i5-12600K vs i7-975

Aggregate performance score

Core i7-975
2009
4 cores / 8 threads, 130 Watt
2.28
Core i5-12600K
2021
10 cores / 16 threads, 125 Watt
18.09
+693%

Core i5-12600K outperforms Core i7-975 by a whopping 693% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

Comparing Core i7-975 and Core i5-12600K processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking1830356
Place by popularitynot in top-100not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluation0.1042.35
Market segmentDesktop processorDesktop processor
SeriesCore i7 (Desktop)Intel Core i5
Power efficiency1.6013.20
Architecture codenameBloomfield (2008−2010)Alder Lake, Golden Cove, Gracemont (2021)
Release date2 June 2009 (15 years ago)27 October 2021 (3 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)$476$289

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

i5-12600K has 42250% better value for money than i7-975.

Detailed specifications

Core i7-975 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 cores4 (Quad-Core)10 (Deca-Core)
Threads816
Base clock speed3.33 GHz3.7 GHz
Boost clock speed3.6 GHz4.9 GHz
Bus typeno dataDMI 4.0
Bus rate1333 MHz8 × 16 GT/s
Multiplierno data37
L1 cache64 KB (per core)384 KB
L2 cache256 KB (per core)2 MB
L3 cache8 MB (shared)2 MB
Chip lithography45 nmIntel 7 nm
Die size263 mm2215.25 mm2
Maximum core temperatureno data100 °C
Maximum case temperature (TCase)68 °C72 °C
Number of transistors731 millionno data
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibility-+
Unlocked multiplier++

Compatibility

Information on Core i7-975 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 configuration11
SocketFCLGA1366FCLGA1700
Power consumption (TDP)130 Watt125 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i7-975 and Core i5-12600K. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensionsIntel® SSE4.2Intel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2
AES-NI-+
FMA-+
AVX-+
vProno data+
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)++
Speed Shiftno data+
Turbo Boost Technology1.02.0
Hyper-Threading Technology++
Idle States++
Thermal Monitoring-+
SIPP-+
Demand Based Switching-no data
PAE36 Bitno data
Turbo Boost Max 3.0no data-
Deep Learning Boost-+

Security technologies

Core i7-975 and Core i5-12600K technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXT++
EDB++
Secure Keyno data+
OS Guardno data+

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i7-975 and Core i5-12600K are enumerated here.

VT-dno data+
VT-x++
EPT++

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i7-975 and Core i5-12600K. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesDDR3DDR4, DDR5
Maximum memory size24 GB128 GB
Max memory channels32
Maximum memory bandwidth25.6 GB/s76.805 GB/s
ECC memory support-+

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics cardN/AIntel UHD Graphics 770
Quick Sync Video-+
Clear Video HDno data+
Graphics max frequencyno data1.45 GHz
Execution Unitsno data32

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core i7-975 and Core i5-12600K integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supportedno data4

Graphics image quality

Maximum display resolutions supported by Core i7-975 and Core i5-12600K integrated GPUs, including resolutions over different interfaces.

Max resolution over HDMI 1.4no data4096 x 2160 @ 60Hz
Max resolution over eDPno data5120 x 3200 @ 120Hz
Max resolution over DisplayPortno data7680 x 4320 @ 60Hz

Graphics API support

APIs supported by Core i7-975 and Core i5-12600K integrated GPUs, sometimes API versions are included.

DirectXno data12
OpenGLno data4.5

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i7-975 and Core i5-12600K.

PCIe version2.05.0 and 4.0
PCI Express lanesno data20

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.

i7-975 2.28
i5-12600K 18.09
+693%

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.

i7-975 3493
i5-12600K 27691
+693%

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.

i7-975 539
i5-12600K 2474
+359%

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.

i7-975 1884
i5-12600K 11841
+529%

Cinebench 10 32-bit single-core

Cinebench R10 is an ancient ray tracing benchmark for processors by Maxon, authors of Cinema 4D. Its single core version uses just one CPU thread to render a futuristic looking motorcycle.

i7-975 4101
i5-12600K 9381
+129%

Cinebench 10 32-bit multi-core

Cinebench Release 10 Multi Core is a variant of Cinebench R10 using all the processor threads. Possible number of threads is limited by 16 in this version.

i7-975 16628
i5-12600K 55462
+234%

3DMark06 CPU

3DMark06 is a discontinued DirectX 9 benchmark suite from Futuremark. Its CPU part contains two scenarios, one dedicated to artificial intelligence pathfinding, another to game physics using PhysX package.

i7-975 5837
i5-12600K 15722
+169%

wPrime 32

wPrime 32M is a math multi-thread processor test, which calculates square roots of first 32 million integer numbers. Its result is measured in seconds, so that the less is benchmark result, the faster the processor.

i7-975 7.36
i5-12600K 4.73
+55.6%

Cinebench 11.5 64-bit multi-core

Cinebench Release 11.5 Multi Core is a variant of Cinebench R11.5 which uses all the processor threads. A maximum of 64 threads is supported in this version.

i7-975 6
i5-12600K 30
+400%

Gaming performance

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 2.28 18.09
Recency 2 June 2009 27 October 2021
Physical cores 4 10
Threads 8 16
Power consumption (TDP) 130 Watt 125 Watt

i5-12600K has a 693.4% higher aggregate performance score, an age advantage of 12 years, 150% more physical cores and 100% more threads, and 4% lower power consumption.

The Core i5-12600K is our recommended choice as it beats the Core i7-975 in performance tests.


Should you still have questions on choice between Core i7-975 and Core i5-12600K, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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Intel Core i7-975
Core i7-975
Intel Core i5-12600K
Core i5-12600K

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Community ratings

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