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AMD Ryzen 5 5600X vs Intel Core i5-12600K: Comparison
AMD Ryzen 5 5600X vs Intel Core i5-12600K: the l3 cache difference
On l3 cache the spread is 38%, AMD Ryzen 5 5600X 32 MB against Intel Core i5-12600K 20 MB, so AMD Ryzen 5 5600X takes it. The benchmark result agrees. Blender Cycles (CPU) puts Intel Core i5-12600K 32% ahead, 222 against 151 over 44 runs. Add l2 cache to that, 3 MB on the AMD Ryzen 5 5600X versus 9.5 MB on the Intel Core i5-12600K, and the pattern holds. Socket is not the same on both, AM4 on the AMD Ryzen 5 5600X versus FCLGA1700 on the Intel Core i5-12600K.
AMD Ryzen 5 5600X vs Intel Core i5-12600K: which one fits your build
Take the AMD Ryzen 5 5600X for gaming-focused desktop builds wanting excellent value from Zen 3's per-core gains and large cache. Avoid it for buyers needing more than 6 cores for heavy multi-threaded productivity work, the 8-core Ryzen 7 5800X handles that better. The Intel Core i5-12600K suits enthusiast desktop gaming and overclocking, though it is the wrong buy for laptops and fanless designs. Our rating of the Intel Core i5-12600K (7.9/10): the Intel Core i5-12600K is an unlocked overclockable chip, well suited to enthusiast gaming and productivity builds.
Where the two are identical
Where they agree, they agree completely, performance cores, p-core base clock, form factor, market segment and smt enabled included, so the decision does not turn on any of those. They match on 5 further specifications as well.
Which is cheaper, AMD Ryzen 5 5600X or Intel Core i5-12600K?
They cost within a few percent of each other, $289 versus $299 when we last looked.
Frequently asked questions
Do the AMD Ryzen 5 5600X and Intel Core i5-12600K differ on total cores?
Yes. Total Cores reads 6 on the AMD Ryzen 5 5600X versus 10 on the Intel Core i5-12600K.
Is the Unlocked Multiplier the same on the AMD Ryzen 5 5600X and Intel Core i5-12600K?
It is. Both are listed at Yes, so it is not a reason to pick one over the other.
Specs and benchmarks
Product Line
- AMD Ryzen 5 5600X
- Ryzen 5
- Intel Core i5-12600K
- Core
Form Factor
- AMD Ryzen 5 5600X
- Desktop
- Intel Core i5-12600K
- Desktop
Model Number
- AMD Ryzen 5 5600X
- 5600X
- Intel Core i5-12600K
- i5-12600K
Codename
- AMD Ryzen 5 5600X
- Vermeer
- Intel Core i5-12600K
- Alder Lake
Release Year
- AMD Ryzen 5 5600X
- 2020
- Intel Core i5-12600K
- 2021
TDP
- AMD Ryzen 5 5600X
- 65 W
- Intel Core i5-12600K
- 125 W
iGPU
- AMD Ryzen 5 5600X
- None
- Intel Core i5-12600K
- Intel UHD Graphics 770
Market Segment
- AMD Ryzen 5 5600X
- Desktop
- Intel Core i5-12600K
- Desktop
Microarchitecture
- AMD Ryzen 5 5600X
- Zen 3, Ryzen 5000 Series
- Intel Core i5-12600K
- Alder Lake
Socket
- AMD Ryzen 5 5600X
- AM4
- Intel Core i5-12600K
- FCLGA1700
Socket Status
- AMD Ryzen 5 5600X
- End of Life
- Intel Core i5-12600K
- Mature
Process Node
- AMD Ryzen 5 5600X
- 7 nm
- Intel Core i5-12600K
- 7 nm
Total Cores
- AMD Ryzen 5 5600X
- 6
- Intel Core i5-12600K
- 10Best
Performance Cores
- AMD Ryzen 5 5600X
- 6
- Intel Core i5-12600K
- 6
Efficiency Cores
