What can we get from Intel’s 12th-gen mid-range chip?
FROM INTEL’S NEW 12th-generation line-up
of chips, the i5-12400 doesn’t initially appear
to be the pick of the bunch. Following our
recent i9-12900K build, it doesn’t quite have
the credentials to match that model. But does
it have enough oomph to push out solid 1080p
gaming with the sliders cranked up? Building
inside Corsair’s impressive 275R Airflow case
should help show it off—we may be overdoing
the white cases of late, but we’ve had some
slick ones we just couldn’t ignore.
For this build, we have more than doubled
our previous $600 budget. With the bar now
set at $1300, we are looking for the best
performance we can get from one of Intel’s
latest budget CPUs. We also have some cash
spare for a fairly decent GPU, so we have
opted for the RTX 3050, which matched up
well in the mid to high-end budget range.
Choosing parts is always the most time-
intensive section of any build. With so many
different combinations of components, there
are an almost endless amount of possibilities.
Of course, we have to check for compatibility
which isn’t always as simple as checking PC
Part Picker, and we also have to stick to our
budget. This is always a challenge as most
builds have these two targets in mind.
So, with a 12th-gen processor, a capable
GPU, a Corsair case, and the rest of the
$1300 budget to play with, this should be an
intriguing build. Hopefully, at the end of it
all, we should be left with some comfortable
numbers and a 1080p gaming beast. PRICES CORRECT AT THE TIME OF PRINTINGINGREDIENTS
PART RRP/STREET PRICECPU Intel Core
i5-$
CPU
CoolerNoctua NH-U12S
redux 70.75 CFM$
GPUGigabyte GeForce
RTX 3050 GAMING
OC 8GB GDDR$380/
$
MoboMSI MAG Z
TOMAHAWK WIFI
DDR4 ATX$
RAM16GB (2x8GB)
Corsair Vengeance
RGB RS
DDR4-3200 CL$
OS
StorageSamsung 980 1TB
M.2 SSD$
PSU
Corsair RM 750
80+Gold PSU$
CaseCorsair 275R
Airflow ATX Mid
Tower Case$
TOTAL $1307 / $
$1300 12th-gen delight
16 MAXIMU MPCAPR 2022