Intel Core i5-12600 vs Core i9-7900X

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Price now 683$
Games supported 100%
i9-7900X
Intel Core i9-7900X
Buy
  • Interface
  • Core clock speed
  • Max video memory
  • Memory type
  • Memory clock speed
  • Maximum resolution
i5-12600
Intel Core i5-12600
Buy
  • Interface
  • Core clock speed
  • Max video memory
  • Memory type
  • Memory clock speed
  • Maximum resolution
Price now 301$
Games supported 100%

General info

Comparing Core i9-7900X and Core i5-12600 processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in performance ranking365360
Value for money8.73no data
Market segmentDesktop processorDesktop processor
SeriesCore i9 (Desktop)no data
Architecture codenameSkylake-X (2018)Alder Lake-S (2022)
Release date30 May 2017 (6 years old)January 2022 (1 year old)
Launch price (MSRP)$999no data
Current price$683 (0.7x MSRP)$301
Value for money

Performance per price, higher is better.

no data

Technical specs

Core i9-7900X and Core i5-12600 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 cores10 (Deca-Core)6 (Hexa-Core)
Threads2012
Base clock speed3.3 GHz3.3 GHz
Boost clock speed4.5 GHz4.8 GHz
L1 cache64K (per core)80K (per core)
L2 cache1 MB (per core)1.25 MB (per core)
L3 cache14 MB (shared)18 MB (shared)
Chip lithography14 nmIntel 7 nm
Die sizeno data163 mm2
Maximum core temperature95 °C100 °C
Maximum case temperature (TCase)72 °Cno data
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibility++
Unlocked multiplier+-

Compatibility

Information on Core i9-7900X and Core i5-12600 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
SocketSocket R4FCLGA1700
Power consumption (TDP)140 Watt65 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i9-7900X and Core i5-12600. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensionsIntel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2, Intel® AVX-512Intel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2
AES-NI++
AVX++
vPro+no data
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)++
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)++
Speed Shiftno data+
Turbo Boost Technology2.02.0
Hyper-Threading Technology++
TSX++
Idle Statesno data+
Thermal Monitoringno data+
SIPPno data+
Turbo Boost Max 3.0+-

Security technologies

Core i9-7900X and Core i5-12600 technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXTno data+
EDB++
Secure Keyno data+
OS Guardno data+

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i9-7900X and Core i5-12600 are enumerated here.

AMD-V+no data
VT-d++
VT-x++
EPTno data+

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i9-7900X and Core i5-12600. Depending on the motherboards, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesDDR4DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200
Maximum memory size128 GB128 GB
Max memory channels42
Maximum memory bandwidth85 GB/s76.8 GB/s
ECC memory support-+

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics card--

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i9-7900X and Core i5-12600.

PCIe version3.05.0 and 4.0
PCI Express lanes4420

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.

i9-7900X 16.84
i5-12600 17.04
+1.2%

Core i5-12600 outperforms Core i9-7900X by 1% in our combined benchmark results.


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.

Benchmark coverage: 68%

i9-7900X 21222
i5-12600 21483
+1.2%

Core i5-12600 outperforms Core i9-7900X by 1% in Passmark.

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.

Benchmark coverage: 37%

i9-7900X 1403
i5-12600 2358
+68.1%

Core i5-12600 outperforms Core i9-7900X by 68% in GeekBench 5 Single-Core.

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.

Benchmark coverage: 37%

i9-7900X 8995
i5-12600 9901
+10.1%

Core i5-12600 outperforms Core i9-7900X by 10% in GeekBench 5 Multi-Core.

Gaming performance

Advantages and disadvantages


Performance score 16.84 17.04
Boost clock speed 4300 4800
Power consumption (TDP) 140 Watt 65 Watt

We couldn't decide between Core i9-7900X and Core i5-12600. The differences in performance seem too small.


Should you still have questions on choice between Core i9-7900X and Core i5-12600, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

Cast your own vote

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


Intel Core i9-7900X
Core i9-7900X
Intel Core i5-12600
Core i5-12600

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User ratings: view and submit

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Questions and comments

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