Intel Core i5-12600K vs AMD Ryzen 9 5900X
Our index puts the AMD Ryzen 9 5900X roughly 29% ahead of the Intel Core i5-12600K. This is an estimate for ranking, not a measured benchmark, and the gap varies considerably by title and by resolution.
| Specification | Intel Core i5-12600K | AMD Ryzen 9 5900X |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Intel | AMD |
| Generation | 12th Gen (Alder Lake) | Zen 3 |
| Multi-thread index | 140 | 180 (better) |
| Single-thread index | 112 (better) | 107 |
| Cores | 10 | 12 (better) |
| Threads | 16 | 24 (better) |
| Base clock | 3.7 GHz | 3.7 GHz |
| Boost clock | 4.9 GHz (better) | 4.8 GHz |
| Socket | LGA1700 | AM4 |
| TDP | 125 W | 105 W (better) |
| Release year | 2021 (better) | 2020 |
| Integrated graphics | Yes | No |
Green marks the stronger figure for that row only — for power draw and PSU requirement, lower is treated as better. Performance indexes are CanMyPcPlay estimates; read how they are derived.
Which should you pick?
- Games follow single-thread. For gaming, the single-thread index matters more than core count.
- Creative work follows multi-thread. Rendering, compiling and encoding scale with cores.
- Sockets differ. Moving between platforms usually means a new motherboard and often new memory.