CPU vs CPU
Core i7-12700K vs Core i5-14600K
The Core i5-14600K wins outright: 11% faster in games and $46 cheaper for the whole platform (processor, board, 32GB of memory and a cooler if needed) today.
Key facts· updated
- The Core i7-12700K scores 65.8 and the Core i5-14600K scores 72.8 for 1080p gaming in the Tom's Hardware CPU hierarchy, Oct 2026 (RTX 5090, fastest chip = 100).
- The Core i5-14600K is 11% faster in games than the Core i7-12700K (Tom's Hardware CPU hierarchy, Oct 2026).
- The Core i7-12700K costs $296 and the Core i5-14600K costs $250 (PC Atlas price check, Nov 3, 2026; catalog estimates, not live store prices).
- With the cheapest compatible board and 32GB of memory, it's $647 for the Core i7-12700K platform vs $601 for the Core i5-14600K platform (PC Atlas price check, Nov 3, 2026; catalog estimates, not live store prices).
- Both use the LGA1700 socket. LGA1700: end of the line. Intel's newer chips use LGA1851.
| Spec | Core i7-12700K | Core i5-14600K |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming score (1080p) | 65.8 | 72.8 |
| Price today | $296Sample | $250Sample |
| Platform cost today | $647Sample | $601Sample |
| Cores | 12 | 14 |
| Gaming power (approx.) | ~190 W | ~181 W |
| Socket | LGA1700 | LGA1700 |
| Memory | DDR4/DDR5 | DDR4/DDR5 |
| Cooler in the box | No | No |
| Built-in graphics | Yes | Yes |
Gaming score: Tom's Hardware CPU hierarchy, “Gaming CPU Benchmarks Rankings 2026” (Oct 2026; 1080p, mix of High and Ultra settings, geometric mean of 17 games, relative to the Ryzen 7 9850X3D (= 100); NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 Founders Edition). Specs from maker pages (checked 2026-10-29). Platform cost = processor + cheapest compatible board + cheapest 32GB kit + cheapest cooler rated for the chip when none is in the box. Highlighted = better. Prices last checked ; Sample = PC Atlas catalog estimate, not a live store price.
Questions
Is the Core i7-12700K better than the Core i5-14600K for gaming?
The Core i5-14600K wins outright: 11% faster in games and $46 cheaper for the whole platform (processor, board, 32GB of memory and a cooler if needed) today.
How much faster is the Core i5-14600K in games?
11% in the Tom's Hardware CPU hierarchy (Oct 2026): a 1080p gaming score of 72.8 vs 65.8, tested with an RTX 5090 so the processor is the limit. At 1440p and 4K with a mid-range card the gap shrinks, often to nothing.
What does each one cost with a motherboard and memory?
Core i7-12700K: about $647 with the MSI PRO H610M-G DDR4 (mATX) and TeamGroup T-Force Delta RGB 32GB (2x16) DDR4-3200 CL16 plus the DeepCool AK400. Core i5-14600K: about $601 with the MSI PRO H610M-G DDR4 (mATX) and TeamGroup T-Force Delta RGB 32GB (2x16) DDR4-3200 CL16 plus the DeepCool AK400.
Can I upgrade the Core i7-12700K or Core i5-14600K later?
LGA1700: end of the line. Intel's newer chips use LGA1851.