Core i9-12900K vs Core i3-8100

Primary details

Comparing Core i3-8100 and Core i9-12900K processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in performance ranking	1341	157
Place by popularity	90	not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluation	5.74	60.33
Market segment	Desktop processor	Desktop processor
Series	Intel Core i3	Intel Core i9
Architecture codename	Coffee Lake (2017−2019)	Alder Lake-S (2022)
Release date	5 October 2017 (6 years ago)	4 November 2021 (2 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)	$117	$589
Current price	$94 (0.8x MSRP)	$432 (0.7x MSRP)

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

i9-12900K has 951% better value for money than i3-8100.

Detailed specifications

Core i3-8100 and Core i9-12900K basic parameters such as number of cores, number of threads, base frequency and turbo boost clock, lithography, cache size and multiplier lock state. These parameters indirectly say of CPU speed, though for more precise assessment you have to consider their test results.

Physical cores	4 (Quad-Core)	16 (Hexadeca-Core)
Threads	4	24
Base clock speed	3.6 GHz	3.2 GHz
Boost clock speed	3.6 GHz	5.2 GHz
Bus support	4 × 8 GT/s	no data
L1 cache	64K (per core)	80K (per core)
L2 cache	256K (per core)	1.25 MB (per core)
L3 cache	6 MB (shared)	30 MB (shared)
Chip lithography	14 nm	10 nm
Die size	126 mm2	215.25 mm2"20.5 mm × 10.5 mm
Maximum core temperature	100 °C	100 °C
Maximum case temperature (TCase)	72 °C	72 °C
64 bit support	+	+
Windows 11 compatibility	+	+
Unlocked multiplier	No	Yes

Compatibility

Information on Core i3-8100 and Core i9-12900K compatibility with other computer components: motherboard (look for socket type), power supply unit (look for power consumption) etc. Useful when planning a future computer configuration or upgrading an existing one. Note that power consumption of some processors can well exceed their nominal TDP, even without overclocking. Some can even double their declared thermals given that the motherboard allows to tune the CPU power parameters.

Number of CPUs in a configuration	1	1
Socket	FCLGA1151	FCLGA1700
Power consumption (TDP)	65 Watt	125 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i3-8100 and Core i9-12900K. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensions	Intel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2	Intel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2
AES-NI	+	+
AVX	+	+
vPro	no data	+
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)	+	+
Speed Shift	no data	+
Turbo Boost Technology	-	2.0
Hyper-Threading Technology	-	+
TSX	-	no data
Idle States	+	+
Thermal Monitoring	+	+
SIPP	-	+
Turbo Boost Max 3.0	no data	+
Status	Discontinued	Launched

Security technologies

Core i3-8100 and Core i9-12900K technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXT	-	+
EDB	+	+
Secure Key	+	+
MPX	+	no data
Identity Protection	+	no data
SGX	Yes with Intel® ME	no data
OS Guard	+	+

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i3-8100 and Core i9-12900K are enumerated here.

VT-d	+	+
VT-x	+	+
EPT	+	+

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i3-8100 and Core i9-12900K. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory types	DDR4-2400	DDR4, DDR5
Maximum memory size	64 GB	128 GB
Max memory channels	2	2
Maximum memory bandwidth	37.5 GB/s	76.8 GB/s
ECC memory support	+	+

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics card Compare	Intel UHD Graphics 630	Intel UHD Graphics 770
Max video memory	64 GB	no data
Quick Sync Video	+	+
Clear Video	+	no data
Clear Video HD	+	+
Graphics max frequency	1.1 GHz	1.55 GHz
Execution Units	no data	32
InTru 3D	+	no data

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core i3-8100 and Core i9-12900K integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supported

3

4

Graphics image quality

Maximum display resolutions supported by Core i3-8100 and Core i9-12900K integrated GPUs, including resolutions over different interfaces.

4K resolution support	+	no data
Max resolution over HDMI 1.4	4096x2304@24Hz	4096 x 2160 @ 60Hz
Max resolution over eDP	4096x2304@60Hz	5120 x 3200 @ 120Hz
Max resolution over DisplayPort	4096x2304@60Hz	7680 x 4320 @ 60Hz

Graphics API support

APIs supported by Core i3-8100 and Core i9-12900K integrated GPUs, sometimes API versions are included.

DirectX	12	12
OpenGL	4.5	4.5

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i3-8100 and Core i9-12900K.

PCIe version	3.0	5.0 and 4.0
PCI Express lanes	16	20

Synthetic benchmark performance

Various benchmark results of the processors in comparison. Overall score is measured in points in 0-100 range, higher is better.

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Combined synthetic benchmark score

This is our combined benchmark performance rating. We are regularly improving our combining algorithms, but if you find some perceived inconsistencies, feel free to speak up in comments section, we usually fix problems quickly.

Core i9-12900K outperforms Core i3-8100 by 576% based on our aggregated benchmark results.

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Pros & cons summary

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Performance score	3.96	26.75
Integrated graphics card	3.08	6.13
Recency	5 October 2017	4 November 2021
Physical cores	4	16
Threads	4	24
Cost	$117	$589
Chip lithography	14 nm	10 nm
Power consumption (TDP)	65 Watt	125 Watt

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Should you still have questions on choice between Core i3-8100 and Core i9-12900K, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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