Intel Core i5-12600K Review
Verdict
The Intel Core i5-12600K is the best value gaming CPU available, offering a similar level of functioning to the i9 while likewise boasting future-proofed features such as DDR5 and PCIe 5.0. It besides packs a respectable multi-core performance, making information technology a versatile bit for those who desire to both create and play.
Pros
- Splendid gaming performance
- Huge improvements to multi-core operation
- Future-proofed with PCIe v.0 and DDR5
- Great power efficiency
Cons
- Teething issues for game compatibility
- Requirement of Z690 motherboard drives up cost
Availability
- U.s. RRP: $289
Primal Features
- 12th Gen Intel Cadre architecture The new Alder Lake architecture boosts performance, while using two different types of cores to improve efficiency.
- ten cores and 16 threads By featuring x cores, the i5-12600K flaunts a ameliorate multi-cadre performance compared to previous Intel Core i5 fries.
- Support for DDR5 and PCIe v.0 By supporting the latest technology, this chip raises the performance ceiling of your entire system.
Introduction
The Intel Core i5-12600K is i of the cheapest CPUs in the new twelfth Generation Intel Cadre range. It lags behind its more powerful siblings in terms of core and thread counts, but withal benefits from all the generational upgrades that Alder Lake brings.
This includes the 'hybrid architecture' that enables the chip to work more efficiently, and back up for new features such every bit PCIe 5.0 and DDR5 RAM.
And of course, you're besides getting a reported nineteen% performance lift compared to 11th Gen for single-core workloads, making this an ideal processor choice for gaming.
But is it a worthwhile culling to its more than powerful sibling, the Intel Core i9-12900K? The i5 may not exist the "globe's best gaming processor", but it could well exist the best gaming CPU when information technology comes to value for money.
Specs
- New Alder Lake compages provides large functioning gains
- Mix of P-cores and Eastward-cores improves processor'due south efficiency
- Futurity-proofed with new technology such equally DDR5 and PCIe 5.0
The Intel Core i5-12600K processor is part of the new 12th Generation of Intel Core chips, with the Alder Lake compages broiled inside.
This means it benefits from many of the same upgrades every bit the i9-12900K, nigh notably the hybrid compages that allows Intel to incorporate 2 dissimilar types of cores into the chip: Performance Cores (P-Core) and Efficient Cores (Due east-Cores).
P-Cores focus specifically on unmarried-core workloads, such as gaming. Meanwhile, Due east-Cores are ameliorate equipped at treatment less-intensive background tasks, therefore boosting the multi-threaded performance.
The i5-12600K features a remainder of 6 P-Cores and four E-cores – that'southward just two fewer P-Cores than its i9 sibling, but half the number of Eastward-Cores. This immediately shows this flake prioritises workloads such every bit gaming over content creation, which is no surprise.
‹
Compages
Number of Cores
Number of Threads
Base Clock Speed
Boosted Clock Speed
›
Simply why is a hybrid architecture more than impressive than a standard one? It substantially improves the efficiency of the CPU, with the Intel Thread Director capable of assigning workloads to the nearly relevant core. This could prevent trivial background tasks (such every bit running video recording software) from increasing the workload of a core that's already under stress from maintaining a high FPS performance for a game.
This new 'hybrid architecture' is very impressive, merely that'south not the but benefit of Alder Lake. Information technology also sees a 19% single-core performance uplift compared to 11th Gen, which will exist a big boost for gamers.
There's support for DDR5 RAM, raising the performance ceiling significantly for retentiveness. Intel Alder Lake also plays nice with PCIe 5.0, doubling the bandwidth for supported SSDs, which can slash in-game loading times.
Having support for these side by side-gen features ensures this Intel fleck is future-proofed for years to come, while also offer backwards compatibility so you don't need to brand all the upgrades correct away if the cost is getting steep.
Unfortunately, you're going to have to buy a new motherboard with a Z690 chipset in order to get the Intel Core i5-12600K up and running. This adds to the price even further, so yous're going to have to factor in plenty more than merely the price of the Intel fleck when upgrading. You can discover out which motherboards work with Alder Lake in the attached guide.
Test setup
- Maintained consistent specs beyond PC builds where possible
- Used DDR5 memory with Intel twelfth Gen rig
- Used both constructed tests and in-game benchmarks
To evaluate the operation of the Intel Core i5-12600K, I tested several other processors using the same components where possible. Of course, motherboards had to be changed when swapping betwixt processors from different companies and generations.
