Core Ultra 5 125U vs Core i5-12600KF

Primary details

Comparing Core i5-12600KF and Core Ultra 5 125U processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in performance ranking	321	627
Place by popularity	not in top-100	not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluation	54.84	no data
Market segment	Desktop processor	Laptop
Series	Intel Core i5	Intel Meteor Lake-U
Architecture codename	Alder Lake, Golden Cove, Gracemont (2021)	Meteor Lake-P
Release date	4 November 2021 (2 years ago)	14 December 2023 (less than a year ago)
Launch price (MSRP)	$264	no data
Current price	$271 (1x MSRP)	no data

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

Detailed specifications

Core i5-12600KF and Core Ultra 5 125U 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 cores	10 (Deca-Core)	12 (Dodeca-Core)
Threads	16	142 x 4.3  GHz Intel Redwood Cove P-Core8 x 3.6  GHz Intel Crestmont E-Core2 x 2.1  GHz Intel Crestmont E-Core
Base clock speed	3.7 GHz	3.6 GHz
Boost clock speed	4.9 GHz	4.3 GHz
Bus support	8 × 16 GT/s	no data
L1 cache	80K (per core)	no data
L2 cache	9.5 MB	no data
L3 cache	20 MB (shared)	12 MB
Chip lithography	Intel 7 nm	7 nm
Die size	215.25 mm220.5 mm × 10.5 mm	no data
Maximum core temperature	100 °C	no data
Maximum case temperature (TCase)	72 °C	no data
64 bit support	+	+
Windows 11 compatibility	+	no data
Unlocked multiplier	Yes	No

Compatibility

Information on Core i5-12600KF and Core Ultra 5 125U 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 configuration	1	1
Socket	FCLGA1700	FCBGA2049
Power consumption (TDP)	125 Watt	15 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i5-12600KF and Core Ultra 5 125U. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensions	Intel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2	Intel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2
AES-NI	+	+
AVX	+	+
vPro	+	no data
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)	+	no data
Speed Shift	+	+
Turbo Boost Technology	2.0	no data
Hyper-Threading Technology	+	+
Idle States	+	no data
Thermal Monitoring	+	+
Flex Memory Access	no data	+
SIPP	no data	-
Turbo Boost Max 3.0	-	-
Status	Launched	Launched

Security technologies

Core i5-12600KF and Core Ultra 5 125U technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXT	no data	+
EDB	+	+
Secure Key	+	+
OS Guard	+	+

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i5-12600KF and Core Ultra 5 125U are enumerated here.

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

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i5-12600KF and Core Ultra 5 125U. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory types	DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200	DDR5
Maximum memory size	128 GB	96 GB
Max memory channels	2	2
Maximum memory bandwidth	76.8 GB/s	no data
ECC memory support	no data	-

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics card	no data	Intel® Graphics
Quick Sync Video	no data	+
Graphics max frequency	no data	1.85 GHz

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core i5-12600KF and Core Ultra 5 125U integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supported

no data

4

Graphics image quality

Maximum display resolutions supported by Core i5-12600KF and Core Ultra 5 125U integrated GPUs, including resolutions over different interfaces.

Max resolution over HDMI 1.4	no data	4096 x 2304 @ 60Hz (HDMI 2.1 TMDS) 7680 x 4320 @ 60Hz (HDMI2.1 FRL)
Max resolution over eDP	no data	3840x2400 @ 120Hz
Max resolution over DisplayPort	no data	7680 x 4320 @ 60Hz

Graphics API support

APIs supported by Core i5-12600KF and Core Ultra 5 125U integrated GPUs, sometimes API versions are included.

DirectX	no data	12.2
OpenGL	no data	4.6

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i5-12600KF and Core Ultra 5 125U.

PCIe version	5.0 and 4.0	no data
PCI Express lanes	20	20
PCI support	no data	4.0

Synthetic benchmark performance

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

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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.

Core i5-12600KF outperforms Core Ultra 5 125U by 54% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

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Pros & cons summary

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Performance score	17.75	11.56
Recency	4 November 2021	14 December 2023
Physical cores	10	12
Threads	16	142 x 4.3 GHz Intel Redwood Cove P-Core8 x 3.6 GHz Intel Crestmont E-Core2 x 2.1 GHz Intel Crestmont E-Core
Power consumption (TDP)	125 Watt	15 Watt

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Should you still have questions on choice between Core i5-12600KF and Core Ultra 5 125U, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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