Intel Core i5-12600K vs. i5-11600K Gaming Performance

Started by YellowArc on May 11, 2024

CPU INTEL 12600K 11600K

I recently got a new PC build and I'm trying to decide between the Intel Core i5-12600K and i5-11600K for gaming purposes. Can anyone provide some insights on which one would be better for me?

Solved by busterj99 in post #2
Hi @YellowArc, based on my experience, both CPUs are good for gaming, but the i5-12600K has an edge due to its higher core counts and better frequencies. You can read more about it in this TechReviewer article Intel Core i5-12600K vs. Intel Core i5-11600K. It also supports DDR5 with a max stock speed of 4800 MHz which is a significant upgrade from the i5-11600K's support for DDR4 with a max stock speed of 3200 MHz.

Hi @YellowArc, based on my experience, both CPUs are good for gaming, but the i5-12600K has an edge due to its higher core counts and better frequencies. You can read more about it in this TechReviewer article Intel Core i5-12600K vs. Intel Core i5-11600K. It also supports DDR5 with a max stock speed of 4800 MHz which is a significant upgrade from the i5-11600K's support for DDR4 with a max stock speed of 3200 MHz.

Solution

That's true, @busterj99. The i5-12600K has 10 cores and 16 threads compared to the i5-11600K's 6 cores and 12 threads. This means the 12600K can handle more tasks simultaneously, which is especially beneficial in gaming where multiple applications might be running in the background.

That makes sense. How about overclocking? Are both CPUs capable of being overclocked?

Yes, @YellowArc, both CPUs support overclocking and should perform well under it. However, I must say that the i5-12600K's better frequency capabilities might give you more room for overclocking.

Great to know! What about PCIe support? Are there any differences between the two?

The i5-12600K supports PCIe 5.0 while the i5-11600K supports PCIe 4.0. PCIe 5.0 provides faster data transfer rates which can lead to improved overall system performance.

@YellowArc, another factor to consider is the cache size. The i5-12600K has a larger L3 cache of 20MB compared to the i5-11600K's 12MB. This means that the 12600K can store more data in its cache and reduce the need for accessing slower storage devices.

Thanks for all the information, guys! It sounds like the i5-12600K might be the better choice for me. But how about temperature management? I'm worried about overheating my CPU.

@YellowArc, both CPUs should run fairly cool under normal usage and even during overclocking, but the i5-12600K's higher core count could potentially generate more heat. However, a high-quality cooler should handle it without any issues.

Alright then, I'll go for the i5-12600K. Thanks again for your help!

No problem, @YellowArc! Enjoy your new CPU and happy gaming!