Core i3-12100E vs Xeon Silver 4210
Core i3-12100E
Xeon Silver 4210
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
Performance Per Dollar Xeon Silver 4210
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i3-12100E | Xeon Silver 4210 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Alder Lake-S (2022) / 10 nm) | ✨ Modern (Cascade Lake (2019−2020) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i3-12100E | Xeon Silver 4210 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
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 i3-12100E and Xeon Silver 4210
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.
Xeon Silver 4210
The Xeon Silver 4210 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2 April 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Cascade Lake (2019−2020) architecture. It features 10 cores and 20 threads. Base frequency is 2.2 GHz, with boost up to 3.2 GHz. L3 cache: 13.75 MB. L2 cache: 10 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA3647. Thermal design power (TDP): 85 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2400. Passmark benchmark score: 13,463 points. Launch price was $501.
Processing Power
The Core i3-12100E packs 4 cores / 8 threads, while the Xeon Silver 4210 offers 10 cores / 20 threads — the Xeon Silver 4210 has 6 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.2 GHz on the Core i3-12100E versus 3.2 GHz on the Xeon Silver 4210 — a 27% clock advantage for the Core i3-12100E (base: 3.2 GHz vs 2.2 GHz). The Core i3-12100E uses the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture (10 nm), while the Xeon Silver 4210 uses Cascade Lake (2019−2020) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-12100E scores 13,535 against the Xeon Silver 4210's 13,463 — a 0.5% lead for the Core i3-12100E. L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Core i3-12100E vs 13.75 MB on the Xeon Silver 4210.
| Feature | Core i3-12100E | Xeon Silver 4210 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8 | 10 / 20+150% |
| Boost Clock | 4.2 GHz+31% | 3.2 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.2 GHz+45% | 2.2 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 12 MB (total) | 13.75 MB+15% |
| L2 Cache | 1.25 MB (per core) | 10 MB+700% |
| Process | 10 nm-29% | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Alder Lake-S (2022) | Cascade Lake (2019−2020) |
| PassMark | 13,535 | 13,463 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 1,594 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i3-12100E uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Xeon Silver 4210 uses LGA3647 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR5-4800 on the Core i3-12100E versus 2400 on the Xeon Silver 4210 — the Xeon Silver 4210 supports 199.2% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Xeon Silver 4210 supports up to 1024 of RAM compared to 128 GB — 155.6% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Core i3-12100E) vs 6 (Xeon Silver 4210). PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i3-12100E) vs 48 (Xeon Silver 4210) — the Xeon Silver 4210 offers 28 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: H610,B660,H670,Z690,W680,Q670,R680E (Core i3-12100E) and C621 (Xeon Silver 4210).
| Feature | Core i3-12100E | Xeon Silver 4210 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1700 | LGA3647 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 5.0+67% | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR5-4800 | 2400+47900% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 128 GB+13107100% | 1024 |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 6+200% |
| ECC Support | ✅ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | 20 | 48+140% |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Only the Xeon Silver 4210 supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i3-12100E) vs VT-x, VT-d (Xeon Silver 4210). The Core i3-12100E includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 730), while the Xeon Silver 4210 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-12100E targets Embedded. Direct competitor: Core i3-12100E rivals Ryzen Embedded V3000 Series.
| Feature | Core i3-12100E | Xeon Silver 4210 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | No |
| IGPU Model | UHD Graphics 730 | None |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | Yes |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d, EPT | VT-x, VT-d |
| Target Use | Embedded | — |
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