The best Intel processors for 2022
Intel is currently dominating the CPU market with its 12th Generation Alder Lake platform. After a slow few years, Intel is back on top in gaming and productivity, with a range of new chips that massively improve on the previous generation while outperforming the AMD competition.
The Core i5-12600K tops the list thanks to its aggressive price and high performance. It’s the best CPU you can buy right now, not just the best Intel CPU. With 10 cores available, it has plenty of room for productivity work, and the performance cores offer enough juice to outpace the competition in games.
Contents
- Intel Core i5-12600K
- Intel Core i5-11600K
- Intel Core i5-10400F
- Intel Core i9-12900K
- Intel Core i9-12900KS
- Intel Core i7-12700K
- Intel Core i9-12900H
- Intel Core i3-12100F
- Intel Core i7-11375H
- Intel Core i3-10100F
- Frequently Asked Questions
Intel Core i5-12600K
The best Intel processor
Jump to details
Intel Core i5-11600K
The best previous-gen Intel processor
Jump to details
Intel Core i5-10400F
The best budget Intel processor
Jump to details
Intel Core i9-12900K
The best high-end Intel processor
Jump to details
Intel Core i9-12900KS
The fastest Intel processor
Jump to details
Intel Core i7-12700K
The best Intel processor for gamers
Jump to details
Intel Core i9-12900H
The best 12th Gen Intel mobile processor
Jump to details
Intel Core i3-12100F
The best 12th Gen Intel processor under $100
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Intel Core i7-11375H
The best 11th Gen mobile Intel processor
Jump to details
Intel Core i3-10100F
The best Intel processor under $100
Jump to details
Jacob Roach / Digital Trends
Intel Core i5-12600K
The best Intel processor
Pros
- Fantastic price-to-performance ratio
- Great gaming capabilities
- Hybrid architecture makes it a solid multitasker
Cons
- It’s not the most powerful Intel CPU
Why you should buy this: It’s the best Intel processor on the market right now.
Who it’s for: Gamers who need a little extra bandwidth.
What we thought of the Intel Core i5-12600k:
The Core i5-12600K is the best CPU you can buy right now. It’s not just the best Intel processor or the best gaming processor, but the best processor overall. It comes packed with 10 cores for around $300, with six performance cores and four efficiency cores. The performance cores shred through games, while the extra efficient cores provide some extra bandwidth for more demanding workloads.
The single-core improvements with Intel’s 12th-gen processors shine with the Core i5-12600K. In games, it can outpace even the AMD Ryzen 9 5950X in some cases — and that processor is nearly three times as expensive. Overall, it manages to top the gaming charts, only playing second fiddle to the more expensive processors from Intel’s 12th-gen lineup as well as some high-end AMD options like the Ryzen 7 5800X3D, which is, again, pricier than the Core i5-12600K.
It also benefits from the hybrid 12th-gen architecture. This class of CPU is most commonly best for pure gaming. For gaming and streaming, we usually recommend bumping up a step. That’s not the case with the Core i5-12600K. The 10 cores provide plenty of bandwidth for gaming and streaming, which is something we rarely see on a $300 processor.
Intel Core i5-12600K
The best Intel processor
Intel Core i5-11600K
The best previous-gen Intel processor
Pros
- Performs well for a mid-range CPU
- Can handle most gaming tasks
- Cheaper than the latest CPUs
Cons
- It’s previous-gen, so current processors outperform it
- Not worth it without a discount
Why you should buy this: It’s still a solid midrange CPU, and you can usually find it on sale.
Who it’s for: Gamers looking for a deal.
What we thought of the Intel Core i5-11600K:
Intel’s 11th-gen Rocket Lake platform isn’t perfect, but the Core i5-11600K is still a decent option. It’s worse than the Core i5-12600K by a long shot, but you might be able to snag a chip for cheap — which will open up a little more budget for one of the best graphics cards.
It depends on the game, but the 11600K maintains a small but measurable lead over the 10600K in most titles. In some games, such as Death Stranding, the 11600K actually beats the 10700K and can match the 10900K in others. Although not quite the generational improvement Intel fans hoped for, the 11600K proves that you don’t need a high-end processor for gaming.
The gen-on-gen improvements are clearer in non-gaming tasks. The 11600K blows past Intel’s last-gen offerings and offers more credible competition to AMD’s mid-range chips in productivity tasks, leveraging application-specific accelerators to great effect.
Single-core performance is up, too, without a big trade-off in multi-core performance.
The 11600K is a great gaming processor. It comes with enough juice for gaming while offering decent power for productivity tasks, and that combination is tough to find for under $300. That said, the 12600K is a better option overall, so only go with the 11600K if you can find it at a steep discount. Seeing as its price is close to its successor when not discounted, you’d get better value for the money by buying the Core i5-12600K instead.
Intel Core i5-11600K
The best previous-gen Intel processor
Intel Core i5-10400F
The best budget Intel processor
Pros
- Highly affordable
- Suited for non-demanding gamers
- Adequate for productivity and multitasking
Cons
- It requires a discrete graphics card
- It’s not a very powerful CPU
Why you should buy this: It’s still a decent performer in 2022, and it’s a great budget option.
Who it’s for: PC builders on a tight budget that only need a few cores.
What we thought of the Intel Core i5-10400F:
Despite not sporting the Core i3 tag, the 10400F is one of Intel’s cheaper processors. It’s an incredible value at around $130, packing in six cores and 12 threads, a base clock of 2.9GHz, and a boost clock of 4.3GHz. It’s around $80 cheaper than the 10600K while sporting similar specs. The biggest difference is the «F» suffix, meaning that the 10400F does not have integrated graphics and will require a discrete graphics card.
Even with the low price, the 10400F performs well. In tasks like rendering, the 10400F is able to match the 9700K while surpassing AMD’s budget Ryzen 3000 chips. Although the 10400F is underpowered for most CPU-intensive workloads, it’s still a great Intel processor for web browsing, light image editing, and office applications.
If you’re a gamer, the 10400F is an even better choice.
With plenty of cores and a solid boost clock, the 10400F can put CPUs three times its price to shame. If you pair it with a nice graphics card, you can achieve gaming performance on par with an i7, and sometimes even an i9.
The 10400F marks a sweet spot in Intel’s range. Below it, performance drops significantly without much cost savings, and above it, price scales faster than performance. If you’re looking for an everyday CPU with enough power for light productivity and gaming, it’s hard to beat the 10400F.
If you can afford it, a viable alternative is the next-generation 11400F. It is slightly faster, but it’s more expensive than this model.
Intel Core i5-10400F
The best budget Intel processor
Jacob Roach / Digital Trends
Intel Core i9-12900K
The best high-end Intel processor
Pros
- Outpaces the Ryzen 9 5950X in most workloads
- Significantly cheaper than the Ryzen 9 5950X
- DDR5 support
- Solid overclocking headroom
-
PCIe 5.
0 on supported motherboards
Cons
- High power demands
- Runs a little hot
Why you should buy this: It’s the most powerful Intel processor you can buy right now.
Who it’s for: Anyone who needs the best without majorly overpaying.
What we thought of the Intel Core i9-12900K:
Intel’s flagships haven’t been impressive over the past couple of generations, but the Core i9-12900K changes that. It’s the flagship of flagships, sporting 16 cores and single-core boost speeds of up to 5.2GHz. It blows past everything else on the market, making it a great choice for gaming, content creation, and everything in between.
Our testing shows that the Core i9-12900K can outperform the competing AMD Ryzen 9 5950X by as much as 30% in some cases. It holds a solid lead in gaming, but the Core i9-12900K really shines in content creation workloads, where it’s much faster than the competition.
For gaming, the recently released AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D is yet another rival to Intel’s best.
It’s power-hungry, but most Intel chips are these days. The Core i9-12900K is a clear showcase of Alder Lake’s hybrid architecture and what it can do for PCs, offering up a high core count and plenty of bandwidth for multitasking. Although the Core i9-12900KS is slightly better, it’s also much more expensive.
Intel Core i9-12900K
The best high-end Intel processor
Jacob Roach / Digital Trends
Intel Core i9-12900KS
The fastest Intel processor
Pros
- Amazing single-core and multi-core performance
- DDR5 memory support
- Industry-leading gaming performance
- Still faster than the best AMD has to offer
Cons
- Expensive
- Very hot and power-hungry
Why you should buy this: It offers the greatest performance of any processor on the current market.
Who’s it for: Users who want the best of the best with no regard for cost-effectiveness.
What we thought of the Intel Core i9-12900KS:
For a long time, the Core i9-12900K reigned as the ultimate king of the best processors on the market, but now it faces competition from itself. The Intel Core i9-12900KS is a specially-binned and overclocked 12900K that pushes that envelope a little further. Although it isn’t a lot better than the 12900K, it is better, making it the fastest CPU you can buy in 2022.
It has the same eight P-cores (performance) and eight E-cores (efficiency) as the 12900K, the same 24 threads, and high clock speeds. The difference is that these high clock speeds are a little higher. It can do 5.5GHz on a couple of cores at a time, and 5.2GHz on all of them at once, giving it a slight edge on the 12900K in most games and applications, though that isn’t always the case. That will make this the best chip up until the release of Intel Raptor Lake, and it will remain relevant for years to come.
However, despite being a fantastic desktop processor, it’s not without its flaws. It is the fastest Intel CPU right now, but it’s not the best value CPU. It’s quite expensive in comparison to the Core i9-12900K, and even more so when compared with mid-range offerings. It also doesn’t really deliver enough of a performance jump to truly justify the price hike and it has even higher TDP demands. Buy it if you care about the performance and not your budget, but if you’re trying to remain price-conscious, the Core i9-12900KS may not be what you’re looking for.
Intel Core i9-12900KS
The fastest Intel processor
Intel Core i7-12700K
The best Intel processor for gamers
Pros
- Much cheaper than the Core i9-12900K
- Great gaming performance
- Can be overclocked
Cons
- Not quite as good as the Core i9-12900K
- Needs an additional cooler
Why you should buy this: It offers great value compared to the Core i9-12900K while maintaining excellent gaming performance.
Who’s it for: Gamers who want to play AAA titles but also want to save a little money.
What we thought of the Intel Core i7-12700K:
If you’re building a gaming PC, your main focus may be getting the right graphics card, but the processor is equally important. Picking a gaming CPU is a bit of a delicate balance, though — you don’t really need the best of the best (in this case, the Core i9-12900K), but you still want a solid processor. There are plenty of CPU-limited titles that benefit from a good processor, but you don’t need to overpay to get the most high-end product out there. This is where the Intel Core i7-12700K comes in.
This Alder Lake processor is yet another gem from the lineup that walks the fine line between performance and price, and it does so with success. It serves up a total of 12 cores (eight performance and four efficiency), which places it close to the Core i9-12900K with its 16 cores. This processor also comes with clock speeds of 3.
6GHz base and 5.0GHz boost. It can be overclocked to reach even higher if that’s your jam.
This CPU will maintain great performance while being around $180-$200 cheaper than the Core i9-12900K. If you want something better than the Core i5-12600K but don’t want to overspend, this CPU should be your go-to pick, and it’s a favorite with gamers who don’t really need the extra oomph provided by the 12900K.
Intel Core i7-12700K
The best Intel processor for gamers
Asus
Intel Core i9-12900H
The best 12th Gen Intel mobile processor
Pros
- One of the best mobile processors on the market
- Powerful for gaming and productivity
- Acceptable power consumption for this performance level
Cons
- It’s still fairly difficult to find
Why you should buy this: It’s a high-end processor for laptop gamers and professionals alike.
Who’s it for: Gaming enthusiasts and other users who value performance over the price.
What we thought of the Intel Core i9-12900H:
Mobile Alder Lake CPUs are slowly becoming the norm in some of the best gaming laptops, introducing the new generation to the fans of gaming on the go. This brings us to the Intel Core i9-12900H, a fantastic, if expensive, mobile CPU.
This is a high-end Intel processor with 14 cores (six of which are performance cores, and eight — efficient cores) and 20 threads as well as 24MB of combined Intel Smart Cache. The clock speeds are hitting new heights for a mobile processor, capping at 5.00GHz in Turbo mode. There is no better way to put this — this CPU is a beast, and it’ll breeze through just about anything you want to throw at it. There are more powerful mobile Intel CPUs, such as the Core i9-12900HX with 16 cores and 24 threads, but the Core i9-12900H tends to be a little bit cheaper, and it isn’t quite such a drain on battery life.
In the example shown above, the Core i9-12900H is housed inside the Asus ROG Strix Scar 15 laptop and paired with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070 Ti. Put together, these two components are certain to deliver next-level gaming capabilities, and depending on the configuration, the price is still fairly reasonable. Get it if you want to be able to play AAA titles without issues but don’t necessarily want to spend a fortune on a laptop.
Intel Core i9-12900H
The best 12th Gen Intel mobile processor
Intel Core i3-12100F
The best 12th Gen Intel processor under $100
Pros
- A step-up over the Core i3-10100F
- Suitable for light gaming and daily use
- Good performance for the price
Cons
- Requires a discrete graphics card
Why you should buy this: It’s a cheap, yet decent current-gen processor under $100.
Who’s it for: Users on a budget who still want a versatile CPU.
What we thought of the Intel Core i3-12100F:
With the release of the current-gen Intel Alder Lake processors, many of the slightly older CPUs on this list were dethroned and replaced by their 12th-generation counterparts. There’s no denying that this line of processors has been a good one for Intel, and this shows even through wallet-friendly models priced at close to $100 such as the Core i3-12100F.
Although it’s firmly in the entry-level range, Intel Core i3-12100F offers excellent value for the money and can provide you with quite a large scope of things it’s capable of doing. It should deliver much better performance than the previous budget king (Intel Core i3-10100F, found below), and while yes, it does cost a little bit more, the price is pretty negligible considering the upgrade you’re getting. For an extra $20-$40, your processor receives a two-generation bump and the performance to go with it.
Equipped with four cores and eight threads as well as clock speeds reaching up to 4.3GHz, this processor is a bit of an oddity in the Alder Lake lineup, as it doesn’t share the hybrid architecture of its more expensive siblings and instead serves up only P-cores. That doesn’t make it unsuitable at all, however, and it will carry its own weight through both gaming and various daily tasks. It may not be your first choice if you want something truly powerful, but if you’re looking to keep the costs low, this should be your go-to for 2022.
Intel Core i3-12100F
The best 12th Gen Intel processor under $100
Intel Core i7-11375H
The best 11th Gen mobile Intel processor
Pros
- It’s still one of the best Intel mobile processors
- Offers smooth gaming and productivity
- Powerful specs, but low power consumption
Cons
- It will soon be dethroned by Intel Alder Lake
Why you should buy this: It’s one of the most powerful Intel mobile chips, priced lower than the current-gen Alder Lake options.
Who it’s for: Mobile users that demand a little more power than a normal mobile CPU.
What we thought of the Intel Core i7-11375H:
Although the desktop processors from that generation may not always be user favorites, the Tiger Lake mobile processors are excellent. For a great balance of performance and power, we recommend the i7-11375H. It comes with four cores and eight threads, a base clock of 3.3GHz, and a staggering boost clock of 5GHz, all while keeping power demands under 35 watts. The i7-11375H leads Intel’s new Tiger Lake h45 processors, which target portable gaming laptops with 14-inch screens.
The processor shows up in laptops like MSI’s Stealth 15M, but many manufacturers are still shipping notebooks with last-gen CPUs. Despite sporting similar specs, the i7-11375H passes even the top Tiger Lake chips with its extended power budget. That translates to some performance improvements in single-core performance. With the same underlying architecture, however, you should expect more of a performance benefit in multithreaded tasks.
It’s hard to say anything definitive about a mobile CPU, though. The wrong build can make even the best processors look weak, and a decent configuration can make underpowered CPUs shine. The i7-11375H is one of the most powerful mobile Intel CPUs available, but it’s important to consult individual laptop reviews. The example mentioned above, MSI Stealth 15M, is an excellent gaming laptop that will let this CPU truly shine.
If you’re looking for more raw power, Intel also offers the Core i9-11980HK in premium gaming laptops. It comes with eight cores and 16 threads and a turbo speed of 5GHz, so it’s certainly faster than the i7-11375H. However, it mainly shows up in high-end gaming machines, so it’s not for everyone. There are also Intel Alder Lake options already available, such as the Intel Core i9-12900H.
Intel Core i7-11375H
The best 11th Gen mobile Intel processor
Intel Core i3-10100F
The best Intel processor under $100
Pros
- Solid cost-to-performance ratio
- Costs less than $100
- Perfect for casual builds
Cons
- It’s two generations behind
- No integrated graphics
Why you should buy this: It’s a decent processor that fits neatly in the «under $100» category.
Who’s it for: Less demanding users on a budget who still want to stay close to the current generation.
What we thought of the Intel Core i3-10100F:
PC building on a budget may seem like a daunting task, so it’s always great when you can stumble upon components that neatly fit an affordable build while still pulling their weight. The Intel Core i3-10100F, despite being part of Intel’s 10th generation of processors, still belongs in that category. It’s one of the best budget processors on the market, and despite oscillating around the $100 range, it has a lot to offer.
The Core i3-10100F comes with four cores and eight threads and offers a frequency of up to 4.30GHz in turbo mode, which is nothing to turn your nose up at. These kinds of specifications will carry you through your daily tasks, support productivity and entertainment, and even some light gaming if you’re not too demanding. For resource-heavy tasks, such as video editing or CPU-intensive games, you may want to splurge on a better CPU, such as the Core i5-10400F, or a newer 12th generation model if you can afford it.
This processor is not very power-hungry, so you won’t find yourself needing to upgrade your power supply in order to accommodate it. It will do just fine in entry-to-mid-level PC builds. One thing to keep in mind is that the Core i3-10100F doesn’t feature integrated graphics, so be sure to pick up a discrete graphics card if you’re buying this processor.
Intel Core i3-10100F
The best Intel processor under $100
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the difference between K and F Intel processors?
Intel uses multiple suffixes to indicate different features, but «K» and «F» are among the most common. «K» processors are unlocked, so you can overclock them with a compatible motherboard. «F» processors don’t come with integrated graphics, so you’ll need a dedicated graphics card. You may even find a «KF» processor, indicating that it’s unlocked and requires discrete graphics.
You can usually find variants of Intel’s leading i9, i7, and i5 processors with either or both suffixes.
If you’re planning on building a gaming computer, you can save a few dollars by purchasing the «F» variant of a processor. On the other side, «K» processors are slightly more expensive with their overclocking capabilities. If you want a full breakdown on Intel’s naming scheme, make sure to read our CPU buying guide.
How good are AMD Ryzen processors compared to Intel?
Intel Core and AMD Ryzen both offer excellent processors at different price points and in different forms, so one brand isn’t definitively better than the other. That said, if you’re shopping for a desktop processor in 2022, AMD Ryzen currently falls behind Intel, but not by much. The newer AMD Ryzen processors pack a lot of cores and perform well, so they’re still very capable CPUs, and you may be able to snag one of them cheaper than Intel’s 12th-gen Alder Lake offerings.
In the mobile world, Intel used to dominate. Now, you can find machines with AMD Ryzen processors, too, and they perform great. That said, there is still a far greater number of machines that come with Intel processors, and they stack up well against the AMD competition.
In short, an Intel processor is generally better on desktop, and Intel and AMD are evenly matched on mobile, though Intel has more options available. Keep in mind that the power balance between Intel and AMD changes with each processor release, so although Intel is better right now, it may not always be that way. Remember that picking up an AMD processor will also require an entirely different motherboard than an Intel processor would.
How do you know which processor is best for your needs?
To find the best processor for your needs, you need to consider the applications you want to run. If you’re into gaming, for example, a processor with strong single-core performance is a good choice because games usually stress only a handful of cores at a time. On the other hand, content creation applications like Adobe Premiere Pro and DaVinci Resolve can take advantage of a greater number of cores, so a processor with a lot of cores is better for them.
