Intel Core i5-12600T vs Intel Core Ultra 5 125U Comparison

The Intel Core i5-12600T and Intel Core Ultra 5 125U represent two distinct approaches to Intel’s processor design, separated by a generation and a market segment. The i5-12600T is a desktop-oriented Alder Lake-S part, while the Core Ultra 5 125U is a mobile Meteor Lake processor. Despite the Ultra 5’s newer architecture and higher core count, the benchmark data reveals a decisive performance hierarchy, with the desktop chip winning 13 of the 19 head-to-head comparisons. The overall average benchmark scores are nearly identical—20917 for the i5-12600T versus 20826 for the Core Ultra 5 125U—placing both at the 74th percentile among all CPUs, yet the distribution of wins tells a more complex story about workload-specific strengths.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest single performance gap appears in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where the Intel Core i5-12600T scores 14822 against the Core Ultra 5 125U’s 9799, a 51.3% advantage. This is the most dramatic divergence in the entire benchmark suite and underscores the desktop chip’s sustained throughput under heavy all-core loads. The single-core R23 result follows a similar pattern, with the i5-12600T leading by 34% (2092 versus 1561). Geekbench reinforces this narrative: the i5-12600T posts a 37.2% higher single-core score (2048 versus 1493) and a 16.9% higher multi-core score (7374 versus 6308).

The i5-12600T’s dominance extends into several PassMark subtests. It wins extended instructions by 15.9% (13140 versus 11340), find prime numbers by 18.8% (76 versus 64), and physics by 12% (1212 versus 1082). Floating-point math is closer, with the i5-12600T ahead by just 2.3% (42295 versus 41331). The single-thread PassMark score also favors the desktop part, 3516 versus 3296, a 6.7% margin. Even the multithread PassMark test, which is nearly a tie, goes to the i5-12600T at 17446 versus 17417, a marginal 0.2% difference.

However, the Core Ultra 5 125U claims its own victories, particularly in older Cinebench versions. It wins R15 multi-core with 1640 against 1494 (an 8.9% edge) and R15 single-core with 227 against 210 (a 7.5% edge). The Ultra 5 also takes PassMark data encryption by a substantial 16.6% (12231 versus 10205) and random string sorting by 7.2% (21872 versus 20299). Data compression is nearly a wash, with the Ultra 5 ahead by just 1.5% (198858 versus 195924), and integer math goes to the mobile chip by 4.2% (57046 versus 54646). These wins suggest the Ultra 5’s newer core architecture excels in specific memory-latency-sensitive or integer-heavy operations, despite losing the overall multi-core crown.

Architecture Differences

The architectural divide is stark. The i5-12600T uses Alder Lake-S, built on Intel’s 10 nm process, while the Core Ultra 5 125U uses Meteor Lake on a 7 nm node. The desktop chip is a 6-core, 12-thread part with a base clock of 2.10 GHz and a boost clock of 4.60 GHz. The mobile chip offers more physical resources: 12 cores and 14 threads, with a base clock of 1300.00 MHz and a boost clock of 4.30 GHz. Despite the Ultra 5’s higher core count, its lower boost clock and 15W TDP—versus the i5-12600T’s 35W—explain why it cannot sustain the same level of performance in prolonged multi-core tasks.

Cache hierarchies differ substantially. The i5-12600T carries 80 KB of L1 and 1.25 MB of L2 per core, plus 18 MB of shared L3. The Core Ultra 5 125U has larger per-core allocations: 112 KB of L1 and 2 MB of L2, but only 12 MB of shared L3. This larger L3 on the desktop part likely contributes to its strong showing in Cinebench R23 and Geekbench, where larger working sets benefit from more shared cache. The Ultra 5’s smaller L3 is partially offset by its larger L1 and L2, which may explain its wins in data encryption and integer math.

Memory support also diverges. The i5-12600T supports both DDR4 and DDR5, while the Core Ultra 5 125U lists DDR5 with support depending on the motherboard. Both use dual-channel memory buses, but the Ultra 5 explicitly specifies a memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s. The desktop part’s PCIe implementation is more robust: Gen 5 with 20 lanes (CPU only) versus the Ultra 5’s Gen 4 with 12 lanes. The integrated graphics differ as well—UHD Graphics 770 on the i5-12600T versus Arc Xe-LPG 64EU on the Core Ultra 5 125U—though no benchmark data is provided for GPU performance.

