The gap changes with resolution.
CPU differences shrink as resolution rises — at 4K the graphics card does most of the work.
| Resolution | i7-12700K | i5-12600K | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1080p | 88 | 85 | +4% |
| 1440p | 86 | 82 | +5% |
| 4K | 85 | 80 | +6% |
In a real build with a RTX 3080.
Specs alone don’t tell you which to buy. Here is what each one does when it’s actually paired up, at 1440p.
| Game (1440p, paired with the RTX 3080) | i7-12700K | i5-12600K |
|---|---|---|
| League of Legends | 320 fps | 313 fps |
| Counter-Strike 2 | 276 fps | 270 fps |
| Grand Theft Auto V | 136 fps | 134 fps |
| Elden Ring | 110 fps | 108 fps |
| Cyberpunk 2077 | 84 fps | 83 fps |
| Starfield | 84 fps | 83 fps |
Modelled from benchmark data, not measured for every pairing. Our published error rate is 21.6% mean absolute error.
So which should you buy?
The i7-12700K is faster, but the i5-12600K is the better buy per dollar. Take the i7-12700K only if you want the extra headroom and the price gap doesn't bother you.
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Common questions.
Straight answers on the i7-12700K versus the i5-12600K.
Is the i7-12700K better than the i5-12600K?
Yes, but by less than the spec sheet suggests. At 1440p the i7-12700K scores 86 against 82 for the i5-12600K — roughly 5% faster. It also costs about $120 more at MSRP, so the question is whether that gap is worth the money for your build.
Does the i7-12700K or i5-12600K bottleneck a RTX 3080?
Paired with a RTX 3080 at 1440p, the i7-12700K build comes out balanced, and the i5-12600K build comes out balanced. Being GPU-bound is the healthy outcome — it means the graphics card is the part working hardest.
Is it worth upgrading from the i5-12600K to the i7-12700K?
Only if you are also lifting the rest of the build. The i7-12700K is about 5% ahead at 1440p, and gaps like that shrink further at 4K where the GPU does more of the work. If you are upgrading from the i5-12600K purely for frames, check the pairing first.
Which is better value, the i7-12700K or the i5-12600K?
On performance per dollar at MSRP, the i5-12600K wins. The i7-12700K lists at $409 for an index of 86, and the i5-12600K at $289 for 82.
Check either one against your build.
Pick a CPU and its counterpart, and get a verdict at all three resolutions in under 30 seconds.