Those are good rules to follow.
Games like a fast processor over one with a lot of cores, and content-creation apps like more cores over faster ones. Some processors, such as the Intel Core i9-12900K and AMD Ryzen 9 5900X, offer both. If you want a processor for browsing the internet and using basic apps, any processor with four or more cores from the last few years should work well.
How can you tell if a PC processor is any good?
The best way to tell if a PC processor is good is to look at individual benchmarks. Specs like core count and clock speed don’t tell the full story — they only show what the processor is capable of within its own range of products. If you’ve settled on a certain brand or series, however, looking at core counts and clock speeds can show you where the processor sits in the range.
If you want to test your own processor, there are plenty of tools available. Cinebench is a great benchmarking tool that focuses solely on the processor, while PCMark 10 provides an overview of performance across a suite of day-to-day tasks.
Where can you find a full breakdown on Intel’s naming scheme?
Intel’s naming scheme can get a little confusing sometimes, but once you know your way around it, you’ll be able to navigate every processor by heart without needing to check what it does.
Let’s assume the processor you’re trying to look up is called «Intel Core i9-12900KS.» The first part, Intel Core, refers to the brand of the processor. Intel has several brands that are not Intel Core, such as the low-end Intel Pentium or Intel Celeron.
The second part is the brand modifier. This is important and refers to how powerful a particular CPU is within its generation. Starting with the budget i3, Intel also offers i5, i7, and i9. The i5 and i7 lines are typically mid-range to high-end, and the i9 is reserved for high-end processors.
Moving on to the numerical part of the name, the first two digits refer to the generation of the processor. As an example, Intel’s 12th-generation processors, Alder Lake, all start with a «12.
» The final three digits refer to the specific model and also go up depending on how good a model you’re dealing with.
The letter at the end refers to the type of processor. There are many variants, so check them out on Intel’s website if you want a full list. The most common ones include:
- K — Unlocked (overclockable)
- F — No integrated graphics
- S — Special edition
- T — Low power, lower performance
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Intel Core i5-12600K review: Intel’s new hybrid core design shines in the mid-range
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It’s going to be difficult to ignore the allure of the Core i5-12600K for performance and value.
(Image: © Daniel Rubino / Windows Central)
AMD has stolen the show from Intel since 2017 with the launch of Ryzen. The company’s mid-range processors simply offered far better value than what Intel had out there, even though the Core i5 family of CPUs won in single-core performance tests. Intel is fighting back with the launch of the Core i5-12600K, a 12th Gen processor with plenty to write home about.
Alder Lake is the codename for this generation of Intel processor architecture and it has allowed the company to move into the realm of 10nm design, squeeze out more performance per watt, and bring down the price to entice AMD customers. The Core i5-12600K may be considered a mid-range processor, but it has a whopping 10 cores and 16 threads.
We’re going to look at how this new processor performs in a variety of tests compared against its predecessor, the Intel Core i5-11600K, and determine if it’s worth the price for those considering a new CPU.
Spoiler: the Core i9-12900K may not be the star of this show.
Intel Core i5-12600K
Bottom line: The Intel Core i5-12600K is a worthy successor to the family of popular gaming processors. If you want to build or upgrade a battle station, this is all you’ll need for the latest PC titles.
For
- Great gaming performance
- Decent TDP and thermals
- Can be overclocked
- Offers excellent value
- Supports DDR5 RAM and PCIe 5.0
Against
- No included cooler
- Requires new motherboard
Intel Core i5-12600K: Price and availability
Source: Rich Edmonds / Windows Central (Image credit: Source: Rich Edmonds / Windows Central)
Intel launched the Core i5-12600K alongside other 12th Gen processors on October 27. These new processors are available at full MSRP and you should expect to pay around $289 for the Core i5.
This is an aggressive price for a brand new processor with 10 cores and 16 threads, largely in response to the success of AMD’s Ryzen range of CPUs.
You will require a new motherboard to enjoy the benefits of going with a 12th Gen Intel processor. The Core i5-12600K also supports DDR5 RAM, which will likely be considerably more expensive than DDr4 counterparts, though current-gen Intel motherboards can support either DIMM generation.
All-new core design
Intel Core i5-12600K: Alder Lake
Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central (Image credit: Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central)
Alder Lake is the codename for Intel’s 12th Gen Core processors. The Intel Core i5-12600K is part of this generation, offering 10 cores and 16 threads for fantastic mid-range performance on paper. Alder Lake processors are the first from Intel to utilize a hybrid core design for desktop PCs, allowing for not only notable performance boosts but also better efficiency.
Intel has a new core design and it promises considerable gains across the board.
Instead of using the same cores, Intel has installed six performance and four efficiency cores onto the Core i5-12600K. The former is reserved for demanding tasks whilst the more efficient cores are reserved for background tasks. Intel has a new Thread Director that works with Windows 11 to efficiently move tasks to specific cores.
It’s much like what Apple and other companies are doing with ARM processors like the M1 Pro and M1 Max. More details on the 12th Gen architecture can be found in our in-depth Intel Core i9-12900K review.
The results speak for themselves
Intel Core i5-12600K: Benchmarks and performance
Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central (Image credit: Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central)
Sure, it’s possible to go and buy a Core i7 or even a Core i9 for a truly powerful gaming PC, but that wouldn’t do your wallet any favors, which is precisely where the Core i5 range comes into play.
We’re now at a point where a 10 core and 16 thread processor is considered mid-range and is priced as such. You’d be hard-pressed to even find a 10-core CPU just five years ago.
It’s not all about the number of cores and threads, which AMD’s FX range of processors showcased to the industry. Thankfully, Intel has managed to bring down its manufacturing process to just 10nm, which is still behind TSMC’s 7nm used for AMD Ryzen CPUs but is far better than 14nm to which 11th Gen Core processors were built on.
| Category | Intel Core i5-12600K | Intel Core i5-11600K | AMD Ryzen 7 5800X |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cores/Threads | 10/16 | 6/12 | 8/16 |
| Base Frequency | P: 3.7GHz E: 2.8GHz |
3.9GHz | 3.8GHz |
| Boost | P: 4.9GHz E: 3.6GHz |
4.9GHz | 4.7GHz |
Turbo Boost Max 3. 0 |
❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Memory | DDR4-3200/DDR5-4800 Up to 128GB |
DDR4-3200 Up to 128GB |
DDR4-3200 Up to 128GB |
| L3 Cache | 20MB | 12MB | 32MB |
| Integrated Graphics | Intel UHD Graphics 770 | Intel UHD Graphics 750 | ❌ |
| PCIe | PCIe Gen 5.0 x 20 | PCIe Gen 4.0 x 20 | PCIe Gen 4.0 x 20 |
| TDP | 125W | 125W | 105W |
| Manufacturing Node | 10nm | 14nm | 7nm |
| Socket | LGA1700 | LGA1200 | AM4 |
| Price | $289 | $262 | $449 |
Intel’s Core i5-12600K is able to overtake the older i9-11900K, as well as Apple’s M1.
The Core i5-12600K doesn’t lose out on specifications.
It comes with full support for the latest DDR5 RAM (as well as DDR4 if you’d prefer), PCIe 5.0 for more GPU bandwidth, and the latest UHD Graphics from Intel. Cache has also seen a considerable boost to better suit the new core array, which should give it an even greater edge against its predecessor and competition.
So how does all this translate to performance? We installed the Core i5 onto the same MSI motherboard used for our Core i9 tests so the setup is almost identical included using DDR5 RAM. The results speak for themselves. The 10-core i5-12600K is able to overtake the older Core i9-11900K, as well as Apple’s M1 processors that have seemingly dominated the news cycle these past weeks.
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For gaming, Time Spy shows (using the same RAM and GPU) that you won’t lose much in terms of performance for saving a considerable amount of money.
The Core i5 is a full $300 more affordable than the Core i9, which is a fantastic deal when you look at how well this little processor performs.
When paired with an NVIDIA RTX 3080, the Core i5 had no issues playing Doom Eternal at 3840×1600 resolution with graphics set to Ultra Nightmare (the highest) with DLSS (Quality), ray tracing enabled, and adaptive refresh — basically maxed out. Specifically, we consistently hit 144 frames-per-second (FPS), which seemingly makes the GPU the bottleneck here, not the CPU.
And that’s if you pair it up with a GPU. Intel still ships processors with integrated graphics and the 12600K is no exception. Now sporting Intel’s UHD Graphics 770, you can easily get away with playing numerous PC games without a discrete card installed. The previous-gen UHD Graphics 750 was no slouch, and this latest iteration turns everything up a notch further.
The Core i5-12600K may also be a better option if you don’t want to invest in an AIO solution or wish to use the most compact best PC case you can find.
Compared to the Core i9, we’re looking at a good 10C drop while gaming to around 33C (91F), while idling and stress testing were about the same.
Your turn, AMD
Intel Core i5-12600K: Competition
Source: Rich Edmonds / Windows Central (Image credit: Source: Rich Edmonds / Windows Central)
AMD rocked the processor market with Ryzen back in 2017, but the company had to do something since Intel was so far out ahead. The tables have turned since and now it’s Intel on the backfoot, but Alder Lake and the 12th Gen family of Intel Core CPUs are set to take the fight back to AMD. The closest competition from Team Red for the Core i5-12600K would be the Ryzen 5 5600X.
Intel once again offers the best desktop processor for performance and value.
Interestingly, it’s Intel that has more cores and threads. The Core i5-12600K has 10 physical cores and 16 threads compared to the AMD Ryzen 5 5600X’s 6 and 12 core and thread setup.
What also sets these processors apart is what cores are used. Intel has gone full hybrid with its 12th Gen desktop processors, which should offer better results allowing the OS to divert background tasks to specific energy-efficient cores.
This frees up the high-performance cores, of which there are 6 on the Core i5-12600K (the same as the six-core Ryzen 5 5600X), to ramp up and focus on handling games or software. Intel has largely been the better choice for single-core performance and that doesn’t change with this generation, but how the company has built the Core i5-12600K means it’s also way out in front for multi-core applications.
In fact, you could also say the Core i5-12600K is a better buy than AMD’s Ryzen 7 5800X.
Intel Core i5-12600K: Should you buy it?
Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central (Image credit: Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central)
You should buy this if …
- You want a powerful gaming CPU
- You don’t want to spend more than $300
- You want to do some overclocking
You shouldn’t buy this if .
..
- You plan to game and stream on the same PC
- You’re looking for the best multi-core performance for heavy workloads
We liked the Core i5-11600K, but Intel has something totally different in the form of the 12th Gen Core i5. Designed for an all-around good gaming PC, the Core i5-12600K is a superb choice. It’s unlocked, allowing you to push the processor further if allowed by the motherboard and cooling capacity.
And it’s now more difficult to recommend AMD for multi-core applications alone. The Core i5-12600K will easily give the Ryzen 7 5800X a run for its money across a variety of benchmark tests, leaving it in dust for gaming. Intel has turned itself around for 2021 with an answer for all of AMD’s processor offerings and the Core i5-12600K is a fine choice for mid-range PC builds.
You will need to factor in the cost of a new motherboard, especially if upgrading. But upgrade you should if still using a 10th or older Core i5 processor. The performance gains are impressive, so too is the price.
This is now one of the best CPUs for PC.
Intel Core i5-12600K
Bottom line: You likely don’t require a Core i7 or Core i9 unless you’re doing serious work or streaming. For games and other PC use, the Core i5-12600K is an excellent processor with impressive numbers for the price.
Daniel Rubino is the Executive Editor of Windows Central, head reviewer, podcast co-host, and analyst. He has been covering Microsoft here since 2007, back when this site was called WMExperts (and later Windows Phone Central). His interests include Windows, Microsoft Surface, laptops, next-gen computing, and arguing with people on the internet.
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Which CPU Should You Buy? Intel Core i5 vs. i7
For many consumers on the hunt for a new desktop or laptop PC, one of the biggest considerations is the type of processor the system should have. Two of the CPU families most often in contention in mainstream systems are the Intel Core i5 and the Intel Core i7. And that makes picking tricky, because the two lines have a lot in common.
The differences among Intel’s key processor families are clearer when you’re looking at the Core i3 (found mainly in budget systems) or the Core i9 (powerful CPUs for content-creation and other high-performance scenarios).
The differences between the Core i5 and the Core i7 can seem subtle and more nuanced, especially when the prices for a Core i5 versus a Core i7 PC sometimes can be so close.
There isn’t always a clear-cut, definitive answer to which is better in a given situation, and often, it just comes down to your budget. But knowing the essentials about each can help you make a smarter choice. Let’s get into the key differences between the Core i5 and the Core i7. (Also check out our Core i7 vs. Core i9 explainer.)
How Many Cores Is Enough?
Simply put, a Core i5-equipped system will be less expensive than a Core i7-equipped PC, if all else is equal. But in most cases, if you’re comparing apples to apples (that is, a desktop chip to a desktop chip, or a laptop chip to a laptop chip, and the same generation to the same generation), the Core i5 will have fewer, or dialed-down, capabilities. A Core i7 will typically be better for multitasking, media-editing and media-creation tasks, high-end gaming, and similar demanding workloads.
Often, though, the price difference will be small, so it’s worth playing around with the online configurator of whatever PC you’re buying to see if you can afford a Core i7-powered machine.
When you’re using software that can leverage as many cores as it can get (modern content-creation programs, like the ones in the Adobe Creative Suite, are excellent examples), the more cores you have in your CPU, the faster it will perform.
Most of the latest Intel Core i5 and Core i7 CPUs have four or more cores, which is what we consider the sweet spot for most mainstream users. Many late-model desktop Core i5 and Core i7 chips have six cores, and a few ultra-high-end gaming PCs come with eight-core Core i7s. Meanwhile, a few ultra-low-power laptop Core i5 and Core i7 CPUs have just two. You’ll find these mainly in ultra-thin laptops.
The same rough Core nomenclature has been used for quite a few generations of Intel CPUs now. To make sure you’re buying a system with a recent-generation processor, look for the Core ix-11xxx or Core ix-10xxx naming structure.
Some CPUs designed for thin or mainstream laptops have a «U» or a «Y» appended to the end of the model name, while others have a «G» followed by a number that denotes the capabilities of the chip’s graphics processing. Chips meant for power laptops tend to end in «H» or «HK»; and those intended for desktops have a «K» or a «T» at the end (or just end in a zero).
Unless you’re shopping the used-PC market, you’ll find Core i5 and i7 chips of the 8th and 9th Generation (or older) in end-of-life/closeout systems and some budget PCs, while you’ll find 10th and 11th Generation chips in most new models. The rough guide, if you don’t want to get in too deep: To get better performance within each generation and within each class (Core i5 or Core i7), buy a processor with a higher model number. For instance, an Intel Core i7-1065G7 generally has better performance than an Intel Core i7-1060G7.
A Quick Word on Cache
In addition to generally faster base clock speeds, Core i7 processors have larger amounts of cache (the memory installed on the chip) to help the processor deal with repetitive tasks or frequently accessed data more quickly.
If you’re editing and calculating spreadsheets, your CPU shouldn’t have to reload the framework where the numbers sit. This info will sit in the cache, so when you change a number, the calculations are almost instantaneous. Larger cache sizes help with multitasking, as well, since background tasks will be ready for when you switch focus to another window.
Cache size isn’t a make-or-break spec, but it illustrates advances from generation to generation and family to family. The latest Core i5 and Core i7 laptop processors have cache sizes of 16MB or less.
Turbo Boost and HyperThreading
Turbo Boost is an overclocking feature that Intel has built into its processors for many generations now. Essentially, it allows some of the chip’s cores to run faster than their base clock speed when only one or two of the cores are needed (like when you’re running a single-threaded task that you want done now). Both Core i5 and Core i7 processors use Turbo Boost, with Core i7 processors generally achieving higher clock speeds.
Each chip you’re looking at will have rated base and boost clock speeds, and while higher is generally better (again: all else being equal), it depends on the specific design and cooling of the PC how long a chip can sustain its boost speeds, how high, and on how many cores. That’s where looking at nitty-gritty performance testing comes in.
Intel Hyper-Threading, in contrast, is a has-it or doesn’t-have-it feature. It uses multithreading technology to make the operating system and applications think that a processor has more cores than it actually does. Hyper-Threading technology is used to increase performance on multithreaded tasks, letting each core address two processing threads at the same time instead of just one. The simplest multithreaded situation is a user running several programs simultaneously, but other activities can leverage Hyper-Threading under certain conditions, such as media creation and editing work (notably, transcoding and rendering, where the software supports multithreading) and even at times web surfing (loading different page elements, like videos and images, simultaneously).
In general, all else being equal, a CPU that supports Hyper-Threading in a given family will be more capable than one that does not, if what you do day to day is heavily influenced by this feature. This is even true between Core families, which means that it may be better, if your software relies heavily on multithreading, to choose a four-core chip with Hyper-Threading over an equivalent six-core without.
When shopping for PCs, alas, it’s not always easy to find information on the number of cores, or the presence or absence of Hyper-Threading support, on a PC vendor’s spec list. If you can find the chip’s exact model number, though, plug it into Intel’s specs database(Opens in a new window), which will show you clock speed, core count, Hyper-Threading support, and much more.
Understanding Integrated Graphics
Most thin and light laptops with Core i5 or Core i7 processors that aren’t gaming machines rely on integrated graphics-acceleration silicon that’s part of the CPU die.
Gaming machines and certain high-end systems, on the other hand, have dedicated graphics chips that are separate from the CPU.
Core i5 and Core i7 chips come with different kinds of integrated graphics capabilities. At the low end are Intel HD Graphics and Intel UHD Graphics. Iris Plus is a step up, available on many 10th-generation chips. The latest and greatest integrated graphics is Iris Xe, available on only a few 11th-generation Core i5 and Core i7 models.
Recommended by Our Editors
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First Tests: Will Intel’s New ‘Comet Lake-H’ Core i7 Be the Best Laptop CPU of 2020?
Integrated graphics save power, since there’s no extra graphics chip on your laptop’s or desktop’s motherboard drawing juice. Intel’s integrated graphics solutions work well for mainstream productivity and display (including multidisplay) tasks. Both Iris Plus and Iris Xe can rival the capabilities of a low-end discrete GPU like Nvidia’s GeForce MX series.
Integrated graphics are not so great at handling demanding PC games, though. While these integrated Intel graphics processors will let you play some recent games at low quality and resolution settings (how well varies significantly by the game), you will definitely need a discrete graphics card from AMD or Nvidia to play 3D games at 1080p, 1440p, or 4K resolutions with the quality settings turned up. Nor are integrated solutions the best choice for tasks that demand GPU acceleration in addition to CPU muscle, such as certain specialized, heavy rendering and scientific applications.
Core Outliers: Core X-Series and Core Y Mobile
Intel’s Core X-Series desktop processor family(Opens in a new window), introduced in 2017, is aimed at high-performance users like extreme gamers and video editors. The Core i7-7820X processor, for example, has eight cores and, thanks to its Hyper-Threading support, can process 16 threads simultaneously. Most of these chips retail for well over $500 (some as high as $2,000!) and are overkill for most casual or even mainstream users who perform tasks like productivity work and web surfing, or even most serious PC gamers.
These CPUs are positioned as high-performance hardware for 3D rendering, mathematical calculations on large data sets, 4K video processing, game development, and to an extent high-end gaming (with multiple video cards).
Unless you fall into one of the above buckets, you can safely ignore the Core i5 (now end of life, and not recommended) and Core i7 X-Series CPUs and opt for an ordinary desktop Core CPU instead. There is no equivalent to the Core X-Series for laptops.
