Intel Core i9-12900TE vs Intel Core i9-9820X Comparison

The Intel Core i9-12900TE and Intel Core i9-9820X are two desktop processors that, despite being from different generations and design philosophies, land on nearly identical benchmark scores. The data shows the i9-12900TE wins all six head-to-head Cinebench comparisons, but the margins are effectively negligible, with a maximum deltaPct of 0.1%. Both processors hold the 60th percentile ranking among all CPUs and have an average benchmark score of 5050 and 5049, respectively. The i9-12900TE is the clear choice for those prioritizing energy efficiency and modern platform features, while the i9-9820X offers a much higher base clock and a quad-channel memory interface, though at a significantly higher TDP.

The Verdict

From the data, the Intel Core i9-12900TE is the nominal winner, taking every single head-to-head benchmark. However, the performance difference is so minuscule that it is statistically irrelevant in real-world terms; the largest gap is a 0.1% lead in Cinebench R20 single-core. The i9-12900TE achieves this with a 35W TDP and 16 cores, whereas the i9-9820X requires a 165W TDP to deliver nearly identical results with its 10-core configuration. The i9-12900TE is the superior choice for a new build, given its active production status, integrated graphics, and support for both DDR4 and DDR5 memory. The i9-9820X, being end-of-life, only makes sense for someone who already owns a compatible Socket 2066 motherboard and needs the quad-channel memory bandwidth, which the data indicates provides a memory bandwidth of 85.3 GB/s. For pure Cinebench performance, the data shows they are equals, so the decision hinges entirely on platform and power considerations.

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark results indicate a dead heat in raw compute performance, but each processor wins in distinct system-level contexts. The Intel Core i9-12900TE wins on efficiency and modernity. It produces the same scores as the i9-9820X while drawing only a fraction of the power (35W vs 165W TDP). It also includes integrated UHD Graphics 770, eliminating the need for a discrete GPU in basic systems. Its support for both DDR4 and DDR5 memory and PCIe Gen 5 provides a more future-proof foundation.

The Intel Core i9-9820X wins on platform bandwidth and connectivity. It features a quad-channel memory bus with a listed memory bandwidth of 85.3 GB/s, a specification the i9-12900TE lacks in the data. It also offers 44 PCIe Gen 3 lanes from the CPU, more than double the 20 Gen 5 lanes of the i9-12900TE. This makes the i9-9820X more attractive for workstations that require high-throughput memory operations or many expansion cards, despite its near-identical Cinebench scores. The i9-9820X also has a significantly higher base clock of 3.30 GHz compared to 1.10 GHz, which could translate to better responsiveness in lightly threaded, non-benchmark workloads, though this is not reflected in the provided single-core tests.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between these two processors is substantial, reflecting a generational shift. The Intel Core i9-12900TE is built on the Alder Lake architecture using a 10 nm process node, with a die size of 215 mm². It features 16 cores and 24 threads, with a cache hierarchy of 80 KB L1 per core, 1.25 MB L2 per core, and 30 MB of shared L3 cache. Its base clock is 1.10 GHz, boosting up to 4.80 GHz. The i9-12900TE supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration and provides PCIe Gen 5 with 20 lanes.

In contrast, the Intel Core i9-9820X uses the older Skylake-X architecture on a 14 nm process node. It has 10 cores and 20 threads, with 64 KB L1 per core, 1 MB L2 per core, and a smaller 16.5 MB shared L3 cache. Its base clock is significantly higher at 3.30 GHz, with a boost of 4.20 GHz. The i9-9820X only supports DDR4 memory, but it is in a quad-channel configuration with a rated memory bandwidth of 85.3 GB/s. It provides PCIe Gen 3 with 44 lanes. The i9-9820X has no integrated graphics, whereas the i9-12900TE includes UHD Graphics 770. Both have unlocked multipliers, but the i9-9820X is marked as end-of-life, while the i9-12900TE is still active.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The Intel Core i9-12900TE scores 17461, while the Intel Core i9-9820X scores 17459. The i9-12900TE wins by a margin of 0%.

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

A: The Intel Core i9-12900TE has a TDP of 35W, while the Intel Core i9-9820X has a TDP of 165W.

Q: Does either processor have integrated graphics?

A: Yes, the Intel Core i9-12900TE includes UHD Graphics 770. The Intel Core i9-9820X has no integrated graphics.

Q: How do their memory channels compare?

A: The Intel Core i9-12900TE supports dual-channel memory (DDR4 and DDR5), while the Intel Core i9-9820X supports quad-channel memory (DDR4 only), with a memory bandwidth of 85.3 GB/s.

Q: Are these processors in the same performance percentile?

A: Yes, both the Intel Core i9-12900TE and the Intel Core i9-9820X are in the 60th percentile of all CPUs.

Q: What is the average benchmark score for each?

A: The average benchmark score for the Intel Core i9-12900TE is 5050, and for the Intel Core i9-9820X it is 5049.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data shows a remarkable level of parity, with the i9-12900TE winning every test by 0% or 0.1%. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, both processors score exactly 1759, a perfect tie. The single-core R15 test is also a tie at 248 points for each. Moving to Cinebench R20, the multi-core test shows the i9-12900TE at 7333 and the i9-9820X at 7332, a 0% difference. The R20 single-core test provides the largest margin, with the i9-12900TE scoring 1035 against the i9-9820X's 1034, a 0.1% lead.

The Cinebench R23 results follow the same pattern. In multi-core, the i9-12900TE scores 17461, and the i9-9820X scores 17459, a difference of 0%. The single-core R23 test shows the i9-12900TE at 2465 and the i9-9820X at 2464, again a 0% difference. The data indicates that the i9-12900TE's higher core count and newer architecture compensate for the i9-9820X's higher base clock. The i9-9820X's advantage in memory bandwidth (85.3 GB/s) does not translate into any measurable advantage in these Cinebench workloads, as the scores are effectively identical. The i9-12900TE's 0.1% win in R20 single-core is within the margin of error and does not indicate a real performance lead.

Specification Differences

The specification differences between the two processors are extensive, highlighting the generational leap. The most striking difference is in core count and power: the i9-12900TE has 16 cores and 24 threads with a 35W TDP, while the i9-9820X has 10 cores and 20 threads with a 165W TDP. The i9-12900TE has a base clock of 1.10 GHz and a boost clock of 4.80 GHz, whereas the i9-9820X has a base clock of 3.30 GHz and a boost clock of 4.20 GHz. The process node is 10 nm for the i9-12900TE and 14 nm for the i9-9820X.

The cache configurations differ as well. The i9-12900TE has 80 KB L1, 1.25 MB L2 per core, and 30 MB of shared L3. The i9-9820X has 64 KB L1, 1 MB L2 per core, and 16.5 MB of shared L3. Memory support sees the i9-12900TE offering DDR4 and DDR5 with a dual-channel bus, while the i9-9820X offers only DDR4 with a quad-channel bus and a listed bandwidth of 85.3 GB/s. PCIe capability differs: the i9-12900TE provides Gen 5 with 20 lanes, while the i9-9820X provides Gen 3 with 44 lanes. The i9-12900TE has integrated UHD Graphics 770; the i9-9820X has none. The socket is also different: the i9-12900TE uses Intel Socket 1700, and the i9-9820X uses Intel Socket 2066. The i9-12900TE was released in 2022 and is active, while the i9-9820X was released in 2018 and is end-of-life. The launch MSRP for the i9-12900TE is $494, and the launch MSRP for the i9-9820X is $889.