C-50 vs Core i3-4012Y

C-50 vs Core i3-4012Y Performance Spectrum

C-50

2 / 2

1,282

+0.3%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Core i3-4012Y

2 / 4

1,278

0.0%

Atom D2550

Pentium T3400

Pentium Dual-Core E2200

About PassMark

PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.

C-50 vs Core i3-4012Y FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with GeForce RTX 5090 to isolate CPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

C-50 vs Core i3-4012Y: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

C-50

2011

Why buy it

✅+0.3% higher PassMark.
✅Draws 9W instead of 512W, a 503W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Fewer obvious downsides in this matchup outside of normal market pricing swings.

Core i3-4012Y

2013

Why buy it

✅200% more PCIe lanes (12 vs 4) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (1,278 vs 1,282).
❌5588.9% higher power demand at 512W vs 9W.

Quick Answers

So, is C-50 better than Core i3-4012Y?

It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Core i3-4012Y is ahead with a 2.3% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, C-50 pulls ahead with 0.3% better PassMark.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, C-50 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.3% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 2 threads.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

C-50 still makes the most sense overall. C-50 comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you 0.3% better PassMark.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Core i3-4012Y makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2013 vs 2011). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

C-50 vs Core i3-4012Y Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

C-50

The C-50 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 4 January 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Ontario (2011−2012) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Max frequency: 1 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 40 nm process technology. Socket: FT1. Thermal design power (TDP): 9 Watt. Memory support: DDR3 Single-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 1,282 points. Launch price was $69.

Core i3-4012Y

The Core i3-4012Y is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 September 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.5 GHz, with boost up to 1.5 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1168. Thermal design power (TDP): 11.5 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,278 points. Launch price was $69.

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Processing Power

The C-50 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, matching the Core i3-4012Y's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 1 GHz on the C-50 versus 1.5 GHz on the Core i3-4012Y — a 40% clock advantage for the Core i3-4012Y. The C-50 uses the Ontario (2011−2012) architecture (40 nm), while the Core i3-4012Y uses Haswell (2013−2015) (22 nm). In PassMark, the C-50 scores 1,282 against the Core i3-4012Y's 1,278 — a 0.3% lead for the C-50. L3 cache: 0 kB on the C-50 vs 3 MB on the Core i3-4012Y.

Feature	C-50	Core i3-4012Y
Cores / Threads	2 / 2	2 / 4
Boost Clock	1 GHz	1.5 GHz+50%
Base Clock	—	1.5 GHz
L3 Cache	0 kB	3 MB
L2 Cache	512K (per core)	512 kB
Process	40 nm	22 nm-45%
Architecture	Ontario (2011−2012)	Haswell (2013−2015)
PassMark	1,282	1,278
Geekbench 6 Single	—	485
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	988

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Memory & Platform

The C-50 uses the FT1 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i3-4012Y uses FCBGA1168 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-1066 on the C-50 versus DDR3L-1600 / LPDDR3-1600 on the Core i3-4012Y — the Core i3-4012Y supports 50.1% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Core i3-4012Y supports up to 16 GB of RAM compared to 4 GB — 300% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 1 (C-50) vs 2 (Core i3-4012Y). PCIe lanes: 4 (C-50) vs 12 (Core i3-4012Y) — the Core i3-4012Y offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: AMD BGA413 (C-50) and HM86,HM87,QM87 (Core i3-4012Y).

Feature	C-50	Core i3-4012Y
Socket	FT1	FCBGA1168
PCIe Generation	PCIe 2.0	PCIe 3.0+50%
Max RAM Speed	DDR3-1066	DDR3L-1600 / LPDDR3-1600+50%
Max RAM Capacity	4 GB	16 GB+300%
RAM Channels	1	2+100%
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	4	12+200%

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Advanced Features

Virtualization: not specified (C-50) / VT-x / EPT (Core i3-4012Y). Both include integrated graphics — Radeon HD 6250 (C-50) and Intel HD Graphics 4200 (Core i3-4012Y) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-4012Y targets Low Power.