12th Gen · data reviewed 2026-11-10

What PSU for the Core i5-12600K?

Core i5-12600K is 10 cores and 16 threads on LGA 1700. Gaming plans it at 125 W (Processor Base Power). The power-limit profile uses 150 W (Maximum Turbo Power, published). With a Radeon RX 9070 XT, the gaming total is 486 W and the minimum size is 650 W.

These open a store search for that wattage class. Prices stay on the store. Disclaimer.

Same CPU, three graphics cards

Each row is two memory modules, one NVMe drive, and three fans. Only the GPU changes, so the difference between rows is the card plus nothing else.

WattWise results for the Core i5-12600K
GPUBoard powerGaming loadMinimumBoth at the limit
GeForce RTX 5060145 W327 W450 W352 W · 450 W
Radeon RX 9070 XT304 W486 W650 W511 W · 650 W
GeForce RTX 5090575 W757 W1,000 W782 W · 1,000 W

How to read the two CPU numbers

Maximum Turbo Power as published on the Intel ARK specification for this SKU. It is an all-core turbo limit, not a typical gaming draw.

Memory in this table is DDR5, which this CPU can also run as DDR4. Switching to DDR4 drops the per-stick allowance from 5 W to 3 W.

The GeForce RTX 5060 row is the small-card case: the CPU and the platform are a large share of the total. The GeForce RTX 5090 row is the flagship case: the graphics card dominates, and the CPU's base-versus-limit gap matters less until you render on every core.

Questions for this CPU

What PSU does a Core i5-12600K need with a Radeon RX 9070 XT?

Gaming plan for the Core i5-12600K: 125 W at its processor base power, 304 W for the Radeon RX 9070 XT at rated board power, and 57 W of platform allowance. The total is 486 W. Minimum size 650 W. Efficiency size 1,000 W.

How much does the Core i5-12600K add when the GPU is small?

With a GeForce RTX 5060, the gaming total is 327 W and the minimum is 450 W. The same CPU with a GeForce RTX 5090 is 757 W, minimum 1,000 W. The CPU did not change. The graphics card did.

Should I size a Core i5-12600K build for the package limit?

The power-limit profile with a Radeon RX 9070 XT is 511 W, minimum 650 W. That is both parts on their limits at once. Maximum Turbo Power 150 W is printed by the vendor. Use it for a combined render. A GPU-bound game is the lower row.

Nearby CPUs

Sources

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