[PLUS] 14 CPU generations in the test: i7-2600K to Ryzen 9 5950X and 12900K

Bigger and faster

This article was originally planned many months ago, the idea for it came up long before the launch of Alder Lake; also because an IPC test (instructions per cycle) is timeless. Intel’s hybrid architecture drove us into the parade, we didn’t want to present you with an IPC special without the 12th core generation, but its print test took precedence. But it was worth the wait, we tested a total of 25 processors from Sandy Bridge to Alder Lake and from Zen to Zen 3 for their per-MHz performance. This required a total of 720 measurements, which you can now marvel at on the following pages.

instructions per second

For this article, we abstract from individual CPU models to well-known architectures. In concrete terms, this means that we are not comparing individual processor models (products) on the following pages, but their underlying architecture. However, we differ in the amount of built-in L3 cache, since this is very important for performance in games. For the benchmarks, we use both proven and practical tests from our CPU benchmark course as well as somewhat more synthetic benchmarks to show the differences between the individual architectures. As always, our gaming benchmarks run in maximum details that put a strain on the processor, but without any purely visual delicacies

isotropic texture filtering (AF) or anti-aliasing (AA). We also use 1280×720 pixels across the board in order to keep graphics dependency to a minimum. We also limit the load solely to the CPU in the application tests. Since any turbo functions for a short-term or load-dependent increase in the processor clock are just as disruptive to our project as energy-saving mechanisms that put the processor into sleep mode for a short time, but also require a few clock cycles to “wake up” again and again, we have – unlike in our regular CPU -Tests – such functions are completely deactivated in the BIOS/UEFI of the respective mainboards. In addition, our test candidates run at a fixed 3.2 GHz as part of the PLL accuracy. This clock frequency is necessary to pick up older architectures.

PC Games Hardware Plus

---

Buy now for €0.99




or freedom from advertising and access to all PLUS articles (monthly subscription)




Sign up for a Plus subscription for EUR 4.40



Please log in to your PCGH Community account to purchase this item.

All offers for Plus (monthly subscription, annual subscription, upgrades for ad-free) can be found on our supporter page

---

You will find the following products in the test:

• Core i5-2500K and Core i7-2600K
• Core i5-3570K and Core i7-3770K
• Core i5-4670K and Core i7-4790K
• Core i5-5675C and Core i5-5775C
• Core i5-6600K and Core i7-6700K
• Core i5-7600K and Core i7-7700K
• Core i5-8600K and Core i7-8700K
• Core i7-9700K and Core i9-9900K
• Core i5-10600K, i7-10700K and i9-10900K
• Core i5-11600K, i7-11700K and i9-11900K
• Core i5-12600K, i7-12700K and i9-12900K
• Ryzen 5 1600, Ryzen 7 1700 to Ryzen 7 1800X
• Ryzen 5 2600 to Ryzen 7 2700X
• Ryzen 5 3600, Ryzen 7 3700X to Ryzen 9 3950X
• Ryzen 5 5600X, 7 5800X to 9 5900X and 5950X

INFO: You can purchase PCGH Plus items individually or purchase a Plus subscription.
as PCGH Digital Subscriber you get free access to all Plus articles.