Intel Core i9-12900K

intel

Brand

16/24

Cores/Threads

3.2GHz

Base Clock

125W

TDP

Intel Core i9-12900K

$599 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

$122 Jan 2022 View Details
Intel Core i9-12900K

Intel Core i9-12900K

$599 • Nov 2021

VS

Intel Core i3-12100

$122 • Jan 2022

Intel Core i3-12100

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 (160 benchmarks)

Europa Universalis V Background

Europa Universalis V

8.1 2025 Strategy

1080p
| ultra

Intel Core i9-12900K (+30%)
MAX 149 FPS
MIN 118 FPS
Intel Core i3-12100
MAX 115 FPS
MIN 87 FPS
Winner
Loser
Jurassic World Evolution 3 Background

Jurassic World Evolution 3

8 2025 Simulation, Strategy

1080p
| ultra

Intel Core i9-12900K (+56%)
MAX 133 FPS
MIN 123 FPS
Intel Core i3-12100
MAX 85 FPS
MIN 79 FPS
Winner
Loser
The Outer Worlds 2 Background
The Outer Worlds 2

The Outer Worlds 2

8 2025 Action, Adventure, RPG

1080p
| ultra

Intel Core i9-12900K (+45%)
MAX 96 FPS
MIN 91 FPS
Intel Core i3-12100
MAX 66 FPS
MIN 54 FPS
1080p
| ultra
| RTX

Intel Core i9-12900K (+38%)
MAX 51 FPS
MIN 44 FPS
Intel Core i3-12100
MAX 37 FPS
MIN 30 FPS
1080p
| ultra
| RTX
| dlss 4 quality
| Frame Gen

Intel Core i9-12900K (+40%)
MAX 95 FPS
MIN 86 FPS
Intel Core i3-12100
MAX 68 FPS
MIN 59 FPS
Winner
Loser
Vampire The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2 Background
Vampire The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2

Vampire The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2

7.8 2025 Action, RPG

1080p
| ultra

Intel Core i9-12900K (+49%)
MAX 106 FPS
MIN 81 FPS
Intel Core i3-12100
MAX 71 FPS
MIN 56 FPS
Winner
Loser
NINJA GAIDEN 4 Background
NINJA GAIDEN 4

NINJA GAIDEN 4

9.2 2025 Action, Adventure

1080p
| ultra

Intel Core i9-12900K (+51%)
MAX 199 FPS
MIN 181 FPS
Intel Core i3-12100
MAX 132 FPS
MIN 115 FPS
Winner
Loser
ARC Raiders Background
ARC Raiders

ARC Raiders

8 2025 Action

1080p
| ultra

Intel Core i9-12900K (+27%)
MAX 220 FPS
MIN 198 FPS
Intel Core i3-12100
MAX 173 FPS
MIN 153 FPS
Winner
Loser

No more benchmarks available for this comparison

It's a Tie!

Based on 160 benchmarks across 139 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

Intel Core i9-12900K

Intel Core i9-12900K

2021 16C/24T 3.2GHz $599
VS
AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D

AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D

2023 8C/16T 4.2GHz $449
Intel Core i9-12900K

Intel Core i9-12900K

2021 16C/24T 3.2GHz $599
VS
Intel Core i5-13600K

Intel Core i5-13600K

2022 14C/20T 3.5GHz $319
Intel Core i9-12900K

Intel Core i9-12900K

2021 16C/24T 3.2GHz $599
VS
Intel Core i7-14700

Intel Core i7-14700

2024 20C/28T 2.1GHz $384
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
Intel Core i9-12900K

Intel Core i9-12900K

2021 16C/24T 3.2GHz $599
VS
Intel Core i7-14700K

Intel Core i7-14700K

2023 20C/28T 3.4GHz $409
Intel Core i9-12900K

Intel Core i9-12900K

2021 16C/24T 3.2GHz $599
VS
Intel Core i5-14600KF

Intel Core i5-14600KF

2023 14C/20T 3.5GHz $294
Intel Core i9-12900K

Intel Core i9-12900K

2021 16C/24T 3.2GHz $599
VS
AMD Ryzen 9 5950X

AMD Ryzen 9 5950X

2020 16C/32T 3.4GHz $799
Intel Core i9-12900K

Intel Core i9-12900K

2021 16C/24T 3.2GHz $599
VS
Intel Core i7-13700K

Intel Core i7-13700K

2022 16C/24T 3.4GHz $409

Comments & Discussion

Share your thoughts and experiences


Loading comments...

Compare

Add a second to compare

Browse to add another