At the distant other end of the spectrum are Intel’s Core Y-series processors for laptops. They are aimed at extremely thin-and-light ultraportable laptops. In recent generations, these chips, such as the Core i7-10510Y, consume just 7 watts of power and generate very little heat, which can eliminate the need for a cooling fan.
Making the Core Choice
In our testing in recent years, we’ve seen a few trends to keep in mind when you’re deciding between processor options. On the desktop, Intel’s Core i5 caters to mainstream and value-minded users who care about performance, while the Core i7 is made for enthusiasts and high-end users.
On the laptop side of things, it’s a little fuzzier; there, you’ll want to look more at whether Hyper-Threading is supported by a given chip and how many cores the chip has, as well as how a chip performs in independent testing in a given laptop configuration. How the laptop maker implements a chip and cools it can be just as important as the CPU’s spec traits.
That’s solid advice for mainstream buyers. Beyond that, only extreme users need to consider Intel’s desktop Core X-Series, and only people for whom a laptop’s weight and portability matters above all else need to consider the Y-Series.
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Which CPU Should You Buy?
The processor is the brain of a computer, but understanding the difference between processors requires a lot of brainpower of your own. Unfortunately, Intel has a confusing naming scheme, and the question we get asked most often is: What’s the difference between an i3, i5, or i7 processor? Which CPU should I buy?
It’s time to demystify that. Read on to learn about the difference between an Intel Core i5 and a Core i7, if a Core i3 is any good, and whether you should buy an Intel Core i9.
The Differences Between Core i7, Core i5, and Core i3
An Intel Core i7 is better than a Core i5, which in turn is better than a Core i3. The trouble is knowing what to expect within each tier. Things go a little deeper.
First, Core i7 does not mean a seven-core processor! These are just names to indicate relative performance.
Older Intel Core i3 series had only dual-core processors, but more recent generations have a mixture of dual- and quad-core CPUs.
It is a similar story for older Intel Core i5 CPUs. Older generations of Intel Core i5 processors had a mixture of dual- and quad-core processors, but the later generations typically feature a quad- or even hexa-core (six) configuration, along with faster overclock speeds than the Core i3. The latest i5 generation includes 10-core CPUs.
The latest Intel Core i7 CPU generations include quad-core, hexa-core, and octa-core, and 12-core configurations. Again, the Intel Core i7 CPUs outperform their Core i5 counterparts and are much faster than the entry-level Core i3 CPUs.
Quad-cores are usually better than dual-cores and hexa-cores better than quad-cores, and so on, but it isn’t always accurate depending on the CPU generation—more on these differences in a moment.
Intel releases «families» of chipsets, called generations.
At the time of writing, Intel has launched its 12th-generation CPUs, named Alder Lake. Each family, in turn, has its own line of Core i3, Core i5, and Core i7 series of processors. The latest CPU generations have another tier above Core i7, the Intel Core i9.
The Intel Core i9 series is Intel’s extreme performance line. Most Core i9 CPUs are now 16-core beasts (doubling the octa-configuration of the previous generation) and come with a very high clock speed, enabling them to perform to a very high standard for prolonged periods. They may also come with a larger CPU memory cache than their counterparts, enabling faster overall performance.
Intel’s 12th Gen CPUs added another consideration for would-be users: Hybrid Cores.
However, with the 12th generation Intel Core, we now get different Performance and Efficiency cores.What this does is that the processor uses Performance Cores (P-Cores) for priority apps running in the foreground while the Efficiency Cores (E-Cores) are used for background tasks.
For example, when you’re gaming, the P-Cores will handle your game while the E-Cores will work on background tasks, like your streaming app.Similarly, P-Cores are best used for single-thread and lightly-threaded tasks, like games and productivity apps, while it designates highly-threaded apps to the E-Cores. This ensures that your computer makes efficient use of the available processor power.
Now while this doesn’t make a huge amount of difference when you’re choosing between an i3, i5, or i7 CPU, each of these CPU types comes with a different Hybrid Core configuration.
How to Tell Which Intel CPU Generation Is Which?
You can spot which generation a processor belongs to by the first digits in its four or five-digit model name. For example, the Intel Core i7-11700K belongs to the 11th generation.
For a long time, a useful rule of thumb for Intel CPU model names was that the other three digits were Intel’s assessment of how the processor compares to others in its own line.
For example, an Intel Core i3-8145U is superior to the Core i3-8109U because 145 is higher than 109.
That rule is still in place, but it isn’t always as easy to follow as it once was as there are several other product line modifiers you can find in the model number. However, «A higher SKU within otherwise-identical processor brands and generations will generally have more features,» as per Intel’s naming convention guide.
Furthermore, this change is another reason why comparing CPUs across generations using their model number alone is advisable, as Intel tweaks things.
What Intel’s Model Letter Suffixes Mean: U vs. HQ vs. H vs. K
As you can see, the model number will typically be followed by one or a combination of the following letters: U, Y, T, Q, H, G, and K. Here’s what they mean:
- U: Mobile power efficient. The U rating is only for mobile processors. These draw less power and are better for battery life.
- Y: Extremely Low Power.
Processors designed for devices with extremely low power requirements, such as Internet of Things devices or other embedded hardware. - T: Power Optimized for desktop processors.
- H: High-Performance Mobile. These CPUs are high-performance models optimized for mobile hardware.
- HK: High-Performance Mobile, but also has an unlocked CPU which allows for overclocking.
- HQ: High-Performance Mobile. Optimized for mobile hardware, with a quad-core processor.
- G: Includes Discrete Graphics. Typically found on laptops, this means there is a dedicated GPU with the processor.
- G1-G7: The level of integrated graphics performance you can expect.
- K: Unlocked. This means you can overclock the processor above its rating.
- KF: Unlocked, no integrated graphics.
These high-performance CPUs can be overclocked, but they do not come with onboard graphics. - S: Special Edition processors, usually featuring very high-performance hardware.
Understanding these letters and the numbering system above will help you know what a processor offers just by looking at the model number without needing to read the actual specifications.
Intel Core i7 vs. i5 vs. i3: Hyper-Threading
The physical cores largely determine the speed of a processor. But with how modern CPUs work, you can get a boost in speed with virtual cores, activated through hyper-threading.
In layman’s terms, hyper-threading allows a single physical core to act as two virtual cores, thus performing multiple tasks simultaneously without activating the second physical core (which would require more power from the system).
If both processors are active and using hyper-threading, those four virtual cores will compute faster.
However, do note that physical cores are faster than virtual cores. A quad-core CPU will perform much better than a dual-core CPU with hyper-threading!
The difficulty is that there is no blanket approach from Intel regarding hyper-threading on its CPUs. For a long time, only Intel i7 CPUs featured hyper-threading, with a few Intel Core i3 CPUs but no Intel Core i5 CPUs. That situation changed with Intel’s 10th Gen CPUs, with some Core i5 processors launching with hyper-threading, but prior to this, Intel disabled hyper-threading on some of its Intel Core i7 9th Gen CPUs in response to security risks.
In short, you’ll have to check the individual CPU for its hyper-threading potential, as Intel appears to chop and change with each processor generation.
One thing is for sure: the fastest Core i9 series does support hyper-threading.
Intel Core i7 vs. i5 vs. i3: Turbo Boost
All of the latest Intel Core processors now support Turbo Boost frequencies.
Previously, Intel Core i3 owners were left out in the dark, forced to suffer with their regular CPU speeds. However, as of the Intel Core i3-8130U, the CPU manufacturer began adding higher frequency modes to the entry-level CPU series.
Of course, Core i5, Core i7, and Core i9 CPUs all feature Turbo Boost, too.
Turbo Boost is Intel’s proprietary technology to intelligently increase a processor’s clock speed if the application demands it. So, for example, if you are playing a game and your system requires some extra horsepower, Turbo Boost will kick in to compensate.
Turbo Boost is useful for those who run resource-intensive software like video editors or video games, but it doesn’t have much of an effect if you’re just browsing the web and using Microsoft Office.
Intel Core i7 vs. i5 vs. i3: Cache Size
Apart from Hyper-Threading and Turbo Boost, the one other major difference in the Core lineup is Cache Size. The cache is the processor’s own memory and acts like its private RAM.
Upgrading to a newer CPU with a larger memory cache is one of the upgrades that will benefit your PC the most.
Just like with RAM, more cache size is better. So if the processor is performing one task repeatedly, it will keep that task in its cache. If a processor can store more tasks in its private memory, it can do them faster if they come up again.
The latest generations of Core i3 CPUs typically come with between 4-12MB of Intel Smart Cache memory. The Core i5 series has between 6MB and 20MB of Intel Smart Cache memory, and the Core i7 series has between 12MB and 25MB of cache. The Intel Core i9 series tops the list, with each CPU coming with between 16MB and 30MB Intel Smart Cache memory.
Intel Graphics: Xe, HD, UHD, Iris, Iris Pro, or Plus
Ever since graphics were integrated into the processor chip, integrated graphics have become an important decision point in buying CPUs. But as with everything else, Intel has made the system a little confusing.
Intel Graphics Technology is the umbrella term covering all Intel integrated graphics. Within that, there are different generations of Intel integrated graphics technology, confusingly referred to by both series names and generational names. Still following?
- Intel HD Graphics was first introduced in 2010 as the first series under this umbrella but is actually Gen5 (5th generation) in terms of development.
- Intel Iris Graphics and Intel Iris Pro Graphics were introduced in 2013 and are Gen7 integrated graphics units. The Iris Pro Graphics units were pretty big news at the time as they integrated DRAM into the module, giving the graphics performance an extra boost.
- Intel UHD Graphics launched with Intel’s 10th Generation mobile CPUs and is only available on certain laptop model processors.
- Intel Xe (known as Gen12 integrated graphic) was a massive step forwards for integrated graphics, using a new architecture to deliver much higher integrated graphics performance than previous generations.
Adding to the confusion, some of the Intel UHD Graphics models use Intel Xe architecture, further muddying the water.
The best advice for how to interpret these? Just don’t. Instead, rely on Intel’s naming system. If the processor’s model ends with HK, you know it’s a model with high graphics performance and an unlocked CPU. If it ends with a G, that means there is a dedicated GPU, not one of Intel’s chips.
Choosing Between Intel Cores i3 vs. i5 vs. i7 vs. i9
| Processor | Physical Cores | Cache Size | Hyper-Threading | Turbo Boost | Graphics | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Core i3 | 2/4 | 4-12MB | Yes | Yes | Low | Low |
| Core i5 | 2/4/6/10 | 4-20MB | Selected Models | Yes | Mid-Range | Mid-Range |
| Core i7 | 4/6/8/12 | 12-25MB | Yes | Yes | High | High |
| Core i9 | 8/16 | 16-30MB | Yes | Yes | Best | Very High |
Generally speaking, here’s who each processor type is best for:
- Intel Core i3: Basic users.
Economic choice. Good for browsing the web, using Microsoft Office, making video calls, and social networking. Not for gamers or professionals. - Intel Core i5: Intermediate users. Those who want a balance between performance and price. Good for gaming if you buy a G processor or a Q processor with a dedicated graphics processor.
- Intel Core i7: Power users. You multi-task with several windows open at the same time, you run apps that require a lot of horsepower, and you hate waiting for anything to load.
- Intel Core i9: The extreme performance tier is marketed for those that demand the best and fastest performance in every area of their machine.
How Will You Choose Between Intel Core CPUs?
This article provides a basic guide for anyone looking to buy a new Intel processor but is confused between Core i3, i5, and i7. But even after understanding all this, when it’s time to decide, you might need to choose between two processors from different generations because they’re priced the same.
When you’re comparing, my best tip is to head to CPU Boss, where you can compare both processors and get a detailed analysis, as well as ratings. If you don’t understand the jargon, just go with the rating and the basic advice. Even if you understand CPU jargon, CPU Boss has all the details you’ll need.
Most People Don’t Need Intel Core i9
Although the ultra-performance models in the Intel Core i9 range seem incredibly exciting (and they are!), they are a bit overkill for most users. Intel markets those at pro-gamers, designers, content creators, developers, and more, and for a good reason. Most of the time, a top-tier Intel Core i7 CPU will do the job and save you a fair whack of cash in the process.
However, each to their own, of course, and if you can afford an Intel Core i9 CPU for your gaming rig, buy it and enjoy the incredible experience.
Core i5 — Intel — WikiChip
Core i5 is family of mid-range performance 64-bit x86 processors designed by Intel for desktops and laptops.
The Core i5 family was introduced by Intel in 2009, following the retirement of the Core 2 family. Core i5 microprocessors are positioned between the high-end performance Core i7 and the low-end performance Core i3.
Intel first announced the retirement of the Core 2 in mid-2009 and was introduced later the same year. Core i5 are mid-range performance processors with performance higher than those offered by the Core i3 processors but below those offered by Core i7. Core i5 processors usually have more cores than i3 (typically 4 vs 2 in i3), and offer more features (e.g. Turbo Boost Technology)
Intel has traditionally been grouping Core i5 processors into generations based on the microarchitecture they are based on with 1st generation being based on Nehalem in 45 nm with the latest chips based on Kaby Lake manufactured using a 14 nm process.
The Arrandale-based i5 processors are dual-core processors. These processors had the FSB replaced with Direct Media Interface 1.
0 and introduced AES instructions. These processors use Socket-G1. They all have the following features:
| i5-430M | 7 January 2010 | 2 | 4 | 35 W
35,000 mW |
2.267 GHz
2,266.66 MHz |
2.533 GHz
2,533.33 MHz |
2.533 GHz
2,533.33 MHz |
HD Graphics (Ironlake) | 500 MHz
0.5 GHz |
766 MHz
0.766 GHz |
✘ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ | |
| i5-450M | 20 June 2010 | 2 | 4 | 35 W
35,000 mW |
2.4 GHz
2,399.99 MHz |
2.667 GHz
2,666.66 MHz |
2.667 GHz
2,666.66 MHz |
HD Graphics (Ironlake) | 500 MHz
0. |
766 MHz
0.766 GHz |
✘ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ | |
| i5-460M | 26 September 2010 | 2 | 4 | 35 W
35,000 mW |
2.533 GHz
2,533.33 MHz |
2.8 GHz
2,799.99 MHz |
2.8 GHz
2,799.99 MHz |
HD Graphics (Ironlake) | 500 MHz
0.5 GHz |
766 MHz
0.766 GHz |
✘ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ | |
| i5-480M | 11 January 2011 | 2 | 4 | 35 W
35,000 mW |
2.667 GHz
2,666.66 MHz |
2.933 GHz
2,933.33 MHz |
2.933 GHz
2,933.33 MHz |
HD Graphics (Ironlake) | 500 MHz
0. |
766 MHz
0.766 GHz |
✘ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ | |
| i5-520E | $ 210.00
€ 189.00 |
7 January 2010 | 2 | 4 | 35 W
35,000 mW |
2.4 GHz
2,399.99 MHz |
2.933 GHz
2,933.33 MHz |
2.667 GHz
2,666.66 MHz |
HD Graphics (Ironlake) | 500 MHz
0.5 GHz |
766 MHz
0.766 GHz |
✔ | ✔ | ✘ | ✔ |
| i5-520M | $ 225.00
€ 202.50 |
7 January 2010 | 2 | 4 | 35 W
35,000 mW |
2.4 GHz
2,399.99 MHz |
2. 933 GHz
2,933.33 MHz |
2.667 GHz
2,666.66 MHz |
HD Graphics (Ironlake) | 500 MHz
0.5 GHz |
766 MHz
0.766 GHz |
✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ |
| i5-540M | $ 257.00
€ 231.30 |
7 January 2010 | 2 | 4 | 35 W
35,000 mW |
2.533 GHz
2,533.33 MHz |
3.067 GHz
3,066.66 MHz |
2.8 GHz
2,799.99 MHz |
HD Graphics (Ironlake) | 500 MHz
0.5 GHz |
766 MHz
0.766 GHz |
✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ |
| i5-560M | $ 225.00
€ 202.50 |
26 September 2010 | 2 | 4 | 35 W
35,000 mW |
2.667 GHz
2,666.66 MHz |
3.2 GHz
3,199.99 MHz |
2.933 GHz
2,933.33 MHz |
HD Graphics (Ironlake) | 500 MHz
0.5 GHz |
766 MHz
0.766 GHz |
✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ |
| i5-580M | $ 266.00
€ 239.40 |
26 September 2010 | 2 | 4 | 35 W
35,000 mW |
2.667 GHz
2,666.66 MHz |
3.333 GHz
3,333.33 MHz |
3.067 GHz
3,066.66 MHz |
HD Graphics (Ironlake) | 500 MHz
0.5 GHz |
766 MHz
0.766 GHz |
✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ |
| i5-430UM | 20 June 2010 | 2 | 4 | 18 W
18,000 mW |
1.2 GHz
1,199.99 MHz |
1.733 GHz
1,733.33 MHz |
1.467 GHz
1,466.66 MHz |
HD Graphics (Ironlake) | 166 MHz
0.166 GHz |
500 MHz
0.5 GHz |
✘ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ | |
| i5-470UM | 1 October 2010 | 2 | 4 | 18 W
18,000 mW |
1.333 GHz
1,333.33 MHz |
1.867 GHz
1,866.66 MHz |
1.6 GHz
1,599.99 MHz |
HD Graphics (Ironlake) | 166 MHz
0.166 GHz |
500 MHz
0.5 GHz |
✘ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ | |
| i5-520UM | $ 241.00
€ 216. |
7 January 2010 | 2 | 4 | 18 W
18,000 mW |
1.067 GHz
1,066.66 MHz |
1.867 GHz
1,866.66 MHz |
1.6 GHz
1,599.99 MHz |
HD Graphics (Ironlake) | 166 MHz
0.166 GHz |
500 MHz
0.5 GHz |
✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ |
| i5-540UM | $ 250.00
€ 225.00 |
24 May 2010 | 2 | 4 | 18 W
18,000 mW |
1.2 GHz
1,199.99 MHz |
2 GHz
1,999.99 MHz |
1.733 GHz
1,733.33 MHz |
HD Graphics (Ironlake) | 166 MHz
0.166 GHz |
500 MHz
0. |
✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ |
| i5-560UM | $ 250.00
€ 225.00 |
26 September 2010 | 2 | 4 | 18 W
18,000 mW |
1.333 GHz
1,333.33 MHz |
2.133 GHz
2,133.33 MHz |
1.867 GHz
1,866.66 MHz |
HD Graphics (Ironlake) | 166 MHz
0.166 GHz |
500 MHz
0.5 GHz |
✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ |
5 GHz 
5 GHz 
0469 hp 
0241 hp 
90 
5 GHz 2nd Generation mobile Core i5 processors were based on Sandy Bridge, an entirely new microarchitecture that provided higher performance at higher power efficiency along with many other improvements and changes. Those new models also integrate a higher performance GPU onto the same die as the microprocessor as well as introduced a new SIMD AVX instruction set extension as well as a number of new technologies.
