This class of CPU is usually best for pure gaming. It also benefits from the hybrid 12th-gen architecture. Overall, it manages to top the gaming charts, only playing second fiddle to the more expensive processors from Intel’s 12th-gen lineup. In games, it can outpace even the Ryzen 9 5950X in some cases - and that processor is nearly three times as expensive. The single-core improvements with Intel’s 12th-gen processors shine with the Core i5-12600K. The performance cores shred through games, while the extra efficient cores provide some extra bandwidth for more demanding workloads. It comes packed with 10 cores for around $300, with six performance cores and four efficient cores. It’s not just the best Intel processor or the best gaming processor, but the best processor overall. The Core i5-12600K is the best CPU you can buy right now. Who it’s for: Gamers who need a little extra bandwidth. Why you should buy this: It’s the best Intel processor on the market right now.

With 10 cores available, it has plenty of room for productivity work, and the performance cores offer enough juice to outpace the competition in games. It’s the best CPU you can buy right now, not just the best Intel CPU. The Core i5-12600K tops the list thanks to its aggressive price and high performance.

Intel is back on top in gaming and productivity, with a range of new chips that massively improve on the previous generation while outperforming the AMD competition. Fitbit Versa 3Īlthough we haven’t had a ton of options for our list of the best Intel processors over the past few years, that changed with the arrival of the 12th-generation Alder Lake platform.

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