Intel Core i5-12600T vs Intel Core Ultra 7 268V Comparison

The Intel Core i5-12600T and Intel Core Ultra 7 268V are near-perfect statistical twins in overall average benchmark score, with the i5-12600T at 20917 and the Ultra 7 268V at 20897, a negligible 0.1% difference. Both sit at the 74th percentile of all CPUs. However, the data reveals two very different processors underneath that similar average. The i5-12600T is a desktop chip with 6 cores and 12 threads, built on a 10 nm process, while the Ultra 7 268V is a mobile chip with 8 cores and 8 threads on a 3 nm process. The i5-12600T wins 4 of the 19 head-to-head benchmarks, while the Ultra 7 268V wins 15, yet the i5-12600T takes the crown in the most demanding multi-threaded test.

The Verdict

Choose the Intel Core i5-12600T if your priority is sustained heavy multi-threaded rendering, specifically in Cinebench R23. It beats the Ultra 7 268V by a massive 39.1% in that multi-core test (14822 vs 10653). It also wins in passmark integer math by 28.1% (54646 vs 42669) and in data compression by 8% (195924 vs 181443). This makes it the stronger pick for CPU-bound productivity workloads that scale with integer performance and thread count.

Choose the Intel Core Ultra 7 268V for nearly everything else. It dominates in single-threaded performance in the newer Cinebench R15 and R20 tests, wins Geekbench multi-core by 26% (9963 vs 7374), and crushes the i5-12600T in encryption, floating-point math, and prime number finding. Its 17W TDP versus the i5-12600T's 35W TDP also suggests far greater efficiency for mobile use. The data indicates the Ultra 7 268V is the better all-rounder for mixed workloads, while the i5-12600T is specialized for certain heavy multi-threaded tasks.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap is generational. The i5-12600T uses the Alder Lake architecture on a 10 nm process from Intel, while the Ultra 7 268V uses the Lunar Lake architecture on a 3 nm process from TSMC. This process shrink likely contributes to the Ultra 7's performance-per-watt advantage, though the data does not directly quantify power efficiency outside of TDP. The i5-12600T has 6 cores and 12 threads, whereas the Ultra 7 268V has 8 cores and 8 threads; the i5 relies on hyper-threading for its thread count, while the Ultra 7 does not.

Cache configurations differ significantly. The i5-12600T has 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 18 MB of shared L3 cache. The Ultra 7 268V has larger per-core caches at 192 KB L1 and 2.5 MB L2, but a smaller 12 MB shared L3. The i5-12600T supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, while the Ultra 7 268V's memory support is listed as unknown and dependent on the motherboard. Both use dual-channel memory buses. The i5-12600T offers PCIe Gen 5 with 20 lanes from the CPU, while the Ultra 7 268V offers PCIe Gen 5 with only 4 lanes, reflecting its mobile focus. The i5-12600T uses UHD Graphics 770, while the Ultra 7 268V uses Arc 140V integrated graphics. The i5-12600T is a desktop Socket 1700 part, and the Ultra 7 268V is a mobile BGA 2833 part.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The biggest win for the Ultra 7 268V is in passmark find prime numbers, where it scores 192 versus 76, a 60.4% advantage. This is a massive lead in a specific mathematical workload. It also wins passmark floating point math by 26.6% (57628 vs 42295), and both passmark data encryption and Geekbench multi-core by roughly 26% (13779 vs 10205 and 9963 vs 7374, respectively). In single-threaded Cinebench R15, it leads by 28.3% (293 vs 210), and in passmark single-thread by 13.2% (4051 vs 3516). It also wins Cinebench R20 multi-core by 9.6% (6887 vs 6225) and passmark multithread by 9.6% (19297 vs 17446).

