i3-1210U vs i9-12900K

Primary details

Comparing Core i9-12900K and Core i3-1210U processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking	185	1031
Place by popularity	not in top-100	not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluation	35.67	no data
Market segment	Desktop processor	Laptop
Series	Intel Core i9	Intel Alder Lake-M
Power efficiency	19.77	69.61
Architecture codename	Alder Lake, Golden Cove, Gracemont (2021)	Alder Lake-U (2022)
Release date	27 October 2021 (3 years ago)	23 February 2022 (2 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)	$589	no data

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

Detailed specifications

Core i9-12900K and Core i3-1210U 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	16 (Hexadeca-Core)	6 (Hexa-Core)
Threads	24	8
Base clock speed	3.2 GHz	1 GHz
Boost clock speed	5.2 GHz	4.4 GHz
Bus type	DMI 4.0	no data
Bus rate	8 × 16 GT/s	no data
Multiplier	32	no data
L1 cache	768 KB	80K (per core)
L2 cache	4 MB	1.25 MB (per core)
L3 cache	6 MB	10 MB (shared)
Chip lithography	10 nm	Intel 7 nm
Die size	215.25 mm2"	no data
Maximum core temperature	100 °C	100 °C
Maximum case temperature (TCase)	72 °C	no data
64 bit support	+	+
Windows 11 compatibility	+	+
Unlocked multiplier	+	-

Compatibility

Information on Core i9-12900K and Core i3-1210U 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	FCLGA1700	FCBGA1781
Power consumption (TDP)	125 Watt	9 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i9-12900K and Core i3-1210U. 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	+	+
Turbo Boost Technology	2.0	no data
Hyper-Threading Technology	+	+
TSX	-	+
Idle States	+	no data
Thermal Monitoring	+	+
Flex Memory Access	no data	-
SIPP	+	-
Turbo Boost Max 3.0	+	no data
Deep Learning Boost	+	+

Security technologies

Core i9-12900K and Core i3-1210U technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXT	+	+
EDB	+	+
Secure Key	+	+
OS Guard	+	+

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i9-12900K and Core i3-1210U are enumerated here.

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

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i9-12900K and Core i3-1210U. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory types	DDR4, DDR5	DDR4, DDR5
Maximum memory size	128 GB	64 GB
Max memory channels	2	2
Maximum memory bandwidth	76.805 GB/s	no data
ECC memory support	+	-

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics card	Intel UHD Graphics 770	Intel® UHD Graphics for 12th Gen Intel® Processors
Quick Sync Video	+	+
Clear Video HD	+	no data
Graphics max frequency	1.55 GHz	850 MHz
Execution Units	32	64

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core i9-12900K and Core i3-1210U integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supported

4

4

Graphics image quality

Maximum display resolutions supported by Core i9-12900K and Core i3-1210U integrated GPUs, including resolutions over different interfaces.

Max resolution over HDMI 1.4	4096 x 2160 @ 60Hz	4096 x 2304 @ 60Hz
Max resolution over eDP	5120 x 3200 @ 120Hz	4096 x 2304 @ 120Hz
Max resolution over DisplayPort	7680 x 4320 @ 60Hz	7680 x 4320 @ 60Hz

Graphics API support

APIs supported by Core i9-12900K and Core i3-1210U integrated GPUs, sometimes API versions are included.

DirectX	12	12.1
OpenGL	4.5	4.6

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i9-12900K and Core i3-1210U.

PCIe version	5.0 and 4.0	4.0
PCI Express lanes	20	14

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.

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Pros & cons summary

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Performance score	26.11	6.62
Recency	27 October 2021	23 February 2022
Physical cores	16	6
Threads	24	8
Power consumption (TDP)	125 Watt	9 Watt

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Should you still have questions on choice between Core i9-12900K and Core i3-1210U, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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