Great CPU Deals for Budget Builds: Intel Core i7-12700KF is now just $199, Core i5-12600KF a mere $149

Intel Core i5-12700KF and 12600KF
(Image credit: Amazon)

One great way to save money on your PC build or upgrade is to use some last-generation parts. In the world of AMD, it has long been much cheaper to get a Ryzen 5000 series chip over newer, Ryzen 7000 models. In the Intel ecosystem, it hasn't made as much sense to buy older processors, because they weren't much cheaper.

But right now, as part of its spring sale, Amazon has great deals on two speedy Intel 12th Gen Core chips: the Core i7-12700KF and Core i5-12600KF. Both are at all-time lows — $199 and $149, respectively — which makes them significantly cheaper than their successors, the Core i7-13700KF / Core i7-14700KF ($334 / $379) and the Core i7-13600KF / Core i7-14600KF ($254 / $279). 

Intel Core i7-12700KF: now $199 at Amazon

Intel Core i7-12700KF: now $199 at Amazon (was $247)
This Alder Lake processor has 12 cores (8 performance, 4 efficiency). It has a base clock speed of 3.6 GHz and a max turbo speed of 5 GHz.

Intel Core i5-12600KF: now $149 at Amazon

Intel Core i5-12600KF: now $149 at Amazon (was $160)
This Intel CPU has 10 cores (6 performance, 4 Efficiency), a base clock speed of 3.7 GHz and a max turbo frequency of 4.9 GHz.

These processors are pretty fast. The Core i7-12700KF (also known as the 12700K, if you get it with a built-in GPU), sits just below the Core i5-13600K in our CPU hierarchy's list of multi-threaded benchmarks and above AMD Ryzen 9 5900X. The 12600KF is just a tad below the AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D and above the Ryzen 7 7600X. Both processors handily surpass the Core i5-13400F, our most recommended processor. 

By the way, we recommend the 12700KF and 12600KF instead of the 12700K and 12600K, because the non-F CPUs cost a little bit more  ($224 and $169, respectively) and what you get for the extra $19 - $25 is integrated graphics. If you're building a gaming PC, you are going to buy a graphics card — perhaps one of the best graphics cards — and don't need to pay extra for an iGPU you won't use.

These CPUS are part of Intel's Alder Lake series, which debuted back in November 2021. However, they use the same LGA 1700 motherboard socket as their two successors, Intel 13th Gen "Raptor Lake" and Intel 14th Gen "Raptor Lake Refresh." So if you buy a current-generation Intel motherboard, you can use it with an Alder Lake CPU. And if you buy an older motherboard that supports Alder Lake, you can later upgrade to a 13th or 14th Gen processor if you want.

All of the LGA 1700 CPUs can run on a motherboard that is either built for DDR4 or DDR5 RAM. While the difference in motherboard prices between a board that takes the faster RAM and one that requires the slower RAM is small, you'll save a fair amount on RAM by going with DDR4. 

If you look on Newegg, LGA 1700 boards start at just $79, though you probably should spend a few dollars more for a board with built-in Wi-Fi and support for M.2 SSDs. A 32GB kit of DDR4 RAM is as low as $53 these days, though you'll probably want to spend around $65 to get DIMMs with decent timing. Of course, if you have DDR4 RAM from a previous build that you want to carry over, that makes opting for a DDR4 motherboard an even sweeter deal. 

Avram Piltch
Avram Piltch is Tom's Hardware's editor-in-chief. When he's not playing with the latest gadgets at work or putting on VR helmets at trade shows, you'll find him rooting his phone, taking apart his PC or coding plugins. With his technical knowledge and passion for testing, Avram developed many real-world benchmarks, including our laptop battery test.
  • Avro Arrow
    For the same reason that I would not recommend an AM4 CPU for a new build, I wouldn't recommend either of these.

    It's a dead platform which means you'd have to buy a new motherboard to upgrade it.
    Reply
  • TerryLaze
    Avro Arrow said:
    For the same reason that I would not recommend an AM4 CPU for a new build, I wouldn't recommend either of these.

    It's a dead platform which means you'd have to buy a new motherboard to upgrade it.
    Unless somebody is upgrade addicted these CPUs will last them close to 10 years, at which point keeping the mobo will be irrelevant.
    Anything above 5 years really and you shouldn't trust the old mobo with a new CPU anyway.
    Goes for high end zen 3 as well.
    These aren't quad cores anymore where you presumably would need a new CPU pretty soon.
    Reply
  • helper800
    I mean, its hard to argue the value...

    PCPartPicker Part List
    CPU: Intel Core i7-12700KF 3.6 GHz 12-Core Processor ($199.99 @ Amazon)
    CPU Cooler: Thermalright Phantom Spirit EVO 69 CFM CPU Cooler ($42.99 @ Amazon)
    Motherboard: ASRock Z690 PG Riptide ATX LGA1700 Motherboard ($124.99 @ Newegg)
    Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws V 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR4-3600 CL16 Memory ($79.98 @ Amazon)
    Storage: Acer Predator GM7000 2 TB M.2-2280 PCIe 4.0 X4 NVME Solid State Drive ($124.99 @ Amazon)
    Video Card: Gigabyte WINDFORCE V2 GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER 16 GB Video Card ($1019.98 @ Newegg)
    Case: Fractal Design Focus 2 ATX Mid Tower Case ($69.99 @ B&H)
    Power Supply: Thermaltake Toughpower GF A3 - TT Premium Edition 850 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply ($104.99 @ Amazon)
    Total: $1767.90
    Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
    Generated by PCPartPicker 2024-03-21 19:55 EDT-0400
    Reply
  • Amdlova
    This platform it's not dead yet. It's very good perform...
    That's good entry gaming machine with out break the bank.

    You can use cheap b660 motherboard and put the 12600kf with a 7800xt or better graphics without any hiccups
    Reply
  • rluker5
    The 12700kf is still pretty good in most things, and with the console refreshes apparently sticking with underclocked Zen2s it will still perform decently in most uses for a long time.

    Reply
  • bit_user
    Compared to these, I find it amusing just how overpriced the i5-12600 (non-K) is. It has 6P + 0E (full die), the same 32 EU iGPU as the other desktop models, and is still selling above its launch price. Currently, it's going for about $254 on Newegg. Something doesn't add up...
    Reply
  • helper800
    bit_user said:
    Compared to these, I find it amusing just how overpriced the i5-12600 (non-K) is. It has 6P + 0E (full die), the same 32 EU iGPU as the other desktop models, and is still selling above its launch price. Currently, it's going for about $254 on Newegg. Something doesn't add up...
    I wonder if it has more to do with availability of the chip vs its demand. There is probably a very low amount of those chips.
    Reply
  • thestryker
    The 12700KF is a pretty good deal, but I think I'd spend the extra $25 to get the IGP.
    bit_user said:
    Compared to these, I find it amusing just how overpriced the i5-12600 (non-K) is. It has 6P + 0E (full die), the same 32 EU iGPU as the other desktop models, and is still selling above its launch price. Currently, it's going for about $254 on Newegg. Something doesn't add up...
    Probably something with the deal they have going on so you probably saw a third party seller it's currently $187.99 with an $18 off code.
    edit: I see what you mean the non-K have mostly kept their retail price for some reason. Probably stock numbers.
    Reply
  • Geef
    Amdlova said:
    You can use cheap b660 motherboard and put the 12600kf with a 7800xt or better graphics without any hiccups
    I use a 12600K and a 7800XT and it runs great. Up until just recently I was using a b660 board also. I was and still am able to play even newest games with no problems.
    The worst part about my current build is that I don't NEED to upgrade anything!!! :fearscream:
    Reply
  • bit_user
    helper800 said:
    I wonder if it has more to do with availability of the chip vs its demand. There is probably a very low amount of those chips.
    There seems to be plenty enough for them to sell H0 dies as various flavors of the following models:
    i5-12600
    i5-12500
    i5-12400
    i3-14100 i3-13100
    i3-12300
    i3-12100
    Intel 300 Celeron G7400
    Celeron G6900(Gen 14 models in bold)
    Reply