Intel Core i5-12400 vs Intel Core i7-2600K

Comparative analysis of Intel Core i5-12400 and Intel Core i7-2600K processors for all known characteristics in the following categories: Essentials, Performance, Memory, Graphics, Graphics interfaces, Graphics image quality, Graphics API support, Compatibility, Peripherals, Security & Reliability, Advanced Technologies, Virtualization. Benchmark processor performance analysis: PassMark - Single thread mark, PassMark - CPU mark, 3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score, Geekbench 4 - Single Core, Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core, CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s).

Intel Core i5-12400

Intel Core i7-2600K

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i5-12400

CPU is newer: launch date 11 year(s) 0 month(s) later
2 more cores, run more applications at once: 6 vs 4
4 more threads: 12 vs 8
Around 16% higher clock speed: 4.40 GHz vs 3.80 GHz
Around 38% higher maximum core temperature: 100°C vs 72.6°C
A newer manufacturing process allows for a more powerful, yet cooler running processor: 7 nm vs 32 nm
Around 88% more L1 cache; more data can be stored in the L1 cache for quick access later
7.5x more L2 cache, more data can be stored in the L2 cache for quick access later
2.3x more L3 cache, more data can be stored in the L3 cache for quick access later
4x more maximum memory size: 128 GB vs 32 GB
Around 46% lower typical power consumption: 65 Watt vs 95 Watt
2x better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 3499 vs 1742
3.5x better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 19176 vs 5481
3.2x better performance in 3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score: 5897 vs 1845

Specifications (specs)
Launch date	4 Jan 2022 vs 3 January 2011
Number of cores	6 vs 4
Number of threads	12 vs 8
Maximum frequency	4.40 GHz vs 3.80 GHz
Maximum core temperature	100°C vs 72.6°C
Manufacturing process technology	7 nm vs 32 nm
L1 cache	480 KB vs 64 KB (per core)
L2 cache	7.5 MB vs 1024 KB
L3 cache	18 MB vs 8192 KB
Maximum memory size	128 GB vs 32 GB
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	65 Watt vs 95 Watt
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	3499 vs 1742
PassMark - CPU mark	19176 vs 5481
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score	5897 vs 1845

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i7-2600K

Processor is unlocked, an unlocked multiplier allows for easier overclocking

Unlocked	Unlocked vs Locked

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Core i5-12400
CPU 2: Intel Core i7-2600K

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

3499

1742

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

19176

5481

3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score

CPU 1

CPU 2

5897

1845

Name	Intel Core i5-12400	Intel Core i7-2600K
PassMark - Single thread mark	3499	1742
PassMark - CPU mark	19176	5481
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score	5897	1845
Geekbench 4 - Single Core		811
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core		3117
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)		4.524
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)		77.745
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)		0.602
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)		2.129
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)		5.018

Compare specifications (specs)

	Intel Core i5-12400	Intel Core i7-2600K
Essentials
Architecture codename	Alder Lake	Sandy Bridge
Launch date	4 Jan 2022	3 January 2011
Launch price (MSRP)	$221	$317
Place in performance rating	629	2312
Processor Number	i5-12400	i7-2600K
Series	12th Generation Intel Core i5 Processors	Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors
Vertical segment	Desktop	Desktop
Price now		$189.99
Status		Discontinued
Value for money (0-100)		13.10
Performance
64 bit support
L1 cache	480 KB	64 KB (per core)
L2 cache	7.5 MB	1024 KB
L3 cache	18 MB	8192 KB
Manufacturing process technology	7 nm	32 nm
Maximum core temperature	100°C	72.6°C
Maximum frequency	4.40 GHz	3.80 GHz
Number of cores	6	4
Number of threads	12	8
Base frequency		3.40 GHz
Bus Speed		5 GT/s DMI
Die size		216 mm
Transistor count		995 Million
Unlocked
Memory
Max memory channels	2	2
Maximum memory bandwidth	76.8 GB/s	21 GB/s
Maximum memory size	128 GB	32 GB
Supported memory types	Up to DDR5 4800 MT/s Up to DDR4 3200 MT/s	DDR3 1066/1333
Graphics
Device ID	0x4692 / 0x4682	0x112
Execution Units	24
Graphics base frequency	300 MHz	850 MHz
Graphics max dynamic frequency	1.45 GHz	1.35 GHz
Intel® Clear Video HD technology
Intel® Quick Sync Video
Processor graphics	Intel UHD Graphics 730	Intel® HD Graphics 3000
Graphics max frequency		1.35 GHz
Intel® Flexible Display Interface (Intel® FDI)
Intel® InTru™ 3D technology
Graphics interfaces
Number of displays supported	4	2
Wireless Display (WiDi) support
Graphics image quality
Max resolution over DisplayPort	7680 x 4320 @ 60Hz
Max resolution over eDP	5120 x 3200 @ 120Hz
Graphics API support
DirectX	12
OpenGL	4.5
Compatibility
Max number of CPUs in a configuration	1	1
Package Size	45.0 mm x 37.5 mm	37.5mm x 37.5mm
Sockets supported	FCLGA1700	LGA1155
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	65 Watt	95 Watt
Thermal Solution	PCG 2020C
Low Halogen Options Available
Peripherals
Max number of PCIe lanes	20	16
PCI Express revision	5.0 and 4.0	2.0
PCIe configurations	Up to 1x16+4, 2x8+4
Scalability	1S Only
Security & Reliability
Execute Disable Bit (EDB)
Intel® OS Guard
Intel® Secure Key technology
Secure Boot
Intel® Identity Protection technology
Intel® Trusted Execution technology (TXT)
Advanced Technologies
Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® technology
Idle States
Instruction set extensions	Intel SSE4.1, Intel SSE4.2, Intel AVX2	Intel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX
Intel 64
Intel® AES New Instructions
Intel® Hyper-Threading technology
Intel® Optane™ Memory Supported
Intel® Turbo Boost technology
Intel® Volume Management Device (VMD)
Speed Shift technology
Thermal Monitoring
Flexible Display interface (FDI)
Intel® Advanced Vector Extensions (AVX)
Intel® Fast Memory Access
Intel® Flex Memory Access
Intel® vPro™ Platform Eligibility
Virtualization
Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x)
Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d)
Intel® VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT)