Intel Core i7-12700KF vs AMD Ryzen 5 5600X: Which is the best $200 gaming CPU in 2024?

An Intel Core i7-12700KF vs AMD Ryzen 5 5600X showdown is quite necessary in 2024 as the two are the highest-selling processors on the market priced below $200. Both CPUs are from the previous generation and don't bundle the latest hardware. However, they are still most consumers' favorites in 2024, as they pack enough processing power to handle all major tasks, including gaming.

However, which is the best CPU for gaming out of the two? This article determines that by doing a detailed Intel Core i7-12700KF vs AMD Ryzen 5 5600X comparison.

Note: Some aspects of this article are subjective and solely reflect the writer’s opinion.

Intel Core i7-12700KF vs AMD Ryzen 5 5600X

The Intel Core i7-12700KF is a 12-core SoC with 20 threads, with eight performance cores and four efficiency ones. On the other hand, the AMD Ryzen 5 5600X is a hexa-core processor with 12 threads.

The Intel CPU has support for both DDR4 and DDR5 memories. You can pair up to DDR4-3200 and DDR5-4800 RAM sticks with it. However, the Ryzen 5 5600X, just like all the AM4 CPUs, has support for DDR4 RAM sticks.

Both are power-efficient chipsets, but the Team Red CPU has a very low TDP of 65W, compared to the 125W on the 12700KF.

Specifications

Here are the full specs of the two CPUs:

Specs	Intel Core i7-12700KF	AMD Ryzen 5 5600X
Cores	12	6
Threads	20	12
Max frequency	5GHz	4.6GHz
L3 Cache	25MB	32MB
RAM support	DDR5-4800	DDR4-3200
Max RAM capacity	128GB	128GB
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	125W Typical, 190W Max	65W Typical, 88W Max
Manufacturing node	10nm	7nm
Socket	Intel 1700	AM4

As we can see from the table above, the Intel Core i7-12700KF has higher core clock speed and power requirements compared to the Ryzen 5 5600X. The AMD processor is also built on a more modern manufacturing node. It is built on a 7nm manufacturing process.

Synthetic & productivity benchmarks

Intel Core i7-12700KF vs AMD Ryzen 5 5600X: The 5600X comes with 6 cores and 12 threads (Image via AMD)

Let's now take a look at the Intel Core i7-12700KF vs AMD Ryzen 5 5600X performance comparison in popular benchmarking apps.

Benchmarking app	Intel Core i7-12700KF (points)	AMD Ryzen 5 5600X (points)
Cinebench R23 (Single Core)	1941	1556
Cinebench R23 (Multi Core)	23197	11867
Geekbench 6 (Single Core)	2527	2094
Geekbench 6 (Multi Core)	13591	8659
Cinebench R20 (Single Core)	755	599
Cinebench R20 (Multi Core)	8911	4569
Blender 3.1	298	151

In all the benchmarking apps, the Intel Core i7-12700KF consistently scores higher points and has better scores. Even in productivity workload applications like Blender, the Core i7-12700KF is almost 50% better than the Ryzen 5 5600X.

Gaming performance difference

Let us now take a look at the gaming performance difference between these two CPUs.

Note: The FPS numbers were provided by the "Mark PC" channel on YouTube. These tests were conducted at Full HD (1080p) resolution.

Games	Intel Core i7-12700KF (Average FPS)	AMD Ryzen 5 5600X (Average FPS)
Assassin's Creed Valhalla	70	65
Watch Dogs Legion	72	67
Cyberpunk 2077	110	92
Red Dead Redemption 2	100	95
Horizon Zero Dawn	115	110
Assassin's Creed Odyssey	100	95

When it comes to gaming, the Intel Core i7 12700KF is about 5-10% faster than the Ryzen 5 5600X on average. However, in graphically intensive games like the Cyberpunk 2077, the 12700KF has a much better gameplay experience to offer.

Pricing

The Intel Core i7 12700KF is currently available for $185, whereas the Ryzen 5 5600X is priced at $135, which is significantly lower.

Both CPUs have seen various price cuts in the past few years, and their motherboard costs are similar if you want to use DDR4 RAM sticks. However, with DDR5 memory sticks, the overall PC build cost with the 12700KF is about 10-15% higher if you pair it with a decent B660 or Z690 motherboard.

Intel Core i7-12700KF vs AMD Ryzen 5 5600X: Verdict

The AMD Ryzen 5 5600X is slower than the Core i7-12700KF, but it still is great for everyday use and gaming in 2024. It remains one of the best chipsets for budget gamers who don't intend to go above the Full HD resolution bar. It is also at its lowest price currently and performs close to the Intel Core i7-12700KF, which costs $60 more.

However, if you want to use DDR5 memory and have the budget, the Core i7-12700KF is a great option in 2024 as it is one of the best CPUs under $200 for multitasking and gaming.

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