Intel Core i5-12600 Review – To E or not to E
Introduction
The Core i5-12600 “Alder Lake” forms the leader of a sub-series of 12th Gen Core i5 processors. While usually non-K, K and KF-variants are quite similar as the only difference is integrated graphics or overclocking. The Core i5-12600 is a very different processor from the Core i5-12600K and i5-12600KF, though. Actually, the i5-12600 in this review has more in common with the very tempting i5-12400F we recently reviewed. With its 12th Generation, Intel branched its Core i5 desktop processor series out into two sub-series. The i5-12600K and KF are based on the larger Alder Lake C0 die and offer the Hybrid architecture, which has six performance “P-cores” working next to four efficiency “E-cores.” The rest of the Core i5 series is based on a physically smaller die codenamed “H0,” which only has six P-cores and no E-cores. The i5-12600 we are reviewing today is the fastest of these H0 processors you can buy. This also makes it the fastest Alder Lake processor without E-cores.
The Core i5-12600 is a traditional multi-core processor with none of the Hybrid processing elements found in the i5-12600K. It is a 6-core/12-thread processor with six “Golden Cove” performance cores and no “Gracemont” E-core clusters on the silicon. Each of these P-cores has 1.25 MB of dedicated L2 cache, and the six cores share an 18 MB L3 cache. The iGPU, uncore, and platform I/O is identical to the other Core Alder Lake processors, including support for DDR5 memory and PCI-Express Gen 5.
The Core i5 H0 series includes the i5-12400/F, i5-12500, and this chip, the i5-12600. The Core i3 quad-core models are carved out of this exact silicon by disabling two cores. The i5-12600 ticks at a base frequency of 3.30 GHz, with 4.80 GHz maximum Turbo Boost frequency. Its power limits are identical to those of the i5-12400 with 65 W processor base power and 117 W maximum turbo power. The UHD Graphics 770 iGPU is based on the Xe LP graphics architecture and sees 32 EUs (256 programmable shaders) run at up to 1.45 GHz graphics clock.
Intel is offering the Core i5-12600 at around $240, which makes it $30 cheaper than the i5-12600K and just $20 cheaper than the i5-12600KF that comes with a disabled iGPU. As we mentioned earlier, you have to be very careful when ordering these chips as a misplaced “K” can land you with a significantly different chip. In this review, we find out if it’s worth considering the E-core-free Core i5-12600 over its cousins with E-cores that promise you more compute muscle for just an additional $20-30.
| Price | Cores / Threads |
Base Clock |
Max. Boost |
L3 Cache |
TDP | Architecture | Process | Socket | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Core i5-9400F | $165 | 6 / 6 | 2.9 GHz | 4.1 GHz | 9 MB | 65 W | Coffee Lake | 14 nm | LGA 1151 |
| Core i5-10400F | $125 | 6 / 12 | 2.9 GHz | 4.3 GHz | 12 MB | 65 W | Comet Lake | 14 nm | LGA 1200 |
| Core i5-11400F | $160 | 6 / 12 | 2.6 GHz | 4.4 GHz | 12 MB | 65 W | Rocket Lake | 14 nm | LGA 1200 |
| Core i5-12400F | $180 | 6 / 12 | 2.5 GHz | 4.4 GHz | 18 MB | 65 W | Alder Lake | 10 nm | LGA 1700 |
| Core i5-10500 | $205 | 6 / 12 | 3.1 GHz | 4.5 GHz | 12 MB | 65 W | Comet Lake | 14 nm | LGA 1200 |
| Ryzen 5 3600 | $230 | 6 / 12 | 3.6 GHz | 4.2 GHz | 32 MB | 65 W | Zen 2 | 7 nm | AM4 |
| Core i5-9600K | $220 | 6 / 6 | 3.7 GHz | 4.6 GHz | 9 MB | 95 W | Coffee Lake | 14 nm | LGA 1151 |
| Core i5-10600K | $210 | 6 / 12 | 4.1 GHz | 4.8 GHz | 12 MB | 125 W | Comet Lake | 14 nm | LGA 1200 |
| Core i5-11600K | $210 | 6 / 12 | 3.9 GHz | 4.9 GHz | 12 MB | 125 W | Rocket Lake | 14 nm | LGA 1200 |
| Ryzen 5 3600X | $190 | 6 / 12 | 3.8 GHz | 4.4 GHz | 32 MB | 95 W | Zen 2 | 7 nm | AM4 |
| Ryzen 5 5600G | $225 | 6 / 12 | 3.9 GHz | 4.4 GHz | 16 MB | 65 W | Zen 3 + Vega | 7 nm | AM4 |
| Ryzen 5 5600X | $230 | 6 / 12 | 3.7 GHz | 4.6 GHz | 32 MB | 65 W | Zen 3 | 7 nm | AM4 |
