Intel Core i5-12600T vs Intel Core Ultra 5 228V Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data splits these two processors into two distinct personalities. The Intel Core Ultra 5 228V wins 13 of the 17 recorded head-to-head tests, while the Intel Core i5-12600T takes 4. However, the size and nature of those wins tell a more nuanced story than the raw win count suggests.

The most dramatic victory for the Core Ultra 5 228V comes in PassMark's find prime numbers test, where it scores 168 against 76 for the i5-12600T, a massive 121.1% advantage. This is a workload that clearly favors the Lunar Lake architecture's efficiency cores or its memory subsystem design. The Ultra 5 also dominates in data encryption, scoring 13032 versus 10205, a 27.7% lead, and in floating point math, where it posts 53310 against 42295, a 26% advantage. Physics simulation shows a similar pattern, with the Ultra 5 scoring 1538 versus 1212, a 26.9% gain.

Single-core Cinebench results are also strongly in favor of the Ultra 5 228V. In Cinebench R15 single-core, it scores 267 against 210, a 27.1% lead. The R20 single-core test shows a smaller gap at 4.3%, with scores of 916 versus 878. PassMark single-thread results give the Ultra 5 a 9.1% edge, 3836 to 3516.

The i5-12600T's wins are fewer but significant. Its largest victory is in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where it scores 14822 against 9932, a 33% advantage. It also wins Cinebench R23 single-core by 16%, scoring 2092 versus 1758. In integer math, the i5-12600T posts 54646 against 39679, a 27.4% lead. Data compression also favors the i5-12600T, with 195924 versus 173924, an 11.2% gap.

The multi-core picture is mixed across test suites. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Ultra 5 wins narrowly by 0.6%, scoring 1502.5 versus 1494. In R20 multi-core, it wins by 4.3%, 6491 versus 6225. Yet in R23 multi-core, the i5-12600T reverses the trend with its 33% blowout. PassMark multithread gives the Ultra 5 a 4.5% win, 18227 versus 17446, and random string sorting goes to the Ultra 5 by 4.7%, 21254 versus 20299. Extended instructions favor the Ultra 5 by 12.6%, 14801 versus 13140.

The average benchmark scores place the Ultra 5 228V at 21440, which lands it in the 75th percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 5 2600 at 21484, a delta of -0.2%, and the Intel Core i9-11900H at 21367, a delta of 0.3%. The i5-12600T averages 20917, sitting in the 74th percentile, with its closest comparison being the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 4655GE at 20900, a delta of 0.1%.

Architecture Differences

The two chips come from different Intel design philosophies. The Core Ultra 5 228V is built on Lunar Lake, fabricated on a 3 nm process at TSMC. The Core i5-12600T uses Alder Lake-S, built on Intel's 10 nm process with a die size of 163 mm². The process advantage is substantial: the Ultra 5 runs at a 17 W TDP while the i5-12600T requires 35 W.

Core configurations differ fundamentally. The Ultra 5 228V has 8 cores and 8 threads, meaning no hyperthreading. The i5-12600T has 6 cores and 12 threads, relying on hyperthreading to reach its thread count. The Ultra 5's L1 cache is 192 KB per core, while the i5-12600T has 80 KB per core. L2 cache is 2.5 MB per core on the Ultra 5 versus 1.25 MB per core on the i5-12600T. The shared L3 cache tells the opposite story: the i5-12600T has 18 MB shared, while the Ultra 5 has only 8 MB shared.

Base clocks are identical at 2.10 GHz for both. Boost clocks are close, with the Ultra 5 at 4.50 GHz and the i5-12600T slightly higher at 4.60 GHz.

The Ultra 5 228V uses Intel BGA 2833, a mobile socket, while the i5-12600T uses Intel Socket 1700 for desktop. The Ultra 5's PCIe implementation is Gen 5 with 4 lanes from the CPU; the i5-12600T offers Gen 5 with 20 lanes. Integrated graphics differ as well: the Ultra 5 carries Arc 130V, while the i5-12600T has UHD Graphics 770.

Memory support is a notable split. The database lists the Ultra 5's memory support as dependent on the motherboard, while the i5-12600T explicitly supports DDR4 and DDR5. Both use dual-channel memory buses. Neither supports ECC memory, and both have locked multipliers.

The launch MSRP for the i5-12600T is $223. The Ultra 5 228V has no recorded launch MSRP.

