Intel Core i9-12900K
The current Intel Core i9-12900K price from retailers, its key specifications, and how it performs for each job.
Intel · CPU · Intel 12th
Retailer photo of Intel Core i9-12900K. View this offer in Where to buy
Works well for: Gaming, Productivity
Trade-offs: you want strong value with Balanced priorities specifically
- Cores / threads
- 16C / 24T
- Boost clock
- 5200 MHz
- Socket
- LGA 1700
- TDP
- 241 W
- Memory support
- DDR5, DDR4
Move a slider and the page re-scores this product against the same market frame.
What does it cost today, and is that a good price?
Market confidence: MediumConsider: Intel Core Ultra 5 245KF offers stronger value around $160.Compare
Prices & availability
Intel Core i9-12900K: current price and offers
Compare the offers we track for this model, across variants and retailers.
4 tracked offers · 4 retailers
| Variant | Store | Condition | Price (snapshot) | Value · Balanced | Checked | Offer link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Intel Core i9-12900K | Amazon | New | Check on Amazon | 30 | 2026-11-09 | View offer → |
| Intel Core i9-12900K | B&H | New | $430 | 25 | 2026-11-09 | View offer → |
| Intel Core i9-12900K | MemoryC | New | $440 | 24 | 2026-11-09 | View offer → |
| Intel Core i9-12900K | Newegg | New | $499 | 22 | 2026-11-08 | View offer → |
Prices are dated snapshots, not live quotes — confirm the final price at the store. New, refurbished and used offers are listed separately; used offers carry warranty and seller risk.
Performance and where it ranks
Two different questions, side by side. Performance compares what the hardware can do; Value compares what that capability costs at today’s price. A product can rank high on one and low on the other — that gap is the point.
Performance Balanced
How much it can do. Price plays no part in this ranking.
#63 of 270 graded processors
- #60 IntelIntel Core Ultra 5 245K 25
- #61 IntelIntel Core i7-14700F 24
- #62 AMDRyzen 7 9850X3D 24
- #63 IntelIntel Core i9-12900K 24
- #64 IntelIntel Core i7-14700 24
- #65 IntelIntel Core i9-12900KF 24
- #66 AMDRyzen 7 9800X3D 23
Value Balanced
How much of that you get for today’s price.
#168 of 270 currently priced processors
- #165 IntelIntel Core i7-10700 31
- #166 AMDAMD Ryzen 9 9900X3D 30
- #167 IntelIntel Core i3-10105 30
- #168 IntelIntel Core i9-12900K 30
- #169 IntelIntel Core i7-12700F 30
- #170 IntelIntel Core i9-9920X 30
- #171 IntelIntel Core i7-12700 30
Performance Gaming
How much it can do. Price plays no part in this ranking.
#75 of 270 graded processors
- #72 AMDAMD EPYC 4464P 68
- #73 AMDAMD Ryzen 9 5900XT 67
- #74 IntelIntel Core i9-12900KF 67
- #75 IntelIntel Core i9-12900K 67
- #76 AMDAMD Ryzen 5 7600X 67
- #77 IntelIntel Core Ultra 5 245K 67
- #78 IntelIntel Core i9-12900F 67
Value Gaming
How much of that you get for today’s price.
#133 of 270 currently priced processors
- #130 AMDAMD Ryzen 7 5800X 44
- #131 IntelIntel Core i7-10700F 44
- #132 AMDAMD Ryzen 5 4600G 44
- #133 IntelIntel Core i9-12900K 43
- #134 IntelIntel Core i9-13900 43
- #135 IntelIntel Core i7-10700 42
- #136 IntelIntel Core i5-8600 42
Performance Productivity
How much it can do. Price plays no part in this ranking.
#63 of 270 graded processors
- #60 IntelIntel Core Ultra 5 245K 25
- #61 IntelIntel Core i7-14700F 24
- #62 AMDRyzen 7 9850X3D 24
- #63 IntelIntel Core i9-12900K 24
- #64 IntelIntel Core i7-14700 24
- #65 IntelIntel Core i9-12900KF 24
- #66 AMDRyzen 7 9800X3D 23
Value Productivity
How much of that you get for today’s price.
