Intel Core i9-12900K VS Intel Core i3-12100

Intel Core i9-12900K

intel

Brand

16/24

Cores/Threads

3.2GHz

Base Clock

125W

TDP

Intel Core i9-12900K

N/A Nov 2021 View Details

VS
Intel Core i3-12100

intel

Brand

4/8

Cores/Threads

3.3GHz

Base Clock

60W

TDP

Intel Core i3-12100

N/A Jan 2022 View Details

Intel Core i9-12900K

Intel Core i9-12900K

N/A • Nov 2021

VS

Intel Core i3-12100

$122 • Jan 2022

Intel Core i3-12100
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Specs Comparison

SpecificationIntel Core i9-12900KIntel Core i3-12100
16 4
24 8
P-Cores: 8, E-Cores: 8N/A
3.2 GHz3.3 GHz
5.2 GHz 4.3 GHz
✓ Yes✓ Yes
32 X33 X
125 W60 W
DDR4, DDR5DDR4, DDR5
L180 KB80 KB
L21.25 MB1.25 MB
L330.00 MB 12.00 MB
UHD Graphics 770UHD Graphics 730
Core i9 (Alder Lake-S) Core i3 (Alder Lake-S)
10nm10nm
intel socket 1700intel socket 1700
IntelIntel
215 mm²163 mm²
Gen 5, 20 Lanes(CPU only)Gen 5, 16 Lanes(CPU only)
N/AN/A
100°C100°C

Comparison in Tools

Cinebench Background
Cinebench

Cinebench R23

Industry-leading 3D rendering benchmark that measures real-world CPU processing power and performance

Single Core Performance

1995 (+19%)

Intel Core i9-12900K

1673

Intel Core i3-12100

Multi Core Performance

27341 (+239%)

Intel Core i9-12900K

8061

Intel Core i3-12100

Geekbench Background
Geekbench

Geekbench 5

Popular cross-platform CPU benchmark measuring single and multi-core performance in real-world tasks

Single Core Performance

2633 (+19%)

Intel Core i9-12900K

2215

Intel Core i3-12100

Multi Core Performance

17003 (+129%)

Intel Core i9-12900K

7427

Intel Core i3-12100

Passmark Background
Passmark

PassMark

PassMark CPU Mark is a popular synthetic benchmark that scores overall CPU performance (higher is better).

Overall CPU Score

41368 (+206%)

Intel Core i9-12900K

13535

Intel Core i3-12100

Blender Background
Blender

Blender Benchmark

Measures CPU rendering speed in Blender, reported in frames per second (FPS). Higher FPS means faster completion of 3D rendering tasks.

Blender FPS

366.86 FPS (+228%)

Intel Core i9-12900K

111.87 FPS

Intel Core i3-12100

Comparison in Games (187 benchmarks)

007 First Light Background
007 First Light

007 First Light

8 2026 Action, Adventure

1080p
| ultra

Intel Core i9-12900K (+30%)
MAX 127 FPS
MIN 110 FPS
Intel Core i3-12100
MAX 98 FPS
MIN 82 FPS
1080p
| ultra
| dlss 4.5 quality

Intel Core i9-12900K (+30%)
MAX 127 FPS
MIN 110 FPS
Intel Core i3-12100
MAX 98 FPS
MIN 82 FPS
Winner
Loser
LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight Background
LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight

LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight

7.8 2026 Action, Adventure

1080p
| ultra

Intel Core i9-12900K (+40%)
MAX 169 FPS
MIN 133 FPS
Intel Core i3-12100
MAX 121 FPS
MIN 90 FPS
Winner
Loser
Forza Horizon 6 Background
Forza Horizon 6

Forza Horizon 6

9.5 2026 Racing, Simulation, Sports

1080p
| ultra

Intel Core i9-12900K (+31%)
MAX 126 FPS
MIN 113 FPS
Intel Core i3-12100
MAX 96 FPS
MIN 83 FPS
1080p
| ultra
| RTX

Intel Core i9-12900K (+33%)
MAX 93 FPS
MIN 82 FPS
Intel Core i3-12100
MAX 70 FPS
MIN 62 FPS
1080p
| ultra
| RTX
| dlss 4 quality

Intel Core i9-12900K (+33%)
MAX 93 FPS
MIN 82 FPS
Intel Core i3-12100
MAX 70 FPS
MIN 62 FPS
1080p
| ultra
| RTX
| dlss 4 quality
| Frame Gen

Intel Core i9-12900K (+33%)
MAX 353 FPS
MIN 312 FPS
Intel Core i3-12100
MAX 266 FPS
MIN 236 FPS
Winner
Loser
DEATH STRANDING 2: ON THE BEACH Background
DEATH STRANDING 2: ON THE BEACH

DEATH STRANDING 2: ON THE BEACH

8 2026 Action, Adventure

1080p
| ultra

Intel Core i9-12900K (+20%)
MAX 113 FPS
MIN 102 FPS
Intel Core i3-12100
MAX 94 FPS
MIN 85 FPS
1080p
| ultra
| RTX

Intel Core i9-12900K (+20%)
MAX 96 FPS
MIN 87 FPS
Intel Core i3-12100
MAX 80 FPS
MIN 72 FPS
1080p
| ultra
| RTX
| dlss 4 quality
| Frame Gen

Intel Core i9-12900K (+20%)
MAX 331 FPS
MIN 300 FPS
Intel Core i3-12100
MAX 275 FPS
MIN 249 FPS
Winner
Loser
Crimson Desert Background
Crimson Desert

Crimson Desert

7.5 2026 Action, Adventure

1080p
| ultra

Intel Core i9-12900K (+41%)
MAX 142 FPS
MIN 131 FPS
Intel Core i3-12100
MAX 101 FPS
MIN 92 FPS
Winner
Loser
Resident Evil Requiem Background
Resident Evil Requiem

Resident Evil Requiem

8.7 2026 Action, Adventure

1080p
| ultra
| RTX

Intel Core i9-12900K (+50%)
MAX 221 FPS
MIN 152 FPS
Intel Core i3-12100
MAX 147 FPS
MIN 94 FPS
1080p
| ultra
| RTX
| dlss quality
| Frame Gen

Intel Core i9-12900K (+50%)
MAX 473 FPS
MIN 325 FPS
Intel Core i3-12100
MAX 315 FPS
MIN 201 FPS
Winner
Loser

No more benchmarks available for this comparison

It's a Tie!

Based on 187 benchmarks across 155 games

0
Avg FPS
Intel Core i9-12900K
VS
0%
0
Avg FPS
Intel Core i3-12100
Intel Core i9-12900K

Intel Core i9-12900K

INTEL • 16/24 • 3.2GHz

0
Wins
0
Avg FPS
136
Min FPS
0%
Win Rate
Intel Core i3-12100

Intel Core i3-12100

INTEL • 4/8 • 3.3GHz

0
Wins
0
Avg FPS
107
Min FPS
0%
Win Rate

Check out more comparisons

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2021 16C/24T 3.2GHz $599
VS
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brand logo brand logo
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2021 16C/24T 3.2GHz $599
VS
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brand logo brand logo
Intel Core i9-12900K

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2021 16C/24T 3.2GHz $599
VS
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2024 20C/28T 2.1GHz $384
brand logo brand logo
Intel Core i9-12900K

Intel Core i9-12900K

2021 16C/24T 3.2GHz $599
VS
AMD Ryzen 3 3100

AMD Ryzen 3 3100

2020 4C/8T 3.6GHz $99

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