Intel Core i9-10850K vs Intel Core i5-12600K
Intel Core i9-10850K
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The Intel Core i9-10850K is a high-end processor for desktops with ten cores based on the Comet Lake architecture (CML-S, 4th generation of Skylake). The processor clocks at between 3.6 and 5.2 GHz (all 10 cores up to 4.8 GHz) and can execute up to twenty threads simultaneously thanks to Hyper-Threading. The 5.2 GHz can be only achieved below 70°C core temperature (Thermal Velocity Boost of 100 MHz). Compared to the fastest CML-S CPU, the Core i9-10900K, the 10850K clocks 100 MHz lower (base and Turbo clocks).
The processor is still manufactured in the old 14nm (14nm++) process. Thanks to the free multiplicator, the CPU can also be easily overclocked (but may not have much headroom).
The Comet Lake architecture is similar to Coffee Lake and offers the same features and is produced in the same 14nm process. Other than the improved clock rates, the memory controller now also supports faster DDR4-2933 RAM. More information on Comet Lake and all the models and articles on it can be found here.
Performance
Thanks to the high Turbo Boost, the CPU is a very fast gaming CPU available at the time of announcement. Using all cores, the i9 however is slower than the top Ryzen CPUs (like the Ryzen 9 3950X) which offer more cores.
Graphics
The integrated Intel UHD Graphics 630 iGPU is supposed to offer a similar performance as the UHD630 in the Core i7-9900K. As a low-end solution it will only run current games smoothly at reduced details - if at all.
Power Consumption
Intel specifies the TDP with 125 Watts (PL1) but under full load up to 250 Watt are consumed (PL2). In default mode these 250 Watt and therefore high clock speeds can be maintained for up to 56 seconds, however, all boards offer the option to alter these settings.
Intel Core i5-12600K
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The Intel Core i5-12600K is a mid-range CPU for desktops based on the Alder Lake architecture. It was first announced in November 2021 and offers 6 performance cores and 4 efficiency cores. The performance cores (P-cores) support HyperThreading, leading to 16 Threads that can be processed at once. The performance cores can clock with up to 4.9 GHz, the efficiency cores can clock with up to 3.6 GHz. All cores can use 20 MB Smart Cache. The integrated memory controller supports up to 128 GB DDR5 with 4800 MT/s (dual channel).
Thread Director (in hardware) can support the operating system to decide which thread to use on the performance or efficiency cores for the best performance.
The integrated graphics adapter is based on the Xe-architecture and called Intel UHD Graphics 770. It clocks between 300 and 1.45 GHz.
For AI tasks, the CPU also integrates GNA 3.0 and DL Boost. Quick Sync in version 8 is the same as in the Rocket Lake CPUs and supports MPEG-2, AVC, VC-1 decode, JPEG, VP8 decode, VP9, HEVC and AV1 decode in hardware.
Performance
The average 12600K in our database is way ahead of the Ryzen 9 3900 and the Core i9-10900K, as far as multi-thread benchmark scores are concerned. This is a very fast CPU that should have no trouble running triple-A games for at least a couple of years.
Power consumption
This Core i5 series chip has a Base power consumption of 125 W, with its maximum Intel-recommended Turbo power consumption sitting at 150 W.
The i5-12600K is built with Intel's fourth generation 10 nm process marketed as Intel 7 for lower-than-average, as of mid 2023, energy efficiency.
| Model | Intel Core i9-10850K | Intel Core i5-12600K | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Codename | Comet Lake-S | Alder Lake | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Series | Intel Comet Lake | Intel Alder Lake-S | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Series: Alder Lake-S Alder Lake |
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| Clock | 3600 - 5200 MHz | 2800 - 4900 MHz | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| L1 Cache | 640 KB | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| L2 Cache | 2.5 MB | 9.5 MB | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| L3 Cache | 20 MB | 20 MB | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cores / Threads | 10 / 20 | 10 / 16 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| TDP | 125 Watt | 125 Watt | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Technology | 14 nm | 10 nm | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| max. Temp. | 100 °C | 100 °C | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Socket | 1200 | LGA1700 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Features | TVB, HyperThreading, AVX, AVX2, FMA3, Quick Sync, Virtualization | DDR4-3200/DDR5-4800 RAM, PCIe 5, Thr. Dir., DL Boost, GNA, vPro Enterp., MMX, SSE, SSE2, SSE3, SSSE3, SSE4.1, SSE4.2, AVX, AVX2, BMI2, ABM, FMA, ADX, SMEP, SMAP, EIST, TM1, TM2, HT, Turbo, SST, AES-NI, RDRAND, RDSEED, SHA | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| iGPU | Intel UHD Graphics 630 | Intel UHD Graphics 770 (300 - 1450 MHz) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Architecture | x86 | x86 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| $453 U.S. | $289 U.S. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Announced | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Manufacturer | ark.intel.com |
Benchmarks
Average Benchmarks Intel Core i9-10850K → 100% n=43
Average Benchmarks Intel Core i5-12600K → 111% n=43
- Average benchmark values for this graphics card* Smaller numbers mean a higher performance
1 This benchmark is not used for the average calculation