It’s also worth pointing out that the ulta-low voltage models are now 1 watt of TDP less than previous generation while having higher clock speed. All Core i5 has the following features in common:
| i5-2410M | $ 225.00
€ 202.50 |
February 2011 | 2 | 4 | 35 W
35,000 mW |
2.3 GHz
2,300 MHz |
2.9 GHz
2,900 MHz |
2.7 GHz
2,700 MHz |
HD Graphics 3000 | 650 MHz
0.65 GHz |
1,200 MHz
1.2 GHz |
✘ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ |
| i5-2415M | $ 225.00
€ 202.50 |
February 2011 | 2 | 4 | 35 W
35,000 mW |
2.3 GHz
2,300 MHz |
2. 9 GHz
2,900 MHz |
HD Graphics 3000 | 650 MHz
0.65 GHz |
1,300 MHz
1.3 GHz |
✘ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ | |
| i5-2430M | $ 225.00
€ 202.50 |
October 2011 | 2 | 4 | 35 W
35,000 mW |
2.4 GHz
2,400 MHz |
3 GHz
3,000 MHz |
HD Graphics 3000 | 650 MHz
0.65 GHz |
1,200 MHz
1.2 GHz |
✘ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ | |
| i5-2435M | $ 225.00
€ 202.50 |
October 2011 | 2 | 4 | 35 W
35,000 mW |
2.4 GHz
2,400 MHz |
3 GHz
3,000 MHz |
HD Graphics 3000 | 650 MHz
0. |
1,300 MHz
1.3 GHz |
✘ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ | |
| i5-2450M | $ 800.00
€ 720.00 $ 823.00 € 740.70 |
January 2012 | 2 | 4 | 35 W
35,000 mW |
2.5 GHz
2,500 MHz |
3.1 GHz
3,100 MHz |
HD Graphics 3000 | 650 MHz
0.65 GHz |
1,300 MHz
1.3 GHz |
✘ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ | |
| i5-2475M | 2012 | 2 | 4 | 35 W
35,000 mW |
2.6 GHz
2,600 MHz |
HD Graphics 3000 | 650 MHz
0.65 GHz |
1,300 MHz
1. |
✘ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ | |||
| i5-2477M | June 2011 | 2 | 4 | 35 W
35,000 mW |
1.6 GHz
1,600 MHz |
HD Graphics 3000 | 350 MHz
0.35 GHz |
✘ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ | ||||
| i5-2487M | 2012 | 2 | 4 | 35 W
35,000 mW |
1.6 GHz
1,600 MHz |
HD Graphics 3000 | 350 MHz
0.35 GHz |
✘ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ | ||||
| i5-2490M | October 2011 | 2 | 4 | 35 W
35,000 mW |
2.7 GHz
2,700 MHz |
HD Graphics 3000 | 650 MHz
0. |
1,300 MHz
1.3 GHz |
✘ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ | |||
| i5-2497M | June 2011 | 2 | 4 | 35 W
35,000 mW |
1.5 GHz
1,500 MHz |
HD Graphics 3000 | 350 MHz
0.35 GHz |
✘ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ | ||||
| i5-2520M | $ 225.00
€ 202.50 |
February 2011 | 2 | 4 | 35 W
35,000 mW |
2.5 GHz
2,500 MHz |
3.2 GHz
3,200 MHz |
3 GHz
3,000 MHz |
HD Graphics 3000 | 650 MHz
0.65 GHz |
1,300 MHz
1.3 GHz |
✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ |
| i5-2540LM | February 2011 | 2 | 4 | 35 W
35,000 mW |
1.8 GHz
1,800 MHz |
HD Graphics 3000 | 650 MHz
0.65 GHz |
1,300 MHz
1.3 GHz |
✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ | |||
| i5-2540M | $ 266.00
€ 239.40 |
February 2011 | 2 | 4 | 35 W
35,000 mW |
2.6 GHz
2,600 MHz |
3.3 GHz
3,300 MHz |
3.1 GHz
3,100 MHz |
HD Graphics 3000 | 650 MHz
0.65 GHz |
1,300 MHz
1.3 GHz |
✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ |
| i5-2547M | June 2011 | 2 | 4 | 35 W
35,000 mW |
1. 6 GHz
1,600 MHz |
HD Graphics 3000 | 350 MHz
0.35 GHz |
1,300 MHz
1.3 GHz |
✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ | |||
| i5-2560LM | October 2011 | 2 | 4 | 35 W
35,000 mW |
1.9 GHz
1,900 MHz |
HD Graphics 3000 | 650 MHz
0.65 GHz |
1,300 MHz
1.3 GHz |
✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ | |||
| i5-2560M | October 2011 | 2 | 4 | 35 W
35,000 mW |
2.7 GHz
2,700 MHz |
HD Graphics 3000 | 650 MHz
0.65 GHz |
1,300 MHz
1.3 GHz |
✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ | |||
| i5-2580M | 2012 | 2 | 4 | 35 W
35,000 mW |
2.8 GHz
2,800 MHz |
HD Graphics 3000 | 650 MHz
0.65 GHz |
1,300 MHz
1.3 GHz |
✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ | |||
| i5-2467M | $ 250.00
€ 225.00 |
June 2011 | 2 | 4 | 17 W
17,000 mW |
1.6 GHz
1,600 MHz |
2.3 GHz
2,300 MHz |
HD Graphics 3000 | 350 MHz
0.35 GHz |
1,150 MHz
1.15 GHz |
✘ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ | |
| i5-2537M | $ 250.00
€ 225.00 |
February 2011 | 2 | 4 | 17 W
17,000 mW |
1.4 GHz
1,400 MHz |
2.3 GHz
2,300 MHz |
2 GHz
2,000 MHz |
HD Graphics 3000 | 350 MHz
0.35 GHz |
900 MHz
0.9 GHz |
✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ |
| i5-2557M | $ 250.00
€ 225.00 |
June 2011 | 2 | 4 | 17 W
17,000 mW |
1.7 GHz
1,700 MHz |
2.7 GHz
2,700 MHz |
2.4 GHz
2,400 MHz |
HD Graphics 3000 | 350 MHz
0.35 GHz |
1,200 MHz
1.2 GHz |
✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ |
| i5-2510E | $ 266.00
€ 239. |
February 2011 | 2 | 4 | 35 W
35,000 mW |
2.5 GHz
2,500 MHz |
3.1 GHz
3,100 MHz |
3 GHz
3,000 MHz |
HD Graphics 3000 | 650 MHz
0.65 GHz |
1,100 MHz
1.1 GHz |
✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ |
| i5-2515E | $ 266.00
€ 239.40 |
February 2011 | 2 | 4 | 35 W
35,000 mW |
2.5 GHz
2,500 MHz |
3.1 GHz
3,100 MHz |
2.9 GHz
2,900 MHz |
HD Graphics 3000 | 650 MHz
0.65 GHz |
1,100 MHz
1.1 GHz |
✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
65 GHz 
3 GHz 
65 GHz 
0469 hp 
0469 hp 
017 kW 
40 Intel released the desktop Skylake Mid-range processors in late 2015.
All desktop Core i5 models utilize the LGA-1151 socket which is used for most of the Skylake desktop lineup.
| i5-6400 | $ 187.00
€ 168.30 |
14 nm
0.014 μm |
27 September 2015 | 4 | 4 | 2.7 GHz
2,700 MHz |
65 W
65,000 mW |
64 GiB
65,536 MiB |
HD Graphics 530 | 350 MHz
0.35 GHz |
0.95 GHz
950 MHz |
| i5-6400T | $ 182.00
€ 163.80 |
14 nm
0.014 μm |
27 September 2015 | 4 | 4 | 2.2 GHz
2,200 MHz |
35 W
35,000 mW |
64 GiB
65,536 MiB |
HD Graphics 530 | 350 MHz
0.35 GHz |
0.95 GHz
950 MHz |
| i5-6402P | $ 187.00
€ 168.30 |
14 nm
0.014 μm |
27 December 2015 | 4 | 4 | 2.8 GHz
2,800 MHz |
65 W
65,000 mW |
64 GiB
65,536 MiB |
HD Graphics 510 | 350 MHz
0.35 GHz |
0.95 GHz
950 MHz |
| i5-6500 | $ 202.00
€ 181.80 |
14 nm
0.014 μm |
27 September 2015 | 4 | 4 | 3.2 GHz
3,200 MHz |
65 W
65,000 mW |
64 GiB
65,536 MiB |
HD Graphics 530 | 350 MHz
0.35 GHz |
1.05 GHz
1,050 MHz |
| i5-6500T | $ 192.00
€ 172.80 |
14 nm
0.014 μm |
27 September 2015 | 4 | 4 | 2.5 GHz
2,500 MHz |
35 W
35,000 mW |
64 GiB
65,536 MiB |
HD Graphics 530 | 350 MHz
0.35 GHz |
1.1 GHz
1,100 MHz |
| i5-6585R | $ 255.00
€ 229.50 |
14 nm
0.014 μm |
22 April 2016 | 4 | 4 | 2.8 GHz
2,800 MHz |
65 W
65,000 mW |
64 GiB
65,536 MiB |
Iris Pro Graphics 580 | 350 MHz
0.35 GHz |
1.1 GHz
1,100 MHz |
| i5-6600 | $ 224.00
€ 201.60 |
14 nm
0.014 μm |
27 September 2015 | 4 | 4 | 3.3 GHz
3,300 MHz |
65 W
65,000 mW |
64 GiB
65,536 MiB |
HD Graphics 530 | 350 MHz
0.35 GHz |
1.15 GHz
1,150 MHz |
| i5-6600K | $ 243.00
€ 218.70 |
14 nm
0.014 μm |
27 September 2015 | 4 | 4 | 3.5 GHz
3,500 MHz |
91 W
91,000 mW |
64 GiB
65,536 MiB |
HD Graphics 530 | 350 MHz
0.35 GHz |
1.15 GHz
1,150 MHz |
| i5-6600T | $ 213.00
€ 191.70 |
14 nm
0.014 μm |
27 September 2015 | 4 | 4 | 2.7 GHz
2,700 MHz |
35 W
35,000 mW |
64 GiB
65,536 MiB |
HD Graphics 530 | 350 MHz
0.35 GHz |
1.1 GHz
1,100 MHz |
| i5-6685R | $ 288.00
€ 259.20 |
14 nm
0.014 μm |
22 April 2016 | 4 | 4 | 3.2 GHz
3,200 MHz |
65 W
65,000 mW |
64 GiB
65,536 MiB |
Iris Pro Graphics 580 | 350 MHz
0.35 GHz |
1.15 GHz
1,150 MHz |
0625 TiB 
0625 TiB 
0625 TiB 
0625 TiB 
0625 TiB Mobile Skylake-based Mid-range processors were introduced in late 2015. Mobile Core i5 uses FCLGA-1515/FCLGA-1356 sockets which incorporate the chipset as well as the microprocessor itself in the same package.
| i5-6198DU | 14 nm
0.014 μm |
27 December 2015 | 2 | 4 | 2.3 GHz
2,300 MHz |
15 W
15,000 mW |
32 GiB
32,768 MiB |
HD Graphics 510 | 300 MHz
0.3 GHz |
1 GHz
1,000 MHz |
|
| i5-6200U | $ 281.00
€ 252.90 |
14 nm
0.014 μm |
27 September 2015 | 2 | 4 | 2.3 GHz
2,300 MHz |
15 W
15,000 mW |
32 GiB
32,768 MiB |
HD Graphics 520 | 300 MHz
0.3 GHz |
1 GHz
1,000 MHz |
| i5-6260U | $ 304.00
€ 273.60 |
14 nm
0.014 μm |
27 September 2015 | 2 | 4 | 1.8 GHz
1,800 MHz |
15 W
15,000 mW |
32 GiB
32,768 MiB |
Iris Graphics 540 | 300 MHz
0.3 GHz |
0.95 GHz
950 MHz |
| i5-6267U | $ 304.00
€ 273. |
14 nm
0.014 μm |
27 September 2015 | 2 | 4 | 2.9 GHz
2,900 MHz |
28 W
28,000 mW |
32 GiB
32,768 MiB |
Iris Graphics 550 | 300 MHz
0.3 GHz |
1.05 GHz
1,050 MHz |
| i5-6287U | $ 304.00
€ 273.60 |
14 nm
0.014 μm |
27 September 2015 | 2 | 4 | 3.1 GHz
3,100 MHz |
28 W
28,000 mW |
32 GiB
32,768 MiB |
Iris Graphics 550 | 300 MHz
0.3 GHz |
1.1 GHz
1,100 MHz |
| i5-6300HQ | $ 250. 00
€ 225.00 |
14 nm
0.014 μm |
27 September 2015 | 4 | 4 | 2.3 GHz
2,300 MHz |
45 W
45,000 mW |
64 GiB
65,536 MiB |
HD Graphics 530 | 350 MHz
0.35 GHz |
0.95 GHz
950 MHz |
| i5-6300U | $ 281.00
€ 252.90 |
14 nm
0.014 μm |
27 September 2015 | 2 | 4 | 2.4 GHz
2,400 MHz |
15 W
15,000 mW |
32 GiB
32,768 MiB |
HD Graphics 520 | 300 MHz
0.3 GHz |
1 GHz
1,000 MHz |
| i5-6350HQ | $ 306. 00
€ 275.40 |
14 nm
0.014 μm |
2 January 2016 | 4 | 4 | 2.3 GHz
2,300 MHz |
45 W
45,000 mW |
64 GiB
65,536 MiB |
Iris Pro Graphics 580 | 350 MHz
0.35 GHz |
0.9 GHz
900 MHz |
| i5-6360U | $ 304.00
€ 273.60 |
14 nm
0.014 μm |
27 September 2015 | 2 | 4 | 2 GHz
2,000 MHz |
15 W
15,000 mW |
32 GiB
32,768 MiB |
Iris Graphics 540 | 300 MHz
0.3 GHz |
1 GHz
1,000 MHz |
| i5-6440HQ | $ 250. 00
€ 225.00 |
14 nm
0.014 μm |
27 October 2015 | 4 | 4 | 2.6 GHz
2,600 MHz |
45 W
45,000 mW |
64 GiB
65,536 MiB |
HD Graphics 530 | 350 MHz
0.35 GHz |
0.95 GHz
950 MHz |
4e-5 mm 
60 7th generation Core i5 processors, models which were introduced by Intel in early 2017, are manufactured on Intel’s improved 14 nm process «14nm+» which allowed for higher clock speeds at similar voltage levels. As such most models enjoy a modest 100 to 300 MHz clock increase over their previous generation for the same price (Note that clock-for-clock there is no performance improvement over 6th generation Core i5). Overall very few minor features were introduced in the 7th Generation Core i5 models, including improved GPU support for 4K playback via native hardware acceleration.
All models incorporate a 600-series integrated graphics processor which is largely identical to their 6th generation 500-series counterparts.
Desktop 7th generation Core i5 processors were launched in January of 2017. While their clock-for-clock performance is identical to their 6th generation counterparts, they are clocked higher which allowed for a slight performance increase. All desktop models use Socket LGA-1151, are quad-core with no Hyper-Threading, and have the following common features:
| i5-7400 | $ 182.00
€ 163.80 |
14 nm
0.014 μm |
3 January 2017 | 4 | 4 | 3 GHz
3,000 MHz |
65 W
65,000 mW |
64 GiB
65,536 MiB |
HD Graphics 630 | 350 MHz
0.35 GHz |
1 GHz
1,000 MHz |
✘ | ✘ | ✘ |
| i5-7400T | $ 187. 00
€ 168.30 |
14 nm
0.014 μm |
3 January 2017 | 4 | 4 | 2.4 GHz
2,400 MHz |
35 W
35,000 mW |
64 GiB
65,536 MiB |
HD Graphics 630 | 350 MHz
0.35 GHz |
1 GHz
1,000 MHz |
✘ | ✘ | ✘ |
| i5-7500 | $ 202.00
€ 181.80 |
14 nm
0.014 μm |
3 January 2017 | 4 | 4 | 3.4 GHz
3,400 MHz |
65 W
65,000 mW |
64 GiB
65,536 MiB |
HD Graphics 630 | 350 MHz
0.35 GHz |
1. 1,100 MHz |
✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| i5-7500T | $ 202.00
€ 181.80 |
14 nm
0.014 μm |
3 January 2017 | 4 | 4 | 2.7 GHz
2,700 MHz |
35 W
35,000 mW |
64 GiB
65,536 MiB |
HD Graphics 630 | 350 MHz
0.35 GHz |
1.1 GHz
1,100 MHz |
✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| i5-7600 | $ 224.00
€ 201.60 |
14 nm
0.014 μm |
3 January 2017 | 4 | 4 | 3.5 GHz
3,500 MHz |
65 W
65,000 mW |
64 GiB
65,536 MiB |
HD Graphics 630 | 350 MHz
0.35 GHz |
1.15 GHz
1,150 MHz |
✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| i5-7600K | $ 243.00
€ 218.70 |
14 nm
0.014 μm |
3 January 2017 | 4 | 4 | 3.8 GHz
3,800 MHz |
91 W
91,000 mW |
64 GiB
65,536 MiB |
HD Graphics 630 | 350 MHz
0.35 GHz |
1.15 GHz
1,150 MHz |
✘ | ✘ | ✘ |
| i5-7600T | $ 224.00
€ 201.60 |
14 nm
0.014 μm |
3 January 2017 | 4 | 4 | 2.8 GHz
2,800 MHz |
35 W
35,000 mW |
64 GiB
65,536 MiB |
HD Graphics 630 | 350 MHz
0.35 GHz |
1.1 GHz
1,100 MHz |
✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
The 7th generation Mobile Core i5 processors which are based on the Kaby Lake microarchitecture were introduced in mid-2016 with later models introduced in early 2017. All mobile models use BGA-1356 socket for U-series models and BGA-1440 socket for H-series, are dual-core with Hyper-Threading, and have the following common features:
| i5-7200U | $ 281.00
€ 252.90 |
14 nm
0.014 μm |
30 August 2016 | 2 | 4 | 2.5 GHz
2,500 MHz |
15 W
15,000 mW |
32 GiB
32,768 MiB |
HD Graphics 620 | 300 MHz
0.3 GHz |
1 GHz
1,000 MHz |
✔ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ |
| i5-7210U | 14 nm
0.014 μm |
2 | 4 | 2.5 GHz
2,500 MHz |
15 W
15,000 mW |
32 GiB
32,768 MiB |
HD Graphics 620 | 300 MHz
0.3 GHz |
1 GHz
1,000 MHz |
✔ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ | ||
| i5-7260U | $ 304.00
€ 273.60 |
14 nm
0.014 μm |
3 January 2017 | 2 | 4 | 2. 2,200 MHz |
15 W
15,000 mW |
32 GiB
32,768 MiB |
Iris Plus Graphics 640 | 300 MHz
0.3 GHz |
0.95 GHz
950 MHz |
✔ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ |
| i5-7267U | $ 304.00
€ 273.60 |
14 nm
0.014 μm |
3 January 2017 | 2 | 4 | 3.1 GHz
3,100 MHz |
28 W
28,000 mW |
32 GiB
32,768 MiB |
Iris Plus Graphics 650 | 300 MHz
0.3 GHz |
1.05 GHz
1,050 MHz |
✔ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ |
| i5-7287U | $ 304. € 273.60 |
14 nm
0.014 μm |
3 January 2017 | 2 | 4 | 3.3 GHz
3,300 MHz |
28 W
28,000 mW |
32 GiB
32,768 MiB |
Iris Plus Graphics 650 | 300 MHz
0.3 GHz |
1.1 GHz
1,100 MHz |
✔ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ |
| i5-7300HQ | $ 250.00
€ 225.00 |
14 nm
0.014 μm |
3 January 2017 | 4 | 4 | 2.5 GHz
2,500 MHz |
45 W
45,000 mW |
64 GiB
65,536 MiB |
HD Graphics 630 | 350 MHz
0.35 GHz |
1 GHz
1,000 MHz |
✘ | ✘ | ✔ | ✘ | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ |
| i5-7300U | $ 281.00
€ 252.90 |
14 nm
0.014 μm |
3 January 2017 | 2 | 4 | 2.6 GHz
2,600 MHz |
15 W
15,000 mW |
32 GiB
32,768 MiB |
HD Graphics 620 | 300 MHz
0.3 GHz |
1.1 GHz
1,100 MHz |
✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ | ✘ | ✔ |
| i5-7360U | $ 304.00
€ 273.60 |
14 nm
0.014 μm |
3 January 2017 | 2 | 4 | 2.3 GHz
2,300 MHz |
15 W
15,000 mW |
32 GiB
32,768 MiB |
Iris Plus Graphics 640 | 300 MHz
0.3 GHz |
1 GHz
1,000 MHz |
✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| i5-7440HQ | $ 250.00
€ 225.00 |
14 nm
0.014 μm |
3 January 2017 | 4 | 4 | 2.8 GHz
2,800 MHz |
45 W
45,000 mW |
64 GiB
65,536 MiB |
HD Graphics 630 | 350 MHz
0. |
1 GHz
1,000 MHz |
✘ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| i5-7Y54 | $ 281.00
€ 252.90 |
14 nm
0.014 μm |
30 August 2016 | 2 | 4 | 1.2 GHz
1,200 MHz |
4.5 W
4,500 mW |
16 GiB
16,384 MiB |
HD Graphics 615 | 300 MHz
0.3 GHz |
0.95 GHz
950 MHz |
✔ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ |
| i5-7Y57 | $ 281.00
€ 252.90 |
14 nm
0.014 μm |
3 January 2017 | 2 | 4 | 1. 1,200 MHz |
4.5 W
4,500 mW |
16 GiB
16,384 MiB |
HD Graphics 615 | 300 MHz
0.3 GHz |
0.95 GHz
950 MHz |
✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ | ✘ | ✔ |
| i5-8305G | 14 nm
0.014 μm |
7 January 2018 | 4 | 8 | 2.8 GHz
2,800 MHz |
65 W
65,000 mW |
64 GiB
65,536 MiB |
HD Graphics 630 Radeon RX Vega M GL | 350 MHz
0.35 GHz 931 MHz 0.931 GHz |
1.1 GHz
1,100 MHz 1. 1,011 MHz |
✔ | ✘ | ✔ | ✘ | ✔ | ✘ | ✘ |
Embedded 7th generation Core i5 processors were introduced in mid-2016 with later models introduced in early 2017. All mobile models have the following common features:
8th Generation-core based on the Coffee Lake microarchitecture were introduced in early 2018. Those parts offer are manufactured on Intel’s third generation 14 nm++ process which allowed for higher clock frequencies.
