Intel Core i3-13300 vs Intel Core i5-12600K

Processor comparisons   01-02-2023
   For example you are thinking about choosing a CPU, you will be able to make a decision by looking at the Intel Core i3-13300 vs Intel Core i5-12600K tests and understand which is better for games or normal use for video editing, rendering, machine learning, streaming, programming. Here is useful information from many benchmarks or real streaming and video editing tests. A thorough analysis of all the technical characteristics, to make it easier to read, is made by the table.
   From the comparison video, you can get the results of joint testing in synthetic type tests like World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, Blender, Blender, 7zip, MATLAB, PassMark, PCMark 10, VeraCrypt, Gears 5, Prime95, WPrime, RealBench, AIDA64, GeekBench 6, 5.2, Furmark, Dolphin Emulator, 3DMark, UserBenchmark, SuperPi, DaVinci Resolve Studio, Handbrake, Cinebench 23 (20, 15).
   Gaming performance of CPUs in:

Valheim
Watch Dogs Legion
Grand Theft Auto V
Halo Infinite
Fortnite
Red Dead Redemption 2
Borderlands 3
Call of Duty: Warzone and Modern Warfare
World of Warcraft: Shadowlands
Last Man Standing
Rainbow Six Siege
Overwatch
Cyberpunk 2077
Apex Legends
Assassin's Creed Valhalla
DOOM: Eternal
Death Stranding
Fallout 76
Valorant

After looking at the data these benchmarks and videos, you can already make an briefed decision about which processor is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i5-12600K or Intel Core i3-13300.

Summary benchmark results

As a percentage of the maximum value based on a sample from the entire base of all processors
Processor Benchmark

Core i3-13300

59%

Core i5-12600K

60%

The number of this parameter shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Core i5-12600K is 1% better than Core i3-13300. The data source is several popular tests. Detailed information can be found below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Core i3-13300

54%

Core i5-12600K

57%

For the maximum in this test, the results of the most powerful processor in the site database are taken. And of course, this is a server processor, on which no one will run games. Because this processor costs several tens of thousands of dollars. And if it seems to you that the selected CPU has a low game result, just look at the FPS that it produces in real games in the summary table below.
List of other games in which CPU comparisons were performed: Metro Exodus, Horizon Zero Dawn, Microsoft Flight Simulator, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), Control, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), Half-Life: Alyx, Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, Ghostrunner, Battlefield V, NBA 2K20, Monster Hunter World, Hitman 3, DOTA 2A, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, League of Legends (LOL), Forza Horizon 4.

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	96.3	101.8
Valorant	109.4	115.7
Cyberpunk 2077	61.3	64.8
Apex Legends	102.8	108.7
Call of Duty Warzone	82.0	86.8
Overwatch	88.6	93.7
Red Dead Redemption 2	75.5	79.8
DOOM Eternal	54.7	57.8
Warzone	85.3	90.2
Assassin's Creed	91.9	97.2
Valheim	90.8	96.0

The numbers in this table indicate the maximum FPS that was received on the device with the corresponding processor. Depending on the configuration of the computer (RAM size and Video Card) and graphics quality settings (Ultra, Medium, Normal), the results may differ quite significantly. We recommend that you better study the results of the Cinebench, GeekBench and Passmark becnmarks.
The computers participating in the comparing not only were the equipped with different amounts of RAM and different video cards. But users also tested them at different screen resolutions: 2K, 4K or FullHD. Therefore, the game benchmark data is approximate. But all video cards met the average system requirements of games. You will get more accurate information about how powerful the processor will be in games, if you compare it in one assembly with the video card that is installed in your computer.

Power consumption

Core i3-13300

95%

Core i5-12600K

53%

To make a finishing choice on which processor is better, you should also consider the generation of its core. The newer the processor generation, the better its performance in games and benchmarks, as well as its energy efficiency. In this case the Core i3-13300 is more energy efficient than the Core i5-12600K since it has less power consumption: 65W vs. 125W. Power consumption is especially important for laptops. And TDP should be taken into account when choosing a processor cooling system. It is necessary to calculate so that the TDP data specified in the cooler specification is greater than the TDP of the compared processor.

