Core i3-12100 vs Core i5-3230M

Primary details

Comparing Core i5-3230M and Core i3-12100 processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in performance ranking	1961	795
Place by popularity	not in top-100	not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluation	no data	43.12
Market segment	Laptop	Desktop processor
Series	Intel Core i5	no data
Architecture codename	Ivy Bridge (2012−2013)	Alder Lake-S (2022)
Release date	1 January 2013 (11 years ago)	4 January 2022 (2 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)	$225	no data
Current price	$93 (0.4x MSRP)	$143

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

Detailed specifications

Core i5-3230M and Core i3-12100 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	2 (Dual-core)	4 (Quad-Core)
Threads	4	8
Base clock speed	2.6 GHz	3.3 GHz
Boost clock speed	3.2 GHz	4.3 GHz
L1 cache	64K (per core)	80K (per core)
L2 cache	256K (per core)	1.25 MB (per core)
L3 cache	3 MB (shared)	12 MB (shared)
Chip lithography	22 nm	Intel 7 nm
Die size	118 mm2	163 mm2
Maximum core temperature	105 °C	100 °C
64 bit support	+	+
Windows 11 compatibility	-	+
Unlocked multiplier	No	No

Compatibility

Information on Core i5-3230M and Core i3-12100 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	FCPGA988	FCLGA1700
Power consumption (TDP)	35 Watt	60 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i5-3230M and Core i3-12100. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensions	Intel® AVX	Intel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2
AES-NI	+	+
AVX	+	+
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)	+	+
Speed Shift	no data	+
My WiFi	+	no data
Turbo Boost Technology	2.0	2.0
Hyper-Threading Technology	+	+
TSX	no data	+
Idle States	+	+
Thermal Monitoring	+	+
Flex Memory Access	+	no data
Demand Based Switching	-	no data
Turbo Boost Max 3.0	no data	-
FDI	+	no data
Fast Memory Access	+	no data
Status	Discontinued	Launched

Security technologies

Core i5-3230M and Core i3-12100 technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXT	-	+
EDB	+	+
Secure Key	+	+
Identity Protection	+	no data
OS Guard	no data	+
Anti-Theft	+	no data

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i5-3230M and Core i3-12100 are enumerated here.

AMD-V	+	no data
VT-d	+	+
VT-x	+	+
EPT	+	+

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i5-3230M and Core i3-12100. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory types	DDR3	DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200
Maximum memory size	32 GB	128 GB
Max memory channels	2	2
Maximum memory bandwidth	25.6 GB/s	76.8 GB/s
ECC memory support	-	no data

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics card Compare	Intel HD Graphics 4000	Intel UHD Graphics 730
Quick Sync Video	+	+
Clear Video HD	+	+
Graphics max frequency	1.1 GHz	1.4 GHz
Execution Units	no data	24
InTru 3D	+	no data

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core i5-3230M and Core i3-12100 integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supported	3	4
eDP	+	no data
DisplayPort	+	no data
HDMI	+	no data
SDVO	+	no data
CRT	+	no data

Graphics image quality

Maximum display resolutions supported by Core i5-3230M and Core i3-12100 integrated GPUs, including resolutions over different interfaces.

Max resolution over HDMI 1.4	no data	4096 x 2160 @ 60Hz
Max resolution over eDP	no data	5120 x 3200 @ 120Hz
Max resolution over DisplayPort	no data	7680 x 4320 @ 60Hz

Graphics API support

APIs supported by Core i5-3230M and Core i3-12100 integrated GPUs, sometimes API versions are included.

DirectX	no data	12
OpenGL	no data	4.5

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i5-3230M and Core i3-12100.

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 i3-12100 outperforms Core i5-3230M by 431% based on our aggregated benchmark results.

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Pros & cons summary

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Performance score	1.65	8.76
Integrated graphics card	1.17
Recency	1 January 2013	4 January 2022
Physical cores	2	4
Threads	4	8
Power consumption (TDP)	35 Watt	60 Watt

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Should you still have questions on choice between Core i5-3230M and Core i3-12100, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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