GuidesComparisonsCore i7 11700K Vs Core i5 12600K

Core i7 11700K Vs Core i5 12600K [7 Games Tested]

In this article, We'll compare and analyze the gaming benchmarks of the Core i5 12600K and the Core i7 11700K at 1080p resolution.

Expert Verified By

Intel Core i7 11700K

Rated: 8/10

Intel Core i5 12600K

Rated: 9/10


Pros And Cons

CPUProsCons
Core i5 12600Kāœ… Higher Overall PerformanceāŒ Less Market Availability
Core i7 11700Kāœ… Better Performance in some TitlesāŒ Higher Price Point

Key Takeaways
  • According to our benchmarks, the i7 11700K and the i5 12600K have only minimal differences in overall gaming performance.
  • The Core i7 11700K is around 38% more expensive than the older-generation Core i5 12600K in terms of their MSRP.
  • We recommend the Core i5 12600K as it has higher overall gaming performance and a better cost-to-performance ratio. However, the Core i7 11700K is also a good choice for a better gaming experience, as we have seen in some titles, if budget is not a priority. 
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Comparison Table

FeatureCore i7 11700KCore i5 12600K
Core ArchitectureRocket Lake-SHybrid Core
No. of Cores86P, 4E = 10
No. of Threads1612P, 4E = 16
MSRP$399$289
Launch DateMarch 16, 2021November 4, 2021
Best Motherboards-Best Core i5 12600K Motherboards
Best Coolers-Best Core i5 12600K Coolers

Architectural Difference

  1. Processing Nodes: The Core i7 11700K uses a 14nm process node, while on the other hand, its contrapart, the i5 12600K, uses a process node of 10nm.
  2. Clock Speeds: The base clock speed of the newer i7 11700K is 3.6 GHz, while the boost clock speed is 5.0 GHz. The Core i5 12600K P-core speeds are 3.70 GHz and 4.9 GHz, respectively.
  3. TDP: The Core i5 12600K and the Core i7 11700K have the same thermal design power of 125 Watts.

Intel’s latest processors always steal the show, and though AMD offers tough competition, popular choices still favour Intel. But with Intel’s 13th-Gen out, it’s the perfect time to explore older options. That’s why we’re doing the Intel Core i7-11700K vs the i5-12600K. These processors might be a few generations behind, but they still pack a severe punch in the performance department.


Gaming Benchmarks – 1080p

When comparing the hardware, hands-on testing is crucial to go beyond specifications. Gaming benchmarks reveal real-world performance differences, helping identify the faster CPU. We used the following testing rig to perform these tests:

Testing Rig 

God Of War

God of War @ 1080p (Image by Tech4Gamers)
  • In God of War, our benchmarks show the Core i5 12600K delivering a slight edge by approximately 3.87% over the Core i7 11700K with an average of 161 FPS compared to 155 FPS.

Cyberpunk 2077

Cyberpunk 2077 @ 1080p (Image by Tech4Gamers)
  • Our tests revealed the 12600K outperforms the 11700K with an average of 146 FPS compared to 140 FPS. It is a 4.28% performance advantage for the 12600K, showing a growing performance gap between the two processors.

Hitman 3

Hitman 3 @ 1080p (Image by Tech4Gamers)
  • Surprisingly, our tests showed the Core i7 slightly outperforming the i5 with an average of 190 FPS compared to 188 FPS. This marks a 1.06% advantage for the i7, an unexpected result compared to other benchmarks.

Microsoft Flight Simulator

Microsoft Flight Simulator @ 1080p (Image by Tech4Gamers)
  • In Microsoft Flight Simulator, we saw the 12600K pull ahead with an average of 104 FPS compared to the 98 FPS of the 11700K, with a performance boost of 6.12% for the i5.

Call of Duty: Warzone

Call of Duty: Warzone @ 1080p (Image by Tech4Gamers)
  • Our tests found the Core i7 coming out slightly ahead in Call of Duty: Warzone. It averaged 183 FPS compared to the Core i5’s 179 FPS. This is a narrow performance advantage of about 2.23%.

Red Dead Redemption 2

Red Dead Redemption 2 @ 1080p (Image by Tech4Gamers)
  • Our benchmarks show the i5-12600K edging out the i7-11700K with an average of 148 FPS compared to 146 FPS. While the performance gain is slight, the i5 is still around 1.36% faster in this test.

Witcher 3

Witcher 3 @ 1080p (Image by Tech4Gamers)
  • We tested the Intel Core i5-12600K and the Intel Core i7-11700K in The Witcher 3. The 12600K took the lead, delivering an average of 215 FPS compared to the 11700K’s 201 FPS. This means the i5 offers a roughly 7% performance boost.

Overall Gaming Performance

FeatureCore i5 12600KCore i7 11700K
Average FPSšŸ“ˆ 163šŸ“ˆ 159
Winner: Intel Core i5 12600K

We revealed a close race between the Core i5 12600K and the Core i7 11700K. However, the 12600K consistently edged out its rival, demonstrating a 2.5% average performance advantage.


Price And Value

GPUMSRPCurrent Price
Core i5 12600KšŸ’²289šŸ’²245
Core i7 11700KšŸ’²399šŸ’²269
Difference38%9.8%

The Core i5 12600K emerges as the strong contender, offering better performance and cheaper value than the Core i7 11700K. While the price gap has narrowed somewhat recently, the i5 12600K remains the more budget-friendly while delivering slightly better performance.


Intel i5 12600K Vs i7 11700K: Which One We Recommend?

Core i5 12600K: It offers higher gaming performance and frame rates than the Core i7 11700K. It also has a better price, which means it will cost you less and not hurt your pocket.

Core i7 11700K: While the i5 gave higher frame rates, the Core i7 11700K also leads against it in some games we tested. It has almost the same performance as the i5 but has a dollar-to-performance ratio.

The Core i5 is the best value for money compared to the Core i7. However, the winner in the Core i5 12600K vs the Core i7 11700K depends on one’s requirements, budget, and specific needs.


Frequently Asked Questions

Are the i5 12600K and i7 11700K compatible with the same motherboards?

No, they use different sockets (LGA 1700 for the i5-12600K, LGA 1200 for the i7-11700K).

Can I overclock the i5 12600K and i7 11700K?

Yes, both are “K” variants designed for overclocking.

Will these CPUs bottleneck a mid-range graphics card?

Unlikely, they’re powerful enough for most modern GPUs.


More from i5 12600K:

More from i7 11700K:

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