Coffee Lake-based Core i5s were introduced in late 2017 with a number of high-end SKUs. A larger number of SKUs were introduced in April 2018. Although they still use standard Socket LGA-1151, those parts are no longer backwards compatible with earlier 100/200-series chipsets and must be paired with an appropriate 300-series chipset. A significant configuration change has taken place with the introduction of Coffee Lake including bumping the core count for the Core i5s from 4 cores to 6 and appropriately increasing the L3 cache which has significantly increased the performance of those parts over the prior generation. Note that with the doubling of the core, Intel has dropped hyper-threading support from those models. All models have the following features in common:
| i5-8600K | $ 257.00
€ 231.30 |
5 October 2017 | 6 | 6 | 9 MiB
9,216 KiB |
95 W
95,000 mW |
3.6 GHz
3,600 MHz |
UHD Graphics 630 | 350 MHz
0.35 GHz |
1,150 MHz
1.15 GHz |
✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| i5-8400 | $ 182.00
€ 163.80 |
5 October 2017 | 6 | 6 | 9 MiB
9,216 KiB |
65 W
65,000 mW |
2.8 GHz
2,800 MHz |
UHD Graphics 630 | 350 MHz
0. |
1,050 MHz
1.05 GHz |
✘ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ |
| i5-8420 | 6 | 6 | 9 MiB
9,216 KiB |
65 W
65,000 mW |
UHD Graphics 630 | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ | |||||
| i5-8500 | $ 192.00
€ 172.80 |
2 April 2018 | 6 | 6 | 9 MiB
9,216 KiB |
65 W
65,000 mW |
3 GHz
3,000 MHz |
UHD Graphics 630 | 350 MHz
0.35 GHz |
1,100 MHz
1.1 GHz |
✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| i5-8500B | $ 192. € 172.80 |
2 April 2018 | 6 | 6 | 9 MiB
9,216 KiB |
65 W
65,000 mW |
3 GHz
3,000 MHz |
UHD Graphics 630 | 350 MHz
0.35 GHz |
1,100 MHz
1.1 GHz |
✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| i5-8550 | 6 | 6 | 9 MiB
9,216 KiB |
65 W
65,000 mW |
UHD Graphics 630 | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ | |||||
| i5-8600 | $ 213.00
€ 191.70 |
2 April 2018 | 6 | 6 | 9 MiB
9,216 KiB |
65 W
65,000 mW |
3.1 GHz
3,100 MHz |
UHD Graphics 630 | 350 MHz
0.35 GHz |
1,150 MHz
1.15 GHz |
✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| i5-8650 | 6 | 6 | 9 MiB
9,216 KiB |
65 W
65,000 mW |
UHD Graphics 630 | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ | |||||
| i5-8400T | $ 182.00
€ 163.80 |
2 April 2018 | 6 | 6 | 9 MiB
9,216 KiB |
35 W
35,000 mW |
1.7 GHz
1,700 MHz |
UHD Graphics 630 | 350 MHz
0.35 GHz |
1,050 MHz
1. |
✘ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ |
| i5-8420T | 6 | 6 | 9 MiB
9,216 KiB |
35 W
35,000 mW |
UHD Graphics 630 | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ | |||||
| i5-8500T | $ 192.00
€ 172.80 |
2 April 2018 | 6 | 6 | 9 MiB
9,216 KiB |
35 W
35,000 mW |
2.1 GHz
2,100 MHz |
UHD Graphics 630 | 350 MHz
0.35 GHz |
1,100 MHz
1.1 GHz |
✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| i5-8600T | $ 213.00
€ 191.70 |
2 April 2018 | 6 | 6 | 9 MiB
9,216 KiB |
35 W
35,000 mW |
2.3 GHz
2,300 MHz |
UHD Graphics 630 | 350 MHz
0.35 GHz |
1,150 MHz
1.15 GHz |
✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
In August 2017 Intel introduced 8th generation mobile Core i5 processors. Contrary to their namesake, those initial chips were still based on the same Kaby Lake microarchitecture as 7th generation. Those new microprocessors do bring some considerable performance increase in both single thread and more significantly in multi-threaded applications due to Intel doubling the number of cores from 2 to 4 while maintaining roughly the same price as previous generation. All mobile models still use soldered BGA-1356 socket and as with previous generation, those new mobile Core i5 chip also have Hyper-Threading enabled, providing 8 threads for all models.
Top 10 Latest Laptops with Intel Core i5 Processor (Sep 2022)
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Lenovo Legion Slim 7i 16 Gen 7
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updated: 06-09-2022
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Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 Carbon 13 Gen 7
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updated: 05-09-2022
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Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Pro X 14 Intel
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Lenovo IdeaPad 5i 14 Gen 7 Intel
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Lenovo IdeaPad 5i 15 Gen 7 Intel
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Lenovo IdeaPad 3i 14 Gen 7 Intel
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2 Variants
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Lenovo IdeaPad 3i 15 Gen 7 (Intel)
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Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3i 16 Gen 7
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Lenovo ThinkPad P16 Gen 1 Intel
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updated: 01-09-2022
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Lenovo V14 Gen 2 Intel
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updated: 30-08-2022
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Lenovo ThinkBook 13s Gen 4
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updated: 29-08-2022
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Lenovo ThinkBook 16 Gen 4
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Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3i 15 Gen 7
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3 Variants
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Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Pro 14 Gen 7
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Lenovo Yoga 7i 14 Gen 7
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HONOR MagicBook 14
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HONOR MagicBook X 15
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Acer TravelMate P215-53G
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Acer Aspire Vero AV15-51
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2 Variants
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Acer Aspire 3 A315-59
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3 Variants
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Acer TravelMate Vero V15-51
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Dell Precision 3570
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Dell G15 5520 Gaming Laptop Intel
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Dell XPS 13 9315
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Dell Inspiron 14 5420 Intel
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Dell Inspiron 16 5620
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HP ENVY 16
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3 Variants
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Dell Inspiron 14 2-in-1 7420
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Dell Latitude 9330 2-in-1
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Dell Latitude 9430
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Dell Latitude 7330
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4 Variants
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Dell Latitude 7430 2-in-1
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HUAWEI MateBook D 16
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Dell Latitude 7430
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4 Variants
updated: 27-07-2022 -
Dell Latitude 5430
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Dell Latitude 5330 2-in1
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Dell Latitude 5330
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Dell Latitude 5530
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Dell Latitude 3330
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Dell Latitude 3330 2-in-1
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3 Variants
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Dell XPS 13 Plus 9320
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9 Variants
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Dell XPS 13 Plus 9320
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9 Variants
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Dell XPS 13 Plus 9320
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MSI Modern 15 B12M
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MSI Summit E14 Evo A12M
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HP Pavilion Laptop 15
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HP ProBook 440 G9
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HP ZBook Firefly 15.
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4 Variants
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ASUS Vivobook Pro 15 OLED K3500
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4 Variants
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ASUS ZenBook Duo 14 UX482
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6 Variants
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ASUS Zenbook 14X OLED UX5401
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RedmiBook 15
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Acer Swift 3 SF316-51
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Acer Nitro 5 AN515-58
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5 Variants
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Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3i 15 Gen 6
From RM 4149 (Ori)
4 Variants
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Lenovo ThinkBook 15 Gen 4 Intel
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updated: 23-06-2022
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Lenovo ThinkBook 14s Yoga Gen 2
From RM 5249 (Ori)
updated: 23-06-2022
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Lenovo ThinkBook 13x Gen 2
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Lenovo Legion 5i 15 Gen 7
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Acer Aspire 5 A515-57
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2 Variants
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ASUS TUF Dash F15 2022
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6 Variants
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MSI Modern 14
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updated: 12-09-2022
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HP ENVY x360 2-in-1
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ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED UX3420
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2 Variants
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ASUS Zenbook 14X Space Edition
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HP ProBook 440 G8 Notebook PC
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4 Variants
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Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i 15 Gen 5
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3 Variants
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Lenovo ThinkBook 14 Gen 4 Intel
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Acer Aspire 5 A514-54
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6 Variants
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Dell Vostro 5620
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Dell Vostro 3420
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Dell Vostro 5410
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6 Variants
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Dell Vostro 14 3400
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Dell G15 5520 Gaming Laptop
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6 Variants
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Dell XPS 13 9310
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4 Variants
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Dell Inspiron 14 5410 2-in-1
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Dell Inspiron 14 5415
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3 Variants
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Dell Inspiron 15 3511
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HP Pavilion 14
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8 Variants
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Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio
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Acer ENDURO Urban N3
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4 Variants
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Acer Nitro 5 AN515-57
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9 Variants
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Acer Aspire 5 A514-54G
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Acer Aspire 5 A515-56
From RM 3099 (Ori)
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Acer Spin 3 SP313-51N
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4 Variants
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Acer Swift 5 SF514-55TA
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MSI Modern 14
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4 Variants
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MSI Modern 14
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3 Variants
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MSI GF63 Thin
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4 Variants
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Microsoft Surface Pro 8
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ASUS Zenbook 14X OLED UX5400E
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Lenovo Legion 5i 15 Gen 6
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5 Variants
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ASUS Vivobook Pro 14X OLED N7400
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HP Spectre x360 Convertible 14
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Acer Aspire Vero
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2 Variants
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HUAWEI MateBook 14s
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Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i Pro 14 Gen 6
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2 Variants
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Dell XPS 13 9305
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MSI GF63 Thin
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5 Variants
updated: 10-09-2022 -
Dell Vostro 13 5301
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2 Variants
updated: 12-09-2022 -
Dell Vostro 3510
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10 Variants
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Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i 14 Gen 5
From RM 3829 (Ori)
4 Variants
updated: 21-02-2022 -
Dell Vostro 14 3400
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2 Variants
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realme Book
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3 Variants
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Lenovo IdeaPad 5i Pro Gen 6 (Intel)
From RM 4499 (Ori)
3 Variants
updated: 04-08-2021 -
Lenovo ThinkPad L13 Gen 2 (Intel)
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2 Variants
updated: 19-07-2022 -
Lenovo ThinkPad L13 Yoga Gen 2 (Intel)
From RM 5259 (Ori)
4 Variants
updated: 08-04-2022 -
Victus by HP Laptop 16
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4 Variants
updated: 17-05-2022 -
Asus ExpertBook B5 (B5302C)
From RM 3079 (Ori)
2 Variants
updated: 12-09-2022 -
Asus ExpertBook B5 Flip (B5302F)
From RM 4999 (Ori)
2 Variants
updated: 12-09-2022 -
Asus Expertbook B1 (B1500C)
From RM 3719 (Ori)
2 Variants
updated: 09-02-2022 -
Asus Expertbook B1 (B1400C)
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3 Variants
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Lenovo ThinkPad T15 Intel
From RM 6100 (Ori)
updated: 07-10-2021
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Lenovo IdeaPad 3i Gen 6 (14 Intel)
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4 Variants
updated: 07-03-2022 -
HP Laptop 15s
From RM 2509 (Ori)
4 Variants
updated: 12-09-2022 -
HP OMEN 15
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5 Variants
updated: 08-09-2022 -
MSI GF65 Thin
From RM 4789 (Ori)
3 Variants
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MSI Katana GF66
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3 Variants
updated: 19-04-2022 -
MSI Prestige 15
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ASUS Laptop 15 A516
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3 Variants
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HP Laptop 14s
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3 Variants
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Lenovo Yoga 7i 14
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4 Variants
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HP Laptop 14s
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4 Variants
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HP ZBook Firefly 14 G8 Mobile Workstation
From RM 6499 (Ori)
3 Variants
updated: 18-07-2022 -
Dell Inspiron 16 Plus 7610
From RM 5099 (Ori)
2 Variants
updated: 12-09-2022 -
Dell Inspiron 14 7400
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5 Variants
updated: 01-07-2021 -
Dell Inspiron 14 5410
From RM 2975 (Ori)
3 Variants
updated: 11-09-2022 -
Dell Inspiron 15 Plus 7510
From RM 5029 (Ori)
2 Variants
updated: 22-08-2022 -
Dell Inspiron 15 5510
From RM 3199 (Ori)
3 Variants
updated: 12-09-2022 -
Dell Inspiron 14 5410 2-in-1
From RM 3059 (Ori)
3 Variants
updated: 13-04-2022 -
Dell Inspiron 15 3511
From RM 2599 (Ori)
3 Variants
updated: 12-09-2022 -
Acer ENDURO Urban N3 EUN314
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Acer Aspire 3 A315-58
From RM 2389 (Ori)
4 Variants
updated: 12-09-2022 -
Acer Swift 3 SF314-59
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3 Variants
updated: 12-09-2022 -
Acer Spin 5 SP513-55N
From RM 4099 (Ori)
3 Variants
updated: 01-07-2022 -
HONOR MagicBook X 15
From RM 1799 (Ori)
2 Variants
updated: 18-08-2022 -
ASUS ZenBook 13 OLED UX325
From RM 3820 (Ori)
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updated: 18-02-2022 -
JOI BOOK 5115
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4 Variants
updated: 02-09-2022 -
HP Laptop 15s-du
From RM 2649 (Ori)
3 Variants
updated: 01-09-2022 -
HP ZBook Firefly 15 G7 Mobile Workstation
From RM 6099 (Ori)
4 Variants
updated: 26-08-2022 -
HP ZBook Firefly 14 G7 Mobile Workstation
From RM 5810 (Ori)
3 Variants
updated: 14-02-2022 -
Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i Gen 6 (15)
From RM 2699 (Ori)
6 Variants
updated: 07-02-2022 -
Dell Inspiron 15 3510
From RM 3299 (Ori)
8 Variants
updated: 01-09-2022 -
Lenovo ThinkPad T14 Gen 2 (Intel)
From RM 5699 (Ori)
2 Variants
updated: 05-04-2022 -
Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 2 (Intel)
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2 Variants
updated: 05-04-2022 -
HP ENVY x360 Convert 13
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2 Variants
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Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i 15 Gen 6
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4 Variants
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Microsoft Surface Laptop 4
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9 Variants
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Acer TravelMate Spin P4
From RM 4499 (Ori)
2 Variants
updated: 20-06-2022 -
ASUS TUF Gaming F17
From RM 4099 (Ori)
updated: 18-08-2022
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Honor MagicBook 15
From RM 2549 (Ori)
updated: 10-08-2022
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ASUS TUF Gaming F15
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2 Variants
updated: 30-08-2021 -
Dell Alienware M15 R6
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3 Variants
updated: 04-03-2022 -
Dell Latitude 7420
From RM 3999 (Ori)
6 Variants
updated: 04-08-2022 -
ASUS TUF Gaming F15
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updated: 09-08-2022
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HP ZBook Power G8 Mobile Workstation
From RM 6059 (Ori)
2 Variants
updated: 17-05-2022 -
HUAWEI MateBook X Pro i5 2021
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updated: 28-07-2022
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HUAWEI MateBook D15 (2021)
From RM 2099 (Ori)
3 Variants
updated: 28-07-2022 -
HUAWEI MateBook D14 (2021)
From RM 2389 (Ori)
2 Variants
updated: 28-07-2022 -
HUAWEI MateBook 14 i5 2021
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updated: 28-07-2022
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Acer Predator Helios 300 Ph415-53
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5 Variants
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Acer Nitro 5 AN515-56
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::>Processors
>2022
> Intel Core i3-12100F
20-06-2022
We continue to explore the potential of the Intel Alder Lake processor line. Recently, we already looked at the Intel Core i3-12100F processor using the example of 20 games in the RTX 3050 assembly. Then it worked well, pulled everything. Now it’s time to compare it with internal and external competitors: the predecessor of the Core i3-10100, the older Core i5-12400 and the representative of the «red» — suddenly became the Ryzen 5 2600. The results of the confrontation with the latter will surprise you.
Before moving on to get to know the main character of the video, thanks to those without whom this test would not have been possible — the Brain store chain and the ITbox marketplace. Even in the current situation, they provide a huge selection of processors at reasonable prices. In addition, there is a whole range of hardware for self-assembly of the system and ready-made computers. Follow the links in the description and evaluate the assortment and prices — maybe you will like something.
So Intel Core i3-12100F is the most affordable representative of the new line of Intel Alder Lake-S processors for the masses, because Pentium and Celeron are more for the office. 4 cores of this processor work in 8-thread mode at frequencies from 3.3 GHz to 4.3 GHz. The TDP is 58W and the maximum power consumption is 89W. The third level cache is only 12 MB, but this is not the smallest indicator in this comparison.
And, finally, the letter F in the name of the CPU says that it does not have an integrated video core. If you plan to sit out without a video card for some time during the assembly, then look for the Core i3-12100 without the letter F. It is exactly the same, only it has an integrated Intel UHD Graphics 730.
In the role of the youngest, we have a processor from the 10th generation of Intel — Core i3-10100 , since in the 11th direct predecessor the hero had no video.
Basic — this is a similar 4-core, running in 8 threads. Frequencies from 3.6 GHz to 4.3 GHz. TDP at 65 W, but the third level cache is half that of the Core i3-12100F — 6 MB.
Another of the key differences is the declared support for DDR4 2666 MHz versus 3200 MHz or even DDR5 from 4800 MHz in the new Core i3, as well as work with the old PCIE version 3.0 bus.
As an example of the «pay extra and get more» option, look again at the Intel Core i5-12400 . Here we are already 6 cores for 12 threads at a frequency of 2.5 GHz to 4.4 GHz; TDP is 65W and L3 cache is 18MB.
They planned to take the Ryzen 5 1600AF as a competitor from AMD, because it now costs the same. But getting a «people’s 6-core» did not work, so they chose Ryzen 5 2600 . In general, this is the same processor as the updated 1600, but a little more expensive and already a little faster in par value. It has 6 cores working in 12 threads with a maximum frequency of 3. 9GHz. The Level 3 cache is 16MB and the TDP is 65W.
This is the squad of opponents sent to the tests. But first, we will tell and show what they worked on and with.
