Retailer photo of Intel Core i5-12500. View this offer in Where to buy
Intel · CPU · Intel 12th
Intel Core i5-12500
The current Intel Core i5-12500 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
- 4600 MHz
- Socket
- LGA 1700
- TDP
- 117 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 CAD 410 the Intel Core i5-12500 is priced in line with its CAD 410 representative market level. Only one retailer currently backs that price, so the level is a single data point rather than a market.
Limited market: only one retailer currently has a verified offer, so treat this price as a single data point.
Prices & availability
Intel Core i5-12500: current price and offers
Compare the offers we track for this model, across variants and retailers.
1 tracked offers · 1 retailers
| Variant | Store | Condition | Price (snapshot) | Value · Balanced | Checked | Offer link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Intel Core i5-12500 | Newegg | New | CAD 410 | 40 | 2026-10-17 | View offer → |
| Intel Core i5-12500Multiple 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.
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.
#121 of 220 graded processors
- #118 IntelIntel Core i7-11700 14
- #119 IntelIntel Core i9-9820X 14
- #120 AMDAMD Ryzen 5 5600GT 14
- #121 IntelIntel Core i5-12500 14
- #122 IntelIntel Core i9-10900F 14
- #123 AMDAMD Ryzen 5 5600G 14
- #124 IntelIntel Core i5-11600K 14
Value Balanced
How much of that you get for today’s price.
#98 of 220 currently priced processors
- #95 IntelIntel Core i7-11700F 42
- #96 IntelIntel Core i5-10600KF 41
- #97 IntelIntel Core i5-13400 40
- #98 IntelIntel Core i5-12500 40
- #99 IntelIntel Core i9-14900 39
- #100 IntelIntel Core i9-14900KS 39
- #101 IntelIntel Core i7-13700F 39
Performance Gaming
How much it can do. Price plays no part in this ranking.
#86 of 220 graded processors
- #83 IntelIntel Core i9-11900K 65
- #84 IntelIntel Core i5-14400F 64
- #85 AMDAMD Ryzen 5 8500G 64
- #86 IntelIntel Core i5-12500 64
- #87 IntelIntel Core i3-14100F 64
- #88 AMDAMD Ryzen 7 5800X 64
- #89 IntelIntel Core i9-11900KF 63
Value Gaming
How much of that you get for today’s price.
#76 of 220 currently priced processors
- #73 IntelIntel Celeron G6900 52
- #74 IntelIntel Core i3-12100 51
- #75 IntelIntel Core i5-13400 51
- #76 IntelIntel Core i5-12500 50
- #77 AMDAMD Ryzen 9 7950X 50
- #78 IntelIntel Core i7-13700F 49
- #79 IntelIntel Core i7-12700 49
Performance Productivity
How much it can do. Price plays no part in this ranking.
#121 of 220 graded processors
- #118 IntelIntel Core i7-11700 14
- #119 IntelIntel Core i9-9820X 14
- #120 AMDAMD Ryzen 5 5600GT 14
- #121 IntelIntel Core i5-12500 14
- #122 IntelIntel Core i9-10900F 14
- #123 AMDAMD Ryzen 5 5600G 14
- #124 IntelIntel Core i5-11600K 14
Value Productivity
How much of that you get for today’s price.
#111 of 220 currently priced processors
- #108 AMDAMD Ryzen 5 4500 8
- #109 IntelIntel Core i9-10900KF 8
- #110 IntelIntel Core i9-10850K 8
- #111 IntelIntel Core i5-12500 8
- #112 IntelIntel Core i9-10920X 7
- #113 IntelIntel Core i3-14100F 7
- #114 IntelIntel Core i5-11600K 7
Performance Performance per Watt
How much it can do. Price plays no part in this ranking.
#100 of 220 graded processors
- #97 IntelIntel Core i9-12900 40
- #98 IntelIntel Core i7-12700F 40
- #99 IntelIntel Core i7-12700 40
- #100 IntelIntel Core i5-12500 40
- #101 IntelIntel Core i5-13400 38
- #102 IntelIntel Core i5-12400 38
- #103 IntelIntel Core i3-13100 37
Value Performance per Watt
How much of that you get for today’s price.
#61 of 220 currently priced processors
- #58 AMDAMD Ryzen 9 5950X 41
- #59 IntelIntel Core i3-12100 40
- #60 IntelIntel Core i5-13600KF 40
- #61 IntelIntel Core i5-12500 39
- #62 IntelIntel Core i5-13600K 39
- #63 AMDAMD Ryzen 9 7950X 39
- #64 IntelIntel Core i7-14700F 38
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 Value40 | Higher capability Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus 86 +249% capability · +13% price | Higher Value with current priorities Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus 100 +145% capability · -27% price |
| GamingScenario capability | GradeB Value50 | Higher capability Ryzen 7 7800X3D S 72 +35% capability · +17% price | Higher Value with current priorities Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus A 87 +15% capability · -27% price |
| ProductivityScenario capability | GradeD Value8 | Higher capability Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus S 65 +249% capability · +13% price | Higher Value with current priorities Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus A 48 +166% capability · -22% price |
| Performance per WattScenario capability | GradeD Value39 | Higher capability Higher capability · Higher Value with current priorities AMD Ryzen 7 9700X S 100 +151% capability · -7% 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 specificallyat today's market no realistic price for this model reaches strong value with Balanced priorities — the calculation only gets there near CAD 153, against a cheapest tracked CAD 410
- Value for money matters more to you than this exact modelIntel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus holds Relative Value 100 against its 40 with Balanced priorities, at CAD 300
- Productivity 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 87 against its 50 for Gaming, at CAD 300
- Productivity 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 D for Productivity, but B for Gaming
Consider other options if
- Productivity is what you actually need it forit grades D there; Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus grades S at CAD 465
- You want strong value for Productivity specificallycompeting products deliver so much more for Productivity 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 250K Plus holds Relative Value 48 against its 8 for Productivity, at CAD 320
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 CAD 380
- You want strong value for Performance per Watt specificallycompeting products deliver so much more for Performance per Watt 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 modelAMD Ryzen 7 9700X holds Relative Value 100 against its 39 for Performance per Watt, at CAD 380
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 i5-12500
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
- 3000 MHz
- Boost clock
- 4600 MHz
Power / Interface
- TDP
- 117 W
- Maximum turbo power
- 117 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
- 7 MB
- L3 cache
- 18 MB
- Unlocked multiplier
- No
Warranty & release
- Warranty
- 3 years
- Release year
- 2022
Hover any value to see where it came from: a manufacturer specification, or a figure The Comparator calculated.
Sources: Comparator offer frame 2026-10-11–2026-10-17
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 117 W or more
No cooler is included. Your cooler must be rated for at least 117 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 i5-12500 offers a balanced view across an all-round mix of priorities. It ranks #121 by capability in the current modelled field. Its clearest measured strength is multi-thread index 555. Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus currently clears the same practical bar with stronger Relative Value.
Intel Core i5-12500 offers B-grade capability for Gaming. It ranks #86 by capability in the current modelled field. Its clearest measured strength is multi-thread index 555. Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus currently clears the same practical bar with stronger Relative Value.
Intel Core i5-12500 offers D-grade capability for Productivity. It ranks #121 by capability in the current modelled field. Its clearest measured strength is multi-thread index 555. The D grade is the decisive limitation for this workload.
Intel Core i5-12500 offers D-grade capability for Performance per Watt. It ranks #100 by capability in the current modelled field. Its clearest measured strength is multi-thread index 555. 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 2026-10-11–2026-10-17 · 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.