13th Gen Core i9-13900K vs 12th Gen Core i7-12850HX
Short answer: which is best?
13th Gen Core i9-13900K is 187.8 % stronger than 12th Gen Core i7-12850HX. 13th Gen Core i9-13900K ranks #8 of 102 measured processors at WhatFPS (13,199 CPU score over 2 verified runs). 12th Gen Core i7-12850HX ranks #88 of 102 measured processors at WhatFPS (4,586 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 i7-12850HX |
|---|---|---|
| CPU score (the processor's own performance) | 13,199 | 4,586 |
| Best rig (GAMING — whole PC) | 10,782 | 1,559 |
| Integer (MT) | 12.5 Gop/s | 2.8 Gop/s |
| Single-thread (1T) | 0.88 Gop/s | 0.45 Gop/s |
| Draw calls/s (DX11) | 9,342,700 | 1,954,935 |
| Cores / threads | 24 / 32 | 16 / 24 |
| L3 cache | 36 MB | 25 MB |
Fragz' verdict
The 13th Gen Core i9-13900K absolutely dominates this comparison, leading the 12th Gen Core i7-12850HX by a massive 187.8% in overall CPU score. This performance gap is driven by the i9's superior single-thread performance at 0.88 Gop/s (compared to 0.45 Gop/s), crucial for game FPS ceilings, alongside its much stronger multi-threaded integer performance (12.5 Gop/s vs 2.8 Gop/s), more cores (24 vs 16), threads (32 vs 24), larger L3 cache (36 MB vs 25 MB), and higher peak clock (6119 MHz vs 4041 MHz). For gamers, this translates to significantly better responsiveness and higher frame rates, as shown by its 9342700 draw calls per second and 77.9 FPS in the Supernova DX11 test, far surpassing the i7's 1954935 draw calls and 16.6 FPS. While the 13th Gen Core i9-13900K is clearly the top performer, it's important to note that both CPUs have a thin sample size of only 1-2 verified runs, meaning these results should be viewed with a degree of uncertainty. The 12th Gen Core i7-12850HX, despite its lower component score, might still be a suitable choice for less demanding gaming scenarios where ultimate performance isn't the priority.
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 i7-12850HX