The socket and market targets are fundamentally different. The i5-12600T uses Intel Socket 1700 and is classified as a desktop segment part, while the Ultra 5 uses Intel BGA 2049 and is a mobile part. The production status for both is Active, and neither has an unlocked multiplier. The i5-12600T’s die size is 163 mm², whereas the Ultra 5’s die size is not listed. The process node difference—10 nm versus 7 nm—indicates the Ultra 5 uses a more advanced manufacturing technology, yet it cannot translate that into an overall benchmark victory.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i5-12600T is the clear choice for compute-heavy, sustained workloads. Its 51.3% lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core makes it suitable for rendering, video encoding, and other tasks that scale across all threads for extended periods. The 34% single-core advantage in R23, combined with a 37.2% lead in Geekbench single-core, positions it well for applications that rely on high per-thread performance, such as older games or lightly threaded productivity software. The 15.9% win in extended instructions and 18.8% in prime number finding further indicate strength in scientific computing and cryptographic workloads that use advanced instruction sets. The desktop part also holds a 12% edge in PassMark physics, which relates to physics simulations in gaming or engineering applications.

The Core Ultra 5 125U excels in scenarios that favor its newer core design and larger per-core cache. Its 16.6% win in data encryption suggests it handles AES and similar workloads more efficiently, possibly due to the 2 MB L2 per core. The 7.2% advantage in random string sorting points to strength in database or text-processing operations where random access patterns dominate. The modest 4.2% lead in integer math and 1.5% in data compression show it can hold its own in general productivity, but these margins are small. The Ultra 5 also wins the older Cinebench R15 tests by around 8%, which may reflect differences in how the scheduler handles its hybrid core layout under shorter workloads. For mobile users prioritizing battery life—given the 15W TDP versus 35W—the Ultra 5’s wins in these specific areas come with a massive power efficiency benefit, though the data pack does not include power consumption figures.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher multi-core performance in Cinebench R23?

A: The Intel Core i5-12600T significantly outperforms the Core Ultra 5 125U, scoring 14822 versus 9799, a 51.3% advantage.

Q: Are the two processors comparable in overall average benchmark scores?

A: Yes, they are nearly identical. The i5-12600T has an average benchmark score of 20917, while the Core Ultra 5 125U scores 20826, a difference of only 0.4%. Both sit at the 74th percentile among all CPUs.

Q: Does the Core Ultra 5 125U win any benchmark categories?

A: Yes, it wins 6 of the 19 head-to-head tests, including Cinebench R15 multi-core and single-core, PassMark data encryption, data compression, integer math, and random string sorting.

Q: What is the difference in core and thread counts?

A: The Core Ultra 5 125U has 12 cores and 14 threads, while the Core i5-12600T has 6 cores and 12 threads. Despite fewer cores, the i5-12600T wins most multi-threaded benchmarks.

Q: How do their boost clocks compare?

A: The Core i5-12600T has a boost clock of 4.60 GHz, which is higher than the Core Ultra 5 125U’s 4.30 GHz boost clock. This contributes to the desktop part’s single-core advantages.

Q: Which processor has more shared L3 cache?

A: The Core i5-12600T has 18 MB of shared L3 cache, compared to 12 MB on the Core Ultra 5 125U. The Ultra 5 compensates with larger per-core L1 and L2 caches.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i5-12600T | Intel Core Ultra 5 125U |

|---|---|---|

| Series | Core 12th Gen | Core Ultra Series 1 |

| Cores | 6 | 12 |

| Threads | 12 | 14 |

| Base Clock | 2.10 GHz | 1300.00 MHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.60 GHz | 4.30 GHz |

| TDP | 35 W | 15 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1700 | Intel BGA 2049 |

| Architecture | Alder Lake | Meteor Lake |

| Process Node | 10 nm | 7 nm |

| Die Size | 163 mm² | Not listed |

| L1 Cache | 80 KB (per core) | 112 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 1.25 MB (per core) | 2 MB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 18 MB (shared) | 12 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR4, DDR5 | DDR5 (depends on motherboard) |

| Memory Bandwidth | Not listed | 89.6 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 5, 20 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 4, 12 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | UHD Graphics 770 | Arc Xe-LPG 64EU |

| Market Segment | Desktop | Mobile |

| Launch MSRP | $223 | $363 |

| Part Number | SRL5U | SRN6E |