#61 of 270 currently priced processors
- #58 AMDAMD Ryzen Threadripper 7980X 54
- #59 AMDAMD Ryzen Threadripper 9960X 53
- #60 AMDAMD Ryzen Threadripper 7960X 53
- #61 IntelIntel Core i9-12900K 52
- #62 IntelIntel Core i9-13900 52
- #63 AMDAMD Ryzen 5 7600X 52
- #64 AMDAMD Ryzen 7 8700G 52
Performance Performance per Watt
How much it can do. Price plays no part in this ranking.
#117 of 270 graded processors
- #114 IntelIntel Core i7-13700F 32
- #115 IntelIntel Core i5-14400F 32
- #116 AMDAMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX 31
- #117 IntelIntel Core i9-12900K 31
- #118 IntelIntel Core i5-14400 31
- #119 IntelIntel Core i9-12900KF 31
- #120 IntelIntel Core i9-12900 31
Value Performance per Watt
How much of that you get for today’s price.
#184 of 270 currently priced processors
- #181 IntelIntel Core i9-12900KS 19
- #182 AMDAMD Ryzen 3 1200 19
- #183 IntelIntel Core i9-9960X 19
- #184 IntelIntel Core i9-12900K 18
- #185 IntelIntel Core i9-10850K 18
- #186 IntelIntel Core i9-9920X 18
- #187 IntelIntel Core i9-13900KS 18
These ladders follow the preset scenario shown above. Your own weights re-score this product, not the whole field.
What it is good for
| Scenario | this productCapability grade · Value at current price | Higher capability | Higher Value with current priorities |
|---|---|---|---|
| Balanced (all-round)Weighted all-round view | GradeNo grade Value30 | Higher capability Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus 49 +67% capability | Higher Value with current priorities Intel Core Ultra 5 245KF 79 +5% capability |
| GamingScenario capability | GradeA Value43 | Higher capability Ryzen 7 7800X3D S 65 +27% capability | Higher Value with current priorities AMD Ryzen 5 7500F A 100 +3% capability |
| ProductivityScenario capability | GradeA Value52 | Higher capability Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus S 98 +67% capability | Higher Value with current priorities Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus A 100 +17% capability |
| Performance per WattScenario capability | GradeD Value18 | Higher capability AMD Ryzen 9 7900 S 37 +221% capability | Higher Value with current priorities AMD Ryzen 5 5500 C 100 +29% capability |
Balanced has no letter: it is a weighting preset, not a capability rubric. A grade answers “how well does this handle that job?” — price is never part of it. Relative Value puts the current market price back in.
Compare these grades with the full tier list
Browse shortlists for different uses
Trade-offs
Works well if
- Gaming is your main prioritygraded A for Gaming on the same rubric as the tier list
Consider other options if
- You want strong value with Balanced priorities specifically$134 is where Relative Value reaches 80 with Balanced priorities, in the 2026-11-02–2026-11-09 offer frame
- Value for money matters more to you than this exact modelIntel Core Ultra 5 245KF holds Relative Value 79 against its 30 with Balanced priorities, at $160
- Not the pick if Performance per Watt is your main useit grades only D there
Works well if
- Gaming is your main prioritygraded A for Gaming on the same rubric as the tier list
Consider other options if
- You want strong value for Gaming specifically$103 is where Relative Value reaches 80 for Gaming, in the 2026-11-02–2026-11-09 offer frame
- Value for money matters more to you than this exact modelAMD Ryzen 5 7500F holds Relative Value 100 against its 43 for Gaming, at $106
- Not the pick if Performance per Watt is your main useit grades only D there
Works well if
- Productivity is your main prioritygraded A for Productivity on the same rubric as the tier list
Consider other options if
- You want strong value for Productivity specifically$152 is where Relative Value reaches 80 for Productivity, in the 2026-11-02–2026-11-09 offer frame
- Value for money matters more to you than this exact modelIntel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus holds Relative Value 100 against its 52 for Productivity. Check on Amazon.
- Not the pick if Performance per Watt is your main useit grades only D there
For the selected scenario this is not a strong fit — the grade above is the reason, and the models below suit it better.
Works well if
- Performance per Watt is not actually your main job — Gaming isit grades D for Performance per Watt, but A for Gaming
Consider other options if
- Not the pick if Performance per Watt is your main useGraded D; AMD Ryzen 9 7900 reaches S. Check on Amazon.
- You want strong value for Performance per Watt specificallycompeting products deliver so much more for Performance per Watt per dollar that no price this model realistically trades at reaches the strong-value mark for this job
- Value for money matters more to you than this exact modelAMD Ryzen 5 5500 holds Relative Value 100 against its 18 for Performance per Watt. Check on Amazon.
