Intel Core i9-12900K vs Intel Core i3-12100T

Processor comparisons   28-09-2022
   Let's say you can't decide which processor to buy, you can make a choice by looking at the Intel Core i9-12900K vs Intel Core i3-12100T tests and understand which is better for games or simple use for rendering, machine learning, programming, streaming, video editing. Here is useful information from different benchmarks or real streaming and video editing tests. A step-by-step analysis of all the specifications, so that it can be easier to read, is summarized in the table.
   From the video comparison, you can get the results of parallel examination in special testing software like VeraCrypt, PassMark, 7zip, WPrime, Blender, MATLAB, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, Blender, RealBench, Gears 5, Dolphin Emulator, Prime95, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), UserBenchmark, Furmark, DaVinci Resolve Studio, 3DMark, AIDA64, GeekBench 6, 5.2, Handbrake, SuperPi, PCMark 10.
   And how good the CPUs are in games:

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

After reading the results these benchmarks and videos, you already be able to understand which CPU is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i3-12100T or Intel Core i9-12900K.

Summary benchmark results

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

Core i9-12900K

67%

Core i3-12100T

55%

This parameter shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Core i9-12900K is 17% better than Core i3-12100T. The data source is several popular tests. More detailed information of the benchmarks is below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Core i9-12900K

64%

Core i3-12100T

54%

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

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	113.8	95.7
Valorant	129.3	108.7
Cyberpunk 2077	72.4	60.9
Apex Legends	121.5	102.2
Call of Duty Warzone	97.0	81.6
Overwatch	104.7	88.1
Red Dead Redemption 2	89.2	75.0
DOOM Eternal	64.6	54.4
Warzone	100.8	84.8
Assassin's Creed	108.6	91.3
Valheim	107.3	90.3

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 computers participating in the comparing not only were the equipped with different amounts of RAM and different video cards. But users also tested them at different screen resolutions: 4K, 2K 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 i9-12900K

97%

Core i3-12100T

159%

To make a finishing 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 i3-12100T is more energy efficient than the Core i9-12900K as it consumes less power: 125W vs. 35W. Power consumption is especially important for laptops. Also, when choosing a processor cooling system, it will be useful to know its TDP. You need to buy a cooler that has the TDP data specified in the specification was 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, machine learning, streaming, programming, then first of all you need to pay attention to the performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, the processor turns on all cores and threads that it has to the maximum to achieve maximum performance. You will find out this data from the benchmark tables below. Before using the data from these tests, be sure to find out whether the software 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 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 i9-12900K	Intel Core i3-12100T
Cinbench 15 Single-core	489	256
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	5150	1880
Cinbench 20 Single-core	816	616
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	11450	4269
Cinbench 23 Single-core	2896	1443
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	32950	14072

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

	Intel Core i9-12900K	Intel Core i3-12100T
Single-Core	7546	3375
Multi-Core	56332	19700

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

	Intel Core i9-12900K	Intel Core i3-12100T
Single-Core	3641	1670
Multi-Core	25262	7545

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the most helpful will be the release date of the processor and the possibility of overclocking it. 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. When the processor can be overclocked, increasing its performance, then it will continue to maintain maximum FPS in new games. Accordingly, there is no longer a need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer. The economy are obvious!

	Intel Core i9-12900K	Intel Core i3-12100T
Announcement date	July 21, 2021	January 07, 2022
Type	Desktop	Desktop
Socket	FCLGA1700	FCLGA1700
Core name	Alder Lake	Alder Lake
Architecture	x86	x86
Generation	12	12
Turbo Frequency	5.2 MHz	4.1 MHz
Frequency	3.9 MHz	1 MHz
Cores	16	4
Threads	24	8
Bus rate	16 GT/s	8 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	7 nm	7 nm
Transistors count	12400 millions	9800 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	125 W	35 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	6400
Memory bandwidth	76.8 GB/s	76.8 GB/s
L1 cache	2 MB
L2 cache	14 MB	5 MB
L3 cache	30 MB	12 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 i9-12900K is 74% better than Core i3-12100T in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that Core i9-12900K has 12 more core than Core i3-12100T. 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 i9-12900K is better: 29
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i3-12100T is better: 4
The summary data that you have looked at here do not mean that taking them into account you should fully trust a simple comparison of these numbers. Better to watch the video tests and read the reviews of of people who bought Intel Core i9-12900K and Intel Core i3-12100T before deciding which of the processors to buy for gaming.

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.

Intel Core i3-12100T - all data

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

• Intel Core i3-12100T specs and review.