Intel Core i9-12900KF vs Intel Core i3-12100

Processor comparisons   28-09-2022
   Let's say you are thinking about choosing a CPU, you will be able to make a choice by looking at the Intel Core i9-12900KF vs Intel Core i3-12100 tests and decide which is better for games or normal use for video editing, programming, rendering, machine learning, streaming. Here you can find useful information from several benchmarks or real video editing and streaming tests. A step-by-step analysis of all the technical characteristics, to make it easier to read, is presented in the form of the table.
   From the video comparison, you can get the results of joint testing in special testing software like World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, Blender, Blender, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), WPrime, PCMark 10, AIDA64, UserBenchmark, DaVinci Resolve Studio, GeekBench 6, 5.2, PassMark, MATLAB, VeraCrypt, Prime95, Furmark, 3DMark, Gears 5, SuperPi, Handbrake, Dolphin Emulator, 7zip, RealBench.
   Gaming performance of processors in:

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

After reading the results of joint benchmarks and videos, you already be able to understand which processor is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i3-12100 or Intel Core i9-12900KF.

Summary benchmark results

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

Core i9-12900KF

66%

Core i3-12100

56%

This parameter shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Core i9-12900KF is 15% better than Core i3-12100. The data source is several popular tests. Detailed information can be found below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Core i9-12900KF

61%

Core i3-12100

54%

For the maximum in this test, the results of the most powerful processor in the site database are taken. And of course, this is a server processor, on which no one will play games. Because the cost of this processor reaches several tens of thousands of dollars. Therefore, if you think 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 less popular games in which processors were compared: Horizon Zero Dawn, Monster Hunter World, Battlefield V, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), Ghostrunner, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Half-Life: Alyx, Hitman 3, NBA 2K20, Forza Horizon 4, Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, Metro Exodus, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, DOTA 2A, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), Control, Microsoft Flight Simulator, League of Legends (LOL).

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	108.9	96.0
Valorant	123.8	109.1
Cyberpunk 2077	69.3	61.1
Apex Legends	116.4	102.6
Call of Duty Warzone	92.8	81.8
Overwatch	100.3	88.4
Red Dead Redemption 2	85.4	75.3
DOOM Eternal	61.9	54.6
Warzone	96.5	85.1
Assassin's Creed	104.0	91.7
Valheim	102.7	90.6

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 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, FullHD or 4K. So 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 compare it in one assembly with the video card that is installed in your computer.

Power consumption

Core i9-12900KF

52%

Core i3-12100

96%

To make a finishing choice 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 i9-12900KF as it consumes less power: 125W vs. 60W. Power consumption is particularly important for laptops. And TDP should be taken into account when choosing a processor cooling system. 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

If you plan to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for machine learning, streaming, programming, video editing or video rendering, then first of all you need to pay attention to the performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, the CPU uses all threads and cores that it has to the maximum to achieve maximum performance. You will find out this data from the benchmark tables below. Before you take into account 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 use only one core to work, 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 i9-12900KF	Intel Core i3-12100
Cinbench 15 Single-core	474	267
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	4996	1958
Cinbench 20 Single-core	792	642
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	11107	4447
Cinbench 23 Single-core	2809	1503
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	31962	14658

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

	Intel Core i9-12900KF	Intel Core i3-12100
Single-Core	7320	3516
Multi-Core	54642	20521

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

	Intel Core i9-12900KF	Intel Core i3-12100
Single-Core	1967	1740
Multi-Core	20514	7859

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 i9-12900KF	Intel Core i3-12100
Announcement date	July 21, 2021	January 07, 2022
Type	Desktop	Desktop
Socket	FCLGA1700	FCBGA1744
Core name	Alder Lake	Alder Lake-U
Architecture	x86	x86
Generation	12	12
Turbo Frequency	5.2 MHz	4.3 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	12600 millions	9800 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	125 W	60 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 i9-12900KF is 74% better than Core i3-12100 in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that Core i9-12900KF has 12 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 i9-12900KF is better: 29
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i3-12100 is better: 4
However, it should be understood that all the data in the article above do not mean that taking them into account you should fully trust a simple comparison of these numbers. Better to watch benchmarks video and read the reviews of of people who bought Intel Core i9-12900KF and Intel Core i3-12100 before deciding which of the processors to buy for gaming.

Intel Core i9-12900KF - all data

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

• Intel Core i9-12900KF specs and review.

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.