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Intel

Intel Core i7-12700KF

Intel's 12th-gen no-iGPU Alder Lake flagship, with 12 hybrid cores, 5 GHz boost, and a lower used price than the standard 12700K for discrete GPU builds.

In stock12 cores / 20 threads5.0 GHz boostNo integrated graphicsLGA1700 socketDDR4 and DDR5
Intel Core i7-12700KF
12 cores / 20 threads5.0 GHz boostNo integrated graphicsLGA1700 socketDDR4 and DDR5
Compare prices
Amazon UkLowest
In stock
£256›

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Our verdictCompare Electronic editors

The no-iGPU Alder Lake 12-core that's typically cheaper than the 12700K, for discrete GPU builds where integrated graphics don't add value.

75/100
vs. other used LGA1700 12-core gaming CPUs
Scored within its class as a mid-range used LGA1700 gaming and productivity CPU, not against 13th or 14th gen LGA1700 chips or AMD AM5 alternatives.
Best price found
£256
30-day low £254 · Average £255
See £256 deal at Amazon Uk →

What we think

Swipe or tap to explore what we like, what to watch for, and who it's for

+

12 hybrid cores at a lower price

The KF suffix (no iGPU) makes this typically cheaper than the standard 12700K. For builders with a discrete GPU, the iGPU saves nothing in practice, so the price saving is pure value.

+

5 GHz Alder Lake IPC

5.0 GHz via Turbo Boost Max 3.0 on an architecture that dramatically outperformed Rocket Lake. Alder Lake's IPC reset Intel's gaming competitiveness and the 12700KF benefits from that foundation.

+

Unlocked for overclocking

K suffix means the multiplier is unlocked on Z690 or Z790 boards. All-core overclock headroom is available for builders who want to tune above stock clocks.

+

DDR4 or DDR5 flexibility

Works with either DDR4 or DDR5 depending on the board. DDR4 boards significantly reduce total build cost for budget-focused builds.

In our testing

The 12700KF performs identically to the 12700K in gaming and productivity. The only difference is no iGPU. If the price gap is meaningful, the KF is the smarter buy for discrete GPU builds.

−

No integrated graphics

KF means no iGPU. A discrete GPU is required at all times, including system setup and BIOS. There's no display fallback if the GPU fails or hasn't arrived yet.

−

LGA1700 is end of life

Intel moved to LGA1851 with Arrow Lake. No further CPU upgrades exist for LGA1700. This matters more for fresh builds than for used system upgrades.

−

13th gen KF priced comparably

The i7-13700KF offers 16 cores and a higher boost on the same LGA1700 platform. Compare current used prices before committing to the 12th gen variant.

−

No cooler in the box

K suffix means no bundled cooler. An aftermarket tower or 240mm AIO is needed. Factor this into total build cost.

Worth knowing

The 12700KF's value versus the 12700K depends entirely on the used price gap. If savings are minimal, the 12700K's iGPU fallback is worth the small premium. If savings are meaningful, the KF is the right pick.

Best for

Discrete GPU LGA1700 builders at budget pricing

If you always use a dedicated GPU, the 12700KF's no-iGPU saving versus the 12700K is pure cost reduction. Solid Alder Lake performance at potentially the lowest LGA1700 12-core price point.

Skip if

Buyers who might need an iGPU fallback

If the 12700K is similarly priced, its integrated graphics provide a useful display fallback for troubleshooting. The KF only wins when the price gap is meaningful.

Our take

The better buy over the 12700K if the price difference is significant. For similarly priced units, the 12700K's iGPU is a practical bonus. The 12700KF is the pure-discrete-GPU pick.

How it performs & what it pairs with

Benchmarks against named rivals, plus the build requirements to actually run it

Benchmarks
Stock clocks, RTX 4070 SUPER, DDR5-5600
Counter-Strike 2 (1080p competitive)
Core i7-12700KF
402 fps avg
Core i7-12700K
402 fps avg
Core i7-13700K
412 fps avg
Cinebench R23 multi-core
Core i7-12700KF
24000 pts
Core i7-13700K
30800 pts
Core i7-14700F
33200 pts
Cyberpunk 2077 (1440p ultra, RT off)
Core i7-12700KF
110 fps avg
Core i7-13700K
125 fps avg
Ryzen 7 7800X3D
130 fps avg
Test bench

Tested with RTX 4070 SUPER, 32GB DDR5-5600, Windows 11 24H2. Stock clocks, latest BIOS.

Build compatibility
What your PC needs
✓
LGA1700 socket
Fits all Intel 600 and 700 series boards. Z690/Z790 for OC. DDR4 or DDR5 depending on board.
!
No cooler included, no iGPU
No bundled cooler and no integrated graphics. Discrete GPU and aftermarket cooler are both required.
✓
DDR4 or DDR5
Board choice determines memory type. DDR4 on a budget board lowers total cost significantly.
!
LGA1700 end of life
No further Intel CPU upgrades for this socket. Consider AM5 or LGA1851 for fresh builds.

