, while the i9-12950HX is an Alder Lake-HX part. Despite this, both have identical core and cache configurations: 16 cores, 24 threads, 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core, and 30 MB of shared L3 cache. The die size is also the same at 215 mm², with Intel as the foundry for both.

The key architectural differences lie in the platform and power delivery. The i9-12900 is a desktop processor with a 65W TDP and uses the Intel Socket 1700. The i9-12950HX is a mobile processor with a 55W TDP and uses the Intel BGA 1964 socket. The mobile chip also has more PCIe lanes: it supports Gen 5 with 20 lanes (CPU only), while the desktop part supports Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only). Both share the same UHD Graphics 770 integrated GPU, dual-channel memory bus, and support for DDR4 and DDR5 memory. The i9-12900 has a specified memory bandwidth of 76.8 GB/s, while the i9-12950HX does not have a listed memory bandwidth figure.

The release dates differ, with the i9-12900 launching on January 3, 2022, and the i9-12950HX launching on May 9, 2022. The desktop part carries the part number SRL4KQXQ3, while the mobile part is SRLGG. The i9-12900 has an unlocked multiplier, whereas the i9-12950HX is locked.

The Verdict

The benchmark data paints a clear picture for different use cases. The Intel Core i9-12900 is the overall average score leader and dominates in raw compute-heavy workloads. It wins 12 of the 17 head-to-head tests, including decisive victories in Passmark integer math (127512 versus 109586, a 16.4% margin) and Passmark floating-point math (91514 versus 80402, a 13.8% margin). For users prioritizing multi-threaded desktop performance in applications like Cinebench R15 and R20, the i9-12900 is the stronger pick, also offering the flexibility of an unlocked multiplier for overclocking.

The Intel Core i9-12950HX, despite its lower TDP, is not a pushover. It wins the Cinebench R23 multi-core test by 8.1% (20263 versus 18628) and the single-core R23 test by 3.2%. It also takes the Passmark physics test by a wide 17% margin (2084 versus 1730) and the find-prime-numbers test by 10.4%. This suggests the mobile processor is tuned for specific sustained workloads and physics simulations. However, with a lower average score, fewer total wins, and a locked multiplier, the i9-12950HX is best suited for mobile users who need a specific edge in Cinebench R23 or physics-based tasks, accepting its deficits elsewhere.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key specification fields. The i9-12900 has a base clock of 2.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.10 GHz, while the i9-12950HX runs at 2.30 GHz base and 5.00 GHz boost. The TDP is 65W for the desktop part and 55W for the mobile part. The socket differs: Intel Socket 1700 for the i9-12900 versus Intel BGA 1964 for the i9-12950HX. PCIe lane count also varies, with the i9-12900 offering 16 lanes and the i9-12950HX offering 20 lanes, both Gen 5. The market segment is Desktop for the i9-12900 and Mobile for the i9-12950HX.

Memory bandwidth is listed at 76.8 GB/s for the i9-12900, but is not specified for the i9-12950HX. The multiplier is unlocked on the i9-12900 but locked on the i9-12950HX. The part numbers are different, as are the launch dates. The launch MSRP is $519 for the i9-12900 and $590 for the i9-12950HX. The generation and codename fields also differentiate them, as the i9-12900 is Core i9 (Alder Lake-S) and the i9-12950HX is Core i9 (Alder Lake-HX).

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The desktop i9-12900 establishes its dominance in the Passmark suite, winning every single Passmark test except physics and find-prime-numbers. The largest victory comes in Passmark integer math, where the i9-12900 scores 127512 against the i9-12950HX's 109586, a 16.4% lead. Floating-point math follows with a 13.8% advantage (91514 versus 80402). The desktop chip also excels in Passmark extended instructions, winning by 11.8% (24777 versus 22163), and data compression, winning by 10.9% (407899 versus 367930). Data encryption goes to the i9-12900 by 8.5% (23203 versus 21395).

In the Cinebench suite, the results are split. The i9-12900 wins Cinebench R20 multi-core by 8.4% (11994 versus 11061) and R20 single-core by 8.5% (1693 versus 1561). It also wins R15 multi-core by 6.2% (3299 versus 3107). However, the i9-12950HX strikes back in Cinebench R23, winning multi-core by 8.1% (20263 versus 18628) and single-core by 3.2% (1885 versus 1825). The mobile chip also wins R15 single-core by 4.4% (274 versus 262).

The mobile i9-12950HX takes its other wins in specialized Passmark tests. It wins Passmark physics by 17% (2084 versus 1730) and find-prime-numbers by 10.4% (135 versus 121). The i9-12900 counters with wins in Passmark multithread (33608 versus 31673, a 6.1% margin), random string sorting (44070 versus 41209, a 6.9% margin), and single-thread (4003 versus 3778, a 6% margin). Overall, the head-to-head tally is 12 wins for the i9-12900 and 5 wins for the i9-12950HX, confirming the desktop part as the stronger all-around performer in most general and compute-intensive tasks.