Best GPU for i5-12600K: our top graphics cards for i5 12th Gen
Pick out the perfect GPU match for your i5-12600K processor
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The i5-12600K is one of the best budget processors for gaming of the 12th generation. It was one of the first big.LITTLE core architecture CPUs on the market, and whilst Intel has made large improvements to the architecture since, it did well to keep efficiency up. Intel CPUs are power-hungry beasts, we’ll give you that. Finding the best GPU to pair with this CPU that makes sense can be a challenge, well, it would be if you didn’t have us.
With the range of choices available, there are plenty of the best GPUs out there for you to find. With both Nvidia and AMD graphics cards, you can find the right fit for your 12th Gen i5 Intel processor. Combining these can provide you with a great budget combination. You can expect to see a strong performance across the board.
Products at a glance
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Best GPU for Core i5-12600K
ASUS TUF Gaming GeForce RTX 4070 Super OC
- Core clock speed: 2565 MHz boost, 1980 MHz base
- CUDA count: 7,168
- Memory: 12GB GDDR6X
- Dimensions: 301 x 139 x 63 mm
- PSU required: 750W
- TBP: 220W
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Runer UP
AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT
- Core clock speed: 2,430MHz boost, 2,124MHz game
- Stream processors: 3,840
- Memory: 16GB GDDR6
- Dimensions: 267 x 111 x 50mm
- PSU required: 600W
- TBP: 263W
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Value Pick
Sapphire Pulse AMD RX 7700 XT
- Core clock speed: 1,900MHz, 2,171MHz Game, 2,544MHz max
- Stream processors: 3,456
- Memory: 12GB GDDR6
- Dimensions: 280 x 128.75 x 52.57 mm
- PSU required: 700W
- TBP: 245W
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Budget Pick
ASUS ROG Strix AMD Radeon RX 6750 XT
- Core Clock Speed: 1614 MHz base, 2729 MHz boost, 2623 game
- Stream Processors: 2560
- Memory Size: 12GB GDDR6
- Dimensions: 330 x 140 x 60 mm
- PSU Required: 650W
How we test the best GPU for Core i5-12600K
Here at WePC, we put all of the GPUs we get in through a rigorous testing methodology that allows us to choose the best GPU for the job. We tested all of our GPUs with the i5-12600K to find the perfect pairing in terms of value and performance. The last thing you want to do is introduce a bottleneck to your system, as it’s basically burning money.
Once we’re through testing the performance, we evaluate other points such as cost, build quality, and aesthetics, because you can’t have a bad-looking GPU. We then pool all of our results together to create the ultimate list of best GPUs for the 12600K. When you’re operating at this sort of “budget” level, every FPS and dollar counts, we took that into heavy consideration when testing and choosing our GPUs. We have a page on GPU testing if you want to know more about how we do it.
i5-12600K specifications
Half of the battle when choosing a GPU for a specific CPU is understanding the processor’s specifications and where its strengths lay. Here are the specifications of the 12600K:
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Intel Core i5-12600K
- Core configuration:: 10 (6+4)
- Threads: : 16
- P-Core Speed: : 4.9GHz (boost) 3.7GHz (base)
- E-Core Speed: : 3.6GHz (boost) 2.8GHz (base)
- DDR5 support: : Yes @ 4800MHz
- TDP: 125W base 150W PL1 & PL2
Best graphics card for i5-12600K
- Core clock speed: 2565 MHz boost, 1980 MHz base
- CUDA count: 7,168
- Memory: 12GB GDDR6X
- Dimensions: 301 x 139 x 63 mm
- PSU required: 750W
- TBP: 220W
- Memory clock: 21Gbps
- Memory bus: 192-bit
- Card bus: PCIe 4.0 x16
- Output : 1x HDMI 2.1a, 3x DP 1.4a
- Power connectors: 1x 16-pin
The 4070 super is, as you guessed it, the 4070 on steroids, it has more oomph, but as you may have guessed, consumes more power in the process. We wouldn’t recommend the 4070 Super to anyone who already has a 4070, but it’s a fantastic option for any one coming from the 30 series.
- Now cheaper and gives a great value choice
- Small compact build for the GPU
- Great energy efficiency
- Strong value for the performance with 1440p and above resolutions
- A high cost model as it is much higher than MSRP
- Requires 16pin power connector and so an adapter is needed
- Large size card can be harder to fit all cases
Nvidia’s release of the RTX 4070 Super marks a significant enhancement to its Ada series of GPUs, offering improved value compared to the initial 4070 model. While its pricing may not be deemed competitive by some, it addresses criticisms that the original 4070 should have been what the Super is now. This sentiment has become more pronounced lately due to lackluster launches and promised enhancements in subsequent iterations.
