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

Processor comparisons   11-01-2022
   If you are thinking about choosing a CPU, you will be able to make a choice by looking at the Intel Core i3-12100 vs Intel Core i9-9900X tests and understand which is better for games or normal use for machine learning, video editing, programming, streaming, rendering. 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 read, is summarized in the table.
   From the video comparison, you can get the results of joint testing in software tests like Blender, PassMark, Prime95, VeraCrypt, GeekBench 6, 5.2, DaVinci Resolve Studio, WPrime, AIDA64, SuperPi, MATLAB, 7zip, Blender, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, Handbrake, Gears 5, RealBench, UserBenchmark, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), Dolphin Emulator, 3DMark, Furmark, PCMark 10.
   Gaming performance of processors in:

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

After looking at the data these benchmarks and videos, you already be able to understand which processor is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i9-9900X 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 i9-9900X

56%

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Core i3-12100

54%

Core i9-9900X

56%

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

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	96.0	100.3
Valorant	109.1	114.0
Cyberpunk 2077	61.1	63.8
Apex Legends	102.6	107.2
Call of Duty Warzone	81.8	85.5
Overwatch	88.4	92.3
Red Dead Redemption 2	75.3	78.7
DOOM Eternal	54.6	57.0
Warzone	85.1	88.9
Assassin's Creed	91.7	95.8
Valheim	90.6	94.6

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 computers that were in the comparisons not only did they have different video cards and different amounts of RAM. 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. You will get more accurate information about how powerful 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 i9-9900X

25%

To make a final resolution on which processor is better, you should also consider the generation of its core. It is clear that the newer the generation, the better the performance of the processor in games and benchmarks, as well as its energy efficiency. In this case the Core i3-12100 is more energy efficient than the Core i9-9900X since it has less power consumption: 60W vs. 165W. Power consumption is especially important for laptops. And TDP should be taken into account when choosing a processor cooling system. It is necessary to calculate so that the TDP data specified in the cooler specification is greater than the TDP of the compared processor.

Software benchmarks

For example you want to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for programming, machine learning, streaming, video rendering or video editing, then the main parameter for you is its performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, to reach maximum performance, the processor turns on all cores and threads that it has. You will find out this data from the benchmark tables below. Before using the data from these tests, be sure to check whether the program you are going to use on your computer supports multi-threaded mode. Since there are still many programs that use only one core to work, and all the advantages 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 i9-9900X
Cinbench 15 Single-core	267	197
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	1958	2114
Cinbench 20 Single-core	642	455
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	4447	4855
Cinbench 23 Single-core	1503	1092
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	14658	13662

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

	Intel Core i3-12100	Intel Core i9-9900X
Single-Core	3516	2633
Multi-Core	20521	21769

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

	Intel Core i3-12100	Intel Core i9-9900X
Single-Core	1740	1281
Multi-Core	7859	12077

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the processor release date and overclocking capability will be the most useful. The newer the processor, the longer it will last you. And the easier it will be to upgrade the system later. The same benefits from the presence of overclocking. When the processor can be overclocked, thereby increasing its performance, then it will still be able to produce maximum FPS even in new games. The economy are obvious! Accordingly, there is no longer a need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer.

	Intel Core i3-12100	Intel Core i9-9900X
Announcement date	January 07, 2022	October 01, 2018
Type	Desktop	Desktop
Socket	FCBGA1744	FCLGA2066
Core name	Alder Lake-U	Skylake
Architecture	x86	x86
Generation	12	10
Turbo Frequency	4.3 MHz	4.4 MHz
Frequency	1 MHz	3.5 MHz
Cores	4	10
Threads	8	20
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	165 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	85 GB/s
L1 cache
L2 cache	5 MB
L3 cache	12 MB	19.25 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 i9-9900X is 71% better than Core i3-12100 in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that Core i9-9900X has 6 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: 12
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i9-9900X is better: 21
However, it should be understood that all the figures in the table above do not mean that taking them into account you should entirely trust a simple quantitative comparison. Be sure to watch the video tests and read the opinion of of people who bought Intel Core i3-12100 and Intel Core i9-9900X before making a choice which processor to buy for gaming and which not.

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 i9-9900X - all data

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

• Intel Core i9-9900X specs and review.