Core i3-12100 vs Ryzen 3 PRO 210
Core i3-12100
Ryzen 3 PRO 210
Performance Spectrum - CPU
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.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-12100
Performance Per Dollar
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i3-12100 | Ryzen 3 PRO 210 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($180) | ✅ More affordable ($30) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Alder Lake-S (2022) / Intel 7 nm) | ✨ Modern (Hawk Point-U (Zen 4 + Zen 4c) (2023−2025) / 4 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i3-12100 | Ryzen 3 PRO 210 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+492%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($180) | ✅ More affordable ($30) |
Performance Check
To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.
Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Core i3-12100 and Ryzen 3 PRO 210
Core i3-12100
The Core i3-12100 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 4 January 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.3 GHz, with boost up to 4.3 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1700. Thermal design power (TDP): 60 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 12,315 points. Launch price was $149.
Ryzen 3 PRO 210
The Ryzen 3 PRO 210 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 6 January 2025 (less than a year ago). It is based on the Hawk Point-U (Zen 4 + Zen 4c) (2023−2025) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 4.7 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB. L2 cache: 4 MB. Built on 4 nm process technology. Socket: FP7/FP7r2. Thermal design power (TDP): 4 MB + 8 MB. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 12,155 points. Launch price was $149.
Processing Power
Both the Core i3-12100 and Ryzen 3 PRO 210 share an identical 4-core/8-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 4.3 GHz on the Core i3-12100 versus 4.7 GHz on the Ryzen 3 PRO 210 — a 8.9% clock advantage for the Ryzen 3 PRO 210 (base: 3.3 GHz vs 3 GHz). The Core i3-12100 uses the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Ryzen 3 PRO 210 uses Hawk Point-U (Zen 4 + Zen 4c) (2023−2025) (4 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-12100 scores 12,315 against the Ryzen 3 PRO 210's 12,155 — a 1.3% lead for the Core i3-12100. L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Core i3-12100 vs 8 MB on the Ryzen 3 PRO 210.
| Feature | Core i3-12100 | Ryzen 3 PRO 210 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8 | 4 / 8 |
| Boost Clock | 4.3 GHz | 4.7 GHz+9% |
| Base Clock | 3.3 GHz+10% | 3 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 12 MB (total)+50% | 8 MB |
| L2 Cache | 1.25 MB (per core) | 4 MB+220% |
| Process | Intel 7 nm | 4 nm-43% |
| Architecture | Alder Lake-S (2022) | Hawk Point-U (Zen 4 + Zen 4c) (2023−2025) |
| PassMark | 12,315+1% | 12,155 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 2,157 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i3-12100 uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Ryzen 3 PRO 210 uses FP7/FP7r2 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i3-12100 | Ryzen 3 PRO 210 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1700 | FP7/FP7r2 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 5.0+25% | PCIe 4.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR5-4800 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 128 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 20 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i3-12100) / not specified (Ryzen 3 PRO 210). The Core i3-12100 includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 730), while the Ryzen 3 PRO 210 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-12100 targets Budget Gaming Desktop. Direct competitor: Core i3-12100 rivals Ryzen 5 5500.
| Feature | Core i3-12100 | Ryzen 3 PRO 210 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | — |
| IGPU Model | UHD Graphics 730 | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d, EPT | — |
| Target Use | Budget Gaming Desktop | — |
Value Analysis
The Core i3-12100 launched at $122 MSRP, while the Ryzen 3 PRO 210 debuted at $0. At current prices ($180 vs $30), the Ryzen 3 PRO 210 is $150 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i3-12100 delivers 68.4 pts/$ vs 405.2 pts/$ for the Ryzen 3 PRO 210 — making the Ryzen 3 PRO 210 the 142.2% better value option.
| Feature | Core i3-12100 | Ryzen 3 PRO 210 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $122 | $0-100% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $180 | $30-83% |
| Performance per Dollar | 68.4 | 405.2+492% |
| Release Date | 2022 | 2025 |
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