I likewise had to benchmark the Intel Cadre i5-12600K with DDR5 memory, as the Z690 motherboard I called in does not support DDR4. This means the performance differences between 11th and twelfth gen may be partly due to the DDR5 retentiveness upgrade, although I did ensure it features the same 16GB memory chapters as the DDR4 memory I used with the non-Alder Lake fries.
Yous can encounter the PC builds I used for testing below:
- Intel Motherboard: ROG Maximus Thirteen Hero (11th Gen) / ROG Strix Z690-E Gaming WiFi (12th Gen)
- AMD Motherboard: TUF Gaming X570-Plus Wi-Fi
- RAM: Corsair Vengeance, 16GB DDR4 / Adata, 16GB DDR5 (Intel twelfth Gen)
- GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 Ti
- Cooler: Corsair Hydro Serial H150i PRO RGB 360mm liquid libation
- OS: Windows 11
I used a variety of benchmark tests to evaluate the performance of the processor, including PCMark 10 and Geekbench 5 for full general use and Cinebench R23 for artistic applications.
And since Intel is clearly pitching the i5-12600K as a gaming processor, I've also tested the processor with a number of in-game benchmarks, making sure to max out the graphics settings and using 1080p, 1440p and 4K resolutions. Keep scrolling down for the findings below.
Operation
- Similar gaming performance to Intel Core i9-12900K
- Competitive multi-core functioning
- Select games have seen early on compatibility issues
Intel is heralding the i9-12900K, as the "world's best gaming processor" but I actually believe the i5-12600K is the improve value option for the majority of gamers after comparison the benchmark results.
The i5 processor frequently saw identical frame rate results to its more powerful i9 sibling, with the biggest margin found in the Dirt Rally 1080p test, but with only a 10fps difference – and it still managed to hit a very impressive 220fps hither when paired with Nvidia'southward RTX 3060 Ti.
However, Intel has revealed a number of games that may suffer incompatibility problems with Alder Lake at launch. Intel claims this issue should be remedied with an upcoming patch, only it'southward still an issue that'due south worth keeping your eye on.
Every bit expected, it'southward the multi-core performance where the i9 really shines more than the i5, seeing significantly superior results for the Geekbench five and Cinebench R23 multi-threaded tests. This means that the i9 is arguably the better choice for content creation, just the i5-12600K is hardly a slouch in this department, seeing improve scores than both the Intel Core i9-11900K and AMD Ryzen 7 5800X.
Scroll down for a more detailed expect at the criterion results.
PCMark 10 Extended
‹
›
The PCMark 10 benchmark provides a holistic view of your estimator's performance, measuring everything from productivity to gaming.
The Intel Core i5-12600K scored a 9470 result, lagging behind the more expensive i9-12900K and i9-11900K processors. Still, it managed to beat the Ryzen seven 5800X despite being more than affordable. The PCMark 10 result may not cause any shockwaves, merely it certainly backs up my thoughts that this is ane of the best value fries around.
Geekbench 5
‹
Geekbench 5 single core
Geekbench 5 multi core
›
Geekbench 5 is a benchmark examination that evaluates day-to-twenty-four hour period functioning, but splits the results upward between single-cadre and multi-core. The former is important for workloads such as gaming where Intel has previously excelled, while the latter is a expert measure of performance for the likes of content creation apps.
So how did the Intel Core i5-12600K perform? The single-core performance is spectacular, with a 1742 score non as well far behind the i9-12900K, while narrowly chirapsia out the Intel Core i9-11900K. This is an early on signal of its gaming prowess.
For the multi-core functioning, it vicious quite a distance behind the i9-12900K which is unsurprising since its more powerful sibling has vi additional cores and 8 extra threads. Nonetheless, the i5 chip managed to achieve a higher score than both the i9-11900K and Ryzen 7 5800X, which is remarkable.
Cinebench R23
‹
›
The Cinebench R23 is a like benchmark test to Geekbench in that it measures both the unmarried-core and multi-core performance of a processor, but it also gives your arrangement more intensive workloads to see how it would cope with the likes of content creation.
The i9-12900K won this examination by a significant margin, proving it's a far better option for creators. But the i5-12600K still did reasonably well, with amend results than whatever of the other chips on exam.
