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CPU Comparison: FPS, Specs & Value

Core i3-6100 vs Core i5-12600

The Core i3-6100 is quite a bit slower than the Core i5-12600 on average across 100+ games. However, it's a much better value for money, as it's $249.82 cheaper!

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CPU

$65.18View CPUAll CPUs

CPU

$315.00View CPUAll CPUs

Up to 81% faster on average across 100+ games
Is 6 years and 5 months newer
Available for $315.00

FPS Comparison Across Popular Games

Predicted average FPS at 1080p, 1440p, and 4K, based on real game benchmarks.

Resolution

Quality

Paired GPU

View Compare All GPUs

Select GPU

League of Legends2009

192FPS

342FPS

497FPS

679FPS

Dota 22013

Core i3-6100

182FPS

Core i5-12600

254FPS

Apex Legends2019

Core i3-6100

366FPS

Core i5-12600

378FPS

Overwatch 22023

Core i3-6100

517FPS

Core i5-12600

552FPS

Grand Theft Auto V2013

Core i3-6100

200FPS

Core i5-12600

219FPS

Valorant2020

Core i3-6100

572FPS

Core i5-12600

713FPS

Escape From Tarkov2017

Core i3-6100

216FPS

Core i5-12600

247FPS

Specs & Benchmark Comparison

Side-by-side specs, synthetic benchmarks, and key hardware differences.

Scorehelp

Core i3-6100

22%

Core i5-12600

56%

Core i5-12600 ranks 34 points higher.

Coreshelp

Core i3-6100

Core i5-12600

Core i5-12600 has 4 more cores.

Threadshelp

Core i3-6100

Core i5-12600

Core i5-12600 has 8 more threads.

L3 Cachehelp

Core i3-6100

4 MB

Core i5-12600

18 MB

Core i5-12600 has 14 MB more L3 cache.

Base Frequencyhelp

Core i3-6100

3.7 GHz

Core i5-12600

3.3 GHz

Core i3-6100 has a 12% higher base clock.

Turbo Frequencyhelp

Core i3-6100

Core i5-12600

4.8 GHz

TDPhelp

Core i3-6100

51W

Core i5-12600

65W

Core i3-6100 draws 14W less power.

Pricehelp

Core i3-6100

$65.18

Core i5-12600

$315.00

Core i3-6100 is $249.82 cheaper.

Core i3-6100Core i5-12600

LGA1151

Sockethelp

LGA1700

Skylake

Codenamehelp

Alder Lake-S

Desktop

Segmenthelp

Desktop

Intel HD 530

Integrated GPUhelp

UHD Graphics 770

2133 MHz (DDR4)

RAMhelp

3200 MHz (DDR4), 4800 MHz (DDR5)

Not Overclockable

Overclock Supporthelp

Not Overclockable

Frequently Asked Questions

compare_arrowsWhich is better, Core i3-6100 or Core i5-12600?expand_more

The Core i5-12600. It's 155% faster than the Core i3-6100 on average across 100+ games, scoring 56/100 vs 22/100 in our gaming rating.

speedHow much faster is Core i5-12600 than Core i3-6100?expand_more

155% faster on average. The gap varies by game and resolution, check the per-game FPS comparison above.

aspect_ratioWhich is better for 1440p and 4K gaming, Core i3-6100 or Core i5-12600?expand_more

The Core i5-12600 is faster at both resolutions. Toggle the resolution selector above to see per-game FPS.

paidIs the Core i5-12600 worth buying in 2026?expand_more

It scores 56/100 in our gaming rating, faster than most CPUs on the market. Good buy if the price is right.

differenceWhat is the difference between Core i3-6100 and Core i5-12600?expand_more

Performance: Core i3-6100 scores 22/100, Core i5-12600 scores 56/100. They also differ in core count, clock speeds, L3 cache, and power draw. Full breakdown in the specs section above.

compressWill the Core i3-6100 or Core i5-12600 bottleneck my PC?expand_more

Depends on the rest of your build, especially your GPU. Swap the paired GPU in the FPS section above to see if it limits performance, or use our bottleneck calculator for a full analysis.

upgradeIs it worth upgrading to the Core i3-6100 or Core i5-12600?expand_more

The Core i5-12600 is the stronger pick at 56/100. Compare your current CPU against it to see the exact FPS gain across 100+ games.