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Intel Core i5-6500 vs Intel Core i9-12900H

Intel Core i5-6500

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The Intel Core i5-6500 is a mid-range quad-core desktop processor based on the Skylake architecture, which was announced in August 2015. The CPU, which is manufactured in a 14 nm process, runs at 3.2 - 3.6 GHz and does not support Hyperthreading (only 4 threads simultaneously).

Architecture

Intel uses Skylake to replace both Broadwell as well as Haswell and therefore uses one core design for all TDP classes between 4.5-45 Watts. Several improvements of the Skylake architecture include bigger Out-to-Order-Buffer, optimizations for pre-fetching as well as bigger gains by Hyperthreading. However, the changes are small for a "Tock" – a new micro architecture – in general, so the per-MHz performance is only between 5-10 % (compared to Haswell) or less than 5 % higher (compared to Broadwell), respectively.

Performance

The performance is similar to the old Core i5-3570K of the Sandy Bridge generation. Therefore, it should be sufficient even for demanding tasks.

Graphics

Graphics are handled by the integrated Intel HD Graphics 530 with 24 EUs (Execution Units), which is clocked at 350 - 1050 MHz. Compared to the HD Graphics 4600 (Haswell, 20 EUs), the performance is increased by around 25 percent. The overall GPU performance is still low-end, so modern games can, if at all, only be played smoothly with low settings.

Power Consumption

Intel specifies the TDP with 65 Watts.

Intel Core i9-12900H

► remove from comparison Intel i9-12900H

The Intel Core i9-12900H is a high-end mobile CPU for laptops based on the Alder Lake architecture. It was announced in early 2022 and offers 6 performance cores (P-cores, Golden Cove architecture) and 8 efficient cores (E-cores, Gracemont architecture). The P-cores support Hyper-Threading leading to 20 supported threads when combined with the E-cores. The clock rate ranges from 2.5 to 5 GHz on the performance cluster and 1.8 to 3.8 GHz on the efficient cluster. The performance of the E-cores should be similar to old Skylake cores (compare to the Core i7-6920HQ). All cores can use up to 24 MB L3 cache. Compared to the 12900HK, the 12900H does not offer the open multiplicator (for overclocking) but the full "Enterprise" set of vPro features (for remote management).

The integrated memory controller supports various memory types up to DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200, LPDDR5-5200, and LPDDR4x-4267. The Thread Director (in hardware) can support the operating system to decide which thread to use on the performance or efficient cores for the best performance. For AI tasks, the CPU also integrates GNA 3.0 and DL Boost (via AVX2). Quick Sync in version 8 is the same as in the Rocket Lake CPUs and supports MPEG-2, AVC, VC-1 decode, JPEG, VP8 decode, VP9, HEVC, and AV1 decode in hardware. The CPU only supports PCIe 4.0 (x8 for a GPU and two x4 for SSDs).

The integrated graphics card is based on the Xe-architecture and offers 96 EUs (Execution Units) operating at up to 1.45 GHz.

Performance

The average 12900H in our database proves to be an outrageously fast CPU, ripping the Ryzen 9 6900HX to pieces as far as multi-thread benchmark scores are concerned. Perhaps surprisingly, the i9's multi-thread performance is not much higher than that of the Core i7-12700H, suggesting the latter might be a better bang for the buck.

With its decent cooling solution and a long-term Power Limit of 110 W, the Asus StudioBook 16 H7600ZW is one of the fastest laptops built around the i9-12900H that we know of. It can be more than 80% faster than the slowest system featuring the same chip in our database, depending on the circumstances.

Power consumption

The Core i9 has a "minimum assured" power consumption of 35 W, with 45 W being its Base power consumption. The CPU's maximum Intel-recommended Turbo power consumption sits at 115 W.

The i9-12900H is built with Intel's 4th generation 10 nm process marketed as Intel 7 for lower than average, as of mid 2023, energy efficiency.

