If you also need your gaming PC to juggle media editing or heavy coding, the benefits are self-evident.

As for games specifically, the Core i9-12900KS comes out on top more often than not.

Its definitely the fastest gaming CPU that Intel have ever made; the fastest in the world?

An Intel Core i9-12900KS CPU propped up against its packaging, on a small table.

Thats up to the Ryzen 7 5800X3D, but Id say the Core has a very good shot.

There is a difference, mind, between being the fastest and being the best.

And in almost every other game, theres either a negligible 2-3fps difference, or none at all.

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And thats just comparing it to the fellow Core i9.

But thats up to 10c hotter than the Core i9-12900K, and the P-cores 71c peak was higher too.

A bar graph showing the Intel Core i9-12900KS' games benchmark results, alongside those of competing CPUs.

A bar graph showing the Intel Core i9-12900KS' games benchmark results, alongside those of competing CPUs.

An Intel Core i9-12900KS CPU being held between a finger and thumb.

An Intel Core i9-12900KS CPU installed in a motherboard.