Intel Core i3-12100F vs Intel Core i7-10700K

Processor comparisons 11-01-2022

   Let's say you are thinking about choosing a processor, you will be able to make a choice after reading the full tests Intel Core i3-12100F vs Intel Core i7-10700K and see which is better for games or normal use for rendering, machine learning, streaming, video editing, programming. Here you can find all information from real streaming and video editing tests or many benchmarks. A step-by-step 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 synthetic type tests like Cinebench 23 (20, 15), Furmark, MATLAB, RealBench, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, Dolphin Emulator, PassMark, GeekBench 6, 5.2, WPrime, 3DMark, DaVinci Resolve Studio, UserBenchmark, VeraCrypt, Blender, Handbrake, PCMark 10, SuperPi, Blender, Gears 5, AIDA64, Prime95, 7zip.
   And how good the CPUs are in games:

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

After reading the results of joint benchmarks and videos, you already be able to figure out which CPU is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i7-10700K or Intel Core i3-12100F.

Summary benchmark results

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

Core i3-12100F

56%

Core i7-10700K

55%

This parameter shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Core i3-12100F is 1% better than Core i7-10700K. The data source is several popular tests. Detailed information can be found below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Core i3-12100F

53%

Core i7-10700K

55%

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. Therefore, if you think that the selected CPU has a little game result, 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: Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Microsoft Flight Simulator, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Metro Exodus, Battlefield V, Half-Life: Alyx, NBA 2K20, Monster Hunter World, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), League of Legends (LOL), Control, Forza Horizon 4, DOTA 2A, Ghostrunner, Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, Horizon Zero Dawn, Hitman 3.

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	94.5	98.2
Valorant	107.3	111.6
Cyberpunk 2077	60.1	62.5
Apex Legends	100.9	104.9
Call of Duty Warzone	80.5	83.7
Overwatch	86.9	90.4
Red Dead Redemption 2	74.1	77.0
DOOM Eternal	53.7	55.8
Warzone	83.7	87.0
Assassin's Creed	90.2	93.7
Valheim	89.1	92.6

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 i3-12100F

99%

Core i7-10700K

34%

To make a final resolution 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 i3-12100F is more energy efficient than the Core i7-10700K as it consumes less power: 58W vs. 125W. Power consumption is especially important for laptops. Also, when choosing a processor cooling system, you need 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 plan to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for video rendering or video editing, programming, machine learning, streaming, then the main parameter for you is its performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, the CPU uses all threads and cores that it has to the maximum to achieve maximum efficiency. You will learn this data from the benchmark tables below. Before using the data from these tests, be sure to find out whether the program 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 i3-12100F	Intel Core i7-10700K
Cinbench 15 Single-core	267	228
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	1958	2344
Cinbench 20 Single-core	642	524
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	4447	5292
Cinbench 23 Single-core	1503	1309
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	14658	12678

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

	Intel Core i3-12100F	Intel Core i7-10700K
Single-Core	3516	3051
Multi-Core	20521	19514

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

	Intel Core i3-12100F	Intel Core i7-10700K
Single-Core	1729	1298
Multi-Core	6333	9987

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the most helpful will be the the possibility of overclocking it and release date of the processor. The newer the processor, the longer it will last you. And the easier it will be to upgrade the system later. The same can be said about overclocking. If the processor can be overclocked, thereby increasing its performance, then it will still be able to produce maximum FPS in the newest games. The savings are obvious! Accordingly, you do not need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer.

	Intel Core i3-12100F	Intel Core i7-10700K
Announcement date	January 07, 2022	April 01, 2020
Type	Desktop	Desktop
Socket	FCLGA1700	FCLGA1200
Core name	Alder Lake-U	Comet Lake
Architecture	x86	x86
Generation	12	10
Turbo Frequency	4.3 MHz	5.1 MHz
Frequency	1 MHz	3.8 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	6800 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	58 W	125 W
Memory type	Up to DDR5 4800 MT/s Up to DDR4 3200 MT/s	DDR4-2933
Max. Memory	128 Gb	128 Gb
Memory Frequency
Memory bandwidth	76.8 GB/s	45.8 GB/s
L1 cache
L2 cache	5 MB
L3 cache	12 MB	16 MB
Overclocking	No	Yes
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 i7-10700K is 73% better than Core i3-12100F in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that Core i7-10700K has 4 more core than Core i3-12100F. 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 i3-12100F is better: 14
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i7-10700K is better: 20
However, it should be understood that all the data in the table above do not mean that taking them into account you should undividedly trust a simple comparison of these numbers. Be sure to watch the video tests and read the opinion of of people who bought Intel Core i3-12100F and Intel Core i7-10700K before making a choice which of the processors to buy for gaming.

Intel Core i3-12100F - all data

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

• Intel Core i3-12100F specs and review.

• Intel Core i7-10700K specs and review.