Core i3-12100T vs Ryzen 5 5500U
Core i3-12100T
Ryzen 5 5500U
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 i3-12100T
Performance Per Dollar Ryzen 5 5500U
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i3-12100T | Ryzen 5 5500U |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($90) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Alder Lake-S (2022) / Intel 7 nm) | ✨ Modern (Lucienne-U (Zen 2) (2021) / 7 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i3-12100T | Ryzen 5 5500U |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($90) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
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 i3-12100T and Ryzen 5 5500U
Core i3-12100T
The Core i3-12100T 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 2.2 GHz, with boost up to 4.1 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): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 12,491 points. Launch price was $149.
Ryzen 5 5500U
The Ryzen 5 5500U is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 12 January 2021 (4 years ago). It is based on the Lucienne-U (Zen 2) (2021) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 2.1 GHz, with boost up to 4 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm process technology. Socket: FP6. Thermal design power (TDP): 25 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 12,736 points. Launch price was $149.
Processing Power
The Core i3-12100T packs 4 cores / 8 threads, while the Ryzen 5 5500U offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the Ryzen 5 5500U has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.1 GHz on the Core i3-12100T versus 4 GHz on the Ryzen 5 5500U — a 2.5% clock advantage for the Core i3-12100T (base: 2.2 GHz vs 2.1 GHz). The Core i3-12100T uses the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Ryzen 5 5500U uses Lucienne-U (Zen 2) (2021) (7 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-12100T scores 12,491 against the Ryzen 5 5500U's 12,736 — a 1.9% lead for the Ryzen 5 5500U. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 2,102 vs 1,100, a 62.6% lead for the Core i3-12100T that directly translates to higher frame rates. L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Core i3-12100T vs 8 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 5500U.
| Feature | Core i3-12100T | Ryzen 5 5500U |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8 | 6 / 12+50% |
| Boost Clock | 4.1 GHz+2% | 4 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.2 GHz+5% | 2.1 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 12 MB (total)+50% | 8 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 1.25 MB (per core)+150% | 512K (per core) |
| Process | Intel 7 nm | 7 nm |
| Architecture | Alder Lake-S (2022) | Lucienne-U (Zen 2) (2021) |
| PassMark | 12,491 | 12,736+2% |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | — | 6,900 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 2,102+91% | 1,100 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 5,200 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i3-12100T uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Ryzen 5 5500U uses FP6 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR5-4800 on the Core i3-12100T versus DDR4 3200 MHz on the Ryzen 5 5500U — the Ryzen 5 5500U supports 200% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Core i3-12100T supports up to 128 GB of RAM compared to 64 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i3-12100T) vs 12 (Ryzen 5 5500U) — the Core i3-12100T offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: H610,B660,H670,Z690,B760,Z790 (Core i3-12100T) and FP6 (Ryzen 5 5500U).
| Feature | Core i3-12100T | Ryzen 5 5500U |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1700 | FP6 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 5.0+67% | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR5-4800+25% | DDR4 3200 MHz |
| Max RAM Capacity | 128 GB+100% | 64 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 20+67% | 12 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i3-12100T) vs true (Ryzen 5 5500U). Both include integrated graphics — UHD Graphics 730 (Core i3-12100T) and AMD Radeon Graphics (Vega 7) (Ryzen 5 5500U) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-12100T targets Low Power Desktop, Ryzen 5 5500U targets Mobile. Direct competitor: Core i3-12100T rivals Ryzen 3 5300GE.
| Feature | Core i3-12100T | Ryzen 5 5500U |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | UHD Graphics 730 | AMD Radeon Graphics (Vega 7) |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d, EPT | true |
| Target Use | Low Power Desktop | Mobile |
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