Core i3-12300T vs Ryzen 5 2600

CPU

GPU

Core i3-12300T

4 Cores8 Thrd35 WWMax: 4.2 GHz2022

Popular choices:

•••••••••

Ryzen 5 2600

6 Cores12 Thrd65 WWMax: 3.9 GHz2018

Popular choices:

•••••••••

Performance Spectrum - CPU

Core i3-12300T

4 / 8

13,162

+0.1%

13,145

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7945WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 9960X

About PassMark

PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.

Head-to-Head Verdict, Benchmarks, Value & Long-Term Outlook

This comparison brings together gaming FPS, productivity performance, platform differences, power efficiency, pricing context, and upgrade path so you can see which CPU actually makes more sense.

Core i3-12300T

2022

Why buy it

✅Draws 35W instead of 65W, a 30W reduction.
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of AM4 and DDR4.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 16 MB).
❌
5% HIGHER MSRP
$209 MSRPvs$199 MSRP
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Ryzen 5 2600.

Ryzen 5 2600

2018

Why buy it

✅+33.3% larger total L3 cache (16 MB vs 12 MB).
✅Costs $10 less on MSRP ($199 MSRP vs $209 MSRP).
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Core i3-12300T.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (13,145 vs 13,162).
❌85.7% higher power demand at 65W vs 35W.
❌Older platform position on AM4 with DDR4, while Core i3-12300T moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.

Core i3-12300T

2022

Ryzen 5 2600

2018

Why buy it

✅Draws 35W instead of 65W, a 30W reduction.
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of AM4 and DDR4.

Why buy it

✅+33.3% larger total L3 cache (16 MB vs 12 MB).
✅Costs $10 less on MSRP ($199 MSRP vs $209 MSRP).
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Core i3-12300T.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 16 MB).
❌
5% HIGHER MSRP
$209 MSRPvs$199 MSRP
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Ryzen 5 2600.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (13,145 vs 13,162).
❌85.7% higher power demand at 65W vs 35W.
❌Older platform position on AM4 with DDR4, while Core i3-12300T moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i3-12300T better than Ryzen 5 2600?

Yes. Core i3-12300T is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 2.0% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data, 0.1% better PassMark, and the stronger long-term platform, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core i3-12300T is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 2.0% more average FPS across 4 shared CPU game tests.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i3-12300T is the better fit. You are getting 0.1% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 8 threads.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Core i3-12300T is still the faster CPU overall, but Ryzen 5 2600 makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. Core i3-12300T is 5.0% more expensive on MSRP at $209 MSRP versus $199 MSRP, and it gives you a 2.0% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. Ryzen 5 2600 is also 4.9% better value on MSRP (66.1 vs 63.0 PassMark/$), which is why it is easier to justify for price-conscious builds on paper. That said, if you already own a compatible AM4 + DDR4 setup, Ryzen 5 2600 can still make sense as a platform-matched option because it avoids a motherboard and RAM swap.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Core i3-12300T is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2022 vs 2018), a healthier platform with LGA1700 and DDR5 instead of AM4, and more multi-core headroom with 4 cores / 8 threads instead of 6/12. That should give you a better long-term upgrade path for motherboard, RAM, and future CPU swaps.

Games Benchmarks

Paired with RTX 4090

To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.

Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.

Core i3-12300T Benchmark Check

Ryzen 5 2600 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i3-12300T	Ryzen 5 2600
1080p
low	172 FPS	183 FPS
medium	151 FPS	157 FPS
high	121 FPS	127 FPS
ultra	99 FPS	102 FPS
1440p
low	146 FPS	152 FPS
medium	123 FPS	125 FPS
high	96 FPS	98 FPS
ultra	77 FPS	77 FPS
4K
low	69 FPS	68 FPS
medium	62 FPS	60 FPS
high	48 FPS	47 FPS
ultra	38 FPS	38 FPS

Open Core i3-12300T Open Ryzen 5 2600

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i3-12300T	Ryzen 5 2600
1080p
low	270 FPS	263 FPS
medium	234 FPS	227 FPS
high	213 FPS	202 FPS
ultra	183 FPS	162 FPS
1440p
low	238 FPS	236 FPS
medium	208 FPS	206 FPS
high	193 FPS	183 FPS
ultra	164 FPS	151 FPS
4K
low	186 FPS	186 FPS
medium	167 FPS	165 FPS
high	142 FPS	146 FPS
ultra	118 FPS	111 FPS