ModelIntel Core i5-6500Intel Core i9-12900H
CodenameSkylakeAlder Lake-H
SeriesIntel Core i5 (Desktop)Intel Alder Lake-P
Series: Alder Lake-P Alder Lake-H
Intel Core i5-6600K compare3.5 - 3.9 GHz4 / 4 cores6 MB L3
Intel Core i5-6500 « 3.2 - 3.6 GHz4 / 4 cores6 MB L3
Intel Core i5-6600T compare2.7 - 3.5 GHz4 / 4 cores6 MB L3
Intel Core i5-6400 compare2.7 - 3.3 GHz4 / 4 cores6 MB L3
Intel Core i5-6500T compare2.5 - 3.1 GHz4 / 4 cores6 MB L3
Intel Core i5-6400T compare2.2 - 2.8 GHz4 / 4 cores6 MB L3
Intel Core i9-12900HK compare1.8 - 5 GHz14 / 20 cores24 MB L3
Intel Core i9-12900H « 1.8 - 5 GHz14 / 20 cores24 MB L3
Intel Core i7-12800H compare1.8 - 4.8 GHz14 / 20 cores24 MB L3
Intel Core i7-12650H compare1.7 - 4.7 GHz10 / 16 cores24 MB L3
Intel Core i5-12600H compare2 - 4.5 GHz12 / 16 cores18 MB L3
Intel Core i5-12500H compare1.8 - 4.5 GHz12 / 16 cores18 MB L3
Intel Core i5-12450H compare1.5 - 4.4 GHz8 / 12 cores12 MB L3
Clock3200 - 3600 MHz1800 - 5000 MHz
L1 Cache256 KB1.2 MB
L2 Cache1 MB11.5 MB
L3 Cache6 MB24 MB
Cores / Threads4 / 414 / 20
TDP65 Watt45 Watt
Technology14 nm10 nm
FeaturesDDR3(L)-1600/DDR4-2133 Memory Controller, AVX, AVX2, AES-NI, TSX-NI, Quick Sync, Virtualization, vProDDR4-3200/LPDDR4x-4266/DDR5-4800/LPDDR5-5200 RAM, PCIe 4, Thr. Dir., DL Boost, GNA, RPE, MMX, SSE, SSE2, SSE3, SSSE3, SSE4.1, SSE4.2, AVX, AVX2, BMI2, ABM, FMA, ADX, SMEP, SMAP, EIST, TM1, TM2, HT, Turbo, SST, AES-NI, RDRAND, RDSEED, SHA
iGPUIntel HD Graphics 530 (350 - 1050 MHz)Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 96EUs ( - 1450 MHz)
Architecturex86x86
$192 U.S.
Announced
Manufacturerark.intel.comark.intel.com
max. Temp.100 °C
SocketBGA1744

