Intel Core i5-12600K vs Intel Core i5-12600KF

CPU comparison with benchmarks

Intel Core i5-12600K		Intel Core i5-12600KF
CPU comparison Intel Core i5-12600K or Intel Core i5-12600KF - which processor is faster? In this comparison we look at the differences and analyze which of these two CPUs is better. We compare the technical data and benchmark results. The Intel Core i5-12600K has 10 cores with 16 threads and clocks with a maximum frequency of 4.90 GHz. Up to 128 GB of memory is supported in 2 memory channels. The Intel Core i5-12600K was released in Q4/2021. The Intel Core i5-12600KF has 10 cores with 16 threads and clocks with a maximum frequency of 4.90 GHz. The CPU supports up to 128 GB of memory in 2 memory channels. The Intel Core i5-12600KF was released in Q4/2021.
Intel Core i5 (331)	Family	Intel Core i5 (331)
Intel Core i 12000 (34)	CPU group	Intel Core i 12000 (34)
12	Generation	12
Alder Lake S	Architecture	Alder Lake S
Desktop / Server	Segment	Desktop / Server
Intel Core i5-11600K	Predecessor	Intel Core i5-11600KF
Intel Core i5-13600K	Successor	Intel Core i5-13600KF
CPU Cores and Base Frequency The Intel Core i5-12600K is a 10 core processor with a clock frequency of 3.70 GHz (4.90 GHz). The Intel Core i5-12600KF has 10 CPU cores with a clock frequency of 3.70 GHz (4.90 GHz).
Intel Core i5-12600K	Characteristic	Intel Core i5-12600KF
10	Cores	10
16	Threads	16
hybrid (big.LITTLE)	Core architecture	hybrid (big.LITTLE)
Yes	Hyperthreading	Yes
Yes	Overclocking ?	Yes
3.70 GHz (4.90 GHz) 6x Golden Cove	A-Core	3.70 GHz (4.90 GHz) 6x Golden Cove
2.80 GHz (3.60 GHz) 4x Gracemont	B-Core	2.80 GHz (3.60 GHz) 4x Gracemont
Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Processors with the support of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) can process many calculations, especially audio, image and video processing, much faster than classic processors. Algorithms for ML improve their performance the more data they have collected via software. ML tasks can be processed up to 10,000 times faster than with a classic processor.
Intel Core i5-12600K	Characteristic	Intel Core i5-12600KF
--	AI hardware	--
--	AI specifications	--
Internal Graphics The integrated graphics unit of a processor is not only responsible for the pure image output on the system, but can also significantly increase the efficiency of the system with the support of modern video codecs.
Intel UHD Graphics 770	GPU	no iGPU
0.30 GHz	GPU frequency	--
1.45 GHz	GPU (Turbo)	--
11	GPU Generation	--
10 nm	Technology
3	Max. displays
32	Compute units	--
256	Shader	--
No	Hardware Raytracing	No
No	Frame Generation	No
64 GB	Max. GPU Memory	--
12	DirectX Version	--
Hardware codec support A photo or video codec that is accelerated in hardware can greatly accelerate the working speed of a processor and extend the battery life of notebooks or smartphones when playing videos.
Intel UHD Graphics 770	GPU	no iGPU
Decode / Encode	Codec h265 / HEVC (8 bit)	No
Decode / Encode	Codec h265 / HEVC (10 bit)	No
Decode / Encode	Codec h264	No
Decode / Encode	Codec VP9	No
Decode / Encode	Codec VP8	No
Decode	Codec AV1	No
Decode / Encode	Codec AVC	No
Decode	Codec VC-1	No
Decode / Encode	Codec JPEG	No