Models that suit Performance per Watt better, at this budget
Every line states the fact it was derived from, for the scenario selected above. Thresholds are calculated points on our value curve — information about where the maths turns, not instructions about what to pay.
Similar options to the Intel Core i9-12900K
Chosen for Balanced
Chosen for Gaming
Chosen for Productivity
Chosen for Performance per Watt
Alternatives stay near this product’s price range. Step-up options may exceed the standard budget envelope when the capability gain is meaningful.
More head-to-head comparisons in this category
Upgrade planner
Judge the change in the active scenario, then make the cash gap explicit.
Using page scenarioWhat are you upgrading from? These are the axes we compare on, and where this product stands in the current market.
We rank upgrades by out-of-pocket cost — the new price minus what yours is worth — not by sticker price.
Only candidates that clear the configured meaningful-upgrade gate will be shown; roles are omitted rather than filled.
Capability differences are expressed as tiers and index points, not as benchmark percentages we did not measure.
Specifications and compatibility
What this product is, and what to check before it goes into your build.
Core / Performance
- Cores
- 16
- Threads
- 24
- Performance cores
- 8
- Efficiency cores
- 8
- Base clock
- 3200 MHz
- Boost clock
- 5200 MHz
Power / Interface
- TDP
- 241 W
- Maximum turbo power
- 241 W
- Socket
- LGA 1700
- Memory support
- DDR5, DDR4
- Maximum memory
- 128 GB
- Integrated graphics
- Intel UHD 770
- Process node
- 10 nm
Show all specifications
Core / Performance
- L2 cache
- 14 MB
- L3 cache
- 30 MB
- Unlocked multiplier
- Yes
Warranty & release
- Warranty
- 3 years
- Release year
- 2021
Hover any value to see where it came from: a manufacturer specification, or a figure The Comparator calculated.
Sources: Comparator offer frame 2026-11-02–2026-11-09
What to check in your build
LGA 1700 required
Your motherboard must use socket LGA 1700. A different socket does not fit — this is a physical constraint, not a preference.
Board BIOS must list this model
A matching socket is necessary but not sufficient — check the vendor CPU support list.
DDR5, DDR4 memory
This processor takes DDR5, DDR4. Memory of another generation does not fit the slots, even on a board with the right socket.
Cooler rated for 241 W or more
No cooler is included. Your cooler must be rated for at least 241 W on socket LGA 1700.
Found an error? Report this specification Email the field, corrected value and an optional source.
Compatibility guidance is practical help, not a score. Missing data is shown as unknown, never invented.
Summary
Intel Core i9-12900K offers a balanced view across an all-round mix of priorities. It ranks #63 by capability in the current modelled field. Its clearest measured strength is multi-thread index 1158. Intel Core Ultra 5 245KF currently clears the same practical bar with stronger Relative Value.
Intel Core i9-12900K offers A-grade capability for Gaming. It ranks #75 by capability in the current modelled field. Its clearest measured strength is multi-thread index 1158. AMD Ryzen 5 7500F currently clears the same practical bar with stronger Relative Value.
Intel Core i9-12900K offers A-grade capability for Productivity. It ranks #63 by capability in the current modelled field. Its clearest measured strength is multi-thread index 1158. Intel Core Ultra 5 245KF currently clears the same practical bar with stronger Relative Value.
Intel Core i9-12900K offers D-grade capability for Performance per Watt. It ranks #117 by capability in the current modelled field. Its clearest measured strength is multi-thread index 1158. The D grade is the decisive limitation for this workload.
FAQ
Why does Relative Value change when I choose another scenario?
Each scenario changes the weights applied to capability, price and the other published factors. The hardware facts stay fixed, but the value question changes, so its score and rank can change too.
Why can Amazon appear without a tracked price?
Amazon listing snapshots can participate in Value while fresh. We show Check on Amazon instead of its price; confirm the current price and availability at the store. When no current listing snapshot exists, Amazon is a search link only.
Useful links & sources
offer frame 2026-11-02–2026-11-09 · formula cpu-value-v6.1 · facts facts-2026-11-09 · Relative Value is an estimate from our current dataset, the selected weights and dated market prices — not an official product rating and not a price forecast. Target prices are calculation thresholds, not predictions. Methodology We are not a shop. Affiliate links may earn us a commission; they never change the calculations or the ranking.