The i5-12600K is about 10% faster than the i5-12400 in games. In 8 popular games at 1080p (Low settings), the i5-12400 averages about 197 FPS and the i5-12600K about 217 FPS.
Estimated average FPS at 1080p, Low settings with a fast graphics card, where the processor sets the frame rate.
How each processor compares with the official processor requirements of new PC games.
| Game | i5-12400 | i5-12600K |
|---|---|---|
| Resident Evil Requiem | Meets recommended | Above recommended |
| Forza Horizon 6 | Meets minimum | Meets recommended |
| Gears of War: E-Day | Meets minimum | Meets recommended |
| Crimson Desert | Meets recommended | Meets recommended |
| Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 | Above recommended | Above recommended |
| Phantom Blade Zero | Meets recommended | Meets recommended |
| i5-12400 | i5-12600K | |
|---|---|---|
| Performance score | 118 | 130 ✓ |
| Cores / threads | 6 / 12 | 10 / 16 ✓ |
| Max boost clock | 4.4 GHz | 4.9 GHz ✓ |
| Base power | 65 W ✓ | 125 W |
| Socket | LGA 1700 | LGA 1700 |
| Released | 2022 | 2021 |
Official specs from Intel and AMD. Performance score: Ryzen 5 3600 = 100.
Will a new processor fix your FPS? Read CPU Bottleneck Explained.
No. The i5-12600K is about 10% faster in games. In our 8 test games at 1080p (Low settings) it averages about 217 FPS vs 197 FPS.
For gaming, the i5-12600K. For streaming and video editing, more cores and threads help: i5-12400 has 6/12, i5-12600K has 10/16 (cores/threads).
Every processor has a gaming performance score (Ryzen 5 3600 = 100) based on published benchmark averages. FPS come from the same model as our FPS Estimator, with a fast graphics card so only the processors differ. They are estimates, not benchmarks.
How we compare: scores are gaming performance averages from published benchmarks (TechPowerUp, Tom's Hardware and others), and FPS come from the same model as our FPS Estimator, calibrated on benchmark results. They are estimates for typical gameplay, not our own lab tests. Updated October 2026. See our editorial standards.