Intel Core i3-12100 vs Intel Core i9-9900KS

Processor comparisons 11-01-2022

   Let's say there are difficulties with the choice of a processor, you will solve them by reading the full tests Intel Core i3-12100 vs Intel Core i9-9900KS and understand which is better for games or simple use for streaming, rendering, machine learning, programming, video editing. Here is all information from various benchmarks or real streaming and video editing tests. A careful analysis of all the technical characteristics, to make it easier to understand, is made by the table.
   From the video comparison, you can get the results of parallel examination in software tests like PCMark 10, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), 3DMark, SuperPi, RealBench, AIDA64, Blender, Handbrake, VeraCrypt, Gears 5, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, Blender, WPrime, GeekBench 6, 5.2, MATLAB, Furmark, UserBenchmark, Dolphin Emulator, Prime95, 7zip, DaVinci Resolve Studio, PassMark.
   Gaming performance of processors in:

Apex Legends
Overwatch
Assassin's Creed Valhalla
Valorant
DOOM: Eternal
Borderlands 3
Fallout 76
Fortnite
Halo Infinite
Cyberpunk 2077
Last Man Standing
Valheim
World of Warcraft: Shadowlands
Red Dead Redemption 2
Call of Duty: Warzone and Modern Warfare
Rainbow Six Siege
Watch Dogs Legion
Death Stranding
Grand Theft Auto V

After reading the results of joint benchmarks and videos, you can already make an informed decision about which processor is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i9-9900KS or Intel Core i3-12100.

Summary benchmark results

As a percentage of the maximum value based on a sample from the entire base of all processors
Processor Benchmark

Core i3-12100

56%

Core i9-9900KS

55%

This parameter shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Core i3-12100 is 1% better than Core i9-9900KS. The data source is several popular tests. Detailed information can be found below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Core i3-12100

54%

Core i9-9900KS

55%

The maximum result in this parameter is 100 percent, which is the performance of the most powerful processor currently available. And of course, this is a server processor, on which no one will run games. Because the cost of this processor reaches several tens of thousands of dollars. And if it seems to you that the selected CPU has a small game result, just look at the FPS that it produces in real games in the final table below.
List of other games in which CPU comparisons were performed: Ghostrunner, Microsoft Flight Simulator, Half-Life: Alyx, Control, Metro Exodus, Forza Horizon 4, Battlefield V, League of Legends (LOL), Monster Hunter World, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, DOTA 2A, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, Horizon Zero Dawn, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), NBA 2K20, Hitman 3.

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	96.0	97.7
Valorant	109.1	111.0
Cyberpunk 2077	61.1	62.2
Apex Legends	102.6	104.4
Call of Duty Warzone	81.8	83.3
Overwatch	88.4	89.9
Red Dead Redemption 2	75.3	76.6
DOOM Eternal	54.6	55.5
Warzone	85.1	86.6
Assassin's Creed	91.7	93.3
Valheim	90.6	92.1

The numbers in this table indicate the maximum FPS that was received on the device with the corresponding processor. Depending on the configuration of the computer (RAM size and Video Card) and graphics quality settings (Ultra, Medium, Normal), the results may differ quite significantly. We recommend that you better study the results of the Cinebench, GeekBench and Passmark becnmarks.
The tested computers not only did they have different amounts of RAM and different video cards. But users also tested them at different screen resolutions: 2K, 4K or FullHD. Therefore, the game benchmark data is approximate. But all video cards met the average system requirements of games. To be sure exactly how much performance the processor will be in games, if you get acquainted with the benchmarks that are made with the same video card that is installed in your computer.

Power consumption

Core i3-12100

96%

Core i9-9900KS

35%

To make a final decision on which processor is better, you should also consider the generation of its core. The newer the processor generation, the better its performance in games and benchmarks, as well as its energy efficiency. In this case the Core i3-12100 is more energy efficient than the Core i9-9900KS as it consumes less power: 60W vs. 127W. Power consumption is particularly important for laptops. Also, when choosing a processor cooling system, it will be useful to know its TDP. It is necessary to count so that the TDP data specified in the cooler specification is greater than the TDP of the compared processor.