With 7,168 CUDA cores, 12GB GDDR6X memory boasting a 504GB/s bandwidth, and a 220W TBP, the RTX 4070 Super packs considerable power. It caters to the lower end of the GPU lineup while delivering exceptional performance across various applications. Its capabilities extend beyond gaming, with impressive ray tracing and rendering capabilities that make it a versatile option. Furthermore, features like DLSS 3 and frame generation enhance performance even further when supported by compatible games.
Our hands-on experience with the RTX 4070 Super confirms its status as a top-tier GPU, offering a blend of modern features and robust performance. Its compatibility with DLSS 3 adds to its appeal, making it a compelling choice for those seeking value from Nvidia’s offerings.
- Core clock speed: 2,430MHz boost, 2,124MHz game
- Stream processors: 3,840
- Memory: 16GB GDDR6
- Dimensions: 267 x 111 x 50mm
- PSU required: 600W
- TBP: 263W
- Launch price: $499
- Availability: September 6th, 2023
- GPU Name: NAVI 32
- Architecture : RDNA 3
- Process size: 5 nm
- Die size: 346mm
- L3 Cache: 64 MB
- Bandwidth: 624.1 GB/s
- Memory Bus: 256 bit
- Compute units: 60
- RT Cores: 60
The 7800 XT is a great choice if you want to game at 1440p, and sometimes 4K with the help of upscaling, on a tighter budget. If you want to go the Ray tracing route, though RDNA 3 made many improvements over RDNA 2, Nvidia is still the best option for that.
- Dual fan makes it small but still capable of staying cool
- Great bang for the buck
- Superseded by the 7900 XT that isn’t much more expensive nowerdays
The RX 7800 XT is one of the best value GPUs that AMD has right now, it provides around 4% more rasterization performance than the 4070, but it falls about 15% behind in ray tracing workloads, the only reason it doesn’t take the top spot on our list. Pairing this GPU with the 12600K is a fair choice, as it will facilitate the performance of the CPU perfectly, and visa versa.
The RX 7800 XT is driven by the Navi 32 processor, featuring 3,840 stream processors, 240 TMUs, 96 ROPs, 60 CUs, and 60 RT cores, providing well-rounded performance across the board. It comes with 16GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit interface, offering a bandwidth of 624GB/s. For clock speeds, the card runs at a base clock of 1,295MHz, and a game clock of 2,124MHz, and can boost up to 2,430MHz, all while keeping a 263W TDP to ensure power efficiency.
This GPU is capable of 60FPS 4k gaming, as we mentioned in our review, depending on the game and the settings, which is nice to have. Even with the capabilities, this GPU still doesn’t really outshine the 12600K in terms of gaming capabilities.
- Core clock speed: 1,900MHz, 2,171MHz Game, 2,544MHz max
- Stream processors: 3,456
- Memory: 12GB GDDR6
- Dimensions: 280 x 128.75 x 52.57 mm
- PSU required: 700W
- TBP: 245W
- Memory Clock: 18Gbps
- Memory Bus: 192-bit
- Card Bus: PCIe 4.0 x16
- Output: 2x HDMI 2.1, 2x DisplayPort 2.1
- Power connectors: 2 x 8-pin
The 7700 XT is one of the best budget cards that you can get on the AMD 7000 series. it continues AMD’s mission of being more power concise that NVIDIA, and it won’t break the bank in terms of price. If you use FSR, you’d manage a decent 1440p gaming experience out of the 7700 XT
- Great price to performance ratio
- Surprising cooling that operates quietly despite open design
- Superseded by 7800 XT
A top-notch complement to your i5-12600K is an AMD GPU, particularly with the newer addition of RDNA 3 since the CPU’s launch. Enter the RX 7700 XT, a superb pairing for your processor, especially if you’re eyeing a value-packed 1440p experience. Equipped with 54 compute units, 54 ray accelerators, 108 AI accelerators, 96 ROPs, 3,456 stream processors, and 216 texture units, alongside 12GB of GDDR6 memory boasting a 432GB/s bandwidth, all within a 245W TBP.
Operating at a base clock speed of 1,785 MHz with a game clock that boosts up to 2,276 MHz (with potential peaks reaching 2,599MHz), this GPU ensures smoother performance, particularly when aiming for high frame rates on a high-refresh-rate monitor.