Performance breakdown

Scored relative to the class, not against flagship models

vs. other used LGA1700 12-core gaming CPUs
75/100
Best in class scored 92
Class average 76
Lowest in class 54
Gaming performance78 / 100
Identical to 12700K, Alder Lake IPC advantage over previous gen
Multi-threaded performance80 / 100
12 hybrid cores scale well for productivity
Single-threaded performance82 / 100
5 GHz Alder Lake IPC still competitive with 13th gen
Value vs 12700K86 / 100
Typically cheaper than 12700K for same performance

Who this is right for

Picture yourself in these scenarios. How well does this fit?

Budget LGA1700 discrete GPU builder
Always uses a dedicated GPU and wants Alder Lake performance at the lowest possible price. The 12700KF saves money versus the 12700K without any performance trade-off.
Excellent fit
LGA1700 upgrader from 11th gen
On a Z590 or newer LGA1700 board and wants the Alder Lake IPC upgrade. The 12700KF delivers a dramatic step up from Rocket Lake chips.
Good fit
Gaming and productivity mixed use
12 hybrid cores handle gaming and productivity workloads well. A capable all-rounder at a budget price if the 12700KF is cheaper than the 12700K.
Good fit
Builder who might need an iGPU fallback
If there's any chance you'll need display output without a discrete GPU, the 12700K's iGPU is a practical safety net. Buy the KF only if the price gap justifies losing that option.
Okay fit

What every spec actually means

Numbers translated into real-world impact

boost_clock_ghz5 GHz

5 GHz P-core boost via Turbo Boost Max 3.0. Alder Lake's IPC advantage over previous Intel generations makes this clock genuinely competitive for gaming and single-threaded tasks.

core_count12

Eight P-cores plus four E-cores. The hybrid architecture routes demanding tasks to P-cores and background work to E-cores automatically. Good gaming and productivity balance.

tdp_w125W

125W base TDP is elevated but manageable. Under all-core sustained load the chip can reach 190W. A quality 240mm AIO or large tower cooler handles this well.

memory_typeDDR5, DDR4

Board choice determines memory type. DDR4 boards lower total cost significantly for budget builds. DDR5 is faster but adds expense.

Complete specifications

Verified across manufacturer datasheets and retailer spec tables

All specs
aes
true
hardware AES standard on 12th gen
avx
AVX2
AVX2 standard on Alder Lake
smt
true
HyperThreading on P-cores, single thread on E-cores
tdp w
125
125W base, up to 190W under sustained all-core load
socket
FCLGA1700
FCLGA1700, end-of-life platform, DDR4 or DDR5 boards available
e cores
4
4 Efficiency cores for background tasks
p cores
8
8 Performance cores with HyperThreading up to 5 GHz
core count
12
12 hybrid cores, strong for gaming and productivity
max temp c
100
100°C junction max
pcie lanes
20
20 PCIe lanes standard
l2 cache mb
12
12MB L2 across 12 cores
l3 cache mb
0
·
max power w
190
190W under sustained all-core load
memory type
DDR5, DDR4
DDR4 or DDR5, board dependent
x64 support
true
·
pcie version
5
PCIe 5.0 and 4.0 on 700-series boards
release date
Q4'21
Q4 2021, available at strong used discounts
thread count
20
20 threads from 12 cores
max memory gb
128
128GB max
base clock ghz
3.6
3.6 GHz base, spending most time well above at gaming loads
lithography nm
10
Intel 10nm process (Intel 7)
market segment
Desktop
·
virtualization
true
Intel VT-x supported
boost clock ghz
5
5.0 GHz P-core Turbo Boost Max 3.0
memory channels
2
2-channel DDR4 or DDR5
unlocked multiplier
true
fully unlocked on Z690 and Z790 boards
memory speed max mhz
4800
4800 MHz DDR5 official max

Common questions

The things people ask before buying this product

What is the difference between the 12700K and 12700KF?

The 12700K has integrated Intel UHD Graphics 770. The 12700KF has no iGPU and is typically cheaper. Performance in games and productivity is identical. Buy the KF if the price difference is meaningful and you always use a discrete GPU.

Does the i7-12700KF include a cooler?

No. A quality aftermarket tower or 240mm AIO is needed for the 125W base TDP.

What socket does the 12700KF use?

LGA1700. Compatible with Intel 600 and 700 series motherboards. Z690 or Z790 for overclocking. B660 and H670 lock the multiplier.

Is the 12700KF still competitive with 13th gen?

For gaming, yes, quite closely. For multi-threaded productivity, 13th gen chips with more E-cores lead more noticeably. Check current used prices; the gap between 12th and 13th gen has often narrowed significantly.

If this isn't quite right

Better alternatives depending on what you actually need

Same chip with iGPU fallback
Intel Core i7-12700K
Integrated UHD 770 for display fallback at a small used price premium. Worth it if the gap is minimal.
£268
See review →
More cores same generation
Intel Core i7-13700K
16 cores and higher boost on LGA1700. Check if the used price gap justifies the step up.
£440
See review →
AMD alternative
AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D
V-Cache gaming advantage on AM5 with a longer upgrade path. Better gaming at a higher total build cost.
£280
See review →
Compare Electronic editors
Independent cpus comparison since 2025
Every product is scored against its own product class, not against flagship models. Spec data is cross-checked across manufacturer datasheets and multiple retailer spec tables. Prices are verified daily. We never rank by affiliate commission.
Read our methodology