Core i3-12100F vs Core i9-9980HK

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 i3-12100F vs Core i9-9980HK 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 i3-12100F vs Core i9-9980HK: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

Core i3-12100F

2022

Why buy it

✅+0.1% 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.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i9-9980HK across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 16 MB).
❌Launch MSRP is still $97 MSRP, while Core i9-9980HK mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌28.9% higher power demand at 58W vs 45W.

Core i9-9980HK

2019

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +27.3% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+33.3% larger total L3 cache (16 MB vs 12 MB).
✅Draws 45W instead of 58W, a 13W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (13,966 vs 13,979).
❌Older platform position on BGA1440 with DDR4, while Core i3-12100F moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i3-12100F better than Core i9-9980HK?

It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Core i9-9980HK is ahead with a 27.3% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Core i3-12100F pulls ahead with 0.1% better PassMark. Core i9-9980HK 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 i3-12100F is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.1% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 8 threads.

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

Core i3-12100F is the better buy right now. Core i3-12100F comes in at an unclear MSRP at $97 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you 0.1% better PassMark. The compromise is that Core i9-9980HK is still the better pure gaming CPU with a 27.3% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (144.1 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.

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

Core i3-12100F 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 i3-12100F vs Core i9-9980HK Technical Specifications

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

Core i3-12100F

The Core i3-12100F is manufactured by Intel. It was released in Janeiro 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): 58 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 13,979 points. Launch price was $97.

Core i9-9980HK

The Core i9-9980HK 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 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 5 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: 13,966 points. Launch price was $583.

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Processing Power

The Core i3-12100F packs 4 cores / 8 threads, while the Core i9-9980HK offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Core i9-9980HK has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.3 GHz on the Core i3-12100F versus 5 GHz on the Core i9-9980HK — a 15.1% clock advantage for the Core i9-9980HK (base: 3.3 GHz vs 2.4 GHz). The Core i3-12100F uses the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Core i9-9980HK uses Coffee Lake-HR (2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-12100F scores 13,979 against the Core i9-9980HK's 13,966 — a 0.1% lead for the Core i3-12100F. L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Core i3-12100F vs 16 MB (total) on the Core i9-9980HK.

Feature	Core i3-12100F	Core i9-9980HK
Cores / Threads	4 / 8	8 / 16+100%
Boost Clock	4.3 GHz	5 GHz+16%
Base Clock	3.3 GHz+38%	2.4 GHz
L3 Cache	12 MB (total)	16 MB (total)+33%
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)	256K (per core)+20380%
Process	Intel 7 nm-50%	14 nm
Architecture	Alder Lake-S (2022)	Coffee Lake-HR (2019)
PassMark	13,979	13,966

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Memory & Platform

The Core i3-12100F uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Core i9-9980HK uses BGA1440 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Core i3-12100F	Core i9-9980HK
Socket	LGA1700	BGA1440
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0+67%	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-3200, DDR5-4800	—
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	—
RAM Channels	2	—
ECC Support	No	—
PCIe Lanes	20	—