Intel Core i9-12900 vs Intel Core i9-13950HX Comparison

The Verdict

The benchmark data presents a clear hierarchy between these two Intel Core i9 processors. The Intel Core i9-13950HX dominates the comparison, winning 15 of the 17 recorded head-to-head tests. The Intel Core i9-12900 claims only 2 wins, both in single-threaded PassMark tests. For workloads that scale across cores, the 13950HX is the definitive choice. Its multi-core advantages are substantial, ranging from 20.6% to 67.8% depending on the specific test. The 12900 retains a narrow edge in one specific single-threaded metric, but the 13950HX counters with superior Cinebench single-core scores. Users prioritizing raw multi-threaded throughput, content creation, or data-heavy tasks should select the 13950HX. The 12900 only makes sense for those specifically targeting the PassMark single-thread workload where it holds a 2.6% lead. The data shows both processors sit at the 88th percentile among all CPUs, but the 13950HX achieves a higher average benchmark score of 44342 compared to 42906 for the 12900.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel generations and target different market segments. The Intel Core i9-13950HX belongs to the Core 13th Gen series, uses the Raptor Lake architecture with the Raptor Lake-HX codename, and is built for the mobile segment. The Intel Core i9-12900 is from the Core 12th Gen series, uses the Alder Lake architecture with the Alder Lake-S codename, and targets the desktop segment. Both use Intel's 10 nm process node and are manufactured by Intel, but the die sizes differ. The 13950HX has a die size of 257 mm², while the 12900 measures 215 mm².

Core counts differ significantly. The 13950HX provides 24 cores and 32 threads, while the 12900 offers 16 cores and 24 threads. This 8-core and 8-thread difference directly explains much of the multi-core performance gap. The base clock of the 12900 is higher at 2.40 GHz compared to 2.20 GHz for the 13950HX, but the boost clock favors the 13950HX at 5.50 GHz versus 5.10 GHz. The 13950HX also carries a higher TDP of 55 W compared to 65 W for the 12900, though the mobile part is rated lower despite having more cores.

Cache hierarchies differ in L2 and L3 sizes. Both processors share the same L1 cache at 80 KB per core. The 13950HX has 2 MB of L2 per core and 36 MB of shared L3 cache. The 12900 has 1.25 MB of L2 per core and 30 MB of shared L3 cache. Both support DDR4 and DDR5 memory with dual-channel memory buses, and both support ECC memory. The memory bandwidth for the 12900 is recorded at 76.8 GB/s, while no figure is listed for the 13950HX. The 13950HX offers 20 PCIe Gen 5 lanes (CPU only), while the 12900 provides 16 PCIe Gen 5 lanes (CPU only). Both integrate UHD Graphics 770. The 13950HX uses the Intel BGA 1964 socket, while the 12900 uses Intel Socket 1700. Both have unlocked multipliers, and both processors share the same release day of January 3rd but in different years, 2023 for the 13950HX and 2022 for the 12900.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i9-13950HX wins across nearly every benchmark category. In Cinebench tests, it leads by 37.3% in R15 multi-core, 20.6% in R20 multi-core, and 54% in R23 multi-core. Single-core Cinebench results also favor the 13950HX, with leads of 13.4% in R15, 20.6% in R20, and 14.8% in R23. The PassMark suite shows consistent 13950HX advantages in data compression (25.1%), data encryption (32.8%), extended instructions (20.2%), prime number finding (67.8%), floating point math (15.3%), integer math (15.4%), multi-thread (23.8%), physics (54.2%), and random string sorting (30%).

The Intel Core i9-12900 has exactly one unique winning category. In PassMark single-thread and PassMark singlethread tests, both recording a score of 4003, it beats the 13950HX's 3899 by 2.6%. This is the only workload where the 12900 outperforms the 13950HX. Notably, this advantage does not extend to Cinebench single-core tests, where the 13950HX leads by double-digit percentages. The data suggests the 12900's single-thread PassMark advantage is specific to that particular benchmark methodology rather than a general single-core superiority. For all other measured workloads, the 13950HX is the faster processor, often by substantial margins.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i9-13950HX has 24 cores and 32 threads. The Intel Core i9-12900 has 16 cores and 24 threads.

Q: How much faster is the 13950HX in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The 13950HX scores 28681 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, which is 54% higher than the 12900's score of 18628.

Q: Does the 12900 win any benchmark tests?

