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CPU Comparison: FPS, Specs & Value

Core i7-12700 vs Core i5-6500

The Core i7-12700 is much faster than the Core i5-6500 on average across 100+ games. However, it's a much worse value for money, as it's $331.40 more expensive!

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CPU

$379.99View CPUAll CPUs

Up to 81% faster on average across 100+ games
Is 6 years and 8 months newer
Available for $379.99

CPU

$48.59View CPUAll CPUs

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 i7-12700

345FPS

Core i5-6500

194FPS

Overwatch 22023

Core i7-12700

552FPS

Core i5-6500

517FPS

Grand Theft Auto V2013

Core i7-12700

219FPS

Core i5-6500

201FPS

Fortnite2017

331FPS

325FPS

682FPS

500FPS

Valorant2020

Core i7-12700

717FPS

Core i5-6500

573FPS

Minecraft2011

Core i7-12700

751FPS

Core i5-6500

601FPS

Dota 22013

Core i7-12700

256FPS

Core i5-6500

182FPS

Specs & Benchmark Comparison

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

Scorehelp

Core i7-12700

56%

Core i5-6500

22%

Core i7-12700 ranks 34 points higher.

Coreshelp

Core i7-12700

Core i5-6500

Core i7-12700 has 8 more cores.

Threadshelp

Core i7-12700

Core i5-6500

Core i7-12700 has 16 more threads.

L3 Cachehelp

Core i7-12700

25 MB

Core i5-6500

6 MB

Core i7-12700 has 19 MB more L3 cache.

Base Frequencyhelp

Core i7-12700

2.1 GHz

Core i5-6500

3.2 GHz

Core i5-6500 has a 52% higher base clock.

Turbo Frequencyhelp

Core i7-12700

4.9 GHz

Core i5-6500

3.6 GHz

Core i7-12700 boosts 36% higher.

TDPhelp

Core i7-12700

65W

Core i5-6500

65W

Pricehelp

Core i7-12700

$379.99

Core i5-6500

$48.59

Core i5-6500 is $331.40 cheaper.

Core i7-12700Core i5-6500

LGA1700

Sockethelp

LGA1151

Alder Lake-S

Codenamehelp

Skylake

Desktop

Segmenthelp

Desktop

UHD Graphics 770

Integrated GPUhelp

HD Graphics 530

3200 MHz (DDR4), 4800 MHz (DDR5)

RAMhelp

2133 MHz (DDR4)

Not Overclockable

Overclock Supporthelp

Not Overclockable

Frequently Asked Questions

compare_arrowsWhich is better, Core i7-12700 or Core i5-6500?expand_more

The Core i7-12700. It's 155% faster than the Core i5-6500 on average across 100+ games, scoring 56/100 vs 22/100 in our gaming rating.

speedHow much faster is Core i7-12700 than Core i5-6500?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 i7-12700 or Core i5-6500?expand_more

The Core i7-12700 is faster at both resolutions. Toggle the resolution selector above to see per-game FPS.

paidIs the Core i7-12700 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 i7-12700 and Core i5-6500?expand_more

Performance: Core i7-12700 scores 56/100, Core i5-6500 scores 22/100. They also differ in core count, clock speeds, L3 cache, and power draw. Full breakdown in the specs section above.

compressWill the Core i7-12700 or Core i5-6500 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 i7-12700 or Core i5-6500?expand_more

The Core i7-12700 is the stronger pick at 56/100. Compare your current CPU against it to see the exact FPS gain across 100+ games.