- AMD Ryzen 5 5600X
- 0
- Intel Core i5-12600K
- 4Best
Total Threads
- AMD Ryzen 5 5600X
- 12
- Intel Core i5-12600K
- 16Best
SMT Enabled
- AMD Ryzen 5 5600X
- Yes
- Intel Core i5-12600K
- Yes
P-Core Base Clock
- AMD Ryzen 5 5600X
- 3.7 GHz
- Intel Core i5-12600K
- 3.7 GHz
P-Core Boost Clock
- AMD Ryzen 5 5600X
- 4.6 GHz
- Intel Core i5-12600K
- 4.9 GHz
Unlocked Multiplier
- AMD Ryzen 5 5600X
- Yes
- Intel Core i5-12600K
- Yes
L2 Cache
- AMD Ryzen 5 5600X
- 3 MB-68%
- Intel Core i5-12600K
- 9.5 MBBest
L3 Cache
- AMD Ryzen 5 5600X
- 32 MBBest
- Intel Core i5-12600K
- 20 MB-37%
Base Power
- AMD Ryzen 5 5600X
- 65 W
- Intel Core i5-12600K
- 125 W
Max Turbo Power
- AMD Ryzen 5 5600X
- 88 W
- Intel Core i5-12600K
- 150 W
Memory Type
- AMD Ryzen 5 5600X
- DDR4
- Intel Core i5-12600K
- DDR5, DDR4Best
Max Memory Speed
- AMD Ryzen 5 5600X
- 3200 MT/s
- Intel Core i5-12600K
- 4800 MT/sBest
Memory Channels
- AMD Ryzen 5 5600X
- 2
- Intel Core i5-12600K
- 2
Max Memory Capacity
- AMD Ryzen 5 5600X
- 128 GB
- Intel Core i5-12600K
- 128 GB
Integrated Graphics
- AMD Ryzen 5 5600X
- No
- Intel Core i5-12600K
- Yes
Copilot Plus Certified
- AMD Ryzen 5 5600X
- No
- Intel Core i5-12600K
- No
PCIe Generation
- AMD Ryzen 5 5600X
- PCIe 4.0
- Intel Core i5-12600K
- PCIe 5.0
PCIe Lanes
- AMD Ryzen 5 5600X
- 24
- Intel Core i5-12600K
- 20-17%
Launch MSRP
- AMD Ryzen 5 5600X
- $299
- Intel Core i5-12600K
- $289
Retail Availability
- AMD Ryzen 5 5600X
- Boxed Retail
- Intel Core i5-12600K
- Boxed Retail
Benchmarks
- 3D Rendering
Blender Cycles (CPU)
- AMD Ryzen 5 5600X
- 151-32%
- Intel Core i5-12600K
- 222Best
Blender 4.5, Blender Open Data (CC0). Median of monster + junkshop + classroom, combined samples/min.
Renders a 3D scene using every core. Shows speed for 3D and rendering work, not gaming.
- General CPU
Cinebench R23 (Multi-Core)
- AMD Ryzen 5 5600X
- 10,985-37%
- Intel Core i5-12600K
- 17,576Best
Renders a 3D scene on every core. Shows speed in rendering and other heavy work.
Cinebench R23 (Single-Core)
- AMD Ryzen 5 5600X
- 1,567-18%
- Intel Core i5-12600K
- 1,913Best
Renders a 3D scene on one core. Shows how quick the CPU feels in everyday apps and games.
Which one should you pick?
Choose 5600X if you want the higher L3 cache (32 MB vs 20 MB), the higher memory channels (2 vs 2) and the higher PCIe lanes (24 vs 20).
Choose 12600K if you want the higher L2 cache (9.5 MB vs 3 MB), the higher blender cycles (CPU) (222 vs 151) and the higher cinebench R23 (Multi-Core) (17,576 vs 10,985).
Price comparison
| Retailer | AMD Ryzen 5 5600X | Intel Core i5-12600K |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon | $299.00 View on Amazon | View on Amazon |
| Newegg | View on Newegg | View on Newegg |
| Best Buy | View on Best Buy | $289.00 View on Best Buy |
Disclaimer: The price and specification of the given product may differ from the actual product. Please confirm on the retailer's website before buying.
Verdict
Intel Core i5-12600K
7.9 / 10 Expert Rating
The Intel Core i5-12600K is an unlocked overclockable chip, well suited to enthusiast gaming and productivity builds.