Intel Core i7-12700K vs Intel Core i5-13600K
Intel Core i7-12700K
Intel Core i5-13600K
Intel Core i7-12700K and Intel Core i5-13600K are effectively tied for gaming, separated by 3.4%. That gap is smaller than the run-to-run variation you would see between two identical PCs, so buy whichever is cheaper or fits the platform you already own.
Intel Core i7-12700K vs Intel Core i5-13600K at a glance
Each axis is scored against the better of the two, so the outer edge is always the stronger part on that measure, not an absolute scale.
- Gaming
- Multi-core
- Single-core
- Cores
- Efficiency
- Value
Intel Core i7-12700K vs Intel Core i5-13600K benchmark scores
What is the difference between the Intel Core i7-12700K and Intel Core i5-13600K?
3 specifications separate the two processors:
- Cores 12 14
- L3 cache 25 MB 24 MB
- Architecture Alder Lake Raptor Lake
Which one should you buy?
Choose the Intel Core i7-12700K if
Nothing in our data favours this one. Pick it only if it is cheaper today.
Choose the Intel Core i5-13600K if
- Cheaper at launch ($319)
- More cores (14) for rendering and streaming
How many FPS do the Intel Core i7-12700K and Intel Core i5-13600K get?
Estimated framerates with both parts measured against the same reference graphics card (a GeForce RTX 4090), so the processor is the only thing changing. Figures are ranges, not exact numbers.
Intel Core i7-12700K vs Intel Core i5-13600K: full specifications and benchmarks
| Measure | Intel Core i7-12700K | Intel Core i5-13600K |
|---|---|---|
| Headline | ||
| Gaming score ours | 32,749 | 33,638 |
| CPU Mark | 34,722 | 38,272 |
| Faster than | 95% of 1,255 | 96% of 1,255 |
| Performance | ||
| Geekbench 6 single | 2,580 | 2,750 |
| Geekbench 6 multi | 16,200 | 15,890 |
| Cinebench R23 single | 1,850 | 2,000 |
| Cinebench R23 multi | 19,784 | 24,221 |
| Cores and clocks | ||
| Cores / threads | 12 / 20 | 14 / 20 |
| L3 cache | 25 MB | 24 MB |
| Platform | ||
| TDP | 125 W | 125 W |
| Socket | LGA 1700 | LGA 1700 |
| Architecture | Alder Lake | Raptor Lake |
| Process | 10 nm | 10 nm |
| Memory support | DDR5/DDR4 | DDR5/DDR4 |
| Integrated graphics | UHD Graphics 770 | UHD Graphics 770 |
| Price and release | ||
| Launch price | $409 | $319 |
| Released | 2021-11-04 | 2022-10-20 |
Which is better value?
At launch pricing, the Intel Core i5-13600K delivers more benchmark performance per dollar, by about 41%. Street prices move, so check current cost before deciding: a 41% value gap disappears quickly on discount.
Will the Intel Core i5-13600K bottleneck your build?
These figures hold one component constant. Your own build decides the answer: a faster processor buys nothing if the graphics card is already the limit.
How we compare processors
Benchmark scores come from PassMark, 3DMark, Geekbench and Cinebench. Each of those suites is read from a single source across every part we compare, so a percentage gap here is a difference between the two chips rather than between two testers. Our own gaming score adjusts those figures for how games actually behave: high core counts are damped, because they win productivity benchmarks without delivering proportional framerate, and AMD's 3D V-Cache is credited a premium measured against a controlled 14-CPU test set, because no PassMark figure can see stacked cache. Framerates come from our own model, built from measured GPU baselines and processor ceilings, and it declines to produce a number for hardware it does not cover rather than estimating one.