Benchmarks

Performance Rating - CB R15 + R20 + 7-Zip + X265 + Blender + 3DM11 CPU - i9-12900H
39.2 pt (65%)
Restrict / Search: Model: Max. age: years
Cinebench 2024 - Cinebench 2024 CPU Single Core
min: 96     avg: 104.9     median: 106 (60%)     max: 112 Points
Cinebench 2024 - Cinebench 2024 CPU Multi Core
min: 371     avg: 636     median: 578 (11%)     max: 920 Points
Cinebench R23 - Cinebench R23 Multi Core
min: 7359     avg: 15133     median: 15946.5 (15%)     max: 19648 Points
Cinebench R23 - Cinebench R23 Single Core
min: 1634     avg: 1829     median: 1863.5 (78%)     max: 1930 Points
Cinebench R20 - Cinebench R20 CPU (Single Core)
min: 624     avg: 706     median: 714.5 (78%)     max: 738 Points
Cinebench R20 - Cinebench R20 CPU (Multi Core)
min: 2681     avg: 5717     median: 6056.5 (15%)     max: 7471 Points
Cinebench R15 - Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64 Bit
100%
6500 +
min: 535     avg: 542     median: 541.5 (3%)     max: 548 Points
min: 1395     avg: 2454     median: 2576.5 (16%)     max: 3077 Points
Cinebench R15 - Cinebench R15 CPU Single 64 Bit
100%
6500 +
min: 142     avg: 146.5     median: 146.5 (41%)     max: 151 Points
min: 235     avg: 262.3     median: 266 (74%)     max: 277 Points
Cinebench R11.5 - Cinebench R11.5 CPU Multi 64 Bit
100%
6500 +
6.4 Points (8%)
min: 12.08     avg: 23.6     median: 25.3 (33%)     max: 32.77 Points
Cinebench R11.5 - Cinebench R11.5 CPU Single 64 Bit
100%
6500 +
1.7 Points (41%)
min: 2.83     avg: 3     median: 3 (71%)     max: 3.3 Points
Cinebench R10 - Cinebench R10 Rend. Single (32bit)
100%
6500 +
5746 Points (35%)
min: 7952     avg: 8475     median: 8235 (50%)     max: 9498 Points
Cinebench R10 - Cinebench R10 Rend. Multi (32bit)
100%
6500 +
19577 Points (14%)
min: 24313     avg: 43425     median: 47767 (35%)     max: 60567 Points
Cinebench R10 - Cinebench R10 Rend. Multi (64bit)
min: 48178     avg: 66910     median: 70976.5 (45%)     max: 77409 Points
Cinebench R10 - Cinebench R10 Rend. Single (64bit)
min: 12846     avg: 13385     median: 13227.5 (16%)     max: 14567 Points
wPrime 2.10 - wPrime 2.0 1024m *
100%
6500 +
331 s (4%)
min: 187.176     avg: 206.8     median: 197.8 (2%)     max: 265.116 s
wPrime 2.10 - wPrime 2.0 32m *
100%
6500 +
10.6 s (2%)
min: 3.421     avg: 4.1     median: 4 (1%)     max: 5.062 s
WinRAR - WinRAR 4.0
100%
6500 +
3100 Points (5%)
min: 7620     avg: 8202     median: 7937 (13%)     max: 9328 Points
7-Zip 18.03 - 7-Zip 18.03 Multi Thread 4 runs
min: 34684     avg: 60849     median: 64908.5 (37%)     max: 76677 MIPS
7-Zip 18.03 - 7-Zip 18.03 Single Thread 4 runs
min: 5302     avg: 5843     median: 5881 (69%)     max: 6289 MIPS
X264 HD Benchmark 4.0 - x264 Pass 2
100%
6500 +
36.1 fps (1%)
min: 67.5     avg: 105.8     median: 111.4 (3%)     max: 126.7 fps
X264 HD Benchmark 4.0 - x264 Pass 1
100%
6500 +
174.5 fps (4%)
min: 225     avg: 266.6     median: 263.3 (7%)     max: 317 fps
HWBOT x265 Benchmark v2.2 - HWBOT x265 4k Preset
min: 8.05     avg: 17.1     median: 17.8 (31%)     max: 22.5 fps
TrueCrypt - TrueCrypt Serpent
100%
6500 +
0.3 GB/s (9%)
min: 0.864     avg: 1.1     median: 1 (29%)     max: 1.4 GB/s
TrueCrypt - TrueCrypt Twofish
100%
6500 +
0.5 GB/s (8%)
min: 1.5     avg: 1.8     median: 1.9 (33%)     max: 2.1 GB/s
TrueCrypt - TrueCrypt AES
100%
6500 +
2.9 GB/s (8%)
min: 8.6     avg: 10.5     median: 10.3 (27%)     max: 12.8 GB/s
Blender - Blender 3.3 Classroom CPU *
min: 273     avg: 420.7     median: 376 (5%)     max: 850 Seconds
Blender - Blender 2.79 BMW27 CPU *
min: 160     avg: 231.3     median: 205.5 (1%)     max: 451 Seconds
R Benchmark 2.5 - R Benchmark 2.5 *
min: 0.4218     avg: 0.5     median: 0.4 (10%)     max: 0.506 sec
3DMark 06 - CPU - 3DMark 06 - CPU
100%
6500 +
6653 Points (14%)
min: 10122     avg: 13153     median: 13453 (29%)     max: 14655 Points
Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 1M - Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 1M *
100%
6500 +
10.4 s (2%)
min: 7.3     avg: 7.7     median: 7.5 (2%)     max: 8.329 s
Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 2M - Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 2M *
100%
6500 +
23.5 s (1%)
min: 16.373     avg: 17.3     median: 17.2 (1%)     max: 18.439 s
Super Pi Mod 1.5 XS 32M - Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 32M *
min: 385.4     avg: 410.8     median: 398.6 (2%)     max: 474.148 s
3DMark Vantage - 3DM Vant. Perf. CPU no Physx
min: 33640     avg: 52620     median: 53621 (41%)     max: 62706 Points
3DMark 11 - 3DM11 Performance Physics
100%
6500 +
6887 Points (17%)
min: 10552     avg: 21276     median: 22264 (55%)     max: 26126 Points
3DMark - 3DMark Ice Storm Physics
min: 70655     avg: 87893     median: 91477 (74%)     max: 103016 Points
3DMark - 3DMark Ice Storm Extreme Physics
min: 71651     avg: 89380     median: 91745 (74%)     max: 103757 Points
3DMark - 3DMark Ice Storm Unlimited Physics
min: 81857     avg: 89973     median: 89999 (72%)     max: 100472 Points
3DMark - 3DMark Cloud Gate Physics
min: 9262     avg: 17875     median: 18691.5 (47%)     max: 22123 Points
3DMark - 3DMark Fire Strike Standard Physics
min: 9703     avg: 25492     median: 26678.5 (48%)     max: 31176 Points
3DMark - 3DMark Time Spy CPU
min: 5062     avg: 11544     median: 12039 (51%)     max: 14424 Points
Geekbench 6.5 - Geekbench 6.5 Single-Core
min: 1893     avg: 2368     median: 2384 (58%)     max: 2652 Points
Geekbench 6.5 - Geekbench 6.5 Multi-Core
min: 9258     avg: 10829     median: 10337.5 (40%)     max: 12856 Points
Geekbench 6.0 - Geekbench 6.0 Single-Core
min: 2093     avg: 2248     median: 2203 (70%)     max: 2440 Points
Geekbench 6.0 - Geekbench 6.0 Multi-Core
min: 8918     avg: 10207     median: 9930 (41%)     max: 11663 Points
Geekbench 5.5 - Geekbench 5.1 - 5.5 64 Bit Single-Core
min: 1631     avg: 1800     median: 1820 (69%)     max: 1897 Points
Geekbench 5.5 - Geekbench 5.1 - 5.5 64 Bit Multi-Core
min: 8519     avg: 11913     median: 12237 (22%)     max: 14376 Points
Geekbench 5.0 - Geekbench 5.0 64 Bit Single-Core
min: 1553     avg: 1695     median: 1710 (7%)     max: 1838 Points
Geekbench 5.0 - Geekbench 5.0 64 Bit Multi-Core
min: 8374     avg: 10525     median: 9892 (31%)     max: 12717 Points
Geekbench 4.4 - Geekbench 4.1 - 4.4 64 Bit Single-Core
min: 7191     avg: 7533     median: 7650 (76%)     max: 8015 Points
Geekbench 4.4 - Geekbench 4.1 - 4.4 64 Bit Multi-Core
min: 30682     avg: 36787     median: 36900 (36%)     max: 41134 Points
Geekbench 4.0 - Geekbench 4.0 64 Bit Single-Core
7309 Points (81%)
Geekbench 4.0 - Geekbench 4.0 64 Bit Multi-Core
46641 Points (61%)
Geekbench 3 - Geekbench 3 64 Bit Multi-Core
100%
1 6500 +
min: 11422     avg: 11749     median: 11749 (18%)     max: 12076 Points
Geekbench 3 - Geekbench 3 64 Bit Single-Core
100%
1 6500 +
min: 3768     avg: 3856     median: 3855.5 (58%)     max: 3943 Points
Mozilla Kraken 1.1 - Kraken 1.1 Total Score *
min: 490     avg: 520     median: 508 (1%)     max: 608 ms
Sunspider - Sunspider 1.0 Total Score *
100%
1 6500 +
108 ms (1%)
Octane V2 - Octane V2 Total Score
100%
6500 +
min: 34052     avg: 36488     median: 36488 (27%)     max: 38924 Points
min: 84027     avg: 87439     median: 86645 (63%)     max: 92438 Points
WebXPRT 4 - WebXPRT 4 Score
min: 239     avg: 262     median: 264 (73%)     max: 279 Points
WebXPRT 3 - WebXPRT 3 Score
min: 263     avg: 297.3     median: 296 (53%)     max: 332 Points
CrossMark - CrossMark Overall
min: 1515     avg: 1846     median: 1872 (70%)     max: 2108 Points
Power Consumption - Prime95 Power Consumption - external Monitor *
min: 52     avg: 109.2     median: 101.2 (17%)     max: 180 Watt
Power Consumption - Cinebench R15 Multi Power Consumption - external Monitor *
min: 74.6     avg: 126.3     median: 124 (23%)     max: 222 Watt
Power Consumption - Idle Power Consumption - external Monitor *
min: 4.05     avg: 29.1     median: 27 (18%)     max: 96.8 Watt
Power Consumption - Idle Power Consumption 150cd 1min *
min: 7.99     avg: 18.1     median: 14.8 (18%)     max: 34.3 Watt
Power Consumption - Power Efficiency - Cinebench R15 Multi external Monitor
min: 13.6     avg: 19.9     median: 19.1 (14%)     max: 27.5 Points per Watt

