CPU
GPU
Ryzen 5 2600
Core i3-12300T
Performance Spectrum - CPU
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.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Ryzen 5 2600
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-12300T
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Ryzen 5 2600 | Core i3-12300T |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($145) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($164) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Pinnacle Riege (Zen+) (2018) / 12 nm) | ✨ Modern (Alder Lake-S (2022) / Intel 7 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Ryzen 5 2600 | Core i3-12300T |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+13%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($145) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($164) |
Performance Check
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.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Ryzen 5 2600 and Core i3-12300T
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.
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.
Processing Power
The Ryzen 5 2600 packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Core i3-12300T offers 4 cores / 8 threads — the Ryzen 5 2600 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.9 GHz on the Ryzen 5 2600 versus 4.2 GHz on the Core i3-12300T — a 7.4% clock advantage for the Core i3-12300T (base: 3.4 GHz vs 2.3 GHz). The Ryzen 5 2600 uses the Pinnacle Riege (Zen+) (2018) architecture (12 nm), while the Core i3-12300T uses Alder Lake-S (2022) (Intel 7 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen 5 2600 scores 13,145 against the Core i3-12300T's 13,162 — a 0.1% lead for the Core i3-12300T. L3 cache: 16 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 2600 vs 12 MB (total) on the Core i3-12300T.
| Feature | Ryzen 5 2600 | Core i3-12300T |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 6 / 12+50% | 4 / 8 |
| Boost Clock | 3.9 GHz | 4.2 GHz+8% |
| Base Clock | 3.4 GHz+48% | 2.3 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 16 MB (total)+33% | 12 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 3 MB+140% | 1.25 MB (per core) |
| Process | 12 nm | Intel 7 nm-42% |
| Architecture | Pinnacle Riege (Zen+) (2018) | Alder Lake-S (2022) |
| PassMark | 13,145 | 13,162 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | 6,344 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 1,163 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 4,893 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Ryzen 5 2600 uses the AM4 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i3-12300T uses LGA1700 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Ryzen 5 2600 | Core i3-12300T |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM4 | LGA1700 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 5.0+67% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-2933 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 64 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ✅ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 20 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: Yes (Ryzen 5 2600) / not specified (Core i3-12300T). Primary use case: Ryzen 5 2600 targets General Productivity. Direct competitor: Ryzen 5 2600 rivals Core i5-9400.
| Feature | Ryzen 5 2600 | Core i3-12300T |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | — |
| Unlocked | Yes | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | Yes | — |
| Target Use | General Productivity | — |
Value Analysis
The Ryzen 5 2600 launched at $199 MSRP, while the Core i3-12300T debuted at $209. At current prices ($145 vs $164), the Ryzen 5 2600 is $19 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Ryzen 5 2600 delivers 90.7 pts/$ vs 80.3 pts/$ for the Core i3-12300T — making the Ryzen 5 2600 the 12.2% better value option.
| Feature | Ryzen 5 2600 | Core i3-12300T |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $199-5% | $209 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $145-12% | $164 |
| Performance per Dollar | 90.7+13% | 80.3 |
| Release Date | 2018 | 2022 |
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