Core Ultra 7 251HX vs Core i9-12900K
Performance score
Core Ultra 7 251HX and Core i9-12900K are almost equally fast (under 3% apart) — choose by price, socket and platform.
The score is our own estimate from the specs (cores, threads, clocks, architecture generation), not a benchmark run. 100 = the fastest CPU in our database.
Real tests
What the test measures
Blender is a popular free 3D graphics program. The test makes the device render three ready-made 3D scenes (light, shadows, reflections) and counts how many render passes it finishes per minute. The higher the number, the faster the device handles heavy work: 3D, video editing, photo processing. On a CPU the test loads all cores at once, so it shows the chip's full power; on a graphics card it shows its compute strength.
CPU rendering (Blender)
Median of real test runs on users' computers. It does not show FPS in games. Data updated: 31.10.2026.
Overview
| Core Ultra 7 251HX | Core i9-12900K | |
|---|---|---|
| Score (0–100) | 55.34 | 56.63 |
| Ranking position | 47 | 45 |
| Price/performance (0–100) | no data | 34.5 |
| Power efficiency (0–100) | no data | 23.68 |
| Type | Laptop | Desktop |
| Manufacturer | Intel | Intel |
| Architecture | Arrow Lake | Alder Lake |
| Release date | Q2 2026 | 2021-11-04 |
| Launch price | no data | $589 |
Specifications
| Core Ultra 7 251HX | Core i9-12900K | |
|---|---|---|
| Cores | 18 | 16 |
| Threads | 18 | 24 |
| P + E cores | 6 + 12 | 8 + 8 |
| Base clock | no data | 3.2 GHz |
| Boost clock | 5.1 GHz | 5.2 GHz |
| L2 cache | no data | 14 MB |
| L3 cache | 30 MB | 30 MB |
| Process node | no data | Intel 7 |
| Unlocked multiplier | no | yes |
| Integrated graphics | no | Intel UHD Graphics 770 |
| NPU (AI accelerator) | no | no |
Compatibility
| Core Ultra 7 251HX | Core i9-12900K | |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | no data | LGA1700 |
| TDP | no data | 125 W |
| Max temperature | no data | 100 °C |
Memory and PCI Express
| Core Ultra 7 251HX | Core i9-12900K | |
|---|---|---|
| Memory type | no data | DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200 |
| Memory channels | no data | 2 |
| Max memory | no data | 128 GB |
| PCI Express version | no data | 5.0 |
| PCIe lanes | no data | 20 |
Pros and cons
Core Ultra 7 251HX
- 8% faster single core
- more cores: 18 vs 16
- newer: released in 2026
Core i9-12900K
- more threads: 24 vs 18
- has integrated graphics (Intel UHD Graphics 770)
- unlocked multiplier (can be overclocked)
Other comparisons
Visitor rating
Questions and comments
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