Core i3-12100 vs Ryzen Z2 Go

Core i3-12100 vs Ryzen Z2 Go Performance Spectrum

Core i3-12100

4 / 8

12,315

+1.0%

12,188

0.0%

Ryzen 3 PRO 3200GE

Ryzen Embedded V1756B

Ryzen 3 PRO 4450U

Ryzen 3 PRO 5450U

Ryzen 9 8945H

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5955WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5965WX

Ryzen Threadripper 9960X

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.

Core i3-12100 vs Ryzen Z2 Go 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.

Core i3-12100 vs Ryzen Z2 Go: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

Core i3-12100

2022

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +15.0% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+50% larger total L3 cache (12 MB vs 8 MB).
✅25% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 16) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Ryzen Z2 Go.

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $122 MSRP, while Ryzen Z2 Go mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌2900% higher power demand at 60W vs 2W.

Ryzen Z2 Go

2025

Why buy it

✅Draws 2W instead of 60W, a 58W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i3-12100 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (12,188 vs 12,315).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (8 MB vs 12 MB).
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i3-12100.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i3-12100 better than Ryzen Z2 Go?

Yes. Core i3-12100 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 15.0% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data and 1% better PassMark, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core i3-12100 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 15.0% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i3-12100 is the stronger fit. You are getting 1% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 8 threads. It also has the larger cache pool with 50% larger total L3 cache (12 MB vs 8 MB).

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

Core i3-12100 is the better buy right now. Core i3-12100 comes in at an unclear MSRP at $122 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 15.0% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (100.9 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.

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

Ryzen Z2 Go makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2025 vs 2022). That gives you a healthier platform runway for motherboard, RAM, and later CPU upgrades.

Core i3-12100 vs Ryzen Z2 Go Technical Specifications

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

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 Z2 Go

The Ryzen Z2 Go is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 6 January 2025 (less than a year ago). It is based on the Rembrandt R (2025) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 4.3 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB. L2 cache: 2 MB. Built on 6 nm process technology. Thermal design power (TDP): 2 MB + 8 MB. Passmark benchmark score: 12,188 points. Launch price was $149.

⚡

Processing Power

Both the Core i3-12100 and Ryzen Z2 Go share an identical 4-core/8-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 4.3 GHz on the Core i3-12100 versus 4.3 GHz on the Ryzen Z2 Go — identical boost frequencies (base: 3.3 GHz vs 3 GHz). The Core i3-12100 uses the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Ryzen Z2 Go uses Rembrandt R (2025) (6 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-12100 scores 12,315 against the Ryzen Z2 Go's 12,188 — a 1% lead for the Core i3-12100. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 2,157 vs 1,842, a 15.8% lead for the Core i3-12100 that directly translates to higher frame rates. L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Core i3-12100 vs 8 MB on the Ryzen Z2 Go.

Feature	Core i3-12100	Ryzen Z2 Go
Cores / Threads	4 / 8	4 / 8
Boost Clock	4.3 GHz	4.3 GHz
Base Clock	3.3 GHz+10%	3 GHz
L3 Cache	12 MB (total)+50%	8 MB
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)	2 MB+60%
Process	Intel 7 nm	6 nm-14%
Architecture	Alder Lake-S (2022)	Rembrandt R (2025)
PassMark	12,315+1%	12,188
Cinebench R23 Multi	—	5,802
Geekbench 6 Single	2,157+17%	1,842
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	6,073

🧠

Memory & Platform

Maximum memory speed reaches DDR5-4800 on the Core i3-12100 versus LPDDR5-6400 on the Ryzen Z2 Go — the Ryzen Z2 Go supports 33.3% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Core i3-12100 supports up to 128 GB of RAM compared to 64 GB — 100% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i3-12100) vs 16 (Ryzen Z2 Go) — the Core i3-12100 offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: H610,B660,H670,Z690,B760,Z790 (Core i3-12100) and Rembrandt-R (Ryzen Z2 Go).

Feature	Core i3-12100	Ryzen Z2 Go
Socket	LGA1700	—
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0+25%	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-4800	LPDDR5-6400+33%
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB+100%	64 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	Yes
PCIe Lanes	20+25%	16

🔧

Advanced Features

Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i3-12100) vs SVM (Ryzen Z2 Go). Both include integrated graphics — UHD Graphics 730 (Core i3-12100) and Radeon 680M (Ryzen Z2 Go) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-12100 targets Budget Gaming Desktop, Ryzen Z2 Go targets Budget. Direct competitor: Core i3-12100 rivals Ryzen 5 5500; Ryzen Z2 Go rivals Core Ultra 5 135U.