Intel Core i5 12600K is one of the latest additions in the Core i5 series. It is released in 2021 with Intel’s whopping launch of its 12th generation Alder Lake CPUs. On the other hand, we have AMD’s beast popular as Ryzen 7 5800X.
Both of them are priced at an almost similar tag becoming great CPUs to go for inside a budget of 300$. However, the 12600K is found generally cheaper on online shopping websites. Another main reason to get confused between the both is their close benchmark scores.
So, people are confused about whether they should go for the 5800X and pay a little more with a little better multi-core performance or stay with the 12600K and its great single-core performance. In this article, I am going to answer all your questions in this 12600K vs 5700X comparison. So, without any further discussions, let’s get started.
Theoretical Specifications (Comparison)
First of all, let’s compare the on-page specification of both. If you are not interested in knowing the theoretical specs or already know them, just skip to the next section.
| Specification | Intel Core i5 12600K | AMD Ryzen 7 5800X |
|---|---|---|
| CPU Generation | 12th generation Core | 4th Generation Ryzen |
| Cores/Threads | 6(P-Core)+4(E-Core) 16 Threads | 8 Cores 6 Threads |
| Max Turbo Frequency | 4.90 GHz | 4.7 GHz (Base: 3.8GHz) |
| Efficient Core Base/Boost | 2.80/3.60 GHz | – |
| Performance Core Base/Boost | 3.70/4.90 GHz | – |
| Cache | 20MB Intel Smart Cache | L2: 4MB/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 | No |
| Integrated Graphics Card | Intel® UHD Graphics 770 | No |
| Maximum Temperature | 100°C | 90°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 5800X |
|---|---|---|
| CPU Mark Score | 27,457 | 28,340 |
| Single-Core Score (Geekbench) | 1,855 | 1,671 |
| Multi-Core Score (GeekBench) | 11,577 | 10,336 |
| Single-Thread Rating | 3,965 | 3,483 |
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 12900K | AMD Ryzen 7 5800X |
|---|---|---|
| Cinebench R23 Single Core | 2003 | 1596 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi Core | 27486 | 15228 |
| Cinebench R20 Single Core | 778 | 629 |
| Cinebench R20 Multi Core | 10632 | 6046 |
| Cinebench R15 Single Core | 294 | 268 |
| Cinebench R15 Multi Core | 4112 | 2607 |
The Intel Core i9 12900K is again winning the game here.
To give you the context, Cinebench is CPU benchmarking software. It is used to calculate any CPU’s single-core and multi-core performance. These are three different versions of Cinebench i.e. R15, R20, and R23. R23 is the latest version with much more effective operation than the older version (R15 and R20)
- Multi-Core-Score. This score simply tells you the CPU’s performance in multitasking. Rendering, encoding, and most of the productivity software will make use of multi-cores.
- Single-Core Score. As the name suggests, this score determines the performance capability of a single CPU. This score is good to determine your CPU’s effectiveness in gaming and the overall snappiness in any operation.
Gaming Benchmark Comparison
It is better to see the gaming benchmarks visually rather than on a table. So, here is an amazing YouTube video for you comparing both CPUs’ performances in different games.
Which one is good for gaming? 12600K or 5800X
Well, from that video we saw above, we can say that both of them are offering almost similar performance when it comes to gaming. However, if you have to select one of those and one with the best gaming performance, the 12600K is definitely a good pick. The first reason is its good single-core performance. And the second reason is its support for the faster DDR5 memory. There are several other reasons like high frequency.
However, the 5800X can also offer pretty well and almost similar features. But, in order to use 5800X for gaming, you will have to go for a dedicated graphics card because it doesn’t come with an integrated one just like the 12600K.
If you can’t afford a dedicated graphics card but want to play games, you can still do that with the Intel UHD 770 Graphics in 12600K. So, it is the next advantage you get with the 12600K as a gamer.
Which one is good for productivity? 5800X or 12600K
Definitely, the 12600K is going to perform better in multitasking as we saw in the Cinebench benchmark results. The E-Cores embedded inside these new 12th generation chips are designed to offer the best results when it comes to multitasking. You can know more about P-Cores and E-Cores here.
However, the performance difference will not be that huge because the 5800X comes with more cores and threads. But, because you can employ a faster RAM with your 12600K, it can easily beat the 5800X.
Price Difference
By the time I am writing this article in May 2022, Intel Core i5 12600K is around 32$ cheaper than the Ryzen 7 5800X at Amazon. The prices keep varying. So, you should check them before making the final decision.
Conclusion
Both these CPUs are tough competitors to each other. The prices are also going to be almost similar. But, just like all other 12th generation CPUs, Intel has equipped the 12600K with amazing specs. So, I can say that you should pick the 12600K over the 5800X.
Let me know what you think about it!
I am Anshul Rana, an experienced author specializing in PC gear reviews and Windows 10 software tutorials. With a strong passion for technology and an in-depth understanding of the PC industry, I provide insightful and detailed analyses of computer peripherals, gaming gear, and software solutions. My writing style is concise yet informative, making complex topics accessible to both beginners and advanced users. Through my reviews and tutorials, I aim to offer valuable guidance, helping readers make informed decisions to enhance their PC experience and explore the vast possibilities of Windows 10 software.
