Arrow Lake has been launched, but this 12600K deal is still our top pick for a budget gaming PC build
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Upgrading your PC with a new CPU or building one from scratch with a limited budget can be tough. On the bright side, several Intel CPUs are enjoying price cuts, probably due to the upcoming Arrow Lake series processors. They have now been officially launched as ‘Intel Core Ultra 200S’ – but if you’re looking for a bargain, you’re better off going back a couple of generations.
We're seeing discounts on Intel's 13th as well as some 14th gen CPUs. But the CPU we're talking about here is the Intel Core i5-12600K. Now, the 12th gen may seem a bit old, but it can handle demanding applications as well as games if you pair it with a solid GPU. Plus, given the price history, you're getting a really good deal at $164.
Prime Day may have closed its doors, but that hasn't stopped great deals from landing on the web's biggest online retailer. Here are all the best last chance savings from this year's Prime event.
- Sapphire 11348-03-20G Pulse AMD Radeon™ RX 9070 XT Was $779 Now $719
- AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D 8-Core, 16-Thread Desktop Processor Was $449 Now $341
- Skytech King 95 Gaming PC Desktop, Ryzen 7 9800X3D 4.7 GHz Was $2,899 Now $2,599
- LG 77-Inch Class OLED evo AI 4K C5 Series Smart TV Was $3,696 Now $2,996
- AOC Laptop Computer 16GB RAM 512GB SSD Was $360.99 Now $306.84
- Lexar 2TB NM1090 w/HeatSink SSD PCIe Gen5x4 NVMe M.2 Was $281.97 Now $214.98
- Apple Watch Series 10 GPS + Cellular 42mm case Smartwatch Was $499.99 Now $379.99
- AMD Ryzen 9 5950X 16-core, 32-thread unlocked desktop processor Was $3199.99 Now $279.99
- Garmin vívoactive 5, Health and Fitness GPS Smartwatch Was $299.99 Now $190
*Prices and savings subject to change. Click through to get the current prices.
Intel Core i5-12600K
Why you'll love the Intel Core i5-12600K processor
Here's why we think that this 12th gen is still relevant and might be a good investment for you:
- 10 Cores (6P+4E): The i5-12600K features a combination of 6 performance cores and 4 efficiency cores, which means you can expect excellent multitasking and smooth performance in demanding applications.
- Up to 4.9 GHz overclock: The processor comes with overclocking capabilities up to 4.9 GHz. This allows you to squeeze extra performance out of the CPU for higher frame rates in games or faster processing speeds.
- Performance hybrid architecture: As mentioned, this processor has P and E cores, which is Intel’s performance hybrid architecture. With this, the processor automatically assigns tasks to the appropriate cores, ensuring optimal performance and efficiency.
- Integrated Intel UHD 770 Graphics: Further, the Intel Core i5-12600K features an integrated GPU, which is sufficient for everyday tasks, media consumption, and light gaming. However, for gaming, we'd recommend getting a discrete GPU.
- Compatible with Intel 600 series and 700 series: The Core i5-12600K works with both Intel 600 series and 700 series chipsets, so you don't necessarily need to get a new motherboard if you're upgrading your CPU.
Is this deal worth it?
Even though we're looking forward to 15th gen CPUs, this 12th gen pick remains a highly capable and relevant choice for many PC builders. Plus, it’s compatible with the same LGA 1700 socket as 13th and 14th gen, so there’s a further upgrade path there if you wish. If you want an upgrade from 10th, 11th gen, or older CPUs, then yes, this deal is worth it.
You're getting a highly-rated CPU at an amazing 52% discount, which we think is a great deal. Instead of the regular price of $342.50, you will be paying only $164, which saves you around $178. Overall, we think it’s a great option for budget-conscious gamers and PC builders who want a powerful processor without breaking the bank.
And lastly, you don’t have to worry about those instability issues that have been causing problems on the 13th and 14th gen chips. Intel says they’ve finally fixed this, but it’s nice to know that 12th gen should never cast that doubt.
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