Retailer photo of Intel Core i5-12600. View this offer in Where to buy
Intel · CPU · Intel 12th
Intel Core i5-12600
The current Intel Core i5-12600 price from retailers, its key specifications, and how it performs for each job.
Trade-offs: you want strong value with Balanced priorities specifically
- Cores / threads
- 6C / 12T
- Boost clock
- 4800 MHz
- Socket
- LGA 1700
- TDP
- 154 W
- Memory support
- DDR5, DDR4
Move a slider and the page re-scores this product against the same market frame.
What does it cost today, and is that a good price?
Market confidence: LowAt $339 the Intel Core i5-12600 is priced in line with its $339 representative market level. Only one verified new offer stands behind it, so the level can move quickly.
Consider: Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus offers stronger value around $200.Compare
Prices & availability
Intel Core i5-12600: current price and offers
Compare the offers we track for this model, across variants and retailers.
2 tracked offers · 2 retailers
| Variant | Store | Condition | Price (snapshot) | Value · Balanced | Checked | Offer link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Intel Core i5-12600 | MemoryC | New | $339 | 18 | 2026-10-11 | View offer → |
| Intel Core i5-12600Multiple variants available | Amazon Affiliate | Varies | Find on Amazon | Not tracked | No price snapshot | Find on Amazon → |
Prices are dated snapshots, not live quotes — confirm the final price at the store. New, refurbished and used offers are listed separately; used offers carry warranty and seller risk.
Show the other 1 tracked offers
| Variant | Store | Condition | Price (snapshot) | Value · Balanced | Checked | Offer link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Intel Core i5-12600 | Newegg | Used | $240 | 23 | 2026-10-11 | View offer → |
Performance and where it ranks
Two different questions, side by side. Performance compares what the hardware can do; Value compares what that capability costs at today’s price. A product can rank high on one and low on the other — that gap is the point.
Performance Balanced
How much it can do. Price plays no part in this ranking.
#136 of 264 graded processors
- #133 IntelIntel Core i9-9900X 13
- #134 AMDAMD Ryzen 5 5600 13
- #135 AMDAMD Ryzen 5 8500G 13
- #136 IntelIntel Core i5-12600 12
- #137 IntelIntel Core i9-7900X 12
- #138 IntelIntel Core i7-11700F 12
- #139 IntelIntel Core i7-11700 12
Value Balanced
How much of that you get for today’s price.
#226 of 264 currently priced processors
- #223 IntelIntel Core i5-9500 19
- #224 IntelIntel Core i7 Extreme 6950X 19
- #225 IntelIntel Core i9-10900X 18
- #226 IntelIntel Core i5-12600 18
- #227 IntelIntel Core i7-7820X 18
- #228 AMDAMD Ryzen Threadripper 9980X 18
- #229 AMDAMD Ryzen Threadripper 7970X 18
Performance Gaming
How much it can do. Price plays no part in this ranking.
#122 of 264 graded processors
- #119 AMDAMD Ryzen Threadripper 3970X 61
- #120 IntelIntel Core i3-12100 61
- #121 IntelIntel Core i5-12600K 61
- #122 IntelIntel Core i5-12600 61
- #123 IntelIntel Core i5-11600 61
- #124 AMDAMD Ryzen 5 5600GT 60
- #125 AMDAMD Ryzen Threadripper 9985WX 60
Value Gaming
How much of that you get for today’s price.
#223 of 264 currently priced processors
- #220 IntelIntel Core i9-11900KF 12
- #221 IntelIntel Xeon E3 1230 V5 12
- #222 IntelIntel Core i7-4790 12
- #223 IntelIntel Core i5-12600 12
- #224 IntelIntel Core i9-7980XE 12
- #225 IntelIntel Core i5-6400 12
- #226 AMDAMD Ryzen 5 2600 11
Performance Productivity
How much it can do. Price plays no part in this ranking.
#136 of 264 graded processors
- #133 IntelIntel Core i9-9900X 13
- #134 AMDAMD Ryzen 5 5600 13
- #135 AMDAMD Ryzen 5 8500G 13
- #136 IntelIntel Core i5-12600 12
- #137 IntelIntel Core i9-7900X 12
- #138 IntelIntel Core i7-11700F 12
- #139 IntelIntel Core i7-11700 12
Value Productivity
How much of that you get for today’s price.