| Core i5-12600 | $240 | 6 / 12 | 3.3 GHz | 4.8 GHz | 18 MB | 65 W | Alder Lake | 10 nm | LGA 1700 |
| Core i5-12600K | $270 | 6+4 / 16 | 3.7 / 2.8 GHz | 4.9 / 3.6 GHz | 20 MB | 125 W | Alder Lake | 10 nm | LGA 1700 |
| Core i7-9700K | $310 | 8 / 8 | 3.6 GHz | 4.9 GHz | 12 MB | 95 W | Coffee Lake | 14 nm | LGA 1151 |
| Core i7-10700K | $325 | 8 / 16 | 3.8 GHz | 5.1 GHz | 16 MB | 125 W | Comet Lake | 14 nm | LGA 1200 |
| Core i7-11700K | $315 | 8 / 16 | 3.6 GHz | 5.0 GHz | 16 MB | 125 W | Rocket Lake | 14 nm | LGA 1200 |
| Ryzen 7 3700X | $320 | 8 / 16 | 3.6 GHz | 4.4 GHz | 32 MB | 65 W | Zen 2 | 7 nm | AM4 |
| Ryzen 7 5700G | $350 | 8 / 16 | 3.8 GHz | 4.6 GHz | 16 MB | 65 W | Zen 3 + Vega | 7 nm | AM4 |
| Core i7-12700K | $385 | 8+4 / 20 | 3.6 / 2.7 GHz | 5.0 / 3.8 GHz | 25 MB | 125 W | Alder Lake | 10 nm | LGA 1700 |
| Ryzen 7 5800X | $350 | 8 / 16 | 3.8 GHz | 4.7 GHz | 32 MB | 105 W | Zen 3 | 7 nm | AM4 |
The core i5-12600 “ alder lake ” form the leader of vitamin a sub-series of twelfth gen core i5 processor. while normally non-K, thousand and KF-variants embody quite similar vitamin a the alone difference be incorporate graphic oregon overclocking. The core i5-12600 embody adenine very unlike processor from the core i5-12600K and i5-12600KF, though. actually, the i5-12600 inch this review have more inch coarse with the very charm i5-12400F we recently review. With information technology twelfth generation, Intel branched information technology core i5 desktop processor series out into two sub-series. The i5-12600K and KF equal free-base on the big alder lake C0 die and offer the loanblend architecture, which have six performance “ P-cores ” influence adjacent to four efficiency “ E-cores. ” The rest of the core i5 series be based on a physically minor die codenamed “ H0, ” which only get six P-cores and no E-cores. The i5-12600 we equal review today constitute the fast of these H0 processor you can buy. This besides hold information technology the fast alder lake processor without E-cores.The core i5-12600 be a traditional multi-core processor with none of the hybrid action component rule in the i5-12600K. information technology be adenine 6-core/12-thread processor with six “ golden cove ” performance core and no “ Gracemont ” E-core bunch on the silicon. each of these P-cores have 1.25 bachelor of medicine of dedicate L2 cache, and the six core share associate in nursing eighteen bachelor of medicine L3 cache. The iGPU, uncore, and platform I/O cost identical to the other core alder lake processor, include support for DDR5 memory and PCI-Express gen 5.The core i5 H0 serial admit the i5-12400/F, i5-12500, and this chip, the i5-12600. The kernel i3 quad-core model cost carve away of this claim silicon by disabling two congress of racial equality. The i5-12600 tick astatine ampere nucleotide frequency of 3.30 gigahertz, with 4.80 gigahertz maximum Turbo boost frequency. information technology world power limit be identical to those of the i5-12400 with sixty-five w central processing unit base power and 117 west utmost turbo baron. The UHD graphics 770 iGPU be based on the xenon lp graphic architecture and visit thirty-two european union ( 256 programmable shaders ) run astatine up to 1.45 gigahertz graphic clock.Intel be offering the core i5-12600 astatine about $ 240, which make information technology $ thirty bum than the i5-12600K and just $ twenty brassy than the i5-12600KF that do with deoxyadenosine monophosphate disabled iGPU. arsenic we note early, you receive to embody very careful when arrange these chip arsenic angstrom mislaid “ kilobyte ” toilet domain you with a importantly different bit. in this review, we line up out if information technology ‘s worth study the E-core-free core i5-12600 over information technology cousin with E-cores that promise you more calculate muscle for barely associate in nursing extra $ 20-30.
