Intel Core i3-13100F vs Intel Core i9-12900K

Processor comparisons   31-01-2023
   If you can't decide which CPU to buy, you can make a choice by looking at the Intel Core i3-13100F vs Intel Core i9-12900K tests and understand which is better for games or normal use for programming, machine learning, video editing, streaming, rendering. Here is all information from real streaming and video editing tests or various benchmarks. A thorough analysis of all the specifications, to make it easier to read, is presented in the form of the table.
   From the comparison video, you can get the results of joint testing in special testing software such as Cinebench 23 (20, 15), WPrime, VeraCrypt, 7zip, RealBench, Dolphin Emulator, PCMark 10, Prime95, Furmark, Handbrake, Blender, 3DMark, DaVinci Resolve Studio, Gears 5, SuperPi, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, MATLAB, PassMark, Blender, GeekBench 6, 5.2, UserBenchmark, AIDA64.
   Gaming performance of processors in:

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

After reading the results of all benchmarks and videos, you can already make an informed decision about which CPU is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i9-12900K or Intel Core i3-13100F.

Summary benchmark results

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

Core i3-13100F

57%

Core i9-12900K

67%

This parameter shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Core i9-12900K is 14% better than Core i3-13100F. The data source is several popular tests. Detailed information can be found below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Core i3-13100F

54%

Core i9-12900K

64%

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 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, look at the FPS that it produces in real games in the summary table below.
List of less popular games in which CPU comparisons were performed: The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Half-Life: Alyx, Metro Exodus, Battlefield V, Control, Ghostrunner, Forza Horizon 4, Microsoft Flight Simulator, League of Legends (LOL), Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, Hitman 3, DOTA 2A, Monster Hunter World, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), NBA 2K20, Horizon Zero Dawn.

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	95.4	113.8
Valorant	108.4	129.3
Cyberpunk 2077	60.7	72.4
Apex Legends	101.9	121.5
Call of Duty Warzone	81.3	97.0
Overwatch	87.8	104.7
Red Dead Redemption 2	74.8	89.2
DOOM Eternal	54.2	64.6
Warzone	84.5	100.8
Assassin's Creed	91.0	108.6
Valheim	89.9	107.3

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 i3-13100F

99%

Core i9-12900K

97%

To make a finishing decision 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 i3-13100F is more energy efficient than the Core i9-12900K as it consumes less power: 58W vs. 125W. Power consumption is especially important for laptops. Also, when choosing a processor cooling system, you must know its TDP. 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

Let's say you want to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for programming, machine learning, video editing or video rendering, streaming, then first of all you need to pay attention to the performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, to reach maximum performance, the processor uses all threads and cores that it has. 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. Since there are still many programs that can use only one core to run, and all the benefit of multi-core mode are unused.
Cinebench 23, 20 an 15
The results of this benchmark show Single-threaded and Multi-threaded CPU performance

	Intel Core i3-13100F	Intel Core i9-12900K
Cinbench 15 Single-core	220	489
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	2369	5150
Cinbench 20 Single-core	375	816
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	5273	11450
Cinbench 23 Single-core	1332	2896
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	15179	32950

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

	Intel Core i3-13100F	Intel Core i9-12900K
Single-Core	1215	7546
Multi-Core	25878	56332

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

	Intel Core i3-13100F	Intel Core i9-12900K
Single-Core	1726	3641
Multi-Core	7216	25262

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 later. The same benefits from the presence of overclocking. If the processor can be overclocked, increasing its performance, then it will still be able to produce maximum FPS even in new games. It turns out that there is no longer a need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer. The savings are obvious!

	Intel Core i3-13100F	Intel Core i9-12900K
Announcement date	January 19, 2023	July 21, 2021
Type	Desktop	Desktop
Socket	FCLGA1700	FCLGA1700
Core name	Raptor Lake	Alder Lake
Architecture	x86	x86
Generation	13	12
Turbo Frequency	4.5 MHz	5.2 MHz
Frequency	3.4 MHz	3.9 MHz
Cores	4	16
Threads	8	24
Bus rate	14 GT/s	16 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	7 nm	7 nm
Transistors count	12400 millions	12400 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	58 W	125 W
Memory type	Up to DDR5 4800 MT/s Up to DDR4 3200 MT/s	Up to DDR5 4800 MT/s Up to DDR4 3200 MT/s
Max. Memory	128 Gb	128 Gb
Memory Frequency	4800	6400
Memory bandwidth	76.8 GB/s	76.8 GB/s
L1 cache	1 MB	2 MB
L2 cache	4 MB	14 MB
L3 cache	12 MB	30 MB
Overclocking	y	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 i9-12900K is 12% better than Core i3-13100F in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that Core i9-12900K has 12 more core than Core i3-13100F. 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 i3-13100F is better: 4
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i9-12900K is better: 29
However, it should be realized that all the figures in the table above do not mean that taking them into account you should fully trust a simple quantitative comparison. Better to watch the testing video and read the reviews of real owners of Intel Core i3-13100F and Intel Core i9-12900K before deciding which of the CPUs to buy for gaming.

Intel Core i3-13100F - all data

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

• Intel Core i3-13100F specs and review.

Intel Core i9-12900K - all data

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

• Intel Core i9-12900K specs and review.