#185 of 264 currently priced processors
- #182 IntelIntel Core i5-8600 2
- #183 IntelIntel Core i7-10700KF 2
- #184 IntelIntel Core i5-8500 2
- #185 IntelIntel Core i5-12600 2
- #186 IntelIntel Core i7-7800X 2
- #187 IntelIntel Core i5-9600 2
- #188 AMDAMD Ryzen 7 2700 2
Performance Performance per Watt
How much it can do. Price plays no part in this ranking.
#131 of 264 graded processors
- #128 AMDAMD Ryzen 5 3600XT 27
- #129 IntelIntel Core i9-11900F 26
- #130 AMDAMD Ryzen 5 3600X 26
- #131 IntelIntel Core i5-12600 25
- #132 IntelIntel Core i3-14100F 25
- #133 IntelIntel Core i3-14100 25
- #134 IntelIntel Core i3-12100 25
Value Performance per Watt
How much of that you get for today’s price.
#195 of 264 currently priced processors
- #192 IntelIntel Core i5-6500T 9
- #193 AMDAMD Ryzen 3 1200 9
- #194 IntelIntel Core i3-8350K 9
- #195 IntelIntel Core i5-12600 9
- #196 IntelIntel Core i5-8400 9
- #197 IntelIntel Core i7-7740X 8
- #198 IntelIntel Core i3-9300 8
These ladders follow the preset scenario shown above. Your own weights re-score this product, not the whole field.
What it is good for
| Scenario | this productCapability grade · Value at current price | Higher capability | Higher Value with current priorities |
|---|---|---|---|
| Balanced (all-round)Weighted all-round view | GradeNo grade Value18 | Higher capability Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus 82 +223% capability · -3% price | Higher Value with current priorities Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus 100 +126% capability · -41% price |
| GamingScenario capability | GradeB Value12 | Higher capability Ryzen 7 7800X3D S 73 +41% capability · -7% price | Higher Value with current priorities Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus A 89 +20% capability · -41% price |
| ProductivityScenario capability | GradeC Value2 | Higher capability Higher capability · Higher Value with current priorities Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus S 54 +223% capability · -3% price | |
| Performance per WattScenario capability | GradeD Value9 | Higher capability Higher capability · Higher Value with current priorities AMD Ryzen 7 9700X S 100 +203% capability · -26% price | |
Balanced has no letter: it is a weighting preset, not a capability rubric. A grade answers “how well does this handle that job?” — price is never part of it. Relative Value puts the current market price back in.
Compare these grades with the full tier list
Browse shortlists for different uses
Trade-offs
Works well if
- Gaming is your main prioritygraded B for Gaming on the same rubric as the tier list
Consider other options if
- You want strong value with Balanced priorities specificallycompeting products deliver so much more per dollar that no price this model realistically trades at reaches the strong-value mark for this job
- Value for money matters more to you than this exact modelIntel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus holds Relative Value 100 against its 18 with Balanced priorities, at $200
- Performance per Watt is what you actually need it forit grades only D there
Works well if
- Gaming is your main prioritygraded B for Gaming on the same rubric as the tier list
Consider other options if
- You want strong value for Gaming specificallycompeting products deliver so much more for Gaming per dollar that no price this model realistically trades at reaches the strong-value mark for this job
- Value for money matters more to you than this exact modelIntel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus holds Relative Value 89 against its 12 for Gaming, at $200
- Performance per Watt is what you actually need it forit grades only D there
For the selected scenario this is not a strong fit — the grade above is the reason, and the models below suit it better.
Works well if
- Productivity is not actually your main job — Gaming isit grades C for Productivity, but B for Gaming
Consider other options if
- Productivity is what you actually need it forit grades C there; Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus grades S at $330
- Value for money matters more to you than this exact modelIntel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus holds Relative Value 54 against its 2 for Productivity, at $330
For the selected scenario this is not a strong fit — the grade above is the reason, and the models below suit it better.
Works well if
- Performance per Watt is not actually your main job — Gaming isit grades D for Performance per Watt, but B for Gaming
Consider other options if
- Performance per Watt is what you actually need it forit grades D there; AMD Ryzen 7 9700X grades S at $250
- Value for money matters more to you than this exact modelAMD Ryzen 7 9700X holds Relative Value 100 against its 9 for Performance per Watt, at $250
Models that suit Performance per Watt better, at this budget
Every line states the fact it was derived from, for the scenario selected above. Thresholds are calculated points on our value curve — information about where the maths turns, not instructions about what to pay.