The ASUS PRIME Z690-P D4 motherboard housed two 12th generation Intel processors. It has well-designed power lines, large heatsinks in the VRM area, and support for DDR4 memory up to 5333MHz.
On the ASUS ROG Strix Z590-A Gaming Wi-Fi , the younger Core i3-10100 started up and flew away. This board also has everything perfectly with processor power, it is 14 + 2-phase, and the memory can be accelerated to the desired frequency.
The AM4 platform for the Ryzen processor was supplied by ASUS ROG Crosshair VIII Hero (Wi-Fi) . This is a solid motherboard based on the AMD X570 chipset.
Cooled processors with a liquid system DeepCool GAMMAXX L360 A-RGB . In its active part, there are three 120 mm fans with addressable RGB backlighting and no more than 30 dB noise.
In order not to run into the infringement of the capabilities of the video card when testing processors, we took a powerful model — Palit GeForce RTX 3080 Ti GameRock OC .
RAM is assembled with two G.Skill Trident Z Neo DDR4-3600 modules. Chips manufactured by Samsung worked with timings of 16-16-16-36. But the Ryzen 5 2600 managed to run it at just 3400 MHz.
All numerous games, benchmarks and the operating system itself were installed on fast gaming M.2 NVMe SSDs of the Seagate FireCuda 530 line — one and two TB.
Ideal power for all pieces of iron organized kilowatt Seasonic PRIME GX-1000 . It has a very high efficiency, 12 years warranty, cool cooling system and 30% power reserve.
Case DeepCool CG560 easily placed all the components and provided efficient cooling with 4 quiet fans included.
|
Configuration |
Designation |
|
Processors |
Intel Core i3-12100F / Intel Core i5-12400 / Intel Core i3-10100 / AMD Ryzen 5 2600 |
|
Motherboards |
ASUS PRIME Z690-P D4 / ASUS ROG Strix Z590-A Gaming Wi-Fi / ASUS ROG Crosshair VIII Hero (Wi-Fi) |
|
Cooling system |
DeepCool GAMMAXX L360 A-RGB |
|
RAM |
G. |
|
Video card |
Palit GeForce RTX 3080 Ti GameRock OC |
|
Accumulator |
Seagate FireCuda 530 1TB|Seagate FireCuda 530 2TB |
|
Power supply |
Seasonic PRIME GX-1000 (SSR-1000GD) 1000W |
|
Housing |
DeepCool CG560 |
|
Monitor |
AOC U2790PQU |
And, finally, the AOC U2790PQU monitor helped with displaying the image, and the gameplays were recorded by an external system with AVerMedia Live Gamer 4K, that is, without loss of performance.
We start comparing with 3DMark Time Spy , where we immediately observe an interesting «WTF» moment. Video hero The Core i3-12100F is a real hero. At its 4 cores in 8 threads, it overtakes the 6-core 12-thread Ryzen 5 2600. By 7% in terms of CPU Score. Here it is unexpected. Well, he did nothing less than 29% of his predecessor.
To get away from the knockout and answer the offender Ryzen tried in the benchmark 7-Zip . To some extent, he succeeded. Unpacking archives from AMD is still 38% better than that of the Core i3-12100F. But data compression is at the same level. As for the predecessor Core i3-10100, it is 16-28% weaker than the hero of the video.
Traditionally, Intel is good at working with RAM in AIDA64 . All three «blues» are approximately on the same level with a deviation of 1-5%. The difference is not significant. Here we can only highlight the lag of AMD in the category of writing and copying to memory by 9% from the Core i3-12100F.
The memory access time in the same benchmark is the best in the 2-year-old Core i3-10100 — 33% faster than in the counterpart Core i3-12100F.
B CineBench R23 the new Core i3 continues to hit the throat of the Ryzen 5 2600. In single-core mode, Intel is up to 74% better, and in multi-core mode, by 14%. We remind you that this is a battle between the new «blue» CPU with 8 threads and the old «red» one with 12. Here’s what the architecture update has done in 4 years. In turn, the hero of the video overtook the predecessor Core i3-10100 by 47% and 63%, respectively, and the older Core i5-12400 lost only in multi-core mode — 32%.
The CPU-Z test allowed Ryzen to win back a bit in multi-threading, but in single-core mode it is still 34% weaker than the Core i3-12100F and 13% — than the Core i3-10100. The Core i5-12400 is naturally the strongest when attracting all streams — it bypasses the hero of the video by 47%.
And we complete the synthetic benchmark PCMark 10 . Here, the Core i3-12100F enchantingly puts all the dots over the «i» in terms of price-opportunity. It is 28% better than the Core i3-10100 and Ryzen 5 2600 and only 1.5% inferior to the Core i5-12400.
Well, in total, in terms of synthetics, the Core i3-12100F outperforms the Core i3-10100 by an average of 26% and the Ryzen 5 2600 by 13%. Well, it loses 12% to the older Core i5-12400. How these figures compare with the cost of processors, we will tell you based on the results of testing. As you can see, the Core i3-12100F performed very well in synthetics. What’s in the gaming benchmarks?
This testing section starts with Assassin Creed Valhalla . «Ultra» setting, render scale — 50%. And again I want to say: Intel, what are you doing? Is it legal at all? The Core i3-12100F showed sag and average frame rates almost on par with the older Core i5-12400. And he outperformed the Ryzen 52600 by 9-25%. The superiority over the younger Core i3 is 12-19%.
Cyberpunk 2077 ran with «Ultra» graphics, no ray tracing and DLSS in ultra performance mode. Here, the Core i5-12400 breaks away from the hero of the video more significantly — by 14% in terms of 0.1% low and by 28% in terms of rare events. The rest of the Core i3-12100F competitors outperform both of these indicators: the younger Core i3-10100 — by 10-29%, and Ryzen — by 19-20%, respectively.
The second launch of Cyberpunk 2077 left the same settings, only turned on ray tracing. Interestingly, this had almost no effect on the minimum drawdowns of the Core i5-12400 processor — it was 56°C, and it became 53°C. C-stability. Competitors’ drawdowns increased, helping the 2-year-old Core i3-10100 come close to its 12th-gen successor and even outperform the Ryzen 5 2600.0015 Forza Horizon 5 selected extreme settings when scaling the render in performance mode. The Core i3-12100F once again performed very well. Although it has the second place, it is separated from the leader of the Core i5-12400 by only a few fps in all three values. The hero of the video is already outperforming other processors, including in terms of average FPS and 0. 1% Low — Core i3-10100 by 9-12%, and Ryzen 5 — 20-18%, respectively.
And, finally, very demanding on the processor Total War Saga: Troy . The settings are appropriate — ultra graphics, rendering at 50% and extreme values for grass quality and army size. The Core i3-12100F delivered almost the same frame rate as the Ryzen 5 2600. The Core i5-12400 outperformed this group by a significant 47-53%, while the Core i3-10100 lagged behind it by 32%.
Conclusions
Conclusions, dear friends, are very interesting. First of all, we want to clarify the situation on the Ryzen 5 2600. Yes, we understand that this is a 2018 processor and it seems to be normal that it leaks to the new 2022 Core i3-12100F. Everything is so, if not for one moment — the price. Now on Hotline, the minimum cost of an AMD processor is on average 15% -23% higher than that of Intel. In terms of real money, this is about $ 20-35.
At the same time, the Core i3-12100F is on average 13% better than Ryzen in synthetics and 12% -17% in games. Plus, Intel supports faster memory and PCIe 5.0. So the choice between them is obvious even taking into account the prices for motherboards. And, in all likelihood, we would have had the Ryzen 5 1600AF on our hands — the gap between the “blue” became even greater.
The hero of the video also wins the battle with the predecessor Core i3-10100. Depending on the store, the 12th generation is 17-30% more expensive. At the same time, we are offered 26% more in synthetics, i.e. work tasks, and 19% more-22% in games. Again, we impose bonuses of the new platform and it turns out that the overpayment is fully justified.
And even the battle with the leader of this race Core i5-12400 is also won. The minimum price of the Core i5 is 41% higher than that of the Core i3-12100F. At the same time, the older brother is only 17% better in synthetics and 18-25% better in games. Here the choice depends on the size of the wallet and the price in a particular store. For the future, it’s usually better to have more cores and threads, and pay extra if possible. If this is not possible, Core i3 shows decent speed here and now.
Nevertheless, Intel woke up and chose a very correct pricing policy for some 12-series processors. The Core i3-12100F is an excellent choice for a budget system. For that kind of money, it offers much more than a 10th generation processor, looks good against the background of the older Core i5 and tears to pieces the most affordable Ryzen 5.
Write, which processor would you choose for a budget system? Not only among the heroes of this article, but in general — the best option in terms of price-opportunity for you and why?
Author: Denis Koziolek
Also Read:
Intel Core i5-12600K vs. Core i7-12700K, Core i5-11600K, and Ryzen 5 5600X: Should AMD be worried?
Intel Alder Lake Up Close: Core i7-12700K vs. Core i7-11700K vs. Ryzen 7 5800X
Intel Core i5-12400 vs. Core i5-11400, Core i5-12600K vs. Ryzen 5 5600X Price/Features
Intel Core i5-9400F vs Intel Core i7-8700K: What is the difference?
50 BALLLA
69 BALLLA
Intel Core i5-9400F
59 BALLLA
68 BALLLA
Intel Core i7-8700k
Intel Core i5-9400F
Intel Core i7-8700K
Why is Intel Core i5-9400F better than Intel Core i7-8700K?
- 30W below TDP?
65W vs 95W - 64GB more max memory?
128GB vs 64GB - 52.78% cheaper?
160.55 € vs 340.00 €
- 27.59% higher CPU speed?
6 x 3.7GHz vs 6 x 2.9GHz
- 6 more CPU threads?
12 vs 6 - 1.7x higher PassMark score?
16270 vs 9590 - 0.6GHz higher turbo clock speed?
4.7GHz vs 4.1GHz - 3MB more L3 cache?
12MB vs 9MB - Has an unlocked multiplier?
- Has integrated graphics?
- 9.47% higher PassMark score (single)?
2728 vs 2492
What are the most popular comparisons?
Intel Core i5-9400f
VS
AMD Ryzen 5 3600
Intel Core i7-8700k
VS
Intel Core I5-12400
Intel Core 322.32 ° C
VS 9000 VS 9000 VS 9000 VS AMD AMD
Intel Core i7-8700k
VS
AMD Ryzen 5 5500u
Intel Core i5-9400f
VS
AMD Ryzen 5 5600x
Intel Core i7-8700k
VS 9000 VS 9000 VS
AMD RYZEN 7 3700X
Intel Core i5-9400f
VS
Intel Core i3-10100
Intel Core i7-8700K
AMD RYZEN 5 5600X
Intel Core INTEL CORE INTEL CORE INTEL CORE INTEL
Intel Core i5-10400
Intel Core i7-8700K
VS
AMD Ryzen 5 3600
Intel Core i5-9400f
VS
Intel Core i3-9100f
Intel Core Core Core
Intel Core
Intel Core Core
Intel Core
Intel Core i7-9700k
Intel Core i5-9400f
VS
AMD Ryzen 5 2600
Intel Core i7-8700k
VS
Intel Core I9900K
Intel Core 5-
VS 9000 VS 9000 VS 9000 VS 9000 VS 9000 VS 9000 VS 9000 VS 9000 VS 9000 VS 9000 VS
Intel Core i7-8700k
VS
Intel Core i5-10600K
Intel Core i5-9400f
VS
Intel Core i5-9400
Intel Core i7-8700K
VS 9000 VS 9000 VS 9000 VS 9000 VS 9000 VS 9000 VS 8700
Intel Core i5-
10. 0 /10
1 reviews of users
Functions
Price and quality ratio
10.0 /10
2 Votes
10.0 /10 9000
1 Votes
/10
2 Votes
10.0 /10
1 Votes
performance
/10
2 VOTES
10.0 /10
1 votes
Reliability
10.0 /10
2 Votes
10.0 /10
1 Votes
Energy efficiency
/10 9000 9000 2 VOTES
905 /
1 votes
Performance
1.CPU speed
6 x 2.9GHz
6 x 3.7GHz
CPU speed indicates how many processing cycles per second a processor can perform, considering all its cores (processors). It is calculated by adding the clock speeds of each core or, in the case of multi-core processors, each group of cores.
2. processor thread
More threads result in better performance and better multitasking.
3.speed turbo clock
4.1GHz
4.7GHz
When the processor is running below its limits, it can jump to a higher clock speed to increase performance.
4. Has unlocked multiplier
✖Intel Core i5-9400F
✔Intel Core i7-8700K
Some processors come with an unlocked multiplier and are easier to overclock, allowing you to get better quality in games and other applications.
5.L2 Cache
More L2 scratchpad memory results in faster results in CPU and system performance tuning.
6.L3 cache
More L3 scratchpad memory results in faster results in CPU and system performance tuning.
7.L1 cache
More L1 scratchpad memory results in faster results in CPU and system performance tuning.
8.core L2
0. 25MB/core
0.25MB/core
More data can be stored in the L2 scratchpad for access by each processor core.
9.core L3
1.5MB/core
2MB/core
More data can be stored in the L3 scratchpad for access by each processor core.
Memory
1.RAM speed
2666MHz
2666MHz
Can support faster memory which speeds up system performance.
2.max memory bandwidth
41.6GB/s
42.7GB/s
This is the maximum rate at which data can be read from or stored in memory.
3. DDR version
DDR (Dynamic Dynamic Random Access Memory Double Data Rate) is the most common type of RAM. New versions of DDR memory support higher maximum speeds and are more energy efficient.
4.Memory channels
More memory channels increase the speed of data transfer between memory and processor.
5.Maximum memory
Maximum memory (RAM).
6.bus baud rate
The bus is responsible for transferring data between different components of a computer or device.
7. Supports memory troubleshooting code
✖Intel Core i5-9400F
✖Intel Core i7-8700K
Memory error recovery code can detect and correct data corruption. It is used when necessary to avoid distortion, such as in scientific computing or when starting a server.
8.eMMC version
Unknown. Help us offer a price. (Intel Core i5-9400F)
Unknown. Help us offer a price. (Intel Core i7-8700K)
The newer version of eMMC — built-in flash memory card — speeds up the memory interface, has a positive effect on device performance, for example, when transferring files from a computer to internal memory via USB.
9. bus frequency
Unknown. Help us offer a price. (Intel Core i5-9400F)
Unknown. Help us offer a price. (Intel Core i7-8700K)
The bus is responsible for transferring data between various components of a computer or device
Geotagging
1. PassMark result
This test measures processor performance using multi-threading.
2. PassMark result (single)
This test measures processor performance using a thread of execution.
3.Geekbench 5 result (multi-core)
Unknown. Help us offer a price. (Intel Core i7-8700K)
Geekbench 5 is a cross-platform test that measures the performance of a multi-core processor. (Source: Primate Labs, 2022)
4. Cinebench R20 result (multi-core)
Unknown. Help us offer a price. (Intel Core i7-8700K)
Cinebench R20 is a benchmark that measures the performance of a multi-core processor by rendering a 3D scene.
5.Cinebench R20 result (single core)
Unknown. Help us offer a price. (Intel Core i7-8700K)
Cinebench R20 is a test to evaluate the performance of a single core processor when rendering a 3D scene.
6.Geekbench 5 result (single core)
Unknown. Help us offer a price. (Intel Core i7-8700K)
Geekbench 5 is a cross-platform benchmark that measures the single-core performance of a processor. (Source: Primate Labs, 2022)
7. Blender test result (bmw27)
374.1seconds
Unknown. Help us offer a price. (Intel Core i7-8700K)
The Blender benchmark (bmw27) measures CPU performance by rendering a 3D scene. More powerful processors can render a scene in a shorter time.
8.Blender result (classroom)
1161.7seconds
Unknown. Help us offer a price. (Intel Core i7-8700K)
The Blender (classroom) benchmark measures CPU performance by rendering a 3D scene. More powerful processors can render a scene in a shorter time.
9.performance per watt
Unknown. Help us offer a price. (Intel Core i7-8700K)
This means that the processor is more efficient, giving more performance per watt of power used.
Functions
1.uses multithreading
✖Intel Core i5-9400F
✔Intel Core i7-8700K
physical processor core into logical cores, also known as threads. Thus, each core can run two instruction streams at the same time.
2. Has AES
✔Intel Core i5-9400F
✔Intel Core i7-8700K
AES is used to speed up encryption and decryption.
3. Has AVX
✔Intel Core i5-9400F
✔Intel Core i7-8700K
AVX is used to help speed up calculations in multimedia, scientific and financial applications, and to improve the performance of the Linux RAID program.
4.SSE version
SSE is used to speed up multimedia tasks such as editing images or adjusting audio volume. Each new version contains new instructions and improvements.
5. Has F16C
✔Intel Core i5-9400F
✔Intel Core i7-8700K
F16C is used to speed up tasks such as image contrast adjustment or volume control.
6 bits transmitted at the same time
Unknown. Help us offer a price. (Intel Core i5-9400F)
Unknown. Help us offer a price. (Intel Core i7-8700K)
NEON provides faster media processing such as MP3 listening.
7. Has MMX
✔Intel Core i5-9400F
✔Intel Core i7-8700K
MMX is used to speed up tasks such as adjusting image contrast or adjusting volume.
8. Has TrustZone
✖Intel Core i5-9400F
✖Intel Core i7-8700K
The technology is integrated into the processor to ensure device security when using features such as mobile payments and streaming video using digital rights management technology ( DRM).
9.interface width
Unknown. Help us offer a price. (Intel Core i5-9400F)
Unknown. Help us offer a price. (Intel Core i7-8700K)
The processor can decode more instructions per clock (IPC), which means that the processor performs better
Price comparison
Cancel
Which CPUs are better?
Review and test of Intel Core i5-10600K and Core i7-10700K processors — i2HARD
Peter
November 11, 2020
Intel introduced the 10th generation Comet Lake-S processors. Among the models, the Core i5-10600K and Core i7-10700K models stand out with increased clock speeds, Hyper-Threading technology and overclocking support. Let’s see their potential with the latest NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 and RTX 3090 graphics cards.
Any segment of computer components can be divided into four categories: affordable, «folk», solutions for enthusiasts and, of course, top products for overclockers or uncompromising users. With the announcement of Intel’s tenth generation processors, codenamed Comet Lake-S, the company is about to take a little breather to impose new competition with the Ryzen 4000 solutions, which will appear in the fall of 2020. And the developers are working on the direction of the next line, the products released in May turned out to be interesting for several reasons at once. Firstly, the entire Intel Core family and even the Pentium have acquired Hyper-Threading technology, which increases the attractiveness of junior products. Secondly, the increased clock speeds in the base mode and Turbo-boost, allowing you to raise the level of performance in the normal state. And, of course, thirdly, the cost of the new generation is slightly lower than the ninth series, which further fuels interest in them.
In the current material, we will consider the most interesting processors from the point of view of enthusiasts, which support overclocking and are distinguished by a high level of performance. We will talk about the Intel Core i5-10600K and Core i7-10700K models, which have become the successors of the past solutions, so loved by the public.
Specifications
| i5-10600K | i5-10600 | i7-10700K | i7-10700 | |
| Release date | 2nd quarter 2020 | 2nd quarter 2020 | 2nd quarter 2020 | 2nd quarter 2020 |
| Lithography | 14 nm | 14 nm | 14 nm | 14 nm |
| Number of cores/threads | 6/12 | 6/12 | 8/16 | 8/16 |
| CPU base frequency | 4.10 GHz | 3.30 GHz | 3.80 GHz | 2.90 GHz |
| Max Turbo Boost Frequency | 4.80 GHz | 4.80 GHz | 5.10 GHz | 4.80 GHz |
| L3 cache | 12 MB | 12 MB | 16 MB | 16 MB |
|
Max. |
128 GB | 128 GB | 128 GB | 128 GB |
| Memory types | DDR4-2666 | DDR4-2666 | DDR4-2933 | DDR4-2933 |
| Integrated graphics processor | UHD 630 | UHD 630 | UHD 630 | UHD 630 |
| Estimated power | 95 W | 65 W | 95 W | 65 W |
| Recommended price | $263.00 | $224.00 | $387.00 | $335.00 |
CPU Intel Core i5-10600K
Intel processors are available in OEM and BOX versions, which differ in terms of warranty and packaging. In our case, it turned out to be the regular OEM version, which is more affordable and more often purchased by gamers.
