Intel Core i5-12500

Intel Core i5-12500 Specifications and Performance Analysis

The Intel Core i5-12500 is based on the Alder Lake-S architecture and is manufactured using the 10 nm process at the Intel foundry. It is compatible with the LGA 1700 socket used by Intel 600 Series, Intel 700 Series chipsets and supports PCIe Gen 5, 20 Lanes (CPU only), as well as DDR4, DDR5 memory with speeds of up to 4800 MT/s across Dual-channel memory. This processor features 6 cores operating at a base clock of 3.00 GHz and a boost clock of up to 4.60 GHz, for a total of 12 threads. It is equipped with 80 kB of L1 cache, 1280 kB of L2 cache, and 18 MB of L3 cache.

This CPU is designed for a mainstream desktop platform. It supports consumer-grade memory configurations and modern expansion standards, making it suitable for everyday computing, gaming, and productivity workloads.

The Intel Core i5-12500 has a base TDP of 65 W and a moderate maximum TDP of 117 W. Most mid-range aftermarket air coolers are sufficient for thermal control. This processor is also suitable for small form factor builds, which often have limited airflow.

For users who require integrated graphics, this CPU includes the UHD Graphics 770, which features 32 GPU cores. It operates at a base clock of 0.30 GHz and boosts up to 1.45 GHz. This makes it suitable for systems without a dedicated GPU, capable of handling everyday tasks and running older or less demanding games. Integrated graphics can also accelerate specific workloads even when a discrete GPU is installed.

Application Performance

Intel Core i5-12500 is a budget CPU, achieving a relative application performance score of 32.28% of the best possible desktop CPU performance. Suitable for light multitasking such as web browsing, coding, and media consumption. Putting heavy workloads on these CPUs can lead to system freezes or unresponsive behavior over prolonged periods.

Intel Core i5-12500 delivers a balanced application performance-per-price ratio of 46.1%. It provides good value for users looking for a practical balance between cost and performance.

Gaming Performance

Intel Core i5-12500 is an entry-level gaming CPU, achieving a relative gaming performance score at 1080p resolution of 62.49% compared to the best possible desktop CPU gaming performance. While gaming performance is limited when paired with top-tier graphics cards, such pairings are uncommon in this category. When combined with an appropriate entry-level GPU, this CPU does not cause significant performance loss, as the GPU generally becomes the primary limiting factor.

The gaming performance-per-price ratio of Intel Core i5-12500 is 58.6%. This places it in the mid-value category, making it suitable for average gaming builds aiming to strike a good balance between performance and cost.