i5-12600K vs i3-6300

Aggregate performance score

Core i3-6300
2015
2 cores / 4 threads, 51 Watt
2.73
Core i5-12600K
2021
10 cores / 16 threads, 125 Watt
17.43
+538%

Core i5-12600K outperforms Core i3-6300 by a whopping 538% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

Comparing Core i3-6300 and Core i5-12600K processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking1694356
Place by popularitynot in top-100not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluation0.6042.20
Market segmentDesktop processorDesktop processor
SeriesIntel Core i3Intel Core i5
Power efficiency5.0713.20
Architecture codenameSkylake (2015−2016)Alder Lake, Golden Cove, Gracemont (2021)
Release date1 September 2015 (9 years ago)4 November 2021 (3 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)$147$289

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

i5-12600K has 6933% better value for money than i3-6300.

Detailed specifications

Core i3-6300 and Core i5-12600K basic parameters such as number of cores, number of threads, base frequency and turbo boost clock, lithography, cache size and multiplier lock state. These parameters indirectly say of CPU speed, though for more precise assessment you have to consider their test results.

Physical cores2 (Dual-core)10 (Deca-Core)
Threads416
Base clock speed3.8 GHz3.7 GHz
Boost clock speed3.8 GHz4.9 GHz
Bus typeDMI 3.0DMI 4.0
Bus rate4 × 8 GT/s8 × 16 GT/s
Multiplier3837
L1 cache64K (per core)80K (per core)
L2 cache256K (per core)1.25 MB (per core)
L3 cache4 MB (shared)20 MB (shared)
Chip lithography14 nmIntel 7 nm
Die size150 mm2215.25 mm2
Maximum core temperatureno data100 °C
Maximum case temperature (TCase)65 °C72 °C
Number of transistors1,400 millionno data
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibility-+
Unlocked multiplier-+

Compatibility

Information on Core i3-6300 and Core i5-12600K compatibility with other computer components: motherboard (look for socket type), power supply unit (look for power consumption) etc. Useful when planning a future computer configuration or upgrading an existing one. Note that power consumption of some processors can well exceed their nominal TDP, even without overclocking. Some can even double their declared thermals given that the motherboard allows to tune the CPU power parameters.

Number of CPUs in a configuration1 (Uniprocessor)1
SocketFCLGA1151FCLGA1700
Power consumption (TDP)51 Watt125 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i3-6300 and Core i5-12600K. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensionsIntel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2Intel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2
AES-NI++
FMA-+
AVX++
vProno data+
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)++
Speed Shiftno data+
Turbo Boost Technology-2.0
Hyper-Threading Technology++
Idle States++
Thermal Monitoring++
SIPP-+
Turbo Boost Max 3.0no data-
Deep Learning Boost-+

Security technologies

Core i3-6300 and Core i5-12600K technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXT-+
EDB++
Secure Key++
MPX+-
Identity Protection+-
SGXYes with Intel® MEno data
OS Guard++

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i3-6300 and Core i5-12600K are enumerated here.

VT-d++
VT-x++
EPT++

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i3-6300 and Core i5-12600K. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesDDR4DDR4, DDR5
Maximum memory size64 GB128 GB
Max memory channels22
Maximum memory bandwidth34.134 GB/s76.805 GB/s
ECC memory support++

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics card
Compare
Intel HD Graphics 530Intel UHD Graphics 770
Max video memory64 GBno data
Quick Sync Video++
Clear Video+no data
Clear Video HD++
Graphics max frequency1.15 GHz1.45 GHz
Execution Unitsno data32
InTru 3D+no data

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core i3-6300 and Core i5-12600K integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supported34
eDP+no data
DisplayPort+-
HDMI+-
DVI+no data

Graphics image quality

Maximum display resolutions supported by Core i3-6300 and Core i5-12600K integrated GPUs, including resolutions over different interfaces.

4K resolution support+no data
Max resolution over HDMI 1.44096x2304@24Hz4096 x 2160 @ 60Hz
Max resolution over eDP4096x2304@60Hz5120 x 3200 @ 120Hz
Max resolution over DisplayPort4096x2304@60Hz7680 x 4320 @ 60Hz
Max resolution over VGAN/Ano data

Graphics API support

APIs supported by Core i3-6300 and Core i5-12600K integrated GPUs, sometimes API versions are included.

DirectX1212
OpenGL4.54.5

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i3-6300 and Core i5-12600K.

PCIe version3.05.0 and 4.0
PCI Express lanes1620

Synthetic benchmark performance

Various benchmark results of the processors in comparison. Overall score is measured in points in 0-100 range, higher is better.


Combined synthetic benchmark score

This is our combined benchmark performance rating. We are regularly improving our combining algorithms, but if you find some perceived inconsistencies, feel free to speak up in comments section, we usually fix problems quickly.

i3-6300 2.73
i5-12600K 17.43
+538%

Passmark

Passmark CPU Mark is a widespread benchmark, consisting of 8 different types of workload, including integer and floating point math, extended instructions, compression, encryption and physics calculation. There is also one separate single-threaded scenario measuring single-core performance.

i3-6300 4329
i5-12600K 27693
+540%

GeekBench 5 Single-Core

GeekBench 5 Single-Core is a cross-platform application developed in the form of CPU tests that independently recreate certain real-world tasks with which to accurately measure performance. This version uses only a single CPU core.

i3-6300 1263
i5-12600K 2474
+95.9%

GeekBench 5 Multi-Core

GeekBench 5 Multi-Core is a cross-platform application developed in the form of CPU tests that independently recreate certain real-world tasks with which to accurately measure performance. This version uses all available CPU cores.

i3-6300 2536
i5-12600K 11844
+367%

Gaming performance

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 2.73 17.43
Integrated graphics card 2.60 6.15
Recency 1 September 2015 4 November 2021
Physical cores 2 10
Threads 4 16
Power consumption (TDP) 51 Watt 125 Watt

i3-6300 has 145.1% lower power consumption.

i5-12600K, on the other hand, has a 538.5% higher aggregate performance score, 136.5% faster integrated GPU, an age advantage of 6 years, and 400% more physical cores and 300% more threads.

The Core i5-12600K is our recommended choice as it beats the Core i3-6300 in performance tests.


Should you still have questions on choice between Core i3-6300 and Core i5-12600K, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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Intel Core i3-6300
Core i3-6300
Intel Core i5-12600K
Core i5-12600K

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Community ratings

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Questions & comments

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