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AMD Ryzen 5 7600X vs Intel Core i5-12600K: Comparison
AMD Ryzen 5 7600X vs Intel Core i5-12600K: the l3 cache difference
The gap that matters here is l3 cache: AMD Ryzen 5 7600X 32 MB against Intel Core i5-12600K 20 MB, which puts AMD Ryzen 5 7600X 38% ahead. Measured rather than claimed: in Cinebench R23 (Multi-Core) the Intel Core i5-12600K returns 17,576 against 15,041, a 14% lead. L2 cache runs the same way, 6 MB on the AMD Ryzen 5 7600X versus 9.5 MB on the Intel Core i5-12600K, another win for Intel Core i5-12600K. Socket is not the same on both, AM5 on the AMD Ryzen 5 7600X versus FCLGA1700 on the Intel Core i5-12600K.
Who each one is for
The AMD Ryzen 5 7600X suits enthusiast desktops and streaming and gaming, though it is the wrong buy for budget builds and small form factor low-power systems. Buy the Intel Core i5-12600K for enthusiast desktop gaming and overclocking, though it is not built for laptops and fanless designs. Our rating of the AMD Ryzen 5 7600X (8.3/10): the AMD Ryzen 5 7600X is a strong all-rounder for enthusiasts who want top clock speeds for both gaming and productivity. 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
Everything else lines up. Performance cores, integrated graphics, form factor, market segment and smt enabled read the same on both, so those are not worth weighing. They match on 4 further specifications as well.
Which is cheaper, AMD Ryzen 5 7600X 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 7600X and Intel Core i5-12600K differ on total cores?
Yes. Total Cores reads 6 on the AMD Ryzen 5 7600X versus 10 on the Intel Core i5-12600K.
Is the Unlocked Multiplier the same on the AMD Ryzen 5 7600X 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 7600X
- Ryzen 5
- Intel Core i5-12600K
- Core
Form Factor
- AMD Ryzen 5 7600X
- Desktop
- Intel Core i5-12600K
- Desktop
Model Number
- AMD Ryzen 5 7600X
- 7600X
- Intel Core i5-12600K
- i5-12600K
Codename
- AMD Ryzen 5 7600X
- Raphael
- Intel Core i5-12600K
- Alder Lake
Release Year
- AMD Ryzen 5 7600X
- 2022
- Intel Core i5-12600K
- 2021
TDP
- AMD Ryzen 5 7600X
- 105 W
- Intel Core i5-12600K
- 125 W
iGPU
- AMD Ryzen 5 7600X
- AMD Radeon Graphics
- Intel Core i5-12600K
- Intel UHD Graphics 770
Market Segment
- AMD Ryzen 5 7600X
- Desktop
- Intel Core i5-12600K
- Desktop
Microarchitecture
- AMD Ryzen 5 7600X
- Zen 4 (7000 series)
- Intel Core i5-12600K
- Alder Lake
Socket
- AMD Ryzen 5 7600X
- AM5
- Intel Core i5-12600K
- FCLGA1700
Socket Status
- AMD Ryzen 5 7600X
- Current
- Intel Core i5-12600K
- Mature
Process Node
- AMD Ryzen 5 7600X
- 5 nm
- Intel Core i5-12600K
- 7 nm
Total Cores
- AMD Ryzen 5 7600X
- 6
- Intel Core i5-12600K
- 10Best
Performance Cores
- AMD Ryzen 5 7600X
- 6
- Intel Core i5-12600K
- 6
Efficiency Cores
- AMD Ryzen 5 7600X
- 0
- Intel Core i5-12600K
- 4Best
Total Threads
- AMD Ryzen 5 7600X
- 12
- Intel Core i5-12600K
- 16Best
SMT Enabled
- AMD Ryzen 5 7600X
- Yes
- Intel Core i5-12600K
- Yes
P-Core Base Clock
- AMD Ryzen 5 7600X
- 4.7 GHz
- Intel Core i5-12600K
- 3.7 GHz
P-Core Boost Clock
- AMD Ryzen 5 7600X
- 5.3 GHz
- Intel Core i5-12600K
- 4.9 GHz
Unlocked Multiplier
- AMD Ryzen 5 7600X
- Yes
- Intel Core i5-12600K
- Yes
L2 Cache
- AMD Ryzen 5 7600X
- 6 MB-37%
- Intel Core i5-12600K
- 9.5 MBBest
L3 Cache
- AMD Ryzen 5 7600X
- 32 MBBest
- Intel Core i5-12600K
- 20 MB-37%
Base Power
- AMD Ryzen 5 7600X
- 105 W
- Intel Core i5-12600K
- 125 W
Max Turbo Power
- AMD Ryzen 5 7600X
- 142 W
- Intel Core i5-12600K
- 150 W
Memory Type
- AMD Ryzen 5 7600X
- DDR5
- Intel Core i5-12600K
- DDR5, DDR4
Max Memory Speed
- AMD Ryzen 5 7600X
- 5200 MT/sBest
- Intel Core i5-12600K
- 4800 MT/s
Memory Channels
- AMD Ryzen 5 7600X
- 2
- Intel Core i5-12600K
- 2
Max Memory Capacity
- AMD Ryzen 5 7600X
- 128 GB
- Intel Core i5-12600K
- 128 GB
Integrated Graphics
- AMD Ryzen 5 7600X
- Yes
- Intel Core i5-12600K
- Yes
iGPU Model
- AMD Ryzen 5 7600X
- AMD Radeon Graphics (RDNA 2, 2 CUs)
- Intel Core i5-12600K
- Intel UHD Graphics 770
iGPU Compute Units
- AMD Ryzen 5 7600X
- 2
- Intel Core i5-12600K
- 32
Copilot Plus Certified
- AMD Ryzen 5 7600X
- No
- Intel Core i5-12600K
- No
PCIe Generation
- AMD Ryzen 5 7600X
- 5.0
- Intel Core i5-12600K
- PCIe 5.0
PCIe Lanes
- AMD Ryzen 5 7600X
- 24
- Intel Core i5-12600K
- 20-17%
Launch MSRP
- AMD Ryzen 5 7600X
- $299
- Intel Core i5-12600K
- $289
Retail Availability
- AMD Ryzen 5 7600X
- true
- Intel Core i5-12600K
- Boxed Retail
Benchmarks
- General CPU
Cinebench R23 (Multi-Core)
- AMD Ryzen 5 7600X
- 15,041-14%
- 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 7600X
- 1,948Best
- Intel Core i5-12600K
- 1,913-2%
Renders a 3D scene on one core. Shows how quick the CPU feels in everyday apps and games.
Which one should you pick?
Choose 7600X 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 6 MB) and the higher cinebench R23 (Multi-Core) (17,576 vs 15,041).
Price comparison
| Retailer | AMD Ryzen 5 7600X | Intel Core i5-12600K |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon | $299.00 View on Amazon | View on Amazon |
| Newegg | View on Newegg | View on Newegg |
| 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
AMD Ryzen 5 7600X
8.3 / 10 Expert Rating
The AMD Ryzen 5 7600X is a strong all-rounder for enthusiasts who want top clock speeds for both gaming and productivity.
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.