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CPU Comparison: FPS, Specs & Value

Core i5-7300HQ vs Core i5-12600KF

The Core i5-7300HQ is quite a bit slower than the Core i5-12600KF on average across 100+ games. We cannot compare value as at least one CPU is out of stock.

bar_chartBenchmarks groupCommunity calculateFPS Calculator compressBottleneck Calculator

CPU

View All CPUs

Up to 6% cheaper – $250 vs $137.99

CPU

$137.99View CPUAll CPUs

Up to 91% faster on average across 100+ games
Is 4 years and 11 months newer
Up to 81% better value for money
Up to 6% more expensive – $137.99 vs $250

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

Core i5-7300HQ

188FPS

Core i5-12600KF

351FPS

Dota 22013

180FPS

260FPS

490FPS

689FPS

Overwatch 22023

Core i5-7300HQ

517FPS

Core i5-12600KF

554FPS

Grand Theft Auto V2013

Core i5-7300HQ

200FPS

Core i5-12600KF

219FPS

Minecraft2011

Core i5-7300HQ

597FPS

Core i5-12600KF

759FPS

Valorant2020

Core i5-7300HQ

569FPS

Core i5-12600KF

724FPS

Apex Legends2019

Core i5-7300HQ

366FPS

Core i5-12600KF

380FPS

Specs & Benchmark Comparison

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

Scorehelp

Core i5-7300HQ

25%

Core i5-12600KF

57%

Core i5-12600KF ranks 32 points higher.

Coreshelp

Core i5-7300HQ

Core i5-12600KF

Core i5-12600KF has 6 more cores.

Threadshelp

Core i5-7300HQ

Core i5-12600KF

Core i5-12600KF has 12 more threads.

L3 Cachehelp

Core i5-7300HQ

6 MB

Core i5-12600KF

20 MB

Core i5-12600KF has 14 MB more L3 cache.

Base Frequencyhelp

Core i5-7300HQ

2.5 GHz

Core i5-12600KF

3.7 GHz

Core i5-12600KF has a 48% higher base clock.

Turbo Frequencyhelp

Core i5-7300HQ

3.5 GHz

Core i5-12600KF

4.9 GHz

Core i5-12600KF boosts 40% higher.

TDPhelp

Core i5-7300HQ

45W

Core i5-12600KF

125W

Core i5-7300HQ draws 80W less power.

Pricehelp

Core i5-7300HQ

Core i5-12600KF

$137.99

Core i5-7300HQCore i5-12600KF

Intel BGA 1440

Sockethelp

LGA1700

Kaby Lake-H

Codenamehelp

Alder Lake-S

Mobile

Segmenthelp

Desktop

Intel HD Graphics 630

Integrated GPUhelp

No Integrated Graphics

DDR3, 2400 MHz (DDR4)

RAMhelp

3200 MHz (DDR4), 4800 MHz (DDR5)

Not Overclockable

Overclock Supporthelp

Overclockable

Frequently Asked Questions

compare_arrowsWhich is better, Core i5-7300HQ or Core i5-12600KF?expand_more

The Core i5-12600KF. It's 128% faster than the Core i5-7300HQ on average across 100+ games, scoring 57/100 vs 25/100 in our gaming rating.

speedHow much faster is Core i5-12600KF than Core i5-7300HQ?expand_more

128% 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 i5-7300HQ or Core i5-12600KF?expand_more

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

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

It scores 57/100 in our gaming rating, faster than most CPUs on the market. Good buy if the price is right.

differenceWhat is the difference between Core i5-7300HQ and Core i5-12600KF?expand_more

Performance: Core i5-7300HQ scores 25/100, Core i5-12600KF scores 57/100. They also differ in core count, clock speeds, L3 cache, and power draw. Full breakdown in the specs section above.

compressWill the Core i5-7300HQ or Core i5-12600KF 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 i5-7300HQ or Core i5-12600KF?expand_more

The Core i5-12600KF is the stronger pick at 57/100. Compare your current CPU against it to see the exact FPS gain across 100+ games.