Open Core i3-12300T Open Ryzen 5 2600

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i3-12300T	Ryzen 5 2600
1080p
low	329 FPS	329 FPS
medium	329 FPS	329 FPS
high	329 FPS	329 FPS
ultra	329 FPS	329 FPS
1440p
low	329 FPS	329 FPS
medium	329 FPS	329 FPS
high	329 FPS	322 FPS
ultra	329 FPS	268 FPS
4K
low	329 FPS	304 FPS
medium	329 FPS	248 FPS
high	308 FPS	215 FPS
ultra	255 FPS	167 FPS

Open Core i3-12300T Open Ryzen 5 2600

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i3-12300T	Ryzen 5 2600
1080p
low	329 FPS	329 FPS
medium	329 FPS	329 FPS
high	329 FPS	329 FPS
ultra	329 FPS	329 FPS
1440p
low	329 FPS	329 FPS
medium	329 FPS	329 FPS
high	329 FPS	329 FPS
ultra	329 FPS	329 FPS
4K
low	329 FPS	329 FPS
medium	329 FPS	329 FPS
high	329 FPS	329 FPS
ultra	298 FPS	310 FPS

Open Core i3-12300T Open Ryzen 5 2600

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i3-12300T and Ryzen 5 2600

Core i3-12300T

The Core i3-12300T is manufactured by Intel. It was released in Janeiro 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.3 GHz, with boost up to 4.2 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1700. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 13,162 points. Launch price was $149.

Ryzen 5 2600

The Ryzen 5 2600 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 19 April 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the Pinnacle Riege (Zen+) (2018) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.4 GHz, with boost up to 3.9 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB (total). L2 cache: 3 MB. Built on 12 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 13,145 points. Launch price was $199.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i3-12300T packs 4 cores / 8 threads, while the Ryzen 5 2600 offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the Ryzen 5 2600 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.2 GHz on the Core i3-12300T versus 3.9 GHz on the Ryzen 5 2600 — a 7.4% clock advantage for the Core i3-12300T (base: 2.3 GHz vs 3.4 GHz). The Core i3-12300T uses the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Ryzen 5 2600 uses Pinnacle Riege (Zen+) (2018) (12 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-12300T scores 13,162 against the Ryzen 5 2600's 13,145 — a 0.1% lead for the Core i3-12300T. L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Core i3-12300T vs 16 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 2600.

Feature	Core i3-12300T	Ryzen 5 2600
Cores / Threads	4 / 8	6 / 12+50%
Boost Clock	4.2 GHz+8%	3.9 GHz
Base Clock	2.3 GHz	3.4 GHz+48%
L3 Cache	12 MB (total)	16 MB (total)+33%
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)	3 MB+140%
Process	Intel 7 nm-42%	12 nm
Architecture	Alder Lake-S (2022)	Pinnacle Riege (Zen+) (2018)
PassMark	13,162	13,145
Cinebench R23 Multi	—	6,344
Geekbench 6 Single	—	1,163
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	4,893

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i3-12300T uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Ryzen 5 2600 uses AM4 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Core i3-12300T	Ryzen 5 2600
Socket	LGA1700	AM4
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0+67%	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	—	DDR4-2933
Max RAM Capacity	—	64 GB
RAM Channels	—	2
ECC Support	—	Yes
PCIe Lanes	—	20

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: not specified (Core i3-12300T) / Yes (Ryzen 5 2600). Primary use case: Ryzen 5 2600 targets General Productivity. Direct competitor: Ryzen 5 2600 rivals Core i5-9400.

Feature	Core i3-12300T	Ryzen 5 2600
Integrated GPU	—	No
Unlocked	—	Yes
AVX-512	—	No
Virtualization	—	Yes
Target Use	—	General Productivity

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i3-12300T launched at $209 MSRP, while the Ryzen 5 2600 debuted at $199. On MSRP ($209 vs $199), the Ryzen 5 2600 is $10 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i3-12300T delivers 63.0 pts/$ vs 66.1 pts/$ for the Ryzen 5 2600 — making the Ryzen 5 2600 the 4.8% better value option.