The Intel Core i5-10600K processor is a six-core representative of the series and differs from the younger models in an unlocked multiplier, as indicated by the letter «K» in the name, but the hero of the review stands out not only for this. Compared to previous solutions of the «six hundredth» series, this processor has acquired multi-threading technology, received higher frequencies and outperforms the «regular» Core i5-10600 by a significant 800 MHz in normal mode.
The frequency response of the Intel Core i5-10600K is better compared to its Coffee Lake Refresh generation predecessor. The nominal frequencies of the Intel Core i5-10600K are in the range of 4.1-4.8 GHz depending on the load with an identical thermal package of 95 W.
So far, it has been established that Intel uses four different dies with four to ten cores, and only the last one is brand new. Other crystals migrated from the Coffee Lake Refresh family, and the range of steppings turned out to be quite diverse: G0, P0, R1, G1, P1 and Q0. A more precise distribution by serial processors and serial codes is yet to be determined.
In our case, the CPU-Z diagnostic utility determined the Intel Core i5-10600K to stepping Q0 revision 5. The code SRH6R is indicated on the processor cover, which confirms this version.
In addition to increased frequencies and Hyper-Threading technology, the Intel Core i5-10600K processor can offer a 3 MB increase in L3 cache up to 12 MB, official support for dual-channel DDR4-2666 memory and the improved 14 ++ nm process technology familiar to us.
CPU Intel Core i7-10700K
The older brother Intel Core i7-10700K is a logical continuation of the Core i7-9700K and is based on a chip with eight cores, but unlike its predecessor, it received Hyper-Threading technology, providing sixteen threads.
The thermal package of the processor is 125 W, allowing it to operate in the clock frequency range of 3.8-5.0 GHz. The volume of the third-level cache has grown to 16 MB, which makes it possible to increase performance in computational operations in time-consuming tasks.
Our OEM copy of the Intel Core i7-10700K also refers to the Q0 stepping of revision 5, which indirectly indicates a single chip obtained from the older Intel Core i9-10900K processor, but with disabled cores. There are several options for rejection, and we will talk about it further.
Intel Core i7-10700K received official support for dual-channel DDR4-2933 memory with a bandwidth of up to 45.8 GB / s versus DDR4-2666 with a bandwidth of 41.6 GB / s in the previous generation Core i7-9 processor700K.
Engineering Sample Intel Core i5-10600K [ES]
Have you ever thought that on the day of the announcement of new products, there are fresh reviews and articles? The fact is that manufacturers send copies of their new models in advance so that the publications prepare the necessary materials on time. And Intel is no exception.
For comparison, to the previously reviewed Intel Core i5-10600K and Core i7-10700K processors, I would like to add an engineering sample of the Intel Core i5-10600K, which received a proprietary inscription on the cover «Intel Confidential». Unfortunately, it is forbidden to take pictures of the front part, so we will show its reverse side.
The engineering sample of the Intel Core i5-10600K is referred to in many diagnostic utilities as the Intel Core i5-10600K [ES], so we will call it that. According to its technical characteristics, it completely copies the release model in boxed and OEM versions.
An important correction for our sample is the P1 stepping of revision 4. Thanks to the study of technical documentation, it is known that such a version of the Intel Core i5-10600K processor «exists» in nature — you can find it in the Intel RDC documents (document number 618431, cut from flat table 613849). What is typical for this model is the indication of a thermal package of 125 W, which allows the review copy to show performance slightly better than the original processor. Multi-move.
Test bench
| Processors |
Intel Core i5-10600K [OEM] Intel Core i5-10600K [ES] Intel Core i7-10700K [OEM] |
| Motherboard | MSI MEG Z490i |
| Cooling system | EKWB EK-KIT Classic RGB P240 |
| RAM | Team Xtreem 8Pack 4500MHz 16GB (2 x 8GB) |
| Storage device | Western Digital Black SN750 500 GB |
| Power Supply | be quiet! Straight Power 11, 850W |
|
Video card #1 Video card #2 |
INNO3D GeForce RTX 3070 iCHILL X3 INNO3D GeForce RTX 3090 iCHILL X4 |
| Monitor | AOC U2790PQU |
| Operating system | Windows 10 Pro 64-bit 1909 |
| Drivers |
GeForce 456. |
MSI MEG Z490I Unify motherboard BIOS has been updated to the latest up-to-date and available version 112.
To eliminate the weaknesses of the motherboard when working with RAM (due to problems directly with the DDR4 itself), the “extreme” Team Xtreem 8Pack kit with a clock frequency of 4500 MHz was used in testing.
The graphs in all cases indicate the temperature of the hottest core. Monitoring of fan speeds and processor temperature was carried out using the latest version of the HWiNFO utility. The air temperature during the measurements was 26 degrees Celsius.
Memory, temperature and overclocking
Intel Core i5-10600K [OEM]
By default, out of the box, the Intel Core i5-10600K [OEM] processor runs on a Z490 system with DDR4-2133 memory and JEDEC profile timings «15-15-15-36». The memory controller shows slightly increased performance compared to the previous generation Core i5-9 processor600K.
In the stability test to reveal the average clock speed across all cores, which was 4500 MHz, the Intel Core i5-10600K [OEM] processor warms up to 67*C, not taking into account short bursts up to 72-77*C. In games, the processor temperature is 52-56 * C. Consumption in the stress test reaches 135-145 watts.
Let’s move on to a smooth study of the overclocking potential of our copy of the Intel Core i5-10600K [OEM].
The tenth generation of Intel processors of the Comet Lake-S family shows a similar problem when activating the XMP profile for RAM: motherboards, regardless of the brand, set the voltage on the System Agent and I / O at 1.5 V and 1.4 V, respectively, which is critical exceeding the allowable threshold of 1.35 V and over time can lead to equipment failure.
Despite optimizations and the use of a motherboard suitable for conquering high RAM clock speeds (up to 5000 MHz and higher), the Intel Core i5-10600K [OEM] processor refused to function stably at DDR4-4600, despite many attempts and tweaks in the BIOS. The final value is 4533 MHz at a voltage of 1.45 V for RAM.
Intel Core i5-10600K [OEM] belongs to overclocking processors and has a free multiplier. However, the best result can be considered 5000 MHz (50×100) at a voltage of 1.425 V: at 5100 MHz the system lost stability even in light synthetic tests.
AIDA64 cache and memory benchmark with Intel Core i5-10600K [OEM] processor at maximum overclock.
Intel Core i7-10700K [OEM]
In the stock state, the Intel Core i7-10700K [OEM] processor runs at 3.8-5.0 GHz and 2133 MHz RAM with «15-15-15-36» timings.
Under extreme load, it is possible to track peak temperatures above which a simple user and gamer will not see in everyday tasks. In this mode in LinX v0.9.5 Intel Core i7-10700K [OEM] processor warms up to 69*C despite increased consumption (up to 170W) and additional two active cores. The average clock frequency is 4700 MHz.
When manually overclocked to achieve maximum performance, the Intel Core i7-10700K [OEM] conquers the 5200 MHz mark across all cores. We note the same problem with the activation of the XMP profile for RAM and the overestimation of the VCCIO / VCCSA voltage, which have to be further underestimated.
AIDA64 cache and memory benchmark with Intel Core i7-10700K [OEM] processor at maximum overclock.
It is worth noting that the Vcore CPU voltage is greatly overestimated by the system, and therefore manual adjustment and activation of the Load Line Calibration modes are required, otherwise local overheating and frequency drops occur.
Intel Core i5-10600K [ES]
In the stock state, the Intel Core i5-10600K [ES] processor is no different from its OEM counterpart. However, its overclocking potential is higher and amounts to 5200 MHz for all cores, the ring bus is 4900 MHz and RAM is 4533 MHz.
The overclocking potential is higher, and the temperature regime and specific performance are lower. What explains this?
The Intel Core i5-10600K and Core i7-10700K processors are based on a ten-core die with disabled active cores (rejection). For junior processors, this is fraught with a huge number of combinations, which pairs of cores the developers have physically disabled at the factory. If this is an extreme sequence, we have high local heating, but lower delays between the cores, if, as in the case of the third picture, we have a balanced temperature regime, but degraded performance. Based on the schematic image, we can judge that our copy of the Intel Core i5-10600K [OEM] falls into the first group, and the Intel Core i5-10600K [ES] into the third.
Comprehensive performance
Evaluating the performance of each processor in the stock state and maximum overclocking allowed us to configure two scenarios for each model for performance analysis. As usual, we will start with synthetic benchmarks to determine «pure» performance in certain tasks and operations, which can always be compared with the results of other processors.
AIDA64 cache and memory benchmark
WinRAR — performance test
3DMark Time Spy Benchmark
Benchmark Cinebench R20
Gaming performance
We specifically retested the processors with the new GeForce RTX 3070 and RTX 3090 to see how they cope with the new video cards, whether they will reveal their potential and which bundles are most relevant. The comparison will include retail processors Intel Core i5-10600K [OEM] and Intel Core i7-10700K [OEM] with the same RAM parameters in stock and overclocking.
Testing was carried out at a resolution of 3840×2160 (4K).
BattleField 5
Far Cry 5
Metro Exodus
Shadow of the Tomb Raider
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
3DMark Fire Strike Benchmark
3DMark Time Spy Extreme Benchmark
Conclusion
Tenth-generation Intel processors from the Comet Lake-S family are the successors to the Skylake family, announced more than five years ago. However, the developers did not sit idly by and presented older solutions on a new chip, which «conditionally» can be called a familiar chip from past Coffee Lake Refresh solutions, but on «steroids». And they are very interesting for several reasons.
First of all, this concerns the active technology of Hyper-Threading multithreading, which now increases the performance not only of older processors, but also of representatives of the middle and lower segments. Secondly, the grown clock speeds, and in some places the volume of the third-level cache. And, of course, the announced recommended cost of solutions is slightly lower than the previous series to compete with current and future generation Ryzen processors.
If we talk about gaming performance, then they (processors) are quite effective for graphics accelerators of the existing market, but looking back, we can say with confidence that even an overclocked Intel Core i7-10700K is not enough to unlock the full potential of the GeForce RTX 309 graphics card0, so if you were thinking about just such a bunch, then you should reconsider your decision. As for the Intel Core i5-10600K, its stock performance is not enough for the GeForce RTX 3070 (it is also true for the RTX 2080 Ti model), so you will need to overclock both it and the RAM at least up to 5000 MHz and 3600 MHz, respectively.
Summing up all of the above, the Intel Core i5-10600K is an intermediate processor between «folk» and for enthusiasts, as it belongs to the older six-core solution that supports overclocking. The novelty received twelve threads and slightly better overclocking potential, and in the nominal mode it has a cold disposition and tolerates downvolting perfectly, which allows the Intel Core i5-10600K to become an excellent representative of the gaming assembly in compact systems. As for gaming performance, it is at a good level: the processor perfectly copes with modern projects and imposes excellent competition on AMD solutions in the middle segment. But weaknesses were also noted: the Intel Core i5-10600K is built on a ten-core processor chip and has four disabled cores. Depending on the combination of blocking, CPU Cores differ in their maximum overclocking potential, which depends on the thermal regime, and the delays between the cores. Processor overclocking has always varied from sample to sample, but with the Intel Core i5-10600K, this becomes a pronounced factor.
Advantages of Intel Core i5-10600K:
- High performance;
- Multithreading Hyper-Threading;
- Multiplier overclocking enabled;
- L3 cache size 12 MB;
- Solder under the processor cover;
- Versatility.
Intel Core i5-10600K Disadvantages:
In turn, the older model Intel Core i7-10700K continues the «seven hundredth» dynasty, but does it more confidently due to the increased number of threads and cache size of the third level, support for the DDR4-29 standard33. In fact, this is a renamed Intel Core i9-9900K with a reduced price tag and slightly increased nominal frequencies. But the quality of the crystal, like that of the Intel Core i5-10600K, depends on which cores on the ten-core die were blocked, which in the final version affects a small percentage of performance in the drain and temperature, and will significantly affect overclocking. As they say, overclocking is a lottery.
Advantages of Intel Core i5-10700K:
- High performance;
- Multithreading Hyper-Threading;
- Multiplier overclocking enabled;
- L3 cache size 16 MB;
- DDR4-2933 support;
- Solder under the processor cover.
Disadvantages Intel Core i5-10700K:
- Chip quality depends on delivery.
Test and review: Intel Core i5-10600K and Core i9-10900K are good gaming processors-10900K. Today, Intel is launching sales of Comet Lake processors, the first CPUs have already appeared in retail. The new processors offer up to ten cores (Core i9-10900K), clock speeds up to 5.3 GHz. But the Core i5-10600K is more interesting in terms of price/performance ratio in the new Intel line.
The launch of the Comet Lake-S line is not easy. Last year, ultra-mobile Comet Lake CPUs (U and Y) came out. However, they did not contain any special innovations, six cores could hardly reveal their potential with a thermal package of 15 or 25 watts. The situation turned out to be somewhat better with the Comet Lake-H line. Intel introduced new processors for mobile workstations and gaming laptops in early April with Thermal Velocity Boost up to 5.3 GHz. And they anticipated subsequent developments in the desktop segment.
But honestly speaking, we expected more from desktop Comet Lake-S. They offer up to ten cores on the Skylake architecture, but are manufactured on the old 14nm process technology, Boost frequency is up to 5.3 GHz, there is Hyper-Threading support on all processors (even on Core i5 and Core i3), as well as a few more bonuses. that should be of interest to users. Intel has been under increasing pressure from AMD in recent years, thanks in part to the successful Zen 2 processors.0003
Will Intel be able to compete against AMD Ryzen 9 3900X (test) and Ryzen 9 3950X (test) in multi-threaded environments? The question is certainly interesting.
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We recommend checking out our guide to picking the best Intel and AMD processor for the current quarter. It will help you choose the best CPU for your money and not get confused in the range of models on the market.
But let’s move on to desktop models (without Celeron and Pentium, and without T processors):
| Cores/Threads | Base frequency | Single Core Turbo | Max Turbo 3. |
Thermal Velocity Boost | All Core Turbo | Memory | TDP | Price | |
| Core i9-10900K | 10 / 20 | 3.7 GHz | 5.1 GHz | 5.2 GHz | 5.3 GHz | 4.9 GHz | DDR4-2933 | 125 W | 35.100 ₽ |
| Core i9-10900KF | 10/20 | 3.7 GHz | 5.1 GHz | 5.2 GHz | 5.3 GHz | 4.8 GHz | DDR4-2933 | 125 W | 33.700 ₽ |
| Core i9-10900 | 10 / 20 | 2.8 GHz | 5.0 GHz | 5.1 GHz | 5.1 GHz | 4.5 GHz | DDR4-2933 | 65 W | 38.200 ₽ |
| Core i9-10900F | 10 / 20 | 2.8 GHz | 5. |
5.1 GHz | 5.2 GHz | 4.5 GHz | DDR4-2933 | 65 W | 30.800 ₽ |
| Core i7-10700K | 8 / 16 | 3.8 GHz | 5.0 GHz | 5.1 GHz | — | 4.7 GHz | DDR4-2933 | 125 W | 32.000 ₽ |
| Core i7-10700KF | 8 / 16 | 3.8 GHz | 5.0 GHz | 5.1 GHz | — | 4.7 GHz | DDR4-2933 | 125 W | 29.500 ₽ |
| Core i7-10700 | 8 / 16 | 2.9 GHz | 4.7 GHz | 4.8 GHz | — | 4.6 GHz | DDR4-2933 | 65 W | 25.900 ₽ |
| Core i7-10700F | 8 / 16 | 2.9 GHz | 4.7 GHz | 4.8 GHz | — | 4.6 GHz | DDR4-2933 | 65 W | 28. |
| Core i5-10600K | 6 / 12 | 4.1 GHz | 4.8 GHz | — | — | 4.5 GHz | DDR4-2666 | 125 W | 22.500 ₽ |
| Core i5-10600KF | 6 / 12 | 4.1 GHz | 4.8 GHz | — | — | 4.5 GHz | DDR4-2666 | 125 W | 15.800 ₽ |
| Core i5-10600 | 6 / 12 | 3.3 GHz | 4.8 GHz | — | — | 4.4 GHz | DDR4-2666 | 65 W | 16.800 ₽ |
| Core i5-10500 | 6 / 12 | 3.1 GHz | 4.5 GHz | — | — | 4.2 GHz | DDR4-2666 | 65 W | 16.000 ₽ |
| Core i5-10400 | 6 / 12 | 2.9 GHz | 4.3 GHz | — | — | 4. |
DDR4-2666 | 65W | 12.500 ₽ |
| Core i5-10400F | 6 / 12 | 2.9 GHz | 4.3 GHz | — | — | 4.0 GHz | DDR4-2666 | 65 W | 11.400 ₽ |
| Core i3-10320 | 4 / 8 | 3.8 GHz | 4.6 GHz | — | — | 4.4 GHz | DDR4-2666 | 65 W | 14.900 ₽ |
| Core i3-10300 | 4 / 8 | 3.7 GHz | 4.4 GHz | — | — | 4.2 GHz | DDR4-2666 | 65 W | 13.900 ₽ |
| Core i3-10100 | 4 / 8 | 3.6 GHz | 4.3 GHz | — | — | 4.1 GHz | DDR4-2666 | 65 W | 10.900 ₽ |
Core range starts with Core i3, then Intel offers Core i5 and i7 lines, and at the top end we get Core i9. All Core i9 processors are equipped with ten cores, the Core i7 has eight cores, in the case of the Core i5 we already get six cores, and the Core i3 has a limited number of four. All Comet Lake-S processors handle twice as many threads as they have cores because Hyper-Threading Technology is always active.
K and KF processors have a TDP of 125W. Compared to previous Core i9 models, the TDP has been increased from 95W to 125W. Of course, the Core i9-9900KS had its TDP raised to 127W, but it’s still a special model. F processors and CPUs without additional letters work with a TDP of 65W. Intel has added differences in supported memory. Memory DDR4-2933 is only supported on Core i7 and Core i9 processors. Everyone else will have to be content with DDR4-2666. Intel justifies the choice of DDR4-2933 over DDR4-3200 by the need to further validate the faster standard. As for the younger models with DDR4-2666 memory.
Comet Lake-S features Turbo Boost Max Technology 3.0 (TBMT). TBMT 3.0 was introduced in 2016 along with Broadwell-E processors. On the Skylake architecture, Intel uses this technology to push higher clock speeds on two cores instead of just one. In the case of Cascade Lake-X processors, technology has been taken to a new level. Already four cores instead of two were selected as «Superior Cores», they worked at increased Boost clock speeds. But with Comet Lake-S processors, TBMT 3.0 technology runs on two cores.
Thermal Velocity Boost technology, which also works on two cores, can provide an additional frequency boost. But for Comet Lake-S processors, only one +100 MHz step is possible if the CPU temperature is below 70 °C. At temperatures above this level, additional Boost is not performed. With Comet Lake-H mobile processors, Intel has taken another +200MHz step at 65°C and below. Between 65 and 85°C we get 100 MHz boost, and above 85°C Thermal Velocity Boost is no longer working. In fact, Intel has raised the bar for Max Turbo 3. 0 for Comet Lake-S desktop processors a little higher, so +100 MHz Thermal Velocity Boost looks quite adequate.
