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CPU Comparison: FPS, Specs & Value

Core i5-6500 vs Core i9-12900KF

The Core i5-6500 is quite a bit slower than the Core i9-12900KF on average across 100+ games. However, it's a much better value for money, as it's $277.40 cheaper!

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CPU

$48.59View CPUAll CPUs

CPU

$325.99View CPUAll CPUs

Up to 96% faster on average across 100+ games
Is 6 years and 5 months newer
Available for $325.99

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

Counter-Strike 22023

Core i5-6500

495FPS

Core i9-12900KF

706FPS

Valorant2020

Core i5-6500

571FPS

Core i9-12900KF

743FPS

League of Legends2009

Core i5-6500

191FPS

Core i9-12900KF

369FPS

Grand Theft Auto V2013

Core i5-6500

200FPS

Core i9-12900KF

221FPS

Fortnite2017

Core i5-6500

325FPS

Core i9-12900KF

329FPS

Minecraft2011

Core i5-6500

599FPS

Core i9-12900KF

779FPS

Overwatch 22023

Core i5-6500

517FPS

Core i9-12900KF

560FPS

Rocket League2015

Core i5-6500

903FPS

Core i9-12900KF

1040FPS

Specs & Benchmark Comparison

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

Scorehelp

Core i5-6500

23%

Core i9-12900KF

62%

Core i9-12900KF ranks 39 points higher.

Coreshelp

Core i5-6500

Core i9-12900KF

Core i9-12900KF has 12 more cores.

Threadshelp

Core i5-6500

Core i9-12900KF

Core i9-12900KF has 20 more threads.

L3 Cachehelp

Core i5-6500

6 MB

Core i9-12900KF

30 MB

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

Base Frequencyhelp

Core i5-6500

3.2 GHz

Core i9-12900KF

3.2 GHz

Turbo Frequencyhelp

Core i5-6500

3.6 GHz

Core i9-12900KF

5.2 GHz

Core i9-12900KF boosts 44% higher.

TDPhelp

Core i5-6500

65W

Core i9-12900KF

125W

Core i5-6500 draws 60W less power.

Pricehelp

Core i5-6500

$48.59

Core i9-12900KF

$325.99

Core i5-6500 is $277.40 cheaper.

Core i5-6500Core i9-12900KF

LGA1151

Sockethelp

LGA1700

Skylake

Codenamehelp

Alder Lake-S

Desktop

Segmenthelp

Desktop

HD Graphics 530

Integrated GPUhelp

No Integrated Graphics

2133 MHz (DDR4)

RAMhelp

3200 MHz (DDR4), 4800 MHz (DDR5)

Not Overclockable

Overclock Supporthelp

Overclockable

Frequently Asked Questions

compare_arrowsWhich is better, Core i5-6500 or Core i9-12900KF?expand_more

The Core i9-12900KF. It's 170% faster than the Core i5-6500 on average across 100+ games, scoring 62/100 vs 23/100 in our gaming rating.

speedHow much faster is Core i9-12900KF than Core i5-6500?expand_more

170% 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 i5-6500 or Core i9-12900KF?expand_more

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

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

It scores 62/100 in our gaming rating, faster than most CPUs on the market. Good buy if the price is right.

differenceWhat is the difference between Core i5-6500 and Core i9-12900KF?expand_more

Performance: Core i5-6500 scores 23/100, Core i9-12900KF scores 62/100. They also differ in core count, clock speeds, L3 cache, and power draw. Full breakdown in the specs section above.

compressWill the Core i5-6500 or Core i9-12900KF 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 i5-6500 or Core i9-12900KF?expand_more

The Core i9-12900KF is the stronger pick at 62/100. Compare your current CPU against it to see the exact FPS gain across 100+ games.