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CPU Comparison: FPS, Specs & Value

Core i5-6400 vs Core i9-12900K

The Core i5-6400 is much slower than the Core i9-12900K on average across 100+ games. However, it's a slightly better value for money, as it's $219.53 cheaper!

bar_chartBenchmarks groupCommunity calculateFPS Calculator compressBottleneck Calculator

CPU

$180.46View CPUAll CPUs

Up to 229% cheaper – $180.46 vs $399.99
Up to 55% better value for money

CPU

$399.99View CPUAll CPUs

Up to 112% faster on average across 100+ games
Is 6 years and 5 months newer
Up to 229% more expensive – $399.99 vs $180.46

FPS Comparison Across Popular Games

Predicted average FPS at 1080p, 1440p, and 4K, based on real game benchmarks.

Resolution

Quality

Paired GPU

View Compare All GPUs

Select GPU

League of Legends2009

Core i5-6400

179FPS

Core i9-12900K

372FPS

Fortnite2017

Core i5-6400

324FPS

Core i9-12900K

329FPS

Grand Theft Auto V2013

Core i5-6400

198FPS

Core i9-12900K

221FPS

Elden Ring2022

Core i5-6400

149FPS

Core i9-12900K

172FPS

Escape From Tarkov2017

Core i5-6400

214FPS

Core i9-12900K

254FPS

Destiny 22017

Core i5-6400

591FPS

Core i9-12900K

594FPS

Valorant2020

Core i5-6400

563FPS

Core i9-12900K

746FPS

Minecraft2011

Core i5-6400

591FPS

Core i9-12900K

782FPS

Specs & Benchmark Comparison

Side-by-side specs, synthetic benchmarks, and key hardware differences.

Scorehelp

Core i5-6400

21%

Core i9-12900K

63%

Core i9-12900K ranks 42 points higher.

Coreshelp

Core i5-6400

Core i9-12900K

Core i9-12900K has 12 more cores.

Threadshelp

Core i5-6400

Core i9-12900K

Core i9-12900K has 20 more threads.

L3 Cachehelp

Core i5-6400

6 MB

Core i9-12900K

30 MB

Core i9-12900K has 24 MB more L3 cache.

Base Frequencyhelp

Core i5-6400

2.7 GHz

Core i9-12900K

3.2 GHz

Core i9-12900K has a 19% higher base clock.

Turbo Frequencyhelp

Core i5-6400

3.3 GHz

Core i9-12900K

5.2 GHz

Core i9-12900K boosts 58% higher.

TDPhelp

Core i5-6400

65W

Core i9-12900K

125W

Core i5-6400 draws 60W less power.

Pricehelp

Core i5-6400

$180.46

Core i9-12900K

$399.99

Core i5-6400 is $219.53 cheaper.

Core i5-6400Core i9-12900K

LGA1151

Sockethelp

LGA1700

Skylake

Codenamehelp

Alder Lake-S

Desktop

Segmenthelp

Desktop

HD Graphics 530

Integrated GPUhelp

UHD Graphics 770

2133 MHz (DDR4)

RAMhelp

3200 MHz (DDR4), 4800 MHz (DDR5)

Not Overclockable

Overclock Supporthelp

Overclockable

Frequently Asked Questions

compare_arrowsWhich is better, Core i5-6400 or Core i9-12900K?expand_more

The Core i9-12900K. It's 200% faster than the Core i5-6400 on average across 100+ games, scoring 63/100 vs 21/100 in our gaming rating.

speedHow much faster is Core i9-12900K than Core i5-6400?expand_more

200% faster on average. The gap varies by game and resolution, check the per-game FPS comparison above.

aspect_ratioWhich is better for 1440p and 4K gaming, Core i5-6400 or Core i9-12900K?expand_more

The Core i9-12900K is faster at both resolutions. Toggle the resolution selector above to see per-game FPS.

paidIs the Core i9-12900K worth buying in 2026?expand_more

It scores 63/100 in our gaming rating, faster than most CPUs on the market. Good buy if the price is right.

differenceWhat is the difference between Core i5-6400 and Core i9-12900K?expand_more

Performance: Core i5-6400 scores 21/100, Core i9-12900K scores 63/100. They also differ in core count, clock speeds, L3 cache, and power draw. Full breakdown in the specs section above.

compressWill the Core i5-6400 or Core i9-12900K bottleneck my PC?expand_more

Depends on the rest of your build, especially your GPU. Swap the paired GPU in the FPS section above to see if it limits performance, or use our bottleneck calculator for a full analysis.

upgradeIs it worth upgrading to the Core i5-6400 or Core i9-12900K?expand_more

The Core i9-12900K is the stronger pick at 63/100. Compare your current CPU against it to see the exact FPS gain across 100+ games.