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CPU Comparison: FPS, Specs & Value

Core i7-6700K vs Core i9-12900K

The Core i7-6700K is quite a bit slower than the Core i9-12900K on average across 100+ games. However, it's a slightly better value for money, as it's $170.05 cheaper!

bar_chartBenchmarks groupCommunity calculateFPS Calculator compressBottleneck Calculator

CPU

$229.95View CPUAll CPUs

Up to 77% cheaper – $229.95 vs $400.00
Up to 7% better value for money

CPU

$400.00View CPUAll CPUs

Up to 66% faster on average across 100+ games
Is 6 years and 4 months newer
Up to 77% more expensive – $400.00 vs $229.95

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 i7-6700K

541FPS

Core i9-12900K

708FPS

League of Legends2009

Core i7-6700K

223FPS

Core i9-12900K

371FPS

Valorant2020

Core i7-6700K

596FPS

Core i9-12900K

745FPS

Dota 22013

Core i7-6700K

192FPS

Core i9-12900K

273FPS

Grand Theft Auto V2013

Core i7-6700K

205FPS

Core i9-12900K

221FPS

Rocket League2015

Core i7-6700K

921FPS

Core i9-12900K

1041FPS

Fortnite2017

Overwatch 22023

521FPS

560FPS

Specs & Benchmark Comparison

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

Scorehelp

Core i7-6700K

29%

Core i9-12900K

61%

Core i9-12900K ranks 32 points higher.

Coreshelp

Core i7-6700K

Core i9-12900K

Core i9-12900K has 12 more cores.

Threadshelp

Core i7-6700K

Core i9-12900K

Core i9-12900K has 16 more threads.

L3 Cachehelp

Core i7-6700K

8 MB

Core i9-12900K

30 MB

Core i9-12900K has 22 MB more L3 cache.

Base Frequencyhelp

Core i7-6700K

4 GHz

Core i9-12900K

3.2 GHz

Core i7-6700K has a 25% higher base clock.

Turbo Frequencyhelp

Core i7-6700K

4.2 GHz

Core i9-12900K

5.2 GHz

Core i9-12900K boosts 24% higher.

TDPhelp

Core i7-6700K

91W

Core i9-12900K

125W

Core i7-6700K draws 34W less power.

Pricehelp

Core i7-6700K

$229.95

Core i9-12900K

$400.00

Core i7-6700K is $170.05 cheaper.

Core i7-6700KCore i9-12900K

LGA1151

Sockethelp

LGA1700

Skylake

Codenamehelp

Alder Lake-S

Desktop

Segmenthelp

Desktop

HD Graphics 530

Integrated GPUhelp

UHD Graphics 770

2133 MHz (DDR3), 2133 MHz (DDR4)

RAMhelp

3200 MHz (DDR4), 4800 MHz (DDR5)

Overclockable

Overclock Supporthelp

Overclockable

Frequently Asked Questions

compare_arrowsWhich is better, Core i7-6700K or Core i9-12900K?expand_more

The Core i9-12900K. It's 110% faster than the Core i7-6700K on average across 100+ games, scoring 61/100 vs 29/100 in our gaming rating.

speedHow much faster is Core i9-12900K than Core i7-6700K?expand_more

110% 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 i7-6700K 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 61/100 in our gaming rating, faster than most CPUs on the market. Good buy if the price is right.

differenceWhat is the difference between Core i7-6700K and Core i9-12900K?expand_more

Performance: Core i7-6700K scores 29/100, Core i9-12900K scores 61/100. They also differ in core count, clock speeds, L3 cache, and power draw. Full breakdown in the specs section above.

compressWill the Core i7-6700K 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 i7-6700K or Core i9-12900K?expand_more

The Core i9-12900K is the stronger pick at 61/100. Compare your current CPU against it to see the exact FPS gain across 100+ games.