Where Each One Wins

The Core Ultra 5 228V is the pick for encryption-heavy and floating-point-heavy workloads. Its 27.7% lead in data encryption and 26% lead in floating point math indicate strength in cryptography and scientific computation. The 121.1% advantage in prime number finding is a clear signal for mathematical workloads that rely on modular arithmetic. Physics simulation, with a 26.9% edge, suggests better performance in physics-based calculations.

The i5-12600T wins in integer-heavy tasks. Its 27.4% lead in integer math and 11.2% advantage in data compression point to general-purpose productivity and file-handling workloads. The Cinebench R23 results, where it leads by 33% in multi-core and 16% in single-core, indicate strong sustained rendering performance in that specific test.

The Ultra 5 228V also holds the edge in most lightly threaded and mixed workloads. It wins PassMark single-thread by 9.1%, extended instructions by 12.6%, random string sorting by 4.7%, and multithread by 4.5%. It wins Cinebench R15 and R20 in both single-core and multi-core, though the margins are smaller in R20.

For users prioritizing the latest mobile platform with low power draw, the Ultra 5 228V is the better option. Its 17 W TDP versus 35 W for the i5-12600T suggests it is designed for thermally constrained environments. The i5-12600T, with its desktop socket and higher thread count, suits systems where the 35 W power envelope is acceptable and where the larger L3 cache of 18 MB can be leveraged.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 228V has an average benchmark score of 21440, while the Intel Core i5-12600T averages 20917.

Q: How do the two compare in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The Intel Core i5-12600T wins by 33%, scoring 14822 versus 9932 for the Ultra 5 228V.

Q: Which chip wins in data encryption?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 228V scores 13032 against 10205 for the i5-12600T, a 27.7% advantage.

Q: What are the TDP differences?

A: The Ultra 5 228V has a 17 W TDP, while the i5-12600T has a 35 W TDP.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No, neither processor supports ECC memory.

Q: Which processor has more threads?

A: The Intel Core i5-12600T has 12 threads, while the Ultra 5 228V has 8 threads.

The Verdict

The data points to the Intel Core Ultra 5 228V for most tasks. It wins 13 of 17 head-to-head tests, including all PassMark tests except data compression and integer math, and it wins Cinebench R15 and R20 in both single and multi-core. Its average benchmark score is 2.5% higher, and it holds a 75th percentile rank versus the i5-12600T's 74th. Its 17 W TDP makes it the more power-efficient choice, and its 3 nm process at TSMC gives it a manufacturing advantage.

The Intel Core i5-12600T is the better option when the workload aligns with its strengths. Its 33% Cinebench R23 multi-core win and 16% single-core win show that in certain rendering scenarios, it pulls far ahead. Its 27.4% lead in integer math and 11.2% lead in data compression make it suitable for integer-heavy productivity. The 18 MB shared L3 cache and 12 threads give it a structural advantage in heavily threaded scenarios that the R23 test captures.

The decision hinges on the application mix. For a broad range of tasks, especially encryption, floating point, physics, and single-threaded performance, the Ultra 5 228V is the stronger choice. For integer math, data compression, and specific Cinebench R23 workloads, the i5-12600T wins. The i5-12600T also carries a $223 launch MSRP, while the Ultra 5 228V has no recorded launch MSRP.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core Ultra 5 228V | Intel Core i5-12600T |

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

| Series | Core Ultra Series 2 | Core 12th Gen |

| Cores | 8 | 6 |

| Threads | 8 | 12 |

| Boost Clock | 4.50 GHz | 4.60 GHz |

| TDP | 17 W | 35 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 2833 | Intel Socket 1700 |

| Architecture | Lunar Lake | Alder Lake |

| Codename | Lunar Lake | Alder Lake-S |

| Generation | Ultra 5 (Lunar Lake) | Core i5 (Alder Lake-S) |

| Process Node | 3 nm | 10 nm |

| Foundry | TSMC | Intel |

| Die Size | Not recorded | 163 mm² |

| L1 Cache | 192 KB (per core) | 80 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 2.5 MB (per core) | 1.25 MB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 8 MB (shared) | 18 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | Depends on motherboard | DDR4, DDR5 |

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

| Integrated Graphics | Arc 130V | UHD Graphics 770 |

| Market Segment | Mobile | Desktop |

| Launch MSRP | Not recorded | $223 |

| Part Number | SRPMVSRPMU | SRL5U |