Core i5 12600k Vs Ryzen 7 5800x: We Tested Both

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Abde Manaf

At Tech4Gamers, I began as a comparison writer, analyzing GPU and CPU performance. Now, I focus on writing reviews and contributing to the best-ofs section, sharing personal insights after hands-on testing.

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Pros & Cons

Comparison Table

Architectural Differences

1. Core Count: The Ryzen 7 5800x uses 8 cores totaling 16 threads, while the Core i5 12600K combines 6 performance cores and 4 efficiency cores to total 16 threads.
2. Processing nodes: The Core i5 12600K uses 10nm processing nodes, which are less efficient than the 7nm processing nodes found on the Ryzen 7 5800x.
3. Clock Speeds: The Ryzen has a base clock of 3.8 GHz, with an all-core boost of up to 4.7 GHz, while the Core i5 12600K has a base clock of 3.7 GHz, and it maxes out around 4.9 GHz.
4. Memory Support: AMD only started supporting DDR5 memory with the newer 7000 series of chips, leaving the Ryzen 7 5800x to support up to 3200 MHz of DDR4 memory, while the Core i5 12600K supports up to 4800 MHz of DDR5 memory.

With all the new processors being released in 2024, consumers tend to forget the bang for their buck that slightly older chips can give. In the Core i5 12600K vs Ryzen 7 5800x comparison, we will weigh both processors against each other to see who comes out on top.

Gaming Benchmarks – 1080p

This part of our comparison will detail the game-to-game performance of these two processors. To do this, we have devised a tailor-made test bench that will only leave the processors as the bottleneck, letting them be pushed to their limits.

Test Bench Specs

• Motherboard: MSI Z690 Unify/ MSI MEG X570 ACE 
• Operating System: Windows 11  
• Graphics Card: GeForce RTX 3080 Ti 12GB 
• Memory: T-Force NightHawk RGB DDR4 3200MHz
• CPU Cooler: Corsair iCue H115i Elite Capellix
• SSD: XPG GAMMIX S70 BLADE 2TB NVMe
• Power Supply: ENERMAX REVOLUTION D.F. X 1050W

Far Cry 6

• In our first game test, the Ryzen 7 5800x performed 9% better than the Core i5 12600K, with the Core i5 averaging around 126 FPS and the Ryzen 7 5800x hitting close to 137 FPS.
• As for the 1% lows, the difference was much smaller. The Ryzen 7 5800x dipped to around 100 FPS, while the 12600K got lows of around 97 FPS.

Call Of Duty: Warzone

• The performance of these CPUs equalized quite a bit in Call Of Duty Warzone, with the Core i5 12600K getting an average framerate of 292 FPS, a little over 1% faster than the Ryzen 7.
• As for the 1% lows, both processors managed to hover around the same number: 148 FPS.

Hitman 3

• Hitman 3 ran notably smoother on the Intel processor, achieving an average framerate of around 140 FPS, while the Ryzen processor managed an average framerate close to 133 FPS, indicating a 5% difference.
• The 1% lows were also quite a bit smoother on the Intel processor, around 72 FPS instead of the 64 FPS of the Ryzen 7 5800x.

Cyberpunk 2077

• The winning streak for the Core i5 continued in Cyberpunk 2077, with an average framerate of 176 FPS, around 5% higher than the 168 FPS average of the Ryzen 7 5800x.
• As for the 1% lows, the i5 was still not matched with its minimum of 126 FPS, significantly higher than the 116 FPS minimums of the Ryzen 7 5800x.

F1 2021

• The Ryzen got its big break in F1 2021, with an average framerate of 365 FPS, 6% higher than the 344 FPS of the Core i5 12600K. 
• As for the 1% lows, the Ryzen 7 5800x hovered around 230 FPS, while the i5 dipped down to 202 FPS. This difference was relatively more noticeable between the two.

Shadow of the Tomb Raider

• The two processors were neck and neck in our test of Shadow Of The Tomb Raider, with the i5 averaging a framerate of 246 FPS, a hair higher than the 242 FPS of the Ryzen 7 5800x.
• As for the 1% lows, the Ryzen 7 was a hair higher with minimums of 159 FPS, while the i5 had minimums closer to 157 FPS.

Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege

• In another high-performing game, the Ryzen had an average framerate of around 640 FPS, 3% higher than the 621 FPS of the i5, though the difference is completely unnoticeable at these framerates.
• The Ryzen hung around 427 FPS for its 1% lows, while the Core i5 had lows closer to 396 FPS.

Dota 2

• The i5 returned to shape in Dota 2, with an average framerate of 228 FPS, 6% higher than the 215 FPS of the Ryzen 7.
• Coming to the 1% lows, the Core i5 hovered around 189 FPS, while the Ryzen 7 5800x stuck closer to 181 FPS.

Overall Gaming Performance

In our gaming tests, the Ryzen 7 5800x secured a narrow victory over the Core i5 12600K, with a mere 0.9% difference in average framerates. The Ryzen processor outperformed its counterpart in 1% lows by an average of 2.7%. Although both chips delivered similar overall performance, the Ryzen 7 takes the edge.

Power Draw

From the Blender Open Data tests, we see that both processors do not differ much in terms of power consumption. The i5 takes back around 221 watts, while the Ryzen 7 5800x takes around 218 watts, making this a non-factor in deciding which processor to choose.

Price And Value

The initial price difference between the Ryzen 7 5800x and Core i5 12600K has diminished over time, with the Ryzen now priced only about $15 higher. Both processors are commonly available on the used market, shaping our evaluation based on current pricing dynamics.

What We Recommend

Ryzen 7 5800x: Despite being an older processor, the Ryzen 7 5800x maintains a strong performance suitable for most games. While it faces limitations in terms of upgradability due to the use of a newer platform for subsequent Ryzen processors, this may not be a significant concern for certain users.

Core i5 12600K: Intel’s processor offers almost the same features as the Ryzen, with a slightly lower price tag and a longer upgrade path. After you purchase the Core i5 12600K, you can do a drop-in upgrade with any 13th or even 14th gen processor.

Overall, the better upgradeability of the Core i5 12600K is a useful enough feature that we would recommend most people to buy this processor over the Ryzen, granted you don’t use the Ryzen 7 5800x as a drop-in upgrade over any Zen to Zen3 processor itself.

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Abde Manaf

[Comparisons Expert]

Abdemanaf is a skilled creative writer who has been honing his craft since 2011. While initially working in different fields, he found a passion for technology and has been exploring the tech world since early 2015. Over the years, he has developed an in-depth knowledge of the latest tech trends and product offerings by various companies.

Abdemanaf’s writing reflects his analytical mindset and ability to think critically. He has a knack for breaking down complex technical information into easily digestible pieces, making his articles engaging and accessible to readers from all backgrounds. In February 2022, he joined Tech4Gamers as a blog and product comparison writer, where he has been able to hone his skills further.

As a writer, Abdemanaf is dedicated to staying up-to-date with the latest technological advancements and trends, enabling him to provide readers with the most relevant and accurate information. He is always eager to learn more and is constantly seeking new challenges to improve his skills.

Get In Touch: manaf@old.tech4gamers.com