Average Benchmarks Intel Core i5-6500 → 100% n=19

Average Benchmarks Intel Core i9-12900H → 258% n=19

- Range of benchmark values for this graphics card
red legend - Average benchmark values for this graphics card
* Smaller numbers mean a higher performance
1 This benchmark is not used for the average calculation

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v1.34
log 08. 23:05:52

#0 ran 0s before starting gpusingle class +0s ... 0s

#1 checking url part for id 7839 +0s ... 0s

#2 checking url part for id 14043 +0s ... 0s

#3 redirected to Ajax server, took 1759957552s time from redirect:0 +0s ... 0s

#4 did not recreate cache, as it is less than 5 days old! Created at Tue, 07 Oct 2025 05:18:31 +0200 +0s ... 0s

#5 composed specs +0.005s ... 0.005s

#6 did output specs +0s ... 0.005s

#7 getting avg benchmarks for device 7839 +0.001s ... 0.005s

#8 got single benchmarks 7839 +0.004s ... 0.009s

#9 getting avg benchmarks for device 14043 +0.005s ... 0.014s

#10 got single benchmarks 14043 +0.041s ... 0.055s

#11 got avg benchmarks for devices +0s ... 0.055s

#12 min, max, avg, median took s +0.059s ... 0.114s

#13 return log +0.008s ... 0.122s

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> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > Benchmarks / Tech > Processor Comparison - Head 2 Head
Redaktion, 2017-09- 8 (Update: 2023-07- 1)