A: Yes, the 12900 wins the PassMark single-thread and PassMark singlethread tests with a score of 4003, which is 2.6% higher than the 13950HX's 3899.

Q: What are the boost clock speeds of these processors?

A: The 13950HX boosts up to 5.50 GHz, while the 12900 boosts up to 5.10 GHz. The base clocks are 2.20 GHz for the 13950HX and 2.40 GHz for the 12900.

Q: Do both processors support the same memory types?

A: Yes, both support DDR4 and DDR5 memory with dual-channel memory buses, and both support ECC memory.

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

A: The largest gap is in PassMark find prime numbers, where the 13950HX scores 203 compared to 121 for the 12900, a difference of 67.8%.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench R23 multi-core test delivers the most dramatic gap. The 13950HX records 28681 points, while the 12900 manages 18628 points. This 54% advantage represents one of the largest deltas in the entire comparison. The PassMark physics test shows a similarly large gap at 54.2%, with the 13950HX scoring 2668 against 1730 for the 12900. The PassMark find prime numbers test shows the largest percentage difference at 67.8%, with scores of 203 versus 121.

The Cinebench R15 multi-core test shows a 37.3% lead for the 13950HX, scoring 4529 against 3299. PassMark data encryption shows a 32.8% advantage, with scores of 30805 versus 23203. PassMark random string sorting shows a 30% lead, with 57274 versus 44070. PassMark multi-thread shows 41614 versus 33608, a 23.8% difference. Cinebench R20 multi-core shows 14462 versus 11994, a 20.6% lead, matching the same 20.6% advantage seen in Cinebench R20 single-core, where scores are 2041 versus 1693.

PassMark extended instructions shows a 20.2% lead, with 29779 versus 24777. PassMark integer math shows 147091 versus 127512, a 15.4% difference. PassMark floating point math shows 105553 versus 91514, a 15.3% lead. Cinebench R23 single-core shows 2096 versus 1825, a 14.8% difference. Cinebench R15 single-core shows 297 versus 262, a 13.4% lead. PassMark data compression shows 510258 versus 407899, a 25.1% difference.

The only tests where the 12900 wins are the PassMark single-thread and PassMark singlethread tests, both scoring 4003 against 3899 for the 13950HX. This represents a 2.6% advantage for the 12900. Across all 17 head-to-head tests, the 13950HX wins 15 and the 12900 wins 2. The average benchmark score for the 13950HX is 44342, while the 12900 averages 42906. The nearest rival to the 13950HX is the AMD Ryzen AI Max 385 with an average score of 44309, a 0.1% difference, followed by the Intel Core i5-13600 at 44240 with a 0.2% difference. The nearest rival to the 12900 is the Intel Core i9-12900KF at 42830 with a 0.2% difference.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key specification fields. The 13950HX has 24 cores versus 16 cores for the 12900, and 32 threads versus 24 threads. The base clock of the 13950HX is 2.20 GHz, while the 12900 runs at 2.40 GHz. The boost clock favors the 13950HX at 5.50 GHz versus 5.10 GHz. The TDP is 55 W for the 13950HX and 65 W for the 12900. The 13950HX uses the Intel BGA 1964 socket, while the 12900 uses Intel Socket 1700.

The architecture differs, with Raptor Lake for the 13950HX and Alder Lake for the 12900. The codenames are Raptor Lake-HX and Alder Lake-S respectively. The die sizes are 257 mm² for the 13950HX and 215 mm² for the 12900. The L2 cache is 2 MB per core for the 13950HX and 1.25 MB per core for the 12900. The L3 cache is 36 MB shared for the 13950HX and 30 MB shared for the 12900. The 13950HX provides 20 PCIe Gen 5 lanes (CPU only), while the 12900 provides 16 PCIe Gen 5 lanes (CPU only). The 12900 has a recorded memory bandwidth of 76.8 GB/s, while no figure is listed for the 13950HX.

The market segments differ, with the 13950HX classified as Mobile and the 12900 as Desktop. The release dates are January 3rd in both cases, but 2023 for the 13950HX and 2022 for the 12900. The part numbers are SRMEB for the 13950HX and SRL4KQXQ3 for the 12900. The launch MSRP is $590 for the 13950HX and $519 for the 12900. Both processors have unlocked multipliers, support ECC memory, use the same 10 nm process node, integrate UHD Graphics 770, support DDR4 and DDR5 memory, and share the same L1 cache size of 80 KB per core.