Should you buy the latest Intel Core i5-12600 or stick with the old?

The Intel Core i5-12600K is the best CPU choice here, even if you’re looking to get the best value. At full MSRP, there’s no questioning the performance on offer, not to mention DDR5 support in the future if you want to stay with DDR4 right now. The only time you’ll want to consider the Core i5-11600K is when you’re sticking with a 500-series chipset motherboard.

Intel Core i5-12600K vs. i5-11600K: Specs

Category	Intel Core i5-12600K	Intel Core i5-11600K
Cores/threads	10/16	6/12
Base frequency	P: 3.7GHz E: 2.8GHz	3.9GHz
Boost	P: 4.9GHz E: 3.6GHz	4.9GHz
Turbo Boost Max 3.0	❌	❌
Memory	DDR4-3200/DDR5-4800 Up to 128GB	DDR4-3200 Up to 128GB
L3 cache	20MB	12MB
Integrated graphics	Intel UHD Graphics 770	Intel UHD Graphics 750
PCIe	PCIe Gen 5.0 x 20	PCIe Gen 4.0 x 20
TDP	125W	125W
Manufacturing node	10nm	14nm
Socket	LGA1700	LGA1200
Price	$320	$250

Intel’s 12600K is the new gaming CPU king

Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central
Alder Lake is what Intel pushed forward with for its 12th generation of processors. Utilizing the company’s Intel 7 (10nm) manufacturing process and following the “big.LITTLE” hybrid design principle we’ve seen with ARM chips like the M1 from Apple, Intel is bringing the hybrid design to the desktop PC market.

Inside the Intel Core i5-12600K, you’ll find a healthy mix of both high-performance Golden Cove and more power-efficient Gracemont cores. The goal is to bring together very power-efficient single-threaded cores that handle low-priority tasks with more traditional PC-grade multi-thread, high-performance cores that can handle everything else.

Golden Cove cores will handle all the main tasks like important processes, games, in-use apps, and other tasks while other, lower-priority apps and tasks get pushed off onto the Gracemont cores, freeing up resources. The end result is a core and thread configuration that seems out of place in 2021.

The Core i5-12600K has 10 physical cores (eight performance and two efficient) and 16 threads. This is a substantial improvement on the last-gen CPU that only had six cores and 12 threads. Clock speeds are about the same with the 12600K starting at 2.8GHz and 3.7GHz for the efficient and performance cores, respectively.

12th Gen Intel CPUs not only add PCIe 5.0 support but also DDR5 too. This allows the 12600K to go up to DDR5-4800, though you could push it higher with more expensive RAM kits. Other improvements to the newer Core i5 include considerably more cache and better integrated graphics.

The result is considerable gains in games and general computing. To put the above charts into perspective, the Core i5-12600K was beating the Core i9-11900K, which is incredible and shows how much of a boost this is compared to the outgoing Core i5-11600K. If you want the best performer for your buck, the newer chip is for you.

12600K is the latest and greatest

Intel is back in the game with the 12600K, moving from a 14nm manufacturing process to 10nm. This allows the company to cram more onto the same-sized chip and have it run more efficiently. But Intel didn’t stop there. 12th Gen processors come with efficient and power cores, which unlocks new levels of efficiency and performance. Just make sure to buy the best motherboards for Intel Core i5-12600K.

You can find the 11600K discounted

The Core i5-11600K may not be the best from Intel, and compared to the newer 12600K, it’s not even in the same league, but you can find one of these mid-range processors at a discount. Even outside of promotions like Amazon Prime and Black Friday, the 11600K is almost $70 more affordable.