The biggest win for the i5-12600T is in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where it scores 14822 against the Ultra 7 268V's 10653, a 39.1% lead. It also wins passmark integer math by 28.1% (54646 vs 42669) and passmark data compression by 8% (195924 vs 181443). Notably, it wins Cinebench R23 single-core by 8.9% (2092 vs 1921), even though it loses the older Cinebench R15 and R20 single-core tests. The benchmark data shows a clear split: the Ultra 7 268V excels in newer, shorter-duration tests and floating-point/encryption workloads, while the i5-12600T dominates in the longer R23 render and integer-heavy tasks.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i5-12600T has an average benchmark score of 20917, which is just 0.1% higher than the Intel Core Ultra 7 268V's score of 20897. Both CPUs are in the 74th percentile of all CPUs.

Q: Which processor is better for Cinebench R23 multi-threaded rendering?

A: The Intel Core i5-12600T is significantly better, scoring 14822 compared to the Ultra 7 268V's 10653, a 39.1% advantage.

Q: Which chip wins the most head-to-head benchmarks?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 268V wins 15 of the 19 benchmark comparisons, while the Intel Core i5-12600T wins only 4.

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

A: The Intel Core i5-12600T has 6 cores and 12 threads. The Intel Core Ultra 7 268V has 8 cores and 8 threads.

Q: Which CPU has the higher boost clock speed?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 268V has a boost clock of 5.00 GHz, which is higher than the Intel Core i5-12600T's boost clock of 4.60 GHz.

Q: Which processor has a larger L3 cache?

A: The Intel Core i5-12600T has 18 MB of shared L3 cache, while the Intel Core Ultra 7 268V has 12 MB of shared L3 cache.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core Ultra 7 268V wins in the vast majority of workloads tested. It is the clear choice for single-threaded performance in Cinebench R15 and R20, showing leads of 28.3% and 9.7% respectively. It also wins in Geekbench multi-core by 26% and in passmark physics by 25% (1617 vs 1212), indicating strong performance in simulation and general multi-core tasks. For security and encryption work, it leads in passmark data encryption by 25.9%. In floating-point math, it wins by 26.6%, and in extended instructions by 14.2%. It also wins in random string sorting by 9.4% and in the passmark multithread test by 9.6%. For anyone doing a mix of office work, content creation with floating-point math, or light physics simulation, the Ultra 7 268V is the stronger performer.

The Intel Core i5-12600T has a narrower but distinct set of wins. Its 39.1% lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core is the largest margin in any test, making it the go-to for long-form rendering tasks in that specific benchmark. Its 28.1% win in passmark integer math makes it better for workloads that are heavily integer-based, such as certain compilers or database operations. The 8% win in data compression suggests it handles compression tasks like file archiving better. It also wins Cinebench R23 single-core by 8.9%, showing that in the newest Cinebench version, its single-core performance is actually superior. This makes the i5-12600T the pick for users whose primary application is Cinebench R23-style rendering, integer-heavy processing, or data compression.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every fundamental specification. The i5-12600T uses the Alder Lake architecture on a 10 nm process from Intel, while the Ultra 7 268V uses Lunar Lake on a 3 nm process from TSMC. Core counts differ: the i5-12600T has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the Ultra 7 268V has 8 cores and 8 threads. Base clocks are similar at 2.10 GHz for the i5 and 2.20 GHz for the Ultra 7, but boost clocks differ, with the Ultra 7 reaching 5.00 GHz versus 4.60 GHz for the i5. The TDP is drastically different: 35W for the i5-12600T and 17W for the Ultra 7 268V.

Cache hierarchies are different: the i5-12600T has 80 KB L1 and 1.25 MB L2 per core, with 18 MB shared L3, while the Ultra 7 268V has 192 KB L1 and 2.5 MB L2 per core, with 12 MB shared L3. Memory support differs, with the i5-12600T supporting DDR4 and DDR5, while the Ultra 7 268V's support is listed as unknown and motherboard-dependent. The PCIe configuration differs significantly: the i5-12600T has 20 CPU PCIe Gen 5 lanes, while the Ultra 7 268V has only 4. The integrated graphics are different (UHD Graphics 770 vs Arc 140V). The sockets are different (Intel Socket 1700 vs Intel BGA 2833), and the market segments are desktop versus mobile. The i5-12600T has a launch MSRP of $223, while the Ultra 7 268V has no listed launch MSRP. The i5-12600T's release date is not listed, while the Ultra 7 268V was released on 2024-09-23.