CPU • INTEL • DESKTOP
Intel Core i5 12600K

Intel Core i5 12600K

Codename: Alder Lake Released: October 27, 2021
Total Cores
10
Physical Cores
Total Threads
16
Concurrent Threads
Boost Clock
4900 MHz
Max Turbo Frequency

Technical Highlights

Vendor : Intel
Socket : LGA-1700
Manufacturing Process : 10 nm
TDP (PL1) : 125 W

About this CPU

Alder Lake desktop CPU with 10 cores and 16 threads, featuring Intel UHD Graphics 770 and an unlocked multiplier for gaming and productivity desktops.

Last updated: September 11, 2026

Available on

Overall Score Of Intel Core i5 12600K

This summarizes how Intel Core i5 12600K scores across single-core performance, multi-core performance, CPU architecture, memory architecture, and energy efficiency.

72
Overall
Single-Core Performance
73
Multi-Core Performance
64
CPU Architecture
59
Memory Architecture
58
Energy Efficiency
74

General Information of Intel Core i5 12600K

CPU Name

Intel Core i5 12600K

Vendor

Intel

Release Date

October 27, 2021

Generation

12th Gen Intel Core

Type

Desktop

Instruction Set

x86-64

Codename

Alder Lake

Launch Price

289

Foundry

Intel

Package and Thermals of Intel Core i5 12600K

Manufacturing Process

10 nm

18% of the current best Manufacturing Process score

Max Temp (TJMax)

Top tier

100 C

91% of the current best Max Temp (TJMax) score

TDP (PL1)

125 W

Max. Boost TDP (PL2)

150 W

Socket

LGA-1700

CPU Cores of Intel Core i5 12600K

Performance Cores

P-Cores

6

17% of the current best P-Cores score

P-Threads

12

33% of the current best P-Threads score

P-Core Base Frequency

Excellent

3700 MHz

79% of the current best P-Core Base Frequency score

P-Core Turbo Frequency

Good

4900 MHz

79% of the current best P-Core Turbo Frequency score

Efficient Cores

E-Cores

4

25% of the current best E-Cores score

E-Threads

4

25% of the current best E-Threads score

E-Core Base Frequency

Good

2800 MHz

64% of the current best E-Core Base Frequency score

E-Core Turbo Frequency

Excellent

3600 MHz

77% of the current best E-Core Turbo Frequency score

Total

Total Cores

10

28% of the current best Total Cores score

Total Threads

Good

16

44% of the current best Total Threads score

Multiplier

Unlocked

Bus Frequency

Top tier

100 MHz

100% of the current best Bus Frequency score

Unlocked Multiplier

Yes

L1 Cache

80 KB

16% of the current best L1 Cache score

L2 Cache

9.5 MB

15% of the current best L2 Cache score

L3 Cache

20 MB

10% of the current best L3 Cache score

NPU

No

Memory Support of Intel Core i5 12600K

Memory Types

Top tier

DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200

90% of the current best Memory Types score

Max Memory Size

Good

128 GB

25% of the current best Max Memory Size score

Memory Channels

2

3% of the current best Memory Channels score

Max Memory Bandwidth

76.8 GB/s

6% of the current best Max Memory Bandwidth score

ECC Support

Yes

Technologies

ABM, ADX, BMI1, BMI2, CLMUL, F16C, SHA, EIST, TBT 2.0, TSX, VT-d, VT-x, RDRAND, TXT, XD bit

Benchmarks of Intel Core i5 12600K

Geekbench V6

Benchmark results for this category.

Multi-Core:
12,200
29% of max score
Single-Core:
2,547
54% of max score
File Compression:
823
31% of max score
Clang Compression:
99
4% of max score
HTML5 Browser:
261
10% of max score
PDF Renderer:
348
13% of max score
Text Processing:
259
10% of max score
Background Blur:
59
2% of max score
Photo Processing:
104
4% of max score
Ray Tracing:
23
1% of max score

PassMark CPU

Benchmark results for this category.

Multi-Core:
27,512
38% of max score
Single-Core:
3,917
66% of max score
Good
Integer Math:
87,800 MOps/Sec
36% of max score
Floating Point:
67,100 MOps/Sec
30% of max score
Prime Numbers:
90 Million Primes/Sec
9% of max score
String Sorting:
35,700 Thousand Strings/Sec
29% of max score
Data Encryption:
18,400 MBytes/Sec
32% of max score
Data Compression:
342,800 KBytes/Sec
32% of max score
Physics:
1,515 Frames/Sec
17% of max score
Extended Instructions:
22,000 Million Matrices/Sec
29% of max score

Cinebench 2024

Benchmark results for this category.

Multi-Core:
950
24% of max score
Single-Core:
109
48% of max score

Blender

Benchmark results for this category.

Render Score:
235
32% of max score

Performance Charts Of Intel Core i5 12600K

These charts show how Intel Core i5 12600K balances CPU benchmark performance and relative score versus current market leaders.

Performance Radar Chart

Category scores overview (0 to 100)
Intel Core i5 12600K

Performance Benchmarks

Grey is the market top value. Colored bar is Intel Core i5 12600K.
Market Top
Intel Core i5 12600K

Try to Compare Intel Core i5 12600K With Another CPU

Search for another cpu to compare.

More CPUs You Might Like to See

If you are still deciding, these are great options to look at next.

Frequently Asked Questions about Intel Core i5 12600K

The Intel Core i5 12600K was officially released in October 27, 2021, targeting the Desktop market.

The Intel Core i5 12600K is equipped with 10 cores and 16 threads, providing an excellent balance for both high-end gaming and standard productivity tasks.

The Intel Core i5 12600K uses the LGA-1700 socket. This is a critical specification for compatibility, as it dictates which motherboards can support this processor.

The Intel Core i5 12600K operates at a base clock frequency of 3700 MHz for its performance cores (and 2800 MHz for E-cores). This is the speed the processor runs at under normal, non-intensive workloads.

The Intel Core i5 12600K can reach a maximum turbo boost frequency of 4900 MHz on its performance cores (and 3600 MHz for E-cores). This allows the CPU to dynamically increase its speed to handle demanding tasks and gaming workloads.

The Intel Core i5 12600K has a maximum junction temperature (TjMax) of 100 C. This is the maximum temperature possible before the processor initiates thermal throttling or shuts down to prevent permanent damage.

The Intel Core i5 12600K achieves a multi-core score of 950 on Cinebench 2024, reflecting its capability in multi-threaded creative and rendering applications.

The Intel Core i5 12600K scores 2,547 on the Geekbench v6 single-core test, indicating how snappy and responsive it will feel in everyday applications and most games.

With an overall performance rating of 72%, the Intel Core i5 12600K is considered a high-performance processor in our comprehensive CPU database.

The Intel Core i5 12600K features 20 MB of L3 cache. A larger cache helps the processor access frequently used data faster, which can significantly boost gaming performance.

The Intel Core i5 12600K has a base power consumption (TDP) of 125 W. This value is important for choosing an adequate CPU cooler and determining your overall system power requirements.

The Intel Core i5 12600K supports DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200 memory, dictating the RAM speeds and capacities you can pair with this processor.

The Intel Core i5 12600K includes an integrated GPU, meaning you don't strictly need a dedicated graphics card for basic display output.

Disclaimer: Specs, pricing, and benchmarks are sourced from official manufacturer data and verified test results. While we strive for precision, product details and pricing may change. Comparigon may earn an affiliate commission on qualifying purchases.