Intel Core i5-12490F Gets Major Price Drop in China

Intel released its Core i5-12490F Alder Lake CPU especially for the Chinese DIY market earlier this year. The 'Black Edition' CPU had significantly greater clock speeds and cache than the…

By Nivedita Bangari

April 25, 2022

3 min read

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Intel released its Core i5-12490F Alder Lake CPU especially for the Chinese DIY market earlier this year. The ‘Black Edition’ CPU had significantly greater clock speeds and cache than the Core i5-12400, but it was priced similarly to the Core i5-12600KF at roughly $250-$260 US. The chip’s price has now been reduced significantly.

The Intel Core i5-12490P is a unique Alder Lake processor designed and sold only in China. The C0 die is used in all hybrid chips, with the exception that the 12490P does not have any hybrid cores. It comes with six Golden Cove cores and twelve threads. Because the CPU is an F version, it doesn’t have GPU support, therefore the Xe-LP graphics that you’d find on non-F chips aren’t available.

In terms of clock rates, the CPU keeps the same 3.0 GHz base and 4.6 GHz boost as the Core i5-12500 and is quicker than the Core i5-12400. The cache, on the other hand, is a significant difference. The Intel Core i5-12490P has a 20 MB L3 cache, compared to 19 MB and 18 MB for the Core i5-12500 and Core i5-12400, respectively. Aside from that, it supports up to 128 GB of RAM, has a 65W base TDP, and has a maximum turbo power rating of 117W.

Intel Core i5-12490F to offer higher gaming performance

Now, one thing we’ve seen with the AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D is that having more cache helps in games, and while the Intel Core i5-12490F has only 2 MB more L3 than the Core i5-12400F, the chip’s speeds and overall stability will result in higher performance. In terms of pricing, the CPU originally retailed for roughly $250-$260 US but has since been reduced to 1349 Yuan ($207 US). The Intel Core i5-12400 CPU has a suggested retail price of $199 US.

You can obtain a processor with faster clocks and greater cache for about $8 US more. The ‘F’ CPU model, which costs roughly $174.99 US, is a better option for consumers who still wish to go with the Core i5-12400 (MSRP). That’s a $35 difference in price in US dollars, but for those who can find the Core i5-12490F for $205-$210 in US dollars, it’s a good deal.

It will undoubtedly be a superior option to the Core i5-12400 (Non-F). Although you lose the stock cooler and integrated graphics, the Core i5 Alder Lake CPUs don’t run particularly hot, so even entry-level air-coolers will suffice. The Core i5-12490F didn’t make sense when it was originally released because of its exorbitant price, but it’s now a viable alternative to AMD’s Ryzen 5000 mainstream alternatives.