Memory & PCIe The Intel Core i5-12600K supports a maximum of 128 GB of memory in 2 memory channels. The Intel Core i5-12600KF can connect up to 128 GB of memory in 2 memory channels.
Intel Core i5-12600K	Characteristic	Intel Core i5-12600KF
DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200	Memory	DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200
128 GB	Max. Memory	128 GB
2 (Dual Channel)	Memory channels	2 (Dual Channel)
76.8 GB/s	Max. Bandwidth	76.8 GB/s
Yes	ECC	No
9.50 MB	L2 Cache	9.50 MB
20.00 MB	L3 Cache	20.00 MB
5.0	PCIe version	5.0
20	PCIe lanes	20
78.8 GB/s	PCIe Bandwidth	78.8 GB/s
Thermal Management The TDP (Thermal Design Power) of a processor specifies the required cooling solution. The Intel Core i5-12600K has a TDP of 125 W, that of the Intel Core i5-12600KF is 125 W.
Intel Core i5-12600K	Characteristic	Intel Core i5-12600KF
125 W	TDP (PL1 / PBP)	125 W
150 W	TDP (PL2)	150 W
--	TDP up	--
--	TDP down	--
100 °C	Tjunction max.	100 °C
Technical details The Intel Core i5-12600K has a 29.50 MB cache, while the Intel Core i5-12600KF cache has a total of 29.50 MB.
Intel Core i5-12600K	Characteristic	Intel Core i5-12600KF
10 nm	Technology	10 nm
Monolithic	Chip design	Monolithic
x86-64 (64 bit)	Instruction set (ISA)	x86-64 (64 bit)
SSE4.1, SSE4.2, AVX2, AVX2+	ISA extensions	SSE4.1, SSE4.2, AVX2, AVX2+
LGA 1700	Socket	LGA 1700
VT-x, VT-x EPT, VT-d	Virtualization	VT-x, VT-x EPT, VT-d
Yes	AES-NI	Yes
Windows 10, Windows 11, Linux	Operating systems	Windows 10, Windows 11, Linux
Q4/2021	Release date	Q4/2021
289 $	Release price	264 $
show more data		show more data
Intel Core i5-12600K 10C 16T @ 3.70 GHz (4.90 GHz) buy now on Amazon and save! Intel Core i5-12600KF 10C 16T @ 3.70 GHz (4.90 GHz) buy now on Amazon and save!

Devices using this processor
Intel Core i5-12600K	Intel Core i5-12600KF
Unknown	Unknown

Comparison of the two processors

The Intel Core i5-12600K and the Intel Core i5-12600KF are two almost identical processors with identical CPU performance. The only difference is that the Intel Core i5-12600K has an Intel UHD Graphics 770 type internal graphics unit (iGPU). This graphics unit has 32 execution units and is still based on the older Intel UHD architecture. With 256 texture shaders and a clock frequency of 1.45 GHz, it achieves around 750 GFLOP/s in FP32 floating point calculations. That's enough to play older games smoothly in low details. The internal graphics of the Intel Core i5-12600K are not suitable for newer PC games.

The Intel Core i5-12600K and the Intel Core i5-12600KF have 10 CPU cores and 16 threads. The CPU cores have had a hybrid structure since the Alder-Lake generation and consist of large performance cores from the "Golden Cove" architecture and smaller and therefore more economical "Gracemont" CPU cores, a further development of earlier Intel Atom architectures.

The base clock frequency of both processors is 3.7 GHz. This can be increased to up to 4.9 GHz on just one CPU core using the turbo mode under load. The clock frequencies are lower when all or more CPU cores are loaded, but the clock frequency is still quite high at 4.5 GHz when all CPU cores are loaded.

Both processors have a free multiplier, which explains the "K" in the product description. The level 2 cache of the processors is 9.5 MB, the level 3 cache is 20 MB.

Like all new Alder Lake S desktop processors, the Intel Core i5-12600K and the Intel Core i5-12600KF can also address external devices such as a graphics card or a fast M.2 SSD with the new PCIe 5.0 standard. A maximum of 20 PCIe 5.0 lines are available for this.

In addition, up to 128 GB of DDR5-4800 RAM is supported, and even faster RAM modules can be run by overclocking the RAM.

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