Software benchmarks

Let's say you want to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for video editing or video rendering, machine learning, streaming, programming, then the main parameter for you is its performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, to achieve maximum performance, the processor turns on all threads and cores that it has. You will find out this data from the benchmark tables below. Before using the data from these tests, be sure to make sure that the software that you are going to use on your computer can work in multi-threaded mode. Because there are still many programs that can use only one core to work, and all the benefit of multi-core mode turns out to be unnecessary.

Cinebench 23, 20 an 15
The results of this benchmark show Single-threaded and Multi-threaded CPU performance

	Intel Core i3-12100	Intel Core i9-9900KS
Cinbench 15 Single-core	267	222
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	1958	2201
Cinbench 20 Single-core	642	518
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	4447	5226
Cinbench 23 Single-core	1503	1284
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	14658	12704

Passmark
This popular benchmark displays Multi-threaded and Single-threaded processor performance

	Intel Core i3-12100	Intel Core i9-9900KS
Single-Core	3516	3018
Multi-Core	20521	19522

GeekBench 6, 5.2
This benchmark shows Multi-threaded and Single-threaded processor performance

	Intel Core i3-12100	Intel Core i9-9900KS
Single-Core	1740	1368
Multi-Core	7859	9501

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the most useful will be the the possibility of overclocking it and release date of the processor. The later the processor is released, the longer it will last you. And the easier it will be to upgrade the system in the future. The same can be said about overclocking. When the processor can be overclocked, thereby increasing its performance, then it will continue to maintain maximum FPS even in the newest games. The economy are obvious! Accordingly, you do not need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer.

	Intel Core i3-12100	Intel Core i9-9900KS
Announcement date	January 07, 2022	October 01, 2019
Type	Desktop	Desktop
Socket	FCBGA1744	FCLGA1151-2
Core name	Alder Lake-U	Coffee Lake
Architecture	x86	x86
Generation	12	9
Turbo Frequency	4.3 MHz	5 MHz
Frequency	1 MHz	4 MHz
Cores	4	8
Threads	8	16
Bus rate	8 GT/s	8 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	7 nm	14 nm
Transistors count	9800 millions	8600 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	60 W	127 W
Memory type	Up to DDR5 4800 MT/s Up to DDR4 3200 MT/s	DDR4-2666
Max. Memory	128 Gb	128 Gb
Memory Frequency
Memory bandwidth	76.8 GB/s	41.6 GB/s
L1 cache
L2 cache	5 MB
L3 cache	12 MB	16 MB
Overclocking	No	No
Supports ECC	No	No
Part number

In this comparison block, you should pay attention to the differences in clock speed and the number of cores. Here Core i9-9900KS is 75% better than Core i3-12100 in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that Core i9-9900KS has 4 more core than Core i3-12100. Also keep in mind that high CPU frequency affects battery life through power consumption (relevant for laptops).

Result:
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i3-12100 is better: 14
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i9-9900KS is better: 19
However, it should be realized that all the figures in the text above do not mean that you should be guided entirely by them and trust a simple comparison of these figures. Be sure to watch benchmarks video and read the opinion of of people who bought Intel Core i3-12100 and Intel Core i9-9900KS before making a choice which of the CPUs to buy for gaming.

Intel Core i3-12100 - all data

• Cinebench r15 score
• Cinebench r20 score
• Cinebench r23 score
• GeekBench 6, 5.2 score

• Intel Core i3-12100 specs and review.

Intel Core i9-9900KS - all data

• Cinebench r15 score
• Cinebench r20 score
• Cinebench r23 score
• GeekBench 6, 5.2 score

• Intel Core i9-9900KS specs and review.