SOVLED! AMD Ryzen 5 5600x vs Intel Core i5 12600K: Which one to buy?

The AMD Ryzen 5 5600X is a six-core, 12-thread processor based on the Zen 3 architecture. It has a base clock speed of 3.7 GHz and a boost clock speed of up to 4.6 GHz. It also has 16 MB of L3 cache and supports DDR4 memory.

The Intel Core i5-12600K is a 10-core, 16-thread processor based on the Rocket Lake architecture. It has a base clock speed of 3.9 GHz and a boost clock speed of up to 4.9 GHz. It also has 12 MB of Intel Smart Cache and supports DDR4 memory.

In terms of performance, the Ryzen 5 5600X and the Core i5-12600K are generally considered to be similar in most tasks, with the Core i5-12600K having a slight advantage in single-threaded tasks due to its higher clock speeds and the Ryzen 5 5600X having an advantage in multi-threaded tasks due to its larger L3 cache. Both processors are well-suited to a wide range of workloads, including gaming, content creation, and general productivity tasks.

Overall, both processors are high-end options that offer excellent performance for demanding workloads. The Core i5-12600K is definitely a better choice for users who need higher clock speeds for single-threaded tasks, while the Ryzen 5 5600X is a good choice for users who need the additional L3 cache for heavily multi-threaded tasks.

Theoretical Specifications (Comparison)

Specification	Intel Core i5 12600K	AMD Ryzen 7 5600X
CPU Generation	12th generation Core	4th Generation Ryzen
Cores/Threads	6(P-Core)+4(E-Core) 16 Threads	6 Cores 12 Threads
Max Turbo Frequency	4.90 GHz	4.6 GHz (Base: 3.7GHz)
Efficient Core Base/Boost	2.80/3.60 GHz	–
Performance Core Base/Boost	3.70/4.90 GHz	–
Cache	20MB Intel Smart Cache	L2: 3MB/L3:32MB
Overclocking	Available	Available
PCIe Version	PCIe 5.0 and 4.0	PCIe 4.0
Memory Support	DDR4 (up to 3200 MT/s) DDR5 (up to 4800 MT/s)	DDR4 (up to 3200 MHz)
Boxed Cooling Solution	No	Included (Wraith Stealth)
Integrated Graphics Card	Intel® UHD Graphics 770	No
Maximum Temperature	100°C	95°C

Synthetic Benchmark Scores Comparison

Synthetic Benchmark scores can definitely help you pick the right CPU if you are really curious to pick the best performing CPU between the both. These benchmarks are picked from Passmark and Geekbench websites.

Parameter	Intel Core i5 12600K	AMD Ryzen 7 5600X
CPU Mark Score	27,457	22,007
Single-Core Score (Geekbench)	1,855	1,614
Multi-Core Score (GeekBench)	11,577	8,153
Single-Thread Rating	3,965	3,358

Cinebench Scores Comparison

Cinebench scores are important to see in your CPU if you are going to use your CPU for gaming and rendering. For those who don’t know, comparing the Cinebench scores is of the best ways to pick the right CPU for performance.

Cinebench Benchmark	Intel Core i9 12600K	AMD Ryzen 7 5600X
Cinebench R23 Single Core	2003	1,539
Cinebench R23 Multi Core	27486	11,201
Cinebench R20 Single Core	778	598
Cinebench R20 Multi Core	10632	4,569

In all the benchmark scores including single-core and multi-core tests, the 12600K is providing us with better results. So, I think I have nothing to tell more about the performance difference as well.

Cache

The AMD Ryzen 5 5600X has 16 MB of L3 cache, while the Intel Core i5-12600K has 12 MB of Intel Smart Cache.

In general, the Ryzen 5 5600X’s larger L3 cache size may provide a slight performance advantage in heavily multi-threaded tasks that make use of the cache, such as video editing, 3D rendering, and content creation. However, the overall performance difference between the two processors is likely to be more influenced by other factors such as clock speeds and core count.

The Ryzen 5 5600X may have a slight performance advantage due to its larger L3 cache, but the Core i5-12600K may still be a good choice for some users, especially if they don’t need the additional cores and threads and want to save money on a processor.

Which one is good for Gaming?

In terms of raw gaming performance, the Intel Core i5-12600K may have a slight advantage due to its higher boost clock speed. However, the Ryzen 5 5600X has stronger multi-threaded performance and may be able to deliver better frame rates in games that are more CPU-intensive.

It’s worth noting that the overall performance of a processor is affected by a number of factors, including the motherboard and memory used, as well as the specific game being played. In general, both of these processors should be able to handle most modern games at high settings, but it’s always a good idea to do your own research and benchmarking to determine the best fit for your specific needs.

For detailed information on the differences, see this comparison video of both CPUs in 8 different games.

Which one is good for productivity?

The Intel Core i5-12600K will have a slight advantage in tasks that rely on both single-threaded and multi-threaded performance, such as some types of content creation or office work.

It’s worth noting that the overall performance of a processor is affected by a number of factors, including the motherboard and memory used, as well as the specific software being run. In general, both of these processors should be able to handle most productivity tasks with ease, but it’s always a good idea to do your own research and benchmarking to determine the best fit for your specific needs.

But, overall, 12600K is going to give you better results when it comes to day-to-day and professional productivity tasks.

Price

Which one to buy?

Ryzen 5 5600X is way cheaper than the 12600K. But, it has a lesser performance as well. So, if you are OK with its lower core count and slower clock speed, you can surely go for it. However, if you need performance, 12600K is the one for you.

5600X is good for low-end users, students, or anybody who doesn’t want to put a huge load on the system. Surely, you can play games and do professional video editing but the performance with the 12600K is going to be always better.

Let me know your thoughts in the comments.