If yous want a processor for both gaming and content creation, then I'd happily recommend the i5-12600K – you lot just won't be getting the best performance available for the latter workload.
Horizon Nil Dawn
‹
Horizon Zero Dawn frame rate (4K)
Horizon Zero Dawn frame rate (Quad HD)
Horizon Naught Dawn frame rate (Full Hard disk drive)
›
At present onto gaming. I picked Horizon Zero Dawn because information technology'southward a modern AAA game with a massive earth to explore. Information technology also has an in-game criterion.
I was impressed with the i5-12600K results here, seeing almost identical criterion scores as the i9. You're admittedly not getting huge gains on the preceding generation, but at that place are still undeniable improvements to the frame rate, especially at a 1080p resolution.
Diary Rally
‹
Dirt Rally (4K)
Dirt Rally (Quad Hd)
Dirt Rally (Total HD)
›
With Dirt Rally launching dorsum in 2015, it's not very taxing on your system, allowing y'all to reach college frame rates more than hands. This test demonstrated how big of a difference the i5-12600K can brand on your gaming performance, seeing a 33fps boost at a 1080p resolution when compared to the i5-11900K from the previous generation.
Over again, the i5 saw identical results to the i9 in the 4K and Quad HD benchmark tests, but fell short past 10fps when testing at a 1080p resolution. That'south non a massive deviation, but still emphasises that the i9 is the most powerful CPU around for gaming.
Borderlands 3
‹
Borderlands 3 frame charge per unit (4K)
Borderlands 3 frame rate (Quad HD)
Borderlands 3 frame rate (Total HD)
›
Borderlands three is another modernistic AAA game that can be very taxing on your arrangement. It saw unusual results compared to my other benchmarks, being the only game to see the older i9-11900K processor reign supreme beyond all resolutions.
My only guess here is that Borderlands 3 currently lacks the driver back up to play overnice with Alder Lake. Intel warned me virtually some early compatibility problems with select games, which is currently being resolved via game patches and Windows updates.
Information technology'southward understandable that there are some early on teething bug, with Intel's hybrid compages and support for DDR5 memory existence and so cutting edge. And I'm sure such issues will be resolved soon, only it's even so something to exist wary about if you plan on upgrading to Alder Lake equally soon as possible.
Total War: Warhammer 2
| Warhammer 2: Campaign (in FPS) | Warhammer 2: Battle (in FPS) | |
| Intel i9-12900K | 62.7 | 49.2 |
| Intel i5-12600K | 62.7 | 49.ii |
| Intel i9-11900K | 61.6 | 48.four |
| Intel i5-11600K | 61.8 | 48.2 |
| Ryzen 7 5800X | 61.8 | 46.7 |
I made sure to include Total War: Warhammer ii equally a representative of the strategy genre. It's a adequately old game, just tin still exist taxing on your system, especially during the boxing scenes.
The Intel i5-12600K performed admirably here, seeing identical results to the i9 at a 4K resolution. However, information technology didn't run across huge improvements over 11th Gen, just that'due south seemingly the norm at such a loftier resolution – if yous really want a heave when playing games in 4K, only a GPU can provide the required firepower.
Civilization VI
| Civilization Six (Plow Time in seconds) | |
| Intel i9-12900K | 6.85 |
| Intel i5-12600K | six.90 |
| Intel i9-11900K | 6.92 |
| Intel i5-11600K | 7.07 |
| Ryzen 7 5800X | 6.83 |
Civilization Vi differs from the other games on exam here, measuring the time it takes for the CPU to make calculations between game turns instead of the frame charge per unit.
The i5-12600K performed well here, seeing better results than both of the 11th Gen fries on test. Even so, the difference is marginal, and then you lot probable won't notice a difference in real-time play. Still, it farther emphasises that the i5-12600K is a improve gaming chip than the i9-11900K.
Power consumption and heat
- Impressive power efficiency
- Has a depression peak temperature under stress
It's not all about the performance when evaluating a processor – the ability consumption and temperature are also important considerations. For power consumption, I measured the wattage of my system with a ability meter, recording the peak figure during the Cinebench R23 benchmark.
| Idle power draw | Meridian ability draw | |
| Intel i9-12900K | 69.ane W | 335.5 Westward |
| Intel i5-12600K | 65.5 W | 195.vi Westward |
| Intel i9-11900K | 67.seven W | 330 West |
| Intel i5-11600K | 65.5 Due west | 201.4 Due west |
| Ryzen vii 5800X | 66.9 W | 193.4 W |
Remarkably, the i5-12600K saw ane of the lowest peak ability consumptions of all the processors on test. It even undercut the i5-11600K processor, despite flaunting far more power. This demonstrates how power efficient Alder Lake truly is, which is very welcome if you're conscious nigh energy bills or being more eco friendly.
