Intel Core i9-13900K vs Intel Core i3-12100

Processor comparisons   28-09-2022
   Let's say you are thinking about choosing a processor, you will be able to make a choice after reading the detailed tests Intel Core i9-13900K vs Intel Core i3-12100 and understand which is better for games or simple use for video editing, rendering, machine learning, programming, streaming. Here is useful information from real video editing and streaming tests or several benchmarks. A thorough review of all the technical characteristics, to make it easier to understand, is summarized in the table.
   From the comparison video, you can get the results of parallel examination in special testing software like Blender, UserBenchmark, PassMark, Gears 5, DaVinci Resolve Studio, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, Prime95, Dolphin Emulator, Blender, WPrime, MATLAB, 3DMark, Furmark, 7zip, SuperPi, Handbrake, PCMark 10, RealBench, AIDA64, GeekBench 6, 5.2, VeraCrypt.
   Gaming performance of processors in:

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

After reading the results of all benchmarks and videos, you already be able to know which processor is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i3-12100 or Intel Core i9-13900K.

Summary benchmark results

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

Core i9-13900K

68%

Core i3-12100

56%

The number of this parameter shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Core i9-13900K is 17% 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 i9-13900K

64%

Core i3-12100

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 play games. Because the cost of this processor reaches 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 summary table below.
List of other games in which processors were compared: Battlefield V, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), DOTA 2A, Hitman 3, Forza Horizon 4, NBA 2K20, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, Metro Exodus, Control, Horizon Zero Dawn, League of Legends (LOL), Ghostrunner, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Microsoft Flight Simulator, Monster Hunter World, Half-Life: Alyx, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG).

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	114.3	96.0
Valorant	129.9	109.1
Cyberpunk 2077	72.7	61.1
Apex Legends	122.1	102.6
Call of Duty Warzone	97.4	81.8
Overwatch	105.2	88.4
Red Dead Redemption 2	89.6	75.3
DOOM Eternal	64.9	54.6
Warzone	101.3	85.1
Assassin's Creed	109.1	91.7
Valheim	107.8	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 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 i9-13900K

66%

Core i3-12100

96%

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 i3-12100 is more energy efficient than the Core i9-13900K as it consumes less power: 125W vs. 60W. 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

For example you want to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for machine learning, streaming, video editing or video rendering, programming, then the main parameter for you is its performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, the processor turns on all cores and threads that it has to the maximum to reach maximum performance. You will learn this data from the benchmark tables below. Before using the data from these tests, be sure to check whether the software you are going to use on your computer supports multi-threaded mode. Since there are still many programs that can use only one core to run, and all the advantages 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 i9-13900K	Intel Core i3-12100
Cinbench 15 Single-core	531	267
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	5603	1958
Cinbench 20 Single-core	887	642
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	12458	4447
Cinbench 23 Single-core	3150	1503
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	35852	14658

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

	Intel Core i9-13900K	Intel Core i3-12100
Single-Core	2879	3516
Multi-Core	61110	20521

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

	Intel Core i9-13900K	Intel Core i3-12100
Single-Core	2502	1740
Multi-Core	25761	7859

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the most useful 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 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 in new games. Accordingly, you do not need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer. The savings are obvious!

	Intel Core i9-13900K	Intel Core i3-12100
Announcement date	December 13, 2022	January 07, 2022
Type	Desktop	Desktop
Socket	FCLGA1700	FCBGA1744
Core name	Raptor Lake	Alder Lake-U
Architecture	x86	x86
Generation	13	12
Turbo Frequency	5.8 MHz	4.3 MHz
Frequency	4.3 MHz	1 MHz
Cores	24	4
Threads	32	8
Bus rate	16 GT/s	8 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	7 nm	7 nm
Transistors count	14200 millions	9800 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	125 W	60 W
Memory type	Up to DDR5 5600 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	6500
Memory bandwidth	89.6 GB/s	76.8 GB/s
L1 cache	2 MB
L2 cache	8 MB	5 MB
L3 cache	36 MB	12 MB
Overclocking	yes	No
Supports ECC	Yes	No
Part number	Expansion Options

In this comparison block, you should pay attention to the differences in clock speed and the number of cores. Here Core i9-13900K is 76% better than Core i3-12100 in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that Core i9-13900K has 20 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 i9-13900K is better: 33
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i3-12100 is better: 3
However, it should be understood that all the number in the article above do not mean that taking them into account you should undividedly trust a simple quantitative comparison. Be sure to watch benchmarks video and read the reviews of real owners of Intel Core i9-13900K and Intel Core i3-12100 before making a selection which of the CPUs to buy for gaming.

Intel Core i9-13900K - all data

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

• Intel Core i9-13900K 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.