Software benchmarks

Let's say you plan to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for video rendering or video editing, machine learning, streaming, programming, then first of all you need to pay attention to the performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, the processor turns on all cores and threads that it has to the maximum to achieve maximum performance. You will find out this data from the benchmark tables below. Before using the data from these tests, be sure to find out whether the software that you are going to use on your computer can work in multi-threaded mode. Since there are still many programs that can use only one core to work, and all the benefit of multi-core mode turns out to be unnecessary.
Cinebench 23, 20 an 15
The results of this benchmark show Single-threaded and Multi-threaded CPU performance

	Intel Core i3-13300	Intel Core i5-12600K
Cinbench 15 Single-core	296	466
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	2849	3407
Cinbench 20 Single-core	477	1116
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	6299	7736
Cinbench 23 Single-core	1615	2611
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	18070	25497

Passmark
This popular benchmark displays Multi-threaded and Single-threaded processor performance

	Intel Core i3-13300	Intel Core i5-12600K
Single-Core	1479	6117
Multi-Core	30781	35696

GeekBench 6, 5.2
This benchmark shows Multi-threaded and Single-threaded processor performance

	Intel Core i3-13300	Intel Core i5-12600K
Single-Core	1858	2009
Multi-Core	8100	13528

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the most helpful will be the the possibility of overclocking it and release date of the processor. The newer the processor, the longer it will last you. And the easier it will be to upgrade the system in the future. The same benefits from the presence of overclocking. When the processor can be overclocked, thereby increasing its performance, then it will still be able to produce maximum FPS even in the newest games. The savings are obvious! It turns out that you do not need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer.

	Intel Core i3-13300	Intel Core i5-12600K
Announcement date	January 19, 2023	January 07, 2022
Type	Desktop	Desktop
Socket	FCLGA1700	FCLGA1700
Core name	Raptor Lake	Alder Lake
Architecture	x86	x86
Generation	13	12
Turbo Frequency	4.6 MHz	4.9 MHz
Frequency	3 MHz	3.6 MHz
Cores	8	10
Threads	12	16
Bus rate	14 GT/s	8 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	7 nm	7 nm
Transistors count	12400 millions	10200 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	65 W	125 W
Memory type	Up to DDR5 5200 MT/s Up to DDR4 3200 MT/s Up to LPDDR5/x 6400 MT/s Up to LPDDR4x 4267 MT/s	Up to DDR5 4800 MT/s Up to DDR4 3200 MT/s
Max. Memory	64 Gb	128 Gb
Memory Frequency	4800
Memory bandwidth	68 GB/s	76.8 GB/s
L1 cache	1 MB
L2 cache	4 MB	9.5 MB
L3 cache	12 MB	20 MB
Overclocking	No	No
Supports ECC	No	No
Part number

In this comparison block, you should pay attention to the differences in clock speed and the number of cores. Here Core i5-12600K is 16% better than Core i3-13300 in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that Core i5-12600K has 2 more core than Core i3-13300. Also keep in mind that high CPU frequency affects battery life through power consumption (relevant for laptops).

Result:
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i3-13300 is better: 6
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i5-12600K is better: 30
Although it should be understood that all the number in the table above do not mean that taking them into account you should totally trust a simple comparison of these figures. Be sure to watch the video tests and read the opinion of real owners of Intel Core i3-13300 and Intel Core i5-12600K before making a selection which processor to buy for gaming and which not.

Intel Core i3-13300 - all data

• Cinebench r15 score
• Cinebench r20 score
• Cinebench r23 score
• GeekBench 6, 5.2 score

• Intel Core i3-13300 specs and review.

Intel Core i5-12600K - all data

• Cinebench r15 score
• Cinebench r20 score
• Cinebench r23 score
• GeekBench 6, 5.2 score

• Intel Core i5-12600K specs and review.