Again, the TVB response is temperature dependent. We will return to this technology during the tests.
| 5-6 cores | 4 cores | 1-3 cores | |
| Core i5-10600K | 4.5 GHz | 4.7 GHz | 4.8 GHz |
If 5-6 cores are loaded, then the clock speeds of the Core i5-10600K are 4.5 GHz. In the case of a load on four cores, the frequencies increase to 4.7 GHz, and on one to three cores — up to 4.8 GHz. These frequencies of 4.8 GHz correspond to Turbo Boost 2.0. The Core i5-10600K does not support Turbo Boost 3.0, nor does Thermal Velocity Boost.
| 6-10 cores | 4-5 cores | 3 cores | 1-2 cores | |
| Core i9-10900K | 4.9 GHz | 5.0 GHz | 5.1 GHz | 5.3 GHz |
In the case of the Core i9-10900K, the multiplier of 49, that is, the frequency of 4.9 GHz, works when loaded with 6-10 cores. With a load of 4-5 cores, the frequency increases to 5 GHz. With three cores we get 5.1 GHz, with one or two — 5.3 GHz thanks to Thermal Velocity Boost.
| TDP/PL1 | PL2 | Tau | ||
| Intel Core i9-10900K | 125 W | 250 W | +100% | 56 with |
| Intel Core i7-10700K | 125 W | 229 W | +83. |
56 with |
| Intel Core i5-10600K | 125 W | 182 W | +45.6% | 56 with |
| Intel Core i9-9900KS | 127W | 159 W | +25.2% | 28 from |
| Intel Core i9-9900K | 95 W | 119 W | +25.3% | 28 from |
Intel has only disclosed these specifications for the Core i9-10900K, Core i7-10700K and Core i5-10600K so far. TDP / PL1 for all the mentioned processors is 125 watts. The previous generation Core i9-9900K ran at a TDP of 95W, though the Core i9-9900KS had its TDP raised to 127W.
But the biggest change is with the Short Duration Power Limit (PL2). The Core i9-10900K can run at 250W TDP for up to 56 seconds. Core i7-10700K — 229W, while the Core i5-10600K is 182 W, in each case also up to 56 s. The PL2 level was raised by 100%, 83% and 46% compared to PL1, respectively. The previous generation Core i9-9900K(S) had +25%. In addition, the nominal time PL2 was 28 s. However, motherboard manufacturers could change PL1, PL2 and Tau within certain limits. The same is true for Comet Lake-S, as we will show below.
Non-K processors normally operate with PL2 = PL1 * 1.25 and Tau 28 s. Intel has already published technical documentation for the 10th generation Core processors, and there this information is present.
<>Test and Review: Intel Core i5-10600K and Core i9-10900K are Good Gaming Processors
Process and Details Comet Lake-S
Intel Core i9-12990K and Core i5-12600K 20021 Review
Intel is back, baby.
Verdict : Both the new Intel Core i9-12900K and the new Core i5-12600K are the best Intel processors to date in recent releases due to their incredible performance. Intel has decided to reclaim the crown, and while you have to invest in new hardware to install one of these processors, all the technology offered by the new platform is worth it.
Pros :
- Monstrous performance;
- High energy efficiency;
- Supports all the latest technologies;
- Great for playing;
Cons :
- Will have to buy additional equipment;
Intel has been in a tense war for the past few years since AMD first introduced its Zen architecture with Ryzen processors. Since then, it seems that Intel has been playing catch-up, both in terms of overall performance and in terms of technology. However, with the Intel Core i9-12900K and Core i5-12600K Intel has really taken the lead and it looks like Team Blue is back on the throne — at least for now.
The new Alder Lake-S processors are a dramatic improvement over their 11th Gen Rocket Lake predecessors, and now Intel can once again claim its chips as «the best gaming processors» without getting too deep into the numbers.
However, these new processors come with a new socket, which means that everyone will have to upgrade at least their motherboard, and maybe memory with a processor cooler. Luckily there are Z69 motherboards0 that support DDR4 memory, which should lower the price of entry for some users. But for those who want to use all the best technology inside their computer, you’ll be happy to know that DDR5 can deliver much faster speeds with lower latency.
(Image credit: Future)
| PRICES AND AVAILABILITY
Intel Core i9-12900K and Intel Core i5-12600K available today,
since they went on sale from November 2021. At the time of this writing
articles retailers released this high performance processor for
$616 (46000r + VAT).
If you need the Intel Core i5-12600K is a mid-range processor, its RRP is $289
(21500r + VAT). However, retailers sell it more often for $300 (22500r
+ VAT). This makes the 12600K much closer to Intel’s recommended price than the higher end processor.
class, which makes sense given the completely different CPU audience.
If this approach seems strange to you, you are not alone.
Instead of setting a firm price tag on their processors, Intel simply
publishes recommended price ranges and allows retailers to release
product at the price they want. This means that while Intel can
advertise attractive prices for their processors, the final price tag may
swim depending on the market situation.
In any case, these processors do correspond
what competitors offer. For example, AMD Ryzen 9 5900X costs about $559 (42000r + VAT) — and it came out back in October
2020. And, as we’ll find out a bit later, Intel dominates it, which is easy.
justifies the extra expense, especially in demanding environments.
creative work.
As for competitors Intel Core i5, Ryzen
5 5600X will cost you $324 (24300r + VAT). So in the market
Russian Intel has a significant price advantage, along with the best
performance in almost all respects. Gone are the days when Intel lagged behind
from AMD, as per
performance as well as price, Team Blue has released a really powerful
product at a great price.
(Image credit: Future)
| CHIPSET
AND FEATURES
Both the Intel Core i9-12900K and Core i5-12600K are based on the new
12th generation Intel Alder Lake-S architecture. At the core
architecture lies the new Intel manufacturing process 7.
It may seem that we are talking about 7-nanometer
Intel process technology, but
it’s a bit more complicated. Intel
7 is just the name the company gives to this generation of its 10nm
technical process, and with it comes a significant increase in productivity — 10-15%
performance per watt, according to the vice president and director of Intel. Technically, it’s all
the same node size, but Intel has made many improvements to individual transistors, from
which the processor consists of, which allows it to compete with AMD processors built on
technically smaller production process.
And while Intel contributes to nanometer confusion, it’s not really
main. What really marks the monumental shift that makes the Core i9-12900K easy to
claims to leadership positions is the development of processors of this
generations. With Alder Lake, Intel brings the big.LITTLE design philosophy behind smartphone chipsets to scale
to full-featured desktop processors.
Basically you get two sets of cores. In the Intel Core i9-12900K you will find 16
cores, but not all cores are large, as we are used to. Instead they are separated
halved into 8 productive cores and 8 effective ones.
Performance cores — more traditional cores of the central
processor, and thanks to Intel Thread Director technology — multi-threaded workloads
are automatically directed to these powerful cores. tasks such as computer
games, Blender, editing
video to Adobe Premiere and other heavy workloads will go to powerful
2-threaded cores to keep everything running fast.
And while all the heavy work falls on productive cores, Intel Thread Director sends
all background tasks to efficient cores. Thus, tasks such as
browser running in the background, listening to Spotify while playing Destiny 2 without slowing down
processes that require performance.
We were initially worried that the new and complex core design
The CPU will cause errors, especially because it exited almost at the same time
with Windows 11, and we all
we know how many errors a new version of the OS can generate. But to our great
Surprisingly, everything went smoothly. And even game compatibility issues when launching Alder Lake were
solved, which means that nothing prevents you from enjoying your computer on new
processors.
(Image credit: Future)
With a new design, Intel was able to pack 16 cores into the 12900K while maintaining a high clock speed.
frequency, reaching 5.2 GHz out of the box in Max Turbo mode. And since we
discussing the K-Series processor here, you can
go even further if you want to. Even the Intel Core i5-12600K supports
high overclocking speeds, reaching a frequency of 4.9 GHz, although the average processor
range has only 10 cores — 6 productive and 4 efficient.
But before you rush to the store for one of these
processors, expecting to overclock it, you should know that they can
heat. Even with the 360mm AIO liquid cooler we used during
testing, Intel Core i9-12900K heated up
up to 86 degrees Celsius. Core i5-12600K running
slightly better, reaching 65°C with the same cooler.
If you want to get the flagship Core i9 this time, you don’t even have to
think about it unless you’re ready to invest in a serious CPU cooler.
Even a 120mm liquid cooler can’t handle it — just read our Alienware Aurora R13 review to see what’s in there.
going on.
But even at higher temperatures, Intel managed to
significantly improve performance compared to Core i9-11900K while maintaining power consumption
at the same level. During benchmarks, the Core i9-12900K peaks at 252W versus 266W for the 11900K. And this is with an increase
performance in Blender by 70%. Not bad for passing from generation to generation.
But it’s important to note that with a new socket, you may
need and a new CPU cooler or at least have to turn to
cooler manufacturer to get a new mounting bracket. For our
processor cooler, all it took was a few different screws to
to compensate for the height change of the new processor. And since the processor itself
longer, chances are your CPU cooler might just be
incompatible. So, make sure your cooler is compatible before
seal the system.
Switching to a new chipset layout was enough to
impress us, but Intel has gone further and included many new technologies in the platform
12th generation. The main feature is DDR5 memory.
DDR5 memory output
to a mainstream computing platform was only a matter of time, Intel was the first
struck. Right now it is not necessary to upgrade the memory, but you should have
mind that Z690 motherboards
will support DDR5
or DDR4, but not both. DDR5, probably some
time will remain more expensive, but it is future-oriented and probably
You will have more than one update.
Alder Lake also supports PCIe 5.0. And this is very interesting, although so far it seems meaningless.
Devices with PCIe 4.0 only
are gaining popularity and it will probably be some time before we
we will see solid state drives and video cards begin to take advantage of
this technology. But, again, that’s what makes your build oriented towards
the future — to the extent that there is a prospect at all.
(Image credit: Infogram)
| PERFORMANCE
While Intel has consistently claimed to make the best processors for gaming with
every generation, the Intel Core i9-12900K is without a doubt the best gaming
processor at the moment. And the competitors are not close.
Looking at pure gaming performance, the Intel Core i9-12900K is approx.
2% slower than Ryzen
9 5900X in Metro Exodus,
but as much as 26% faster in Total War:
three kingdoms. Even in tests
processor 3DMark Time Spy,
which overclocks processors to the limit, Core i9-12900K by 33%
faster than 5900X.
This difference continues in creative workloads. AT
Blender 12900K on
15% faster than 5900X,
and 23% faster in Cinebench R23.
Numbers in Adobe Premiere and Photoshop are very similar. It’s easy with Intel’s new flagship
occupies a leading position in the tests, with the exception of Metro Exodus.
What is perhaps much more impressive is that
Intel Core i5-12600K Competition Opportunities vs.
Ryzen 5 5600X. In games Core i5-12600K approx.
2-8% faster in Total War and Metro,
but in the Time Spy gaming test, that number goes up to a whopping 55%. It may seem
not the greatest achievement, but it says that Intel has
room for growth, as well as the fact that the processor will continue to increase
performance as games are better programmed to use
advantages of the new chip layout.
And while the Core i5 processor isn’t really designed for creative heavy workloads, it
pretty capable. It is 55% faster than the Ryzen 5 5600X in Blender,
and looks good against the background of the much more expensive Ryzen 9 5900X — only 42%
slower.
Whether you’re looking to buy a new processor or just build a whole new computer, there’s no reason to avoid Intel today. The performance of the new products is too good to be ignored. No matter what you plan to use your computer for, you get incredible performance with the new processors.
| SUMMARY
(Image credit: Future)
BUY IF…
You need high performance gaming. Without a doubt, the Intel Core i9-12900K is currently
moment becomes the most powerful gaming processor on the market. And the Core i5-12600K is no fool either
in this region.
You need a future-oriented platform. In spite of
that the «future-oriented» concept is wrong, Intel Alder Lake processors such as the Core i9-12900K, support all advanced technologies
PC. You won’t have to update for a long time.
You need an efficient PC for multitasking. Thanks to
new chip layout that separates the cores by roles, you don’t have to worry
that some program will again slow down the performance of your PC.
DO NOT BUY IF…
You don’t want to upgrade many components. Since new
processors require a new socket, it is likely that you will need to upgrade and
motherboard followed by a CPU cooler to unleash the potential of the Core i9-12900K or Core i5-12600K. And you may also have to
buy a brand new memory if you are buying a DDR5 motherboard.
ten
Overall Score
Verdict
Both the new Intel Core i9-12900K and the new Core i5-12600K are the best Intel processors to date in recent years due to their incredible performance. Intel has decided to reclaim the crown, and while you have to invest in new hardware to install one of these processors, all the technology offered by the new platform is worth it.
Intel
Processors Intel Core i5-11400H Review — Mobile Processor Test
Intel Core i5-11400H Review — Mobile Processor Test
The Intel Core i5-11400H is Intel’s new H-series processor, the successor to last year’s Core i5-10400H. The model is a direct competitor to the AMD Ryzen 5 5600H and is used in many high-performance and gaming laptop series.
Core i5-11400H is a Tiger Lake-h55 architecture processor. It comes with all the architectural updates: 10nm SuperFin process, improved cache sizes, clock speed and efficiency, and new features like PCIe 4.0 support. It has an integrated Xe GPU, albeit a much cut down one from the top Tiger Lake models.
Unlike the 8-core i7 and i9 models, the Intel Core i5-11400H has 6 cores, 12 threads, and 12MB L3 cache. The base clock is 2. 7GHz at 45W TDP or 2.2GHz at 35W TDP. The maximum clock speed in Turbo mode is 4.5 GHz for a single core or 4.1 GHz when all 6 cores are loaded.
The Intel Core i5-11400H has integrated UHD graphics, but they are weak enough that laptops with this processor come with a discrete graphics card to provide adequate performance.
Tested using an XMG Core 17 laptop shipped with an Intel Core i5-11400H and the new NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 discrete graphics card for laptops running at 80W to 95W. It comes with 16GB of RAM running at 3200MHz and a 1024GB SSD. Testing was done with the default processor TDP set to 45W for 11th Gen Intel H processors.
Testing Intel Core i5-11400H
- Cinebench R20
- Conclusion
Cinebench R20
The Core i5-11400H performs well in the multi-threaded Cinebench R20 test. Its performance is slightly lower than the latest generation Core i9-10980HK and better than AMD’s Ryzen 5 4600H, but it’s still slightly behind the newer Ryzen 5 5600H.
The i5-11400H ends up being 8% slower than the Ryzen 5 5600H and 19% slower than the i7-11800H, indicating that Intel’s eight-core processor is decently efficient despite the same power cap of 45 Tue
Since the Core i5-11400H is limited to 4.5 GHz per core, it’s not surprising that it performs weaker than other Tiger Lake processors in the single-threaded test, since this turbo frequency is the lowest. On top of that, the i5-11400H only has half the L3 cache compared to the i7-11800H, so overall performance is down 4% in this test. However, this is still enough for the i5-11400H to outperform the Ryzen 5 5600H by 5%.
Handbrake
In Handbrake, i5-11400H performance is similar to what was shown in Cinebench’s multi-threaded test. The i5-11400H is slightly faster than the Ryzen 5 4600H and slightly slower than the Core i9-10980HK. It is 5% behind the Ryzen 5 5600H and 13% behind the Intel Core i7-11800H.
Blender
Blender i5-11400H doesn’t work as well as Handbrake, it just matches Ryzen 5 4600H. We get 8% lower performance than the Ryzen 5 5600H and 17% lower performance than the Core i7-11800H. Therefore, the i5-11400H is not the best choice for such heavy multi-threaded tasks.
Compiling code
However, when compiling code, things are somewhat different. The i5-11400H is slightly ahead of the Ryzen 5 5600H here and is on par with the latest generation octa-core processors. Although this is a good result compared to the Core i5 and Ryzen 5, the performance is still 19% lower than the Core i7-11800H.
MATLAB
Matlab is another good result for the Core i5-11400H. It is only slightly behind the other models in the lineup and outperforms all Ryzen 5000 processors in this test.
Microsoft Excel
The Microsoft Excel Core i5-11400H suffers a lot from L3 cache shrinking from 24MB in higher end processors to just 12MB in this model. As a result, performance dropped by more than 30% compared to the i7-11800H. Although it is still competitive with the Ryzen 5 5600H and only 3% behind it.
7-Zip
7-Zip compression also suffers from the cache reduction of the i5-11400H, combined with lower Turbo frequencies compared to other Intel processors. As a result, the performance is still better than the Ryzen 5 5600H, although the lead is only 4%, however, it cannot be compared with octa-core processors such as the i7-11800H or the Ryzen 7 5800H.
In decompression, the i5-11400H lags behind AMD Ryzen processors. This is a very strong test for AMD, so the performance of the processor from Intel is even slightly lower than the Ryzen 5 4600H, and 17% lower than the Ryzen 5 5600H. It’s also 27% weaker than the i7-11800H, which benefits from more cache and cores and higher clocks.
Adobe Acrobat PDF
When exporting Acrobat PDF, the Core i5-11400H performs very similarly to the Ryzen 5 5600H and Ryzen 7 5800H, either way we’re talking about a few percent. However, in this single-threaded test, performance is 6 percent slower than the 11800H.
Adobe Photoshop
In Adobe Photoshop, the Core i5-11400H delivers nearly the same performance as the Ryzen 5 5600H.
Adobe Premiere
The Adobe Premiere Ryzen 5 5600H and Core i5-11400H work in roughly the same way when exporting.
Shadow of the Tomb Raider
In Shadow of the Tomb Raider, two laptops with RTX 3050 graphics showed similar performance, although the Intel Core i5-11400H model was slightly slower. The minimum FPS was 6% lower on the Core i5 laptop, but the average FPS was only 2% behind.
Resident Evil 2
In Resident Evil 2 again, there is not much difference between the i7-11800H and the i5-11400H. At best, we see a 4% difference when comparing minimum FPS.
Borderlands 3
In Borderlands 3, the laptop with the i5-11400H was 3% slower in average FPS and 6% slower in minimum FPS compared to the older model.
Rainbow Six Siege
In Rainbow Six Siege with an RTX 3050 graphics card, both processors produced the same result.
Cyberpunk 2077
Cyberpunk 2077 had a similar situation — there is no difference in performance between processors.
Hitman 3
Hitman 3 had the biggest FPS difference, with the i5-11400H being 6% slower on average FPS than the i7-11800H and 15% slower on minimum FPS.
Comparison of Intel Core i5-11400H and Intel Core i7-11800H
On average, the i5-11400H is less than 2% slower than the i7-11800H, so you won’t feel much difference in games.
However, in performance tests, the difference between the Core i5-11400H and the Core i7-11800H is higher.
In multi-threaded tasks, the Intel Core i5-11400H is over 15% slower due to fewer cores. The difference becomes especially strong in applications where the cache size is important, since the Core i5-11400H has 2 times less than the i7.
Intel Core i5-11400H vs. AMD Ryzen 5 5600H
The real battle is between the i5-11400H and the Ryzen 5 5600H, which are almost on par with each other. In longer, multi-threaded workloads, the AMD processor has an advantage, but the difference between them is less than 10%. In low-threaded tasks, the processors are close to each other.
Intel Core i5-11400H vs. AMD Ryzen 5 4600H
The Core i5-11400H is well ahead of AMD’s previous generation Ryzen 5 4600H.
Conclusion
Overall, the Intel Core i5-11400H performed well and is probably the best mobile processor Intel has produced in quite a while. This is a very competitive processor, on par with the AMD Ryzen 5 5600H.
The Ryzen 5 5600H has an advantage at 45W in multi-threaded workloads, but in most other workloads the i5-11400H is either close to or better than the 5600H. This advantage for Intel increases with more power, and the i5-11400H is able to close the gap.