Priced at $449, it furnishes gaming rigs with commendable hardware choices. While its ray tracing capabilities might not rival those of Nvidia GPUs, it still stands as an excellent companion to an Intel CPU. Dive deeper into its capabilities and performance in our comprehensive RX 7700 XT review for an insightful hands-on evaluation.
- Core Clock Speed: 2,192 MHz base, 2,523 MHz game, 2,694 MHz boost
- Stream Processors: 2,048
- Memory Size: 8 GB GDDR6
- Dimensions: 281 x 135 x 59 mm
- PSU Required: 650 W
- Thermal Design: 2.9 slot heatsink with 2x Axial-tech fans
- Memory Clock: 17.5 Gbps
- Memory Interface: 128-bit
- Card Bus: PCIe 4.0 x8
- Output: 1x HDMI 2.1, 3x DisplayPort 1.4a
- Power Connectors: 1 x 8-pin
The 6650 XT is not what we would call a last resort, but it’s not the most powerful GPU we have on hand. This GPU doesn’t have the best capabilities when it comes to Ray Tracing and FSR, not when compared tot he 7000 series GPUs. Even worse when compared to NVIDIA’s offerings.
- Great overclocking opportunity
- Biggest factory overclock
- Excellent cooling to prolong life
- A bit less powerful than competing Nvidia options
- Not the best at Ray Tracing
- RX 6750 XT only max 9% faster than 6700 XT for 15% price hike
For those seeking an optimal budget GPU pairing with the i5-12600K, the RX 6750 XT emerges as the top contender. Despite its status as an older selection, the RDNA 2 GPU benefits from a reduced price without compromising its performance. This makes it an appealing choice for budget-conscious users, offering a compelling amalgamation of AMD hardware that synergizes well within its ecosystem.
Built upon the Navi 22 KXT architecture and utilizing TSCM’s 7nm process, the card boasts 2,560 stream processors, 160 TMUs, 64 ROPs, 40 CUs, and 40 RTs. Accompanied by 12GB of GDDR6 memory featuring a 192-bit bus width and a bandwidth of 432 GB/s, thanks to its clock speed of 18 Gbps. The ROG Strix variant showcases a boost clock of 2,623MHz, reaching up to 2,643MHz in OC mode, while the game clock maintains a speed of 2,554MHz, with an additional 20MHz in OC mode. Measuring 322 x 141 x 56.5 mm and with a TDP of 250W, it strikes a balance between performance and form factor.
In our thorough RX 6750 XT review, the card exhibits commendable performance across various titles such as CSGO, Rainbow Six Siege, and Warzone, achieving high frame rates. While it demonstrates competence even in graphically demanding games, it falls slightly behind in ray tracing capabilities compared to competitors from Team Green and in synthetic benchmarks. Nonetheless, the reduction in price over time has mitigated this concern significantly, rendering it a worthwhile investment for prospective buyers.
Choose the best GPU for your use case
When picking a GPU, or any component for that matter, it’s best to choose whatever’s best for your specific use case. Just because the RTX 4090 is the best GPU on the market, and you have the money for it, doesn’t mean that it’s the best purchase. When considering your use case, think of the games you will play, and the applications you will use, of course, you will want to add a degree of future-proofing to your system, but the sky is the limit there if you leave it open-ended.
The thing that I do is that I think of a game that I want to play that’s coming out in the future, and I try to forsee the system requirements and I work from there. Let’s say you’re getting a GPU now and you really want to play GTA 6 when that comes out, great, we can work with that.
GTA 6 doesn’t have any system requirements yet, so we’ll have to assume that RDR2 has similar requirements, though it’s probably going to be a little harder to run, so we can take those and add a little on top. So in this specific case, for GTA V at 1440p, I’d choose the RTX 4070 super or the 7800 XT. Both of these GPUs fit perfectly with the 12600K. This is just an example, but it works as a general application for future-proofing your PC. That way, when what you want to play or use rolls around, you won’t be disappointed that your PC can’t run it.
Is the Core i5-12600K good for gaming?
Yes, the Core i5 12600K is pretty good for gaming, it has a fast single-core speed that is ideal for gaming since gaming doesn’t use a lot of CPU cores. Don’t get us wrong, there are better CPUs out there for gaming, but this does scratch a particularly budget itch. Despite that, it remains capable.
What GPU does the i5-12600K have?
As an Intel processor, the CPU has integrated graphics on board. The 12600K features Intel UHD 770 on it. With 32 execution units, they are clocked at 300 MHz and boosted to 1.45 GHz. However, even then, it’s best to not use it much more than just a basic display, as discrete cards are necessary for gaming.
