How do the scores compare?

AMD Ryzen 5 3600 scores 41.6/100 overall; Intel Core i5-12600K scores 55.4/100. AMD Ryzen 5 3600 wins 5 individual spec rows, Intel Core i5-12600K wins 12.

What are the main differences between the AMD Ryzen 5 3600 and the Intel Core i5-12600K?

AMD Ryzen 5 3600 advantages: 60% higher L3 cache: 32 MB vs 20 MB; 48% lower Base TDP: 65 W vs 125 W; 30% lower process: 7 nm vs 10 nm; 20% higher CPU PCIe lanes: 24 vs 20; Has Cooler included — the other doesn't; Lower launch price: $199 vs $318. Intel Core i5-12600K advantages: Stronger single-core score: 65 vs 35; Stronger multi-core score: 51 vs 36; 217% higher L2 cache: 10 MB vs 3 MB; 83% higher Cinebench R23 (multi): 16,878 vs 9,200; 70% higher Max turbo power: 150 W vs 88 W.

Which is cheaper: AMD Ryzen 5 3600 or Intel Core i5-12600K?

AMD Ryzen 5 3600 launched cheaper at $199, versus $318 for the Intel Core i5-12600K.

AMD Ryzen 5 3600 vs Intel Core i5-12600K

AMD

AMD Ryzen 5 3600

$199

WINNER

Intel

Intel Core i5-12600K

$318

34.8Single-core65.2

36.4Multi-core50.8

59.1Gamingspec-based52.1

5 spec wins — AMD Ryzen 5 360012 spec wins — Intel Core i5-12600K

InnoReviews verdict

Intel Core i5-12600K wins this desktop processor face-off, 55.4 to 41.6, pulling ahead mainly in single-core (+30) and multi-core (+14). AMD Ryzen 5 3600 still makes sense if its price or standout specs fit your needs better.

Which would you pick?

Key differences

Reasons to pick the AMD Ryzen 5 3600

60% higher L3 cache: 32 MB vs 20 MB
48% lower Base TDP: 65 W vs 125 W
30% lower process: 7 nm vs 10 nm
20% higher CPU PCIe lanes: 24 vs 20
Has Cooler included — the other doesn't
Lower launch price: $199 vs $318

Reasons to pick the Intel Core i5-12600K

Stronger single-core score: 65 vs 35
Stronger multi-core score: 51 vs 36
217% higher L2 cache: 10 MB vs 3 MB
83% higher Cinebench R23 (multi): 16,878 vs 9,200
70% higher Max turbo power: 150 W vs 88 W

General

General comparison: AMD Ryzen 5 3600 versus Intel Core i5-12600K
Spec	AMD Ryzen 5 3600	Intel Core i5-12600K
Announced	2019	2021
Socket	AM4	LGA1700
Process	7 nm+30%	10 nm
Base TDP	65 W+48%	125 W
Max turbo power	88 W	150 W+70%
Unlocked multiplier	Yes	Yes
Cooler included	Yes	No

Cores & Clocks

Cores & Clocks comparison: AMD Ryzen 5 3600 versus Intel Core i5-12600K
Spec	AMD Ryzen 5 3600	Intel Core i5-12600K
Cores	6	10+67%
Performance cores	6	6
Efficiency cores	0	4
Threads	12	16+33%
Base clock	3.6 GHz	3.7 GHz+3%
Boost clock	4.2 GHz	4.9 GHz+17%
L2 cache	3 MB	10 MB+217%
L3 cache	32 MB+60%	20 MB

Integrated GPU

Integrated GPU comparison: AMD Ryzen 5 3600 versus Intel Core i5-12600K
Spec	AMD Ryzen 5 3600	Intel Core i5-12600K
iGPU	—	Intel UHD Graphics 770
iGPU clock	—	1,450 MHz

Memory

Memory comparison: AMD Ryzen 5 3600 versus Intel Core i5-12600K
Spec	AMD Ryzen 5 3600	Intel Core i5-12600K
Memory support	DDR4-3200	DDR5-4800 / DDR4-3200
Max memory	128 GB	128 GB
Memory channels	2	2

Platform

Platform comparison: AMD Ryzen 5 3600 versus Intel Core i5-12600K
Spec	AMD Ryzen 5 3600	Intel Core i5-12600K
PCIe version	4	5+25%
CPU PCIe lanes	24+20%	20

Benchmarks

Benchmarks comparison: AMD Ryzen 5 3600 versus Intel Core i5-12600K
Spec	AMD Ryzen 5 3600	Intel Core i5-12600K
Geekbench 6 (single)	1,450Bottom 26%	—
Geekbench 6 (multi)	6,900Bottom 37%	—
Cinebench R23 (single)	1,250Bottom 28%	1,809+45%Top 38%
Cinebench R23 (multi)	9,200Bottom 32%	16,878+83%Top 37%
PassMark	17,800Bottom 31%	27,501+55%Top 47%

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