Its idle power consumption wasn't quite equally impressive, seeing a very similar result to the remainder of the chips. But information technology was still a piffling less ability hungry than the i9-12900K.
| Idle CPU temperature | Peak CPU temperature | |
| Intel i9-12900K | 28°C | 97°C |
| Intel i5-12600K | 24°C | 68°C |
| Intel i9-11900K | 29°C | 75°C |
| Intel i5-11600K | xxx°C | 64°C |
| Ryzen 7 5800X | 45°C | 86°C |
I was equally impressed with the temperature scores, which I recorded via PCMark 10. The i5-12600K ran a whopping 29°C cooler than the i9-12900K during the test, while besides recording the lowest temperature (24°C) when idle.
This ways yous probably won't need to invest in an expensive cooler to maximise the performance ability of this chip, which is a relief since the demand for a new Z690 motherboard is already a costly outlay.
Latest deals
Should you buy information technology?
If y'all want a hereafter-proofed gaming CPU: The gaming performance is here is near-enough the best you can expect from a processor. Factor in future-proofed features such every bit DDR5 and PCIe v.0 and this fleck represents outstanding value.
You lot don't want to spend big on a CPU upgrade:
The Intel Cadre i5-1600K isn't an expensive CPU, only the need for a new motherboard and peradventure even DDR5 RAM tin drive upwards the cost. It may be worth investing in a new GPU instead if you just want to amend gaming performance.
Final Thoughts
The Intel Core i5-12600K offers outstanding value, with a like gaming performance to the i9 and a multi-core performance that tin outpace pricier Ryzen chips. What'south more, support for DDR5 and PCIe raises the performance ceiling for your entire system and keeps it futureproofed for years to come.
Those craving a chip for high-end content creation may be swayed by the i9, while the need to upgrade to a Z690 motherboard may make a new GPU a more than cost-effective upgrade for gamers. Yet the Intel Core i5-12600K remains one of our superlative recommend desktops processors you tin currently purchase.
How we test
We always review multiple CPUs at once to compare data, using consistent components for fair testing where possible.
We use a mix of both constructed and in-game benchmarks to guess performance, while also considering additional features and pricing.
Use the same components where possible for off-white testing.
Use both constructed and in-game benchmarks for testing
Test both CPU temperature and ability consumption.
You might similar…
FAQs
Is the Intel Cadre i5-12600K good for gaming?
Yes, this processor posted some of the best gaming results I've seen still, making information technology a superb option for such workloads.
Which socket does twelfth gen use?
Alder Lake processors use the LGA 1700 socket and is supported by the Z690 chipset.
Is Intel Cadre i5 outdated?
The naming convention "i5" only refers to the fact this is a mid-range CPU, and has no correlation with the time of release. You'll demand to pay attention to the generation number to determine how sometime a processor is instead. The Intel Core i5-12600K is office of the 12th Generation, which is the latest Intel has released.
Trusted Reviews test data
‹
PCMark x
Cinebench R23
Geekbench five single cadre
Geekbench 5 multi core
Power consumption
Peak temperature
Borderlands 3 frame rate (4K)
Borderlands three frame rate (Quad Hard disk)
Borderlands 3 frame rate (Full Hd)
Horizon Zero Dawn frame rate (4K)
Horizon Cipher Dawn frame rate (Quad HD)
Horizon Zero Dawn frame rate (Full Hd)
Dirt Rally (4K)
Dirt Rally (Quad HD)
Dirt Rally (Full HD)
›
Full specs
‹
Graphics
Motherboard Chipset
Number of Threads
Number of Cores
Power Consumption
Architecture
Boosted Clock Speed
Base Clock Speed
Release Engagement
First Reviewed Appointment
Manufacturer
The states RRP
›
Source: https://www.trustedreviews.com/reviews/intel-core-i5-12600k
Posted by: reedphim1968.blogspot.com
0 Response to "Intel Core i5-12600K Review"
Post a Comment