Intel Core i5-12600K vs Intel Core i9-10900K

Every spec side by side, from each maker's published figures.

Better figure, where one is clearly better

Core i5-12600K compared with Core i9-10900K
IntelCore i5-12600KIntelCore i9-10900K
Overview
ReleasedNovember 2021May 2020
Cores and clocks
Cores10 (6 performance, 4 efficiency)10
Threads1620 (better)
Base clock3.7 GHz3.7 GHz
Boost clock4.9 GHz5.3 GHz (better)
L3 cache20 MB20 MB
Cores6 P-cores and4 E-cores; P-core Hyper-Threading;16threads. ThreadDirector supported.Hyper-Threading, Turbo Boost Max 3.0 and Thermal Velocity Boost supported.
ClocksP-cores3.7GHzbase/up4.9GHz turbo;E-cores2.8GHzbase/up3.6GHz turbo. TurboBoost2.0; noTurboBoostMax3.0.Up to 5.3 GHz with Thermal Velocity Boost at its 70°C temperature threshold; up to 5.2 GHz with Turbo Boost Max 3.0, or 5.1 GHz with Turbo Boost 2.0. Configurable TDP-down to 95 W with a 3.3 GHz base clock. Tom's Hardware reports 250 W during boost; the current Intel specification page publishes TDP only.
Cache20MBIntelSmartCache(L3);9.5MBtotalL2.–
Graphics and AI
Built-in graphicsYesYes
GraphicsIntelUHDGraphics770;32executionunits;300MHzbase/up1.45GHz;QuickSyncVideo;up4displays.Intel UHD Graphics 630; 350 MHz base, up to 1.2 GHz; up to 64 GB shared graphics memory; three displays. HDMI up to 4096×2160 at 30 Hz; DisplayPort up to 4096×2304 at 60 Hz; Quick Sync Video supported.
Platform
SocketLGA1700LGA1200
Base power125 W125 W
Maximum power150 W–
UnlockedYesYes
Cooler in the boxNoNo
Memory supportUp to 128 GB; two channels; DDR5-4800 or DDR4-3200; 76.8 GB/s; ECC supported with an appropriate platform.Up to 128 GB; two channels; DDR4-2933; 45.8 GB/s maximum bandwidth; ECC not supported.
PCIePCIe 5.0 and 4.0; 20 CPU lanes: 1 × 16 + 4 or 2 × 8 + 4; DMI 4.0 × 8.PCIe 3.0; 16 CPU lanes, configured as 1×16, 2×8 or 1×8+2×4.
ProcessIntel 7; Alder Lake; 45 × 37.5 mm package; 100°C maximum junction temperature.14 nm; Comet Lake; 37.5 × 37.5 mm package; 100°C maximum junction temperature.
CoolerNo cooler included with the boxed K processor (Intel support).No cooler included with the boxed processor (Tom's Hardware exact-model review); an LGA1200-compatible thermal solution is required.

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