i5-12600KF vs i7-6600U

Aggregate performance score

Core i7-6600U
2015
2 cores / 4 threads, 15 Watt
2.16
Core i5-12600KF
2021
10 cores / 16 threads, 125 Watt
17.57
+713%

Core i5-12600KF outperforms Core i7-6600U by a whopping 713% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

Comparing Core i7-6600U and Core i5-12600KF processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking1846352
Place by popularitynot in top-100not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluationno data46.56
Market segmentLaptopDesktop processor
SeriesIntel Core i7Intel Core i5
Power efficiency13.6313.30
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)$393$264

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

no data

Detailed specifications

Core i7-6600U and Core i5-12600KF 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 speed2.6 GHz3.7 GHz
Boost clock speed3.4 GHz4.9 GHz
Bus typeOPIDMI 4.0
Bus rate4 GT/s8 × 16 GT/s
Multiplier2637
L1 cache128 KB80K (per core)
L2 cache512 KB9.5 MB
L3 cache4 MB20 MB (shared)
Chip lithography14 nmIntel 7 nm
Die size98.57 mm2215.25 mm2
Maximum core temperature100 °C100 °C
Maximum case temperature (TCase)no data72 °C
Number of transistors1750 Millionno data
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibility-+
Unlocked multiplier-+

Compatibility

Information on Core i7-6600U and Core i5-12600KF 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
SocketFCBGA1356FCLGA1700
Power consumption (TDP)15 Watt125 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i7-6600U and Core i5-12600KF. 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++
AVX++
vPro++
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)++
Speed Shiftno data+
My WiFi+no data
Turbo Boost Technology2.02.0
Hyper-Threading Technology++
TSX+-
Idle States++
Thermal Monitoring++
Flex Memory Access+no data
SIPP+-
Smart Response+no data
Turbo Boost Max 3.0no data-
Deep Learning Boost-+

Security technologies

Core i7-6600U and Core i5-12600KF technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXT+no data
EDB++
Secure Key++
MPX+-
Identity Protection+-
SGXYes with Intel® MEno data
OS Guard++

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i7-6600U and Core i5-12600KF are enumerated here.

AMD-V+-
VT-d++
VT-x++
EPT++

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i7-6600U and Core i5-12600KF. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesDDR3, DDR4DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200
Maximum memory size32 GB128 GB
Max memory channels22
Maximum memory bandwidth34.134 GB/s76.805 GB/s

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics cardIntel HD Graphics 520no data
Max video memory32 GBno data
Quick Sync Video+-
Clear Video+no data
Clear Video HD+no data
Graphics max frequency1.05 GHzno data
InTru 3D+no data

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core i7-6600U and Core i5-12600KF integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supported3no data
eDP+no data
DisplayPort+-
HDMI+-
DVI+no data

Graphics image quality

Maximum display resolutions supported by Core i7-6600U and Core i5-12600KF integrated GPUs, including resolutions over different interfaces.

4K resolution support+no data
Max resolution over HDMI 1.44096x2304@24Hzno data
Max resolution over eDP4096x2304@60Hzno data
Max resolution over DisplayPort4096x2304@60Hzno data
Max resolution over VGAN/Ano data

Graphics API support

APIs supported by Core i7-6600U and Core i5-12600KF integrated GPUs, sometimes API versions are included.

DirectX12no data
OpenGL4.5no data

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i7-6600U and Core i5-12600KF.

PCIe version3.05.0 and 4.0
PCI Express lanes1220

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.

i7-6600U 2.16
i5-12600KF 17.57
+713%

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.

i7-6600U 3431
i5-12600KF 27912
+714%

Gaming performance

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 2.16 17.57
Recency 1 September 2015 4 November 2021
Physical cores 2 10
Threads 4 16
Power consumption (TDP) 15 Watt 125 Watt

i7-6600U has 733.3% lower power consumption.

i5-12600KF, on the other hand, has a 713.4% higher aggregate performance score, an age advantage of 6 years, and 400% more physical cores and 300% more threads.

The Core i5-12600KF is our recommended choice as it beats the Core i7-6600U in performance tests.

Be aware that Core i7-6600U is a notebook processor while Core i5-12600KF is a desktop one.


Should you still have questions on choice between Core i7-6600U and Core i5-12600KF, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

Vote for your favorite

Do you think we are right or mistaken in our choice? Vote by clicking "Like" button near your favorite CPU.


Intel Core i7-6600U
Core i7-6600U
Intel Core i5-12600KF
Core i5-12600KF

Similar processor comparisons

We picked several similar comparisons of processors in the same market segment and performance relatively close to those reviewed on this page.

Community ratings

Here you can see how users rate the processors, as well as rate them yourself.


3.5 326 votes

Rate Core i7-6600U on a scale of 1 to 5:

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
4.4 1776 votes

Rate Core i5-12600KF on a scale of 1 to 5:

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5

Questions & comments

Here you can ask a question about Core i7-6600U or Core i5-12600KF, agree or disagree with our judgements, or report an error or mismatch.