Core i3-12100E vs Core i9-9880H

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 i3-12100E vs Core i9-9880H 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 i3-12100E vs Core i9-9880H: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

Core i3-12100E

2022

Why buy it

✅+0% higher PassMark.
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of BGA1440 and DDR4.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with UHD Graphics 730, while Core i9-9880H needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i9-9880H across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 16 MB).
❌33.3% higher power demand at 60W vs 45W.

Core i9-9880H

2019

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +17.4% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+33.3% larger total L3 cache (16 MB vs 12 MB).
✅Draws 45W instead of 60W, a 15W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (13,531 vs 13,535).
❌Older platform position on BGA1440 with DDR4, while Core i3-12100E moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i3-12100E can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i3-12100E better than Core i9-9880H?

It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Core i9-9880H is ahead with a 17.4% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Core i3-12100E pulls ahead with 0% better PassMark. Core i9-9880H also has the bigger cache pool with 33.3% larger total L3 cache (16 MB vs 12 MB).

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i3-12100E is the stronger fit. You are getting 0% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 8 threads.

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

Core i3-12100E still makes the most sense overall. Core i3-12100E comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you 0% better PassMark.

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

Core i3-12100E makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2022 vs 2019), a healthier platform with LGA1700 and DDR5 instead of BGA1440, and more multi-core headroom with 4 cores / 8 threads instead of 8/16. That gives you a healthier platform runway for motherboard, RAM, and later CPU upgrades.

Core i3-12100E vs Core i9-9880H Technical Specifications

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

Core i3-12100E

The Core i3-12100E 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 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 4.2 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on 10 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1700. Thermal design power (TDP): 60 Watt. Memory support: DDR4, DDR5 Dual-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 13,535 points. Launch price was $149.

Core i9-9880H

The Core i9-9880H is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 23 April 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Coffee Lake-HR (2019) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 2.3 GHz, with boost up to 4.8 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1440. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 13,531 points. Launch price was $556.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i3-12100E packs 4 cores / 8 threads, while the Core i9-9880H offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Core i9-9880H has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.2 GHz on the Core i3-12100E versus 4.8 GHz on the Core i9-9880H — a 13.3% clock advantage for the Core i9-9880H (base: 3.2 GHz vs 2.3 GHz). The Core i3-12100E uses the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture (10 nm), while the Core i9-9880H uses Coffee Lake-HR (2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-12100E scores 13,535 against the Core i9-9880H's 13,531 — a 0% lead for the Core i3-12100E. L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Core i3-12100E vs 16 MB (total) on the Core i9-9880H.

Feature	Core i3-12100E	Core i9-9880H
Cores / Threads	4 / 8	8 / 16+100%
Boost Clock	4.2 GHz	4.8 GHz+14%
Base Clock	3.2 GHz+39%	2.3 GHz
L3 Cache	12 MB (total)	16 MB (total)+33%
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)	256K (per core)+20380%
Process	10 nm-29%	14 nm
Architecture	Alder Lake-S (2022)	Coffee Lake-HR (2019)
PassMark	13,535	13,531
Geekbench 6 Single	1,594	—

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i3-12100E uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Core i9-9880H uses BGA1440 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Core i3-12100E	Core i9-9880H
Socket	LGA1700	BGA1440
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0+67%	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-4800	—
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	—
RAM Channels	2	—
ECC Support	Yes	—
PCIe Lanes	20	—

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i3-12100E) / not specified (Core i9-9880H). The Core i3-12100E includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 730), while the Core i9-9880H requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-12100E targets Embedded. Direct competitor: Core i3-12100E rivals Ryzen Embedded V3000 Series.