Similar options to the Intel Core i5-12600
Chosen for Balanced
Chosen for Gaming
Chosen for Productivity
Chosen for Performance per Watt
Alternatives stay near this product’s price range. Step-up options may exceed the standard budget envelope when the capability gain is meaningful.
More head-to-head comparisons in this category
Upgrade planner
Judge the change in the active scenario, then make the cash gap explicit.
Using page scenarioWhat are you upgrading from? These are the axes we compare on, and where this product stands in the current market.
We rank upgrades by out-of-pocket cost — the new price minus what yours is worth — not by sticker price.
Only candidates that clear the configured meaningful-upgrade gate will be shown; roles are omitted rather than filled.
Capability differences are expressed as tiers and index points, not as benchmark percentages we did not measure.
Specifications and compatibility
What this product is, and what to check before it goes into your build.
Core / Performance
- Cores
- 6
- Threads
- 12
- Performance cores
- 6
- Efficiency cores
- 0
- Base clock
- 3300 MHz
- Boost clock
- 4800 MHz
Power / Interface
- TDP
- 154 W
- Maximum turbo power
- 154 W
- Socket
- LGA 1700
- Memory support
- DDR5, DDR4
- Maximum memory
- 128 GB
- Integrated graphics
- Intel UHD Graphics 770
- Process node
- 10 nm
Show all specifications
Core / Performance
- L2 cache
- 5 MB
- L3 cache
- 18 MB
- Unlocked multiplier
- No
Warranty & release
- Warranty
- 3 years
- Release year
- 2014
- Manufacturer part number
- BX8071512600
Hover any value to see where it came from: a manufacturer specification, or a figure The Comparator calculated.
Sources: Comparator offer frame 2026-10-10–2026-10-17
What to check in your build
LGA 1700 required
Your motherboard must use socket LGA 1700. A different socket does not fit — this is a physical constraint, not a preference.
Board BIOS must list this model
A matching socket is necessary but not sufficient — check the vendor CPU support list.
DDR5, DDR4 memory
This processor takes DDR5, DDR4. Memory of another generation does not fit the slots, even on a board with the right socket.
Cooler rated for 154 W or more
No cooler is included. Your cooler must be rated for at least 154 W on socket LGA 1700.
Found an error? Report this specification Email the field, corrected value and an optional source.
Compatibility guidance is practical help, not a score. Missing data is shown as unknown, never invented.
Summary
Intel Core i5-12600 offers a balanced view across an all-round mix of priorities. It ranks #136 by capability in the current modelled field. Its clearest measured strength is multi-thread index 600. Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus currently clears the same practical bar with stronger Relative Value.
Intel Core i5-12600 offers B-grade capability for Gaming. It ranks #122 by capability in the current modelled field. Its clearest measured strength is multi-thread index 600. Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus currently clears the same practical bar with stronger Relative Value.
Intel Core i5-12600 offers C-grade capability for Productivity. It ranks #136 by capability in the current modelled field. Its clearest measured strength is multi-thread index 600. The C grade is the decisive limitation for this workload.
Intel Core i5-12600 offers D-grade capability for Performance per Watt. It ranks #131 by capability in the current modelled field. Its clearest measured strength is multi-thread index 600. The D grade is the decisive limitation for this workload.
FAQ
Why does Relative Value change when I choose another scenario?
Each scenario changes the weights applied to capability, price and the other published factors. The hardware facts stay fixed, but the value question changes, so its score and rank can change too.
Why can Amazon appear without a tracked price?
Amazon is shown as a discovery link when we do not have a permitted verified price snapshot. It is excluded from price comparisons, rankings and Relative Value until a compliant tracked price exists.
Useful links & sources
offer frame 2026-10-10–2026-10-17 · formula cpu-value-v1.4 · facts facts-2026-10-17 · Relative Value is an estimate from our current dataset, the selected weights and dated market prices — not an official product rating and not a price forecast. Target prices are calculation thresholds, not predictions. Methodology We are not a shop. Affiliate links may earn us a commission; they never change the calculations or the ranking.