Intel Core i3-12100

Written analysis

Intel Core i3-12100 at a glance

The Intel Core i3-12100 is based on the Alder Lake-S architecture and is manufactured using the 10 nm process at Intel. It uses the LGA 1700 socket with Intel 600 Series, Intel 700 Series chipsets, PCIe Gen 5, 16 Lanes (CPU only), and DDR4, DDR5 memory up to 4800 MT/s across Dual-channel memory. It has 4 cores at 3.30–4.30 GHz and 8 threads. Cache is 1280 kB L2 and 12 MB L3.

This is a Desktop processor using consumer memory and expansion standards. Its workload suitability is better described by the measured application and gaming scores below than by core count alone.

Power is relatively modest at 60 W base and 89 W maximum, making compact cooling easier than on higher-power parts.

Integrated graphics: UHD Graphics 730 with 24 GPU cores at 0.30–1.40 GHz. That is enough for display output, desktop work, and lighter games without a discrete GPU.

Best fit: Balanced everyday systems that benefit from usable display output without requiring a discrete GPU.

Application performance

Intel Core i3-12100 is a budget CPU, at 21.32% of the dataset’s best application performance. Best for browsing, office work, and media.

Application value is 25.9 performance per dollar. Better application value usually exists nearby in the CPU table.

Gaming performance

Intel Core i3-12100 is a budget gaming CPU, at 52.95% of the dataset’s best 1080p CPU-limited gaming. Keep the GPU in the same class.

Gaming value is 42.3 performance per dollar. Nearby CPUs in the table are often better buys for gaming.