13th Gen Core i9-13900K vs 12th Gen Core i5-1240P
Short answer: which is best?
13th Gen Core i9-13900K is 178 % stronger than 12th Gen Core i5-1240P. 13th Gen Core i9-13900K ranks #8 of 102 measured processors at WhatFPS (13,199 CPU score over 2 verified runs). 12th Gen Core i5-1240P ranks #87 of 102 measured processors at WhatFPS (4,747 CPU score over 1 verified runs). The numbers are measured in 3 verified WhatFPS runs — not estimated, not self-reported.
Measured comparison
| Metric | 13th Gen Core i9-13900K | 12th Gen Core i5-1240P |
|---|---|---|
| CPU score (the processor's own performance) | 13,199 | 4,747 |
| Best rig (GAMING — whole PC) | 10,782 | 841 |
| Integer (MT) | 12.5 Gop/s | 2.6 Gop/s |
| Single-thread (1T) | 0.88 Gop/s | 0.41 Gop/s |
| Draw calls/s (DX11) | 9,342,700 | 1,409,203 |
| Cores / threads | 24 / 32 | 12 / 16 |
| L3 cache | 36 MB | 12 MB |
Fragz' verdict
The 13th Gen Core i9-13900K dominates this comparison, outscoring the 12th Gen Core i5-1240P by a substantial 178% in overall CPU performance. This significant lead is clear in single-thread performance, where the i9-13900K hits 0.88 Gop/s compared to the i5-1240P's 0.41 Gop/s, directly impacting game FPS ceilings, and it pushes 9,342,700 draw calls per second versus 1,409,203. In the Supernova DX11 scene, the i9-13900K achieved 77.9 FPS, while the i5-1240P managed only 11.7 FPS. The i9-13900K's higher core count (24 vs 12), thread count (32 vs 16), faster peak clock (6119 MHz vs 3499 MHz), and larger L3 cache (36 MB vs 12 MB) all contribute to this performance gap, including its 12.5 Gop/s in multi-threaded integer operations against the i5-1240P's 2.6 Gop/s. It is important to note the thin sample sizes, with only one verified run for the i5-1240P and two for the i9-13900K. For gamers prioritizing absolute top-tier CPU power for the highest frame rates and demanding background tasks, the 13th Gen Core i9-13900K is the clear choice, but for less intensive gaming or budget-conscious builds, the 12th Gen Core i5-1240P could still serve a purpose.
Generated October 31, 2026 from the 3 verified runs available then. The verdict is never silently rewritten — new numbers get a new verdict.
What the numbers mean
The CPU score is the processor's own performance — that is what we rank on. GAMING is the whole rig's score in the best PC we measured the processor in, and leans heavily on the graphics card. A strong processor in a weak PC gets a low GAMING score without being worse. We show both and never mix them.
All numbers come from our benchmark suite: four hand-built 3D scenes written directly against the graphics APIs in Rust, the same load on every PC. The methodology is open at https://whatfps.com/metodik
All measurements for 13th Gen Core i9-13900K · All measurements for 12th Gen Core i5-1240P