Best GPU for i5-12600K – our top graphics card for i5 12th Gen

Pick out a GPU which is the perfect match for your i5-12600K processor

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Looking for the best GPU for i5-12600K? Then you’ve come to the right place. With a good lower-end processor, if you want a graphics card to match, then pairing up the two is a good idea. In that case, you get a good working machine so you can enjoy a well-rounded experience no matter what you’re going for.

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.

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Best graphics card for i5-12600K

Best Nvidia GPU for i5 12th Gen

GIGABYTE NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER Windforce OC

Core clock speed

2,505 MHz boost

CUDA count

7,168

Memory

12GB GDDR6X

Dimensions

261 x 126 x 50mm

PSU required

700W

TGP

220W

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Pros

• Great value, coming in at the MSRP
• Overclocked model provides boost over factory

Cons

• Rather large size for the lower board power it has

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.

Best AMD GPU for i5-12600K

XFX Speedster QICK319 RX 7700 XT Black

Core clock speed

1,785 MHz base, 2,276 MHz game, 2,599 boost

Stream processors

3,456

Memory

12GB GDDR6

Dimensions

335 x 130 x 52 mm

PSU required

700W

TBP

245W

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Pros

• Sleek curved and elegant design fits nicely into any build
• Metal and perforated backplate gives good cooling and flow through design
• Dual BIOS offers good choice to the running of the card

Cons

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.

Best budget GPU for i5-12600K

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

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Pros

• Excellent cooling to prolong life
• Great overclocking opportunity
• Biggest factory overclock

Cons

• RX 6750 XT only max 9% faster than 6700 XT for 15% price hike
• More expensive option from selection

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.

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What is the best GPU for i5-12600K?

For a good selection of graphics cards to match you have a lot of options for the low-end 12th Gen CPU. So the best GPU for i5-12600K is the RTX 4070 Super, which offers great performance across the board. While there is also the choice of the RX 7700 XT or RX 6650 XT. Although these are more powerful choices, the i5 still offers them great potential without holding them back.

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.