Core i3-12100TE vs Core i5-9600K

Core i3-12100TE

4 Cores8 Thrd35 WWMax: 4 GHz2022

Core i5-9600K

6 Cores6 Thrd95 WWMax: 4.6 GHz2018

Performance Spectrum - CPU

Core i3-12100TE

4 / 8

10,432

0.0%

10,645

+2.0%

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.

MSRP is the manufacturer's suggested retail price.•
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.

Performance Per Dollar

Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Per Dollar Core i5-9600K

#300

Core i7-10700F

MSRP: $310|Avg: $250

108%

#301

Core i7-10700T

MSRP: $355|Avg: $200

108%

#302

Core i7-6900K

MSRP: $1089|Avg: $1089

23%

#302

Celeron G5920

MSRP: $52|Avg: $40

108%

#303

Core i3-10105T

MSRP: $122|Avg: $122

107%

#303

Core i7-5960X

MSRP: $999|Avg: $83

22%

#304

Core i7-6950X

MSRP: $1723|Avg: $180

17%

#304

Celeron G5900

MSRP: $50|Avg: $42

107%

#305

Core 5 120

MSRP: $340|Avg: $340

106%

#306

Core i7-12700T

MSRP: $339|Avg: $337

105%

#307

Core 3 100HL

MSRP: $306|Avg: $280

105%

#308

Core i9-11900F

MSRP: N/A|Avg: $358.87

103%

#309

Core i9-9900T

MSRP: $423|Avg: $215

103%

#310

Core i5-9500T

MSRP: $192|Avg: $132

103%

#311

Ryzen 7 PRO 5750GE

MSRP: $349|Avg: $349

101%

#312

Core i9-10940X

MSRP: $784|Avg: $460

101%

#313

Core i9-10920X

MSRP: $689|Avg: $430

101%

#314

Core i7-10700

MSRP: $365|Avg: $268

100%

#315

Core i5-9600K

MSRP: $263|Avg: $178

100%

#316

Ryzen Threadripper 7960X

MSRP: $1499|Avg: $1400

100%

#317

Ryzen 7 PRO 4750GE

MSRP: $309|Avg: $309

100%

#318

Core i3-10305T

MSRP: $143|Avg: $143

100%

#319

Ryzen Embedded V1202B

MSRP: $100|Avg: $60

98%

#320

Core i3-10100

MSRP: $122|Avg: $146

98%

#321

Ryzen 5 PRO 5650GE

MSRP: $311|Avg: $311

98%

#322

Celeron G6900

MSRP: $52|Avg: $77

97%

#323

Core i9-11900K

MSRP: $539|Avg: $435

96%

#324

Core i7-12700TE

MSRP: $378|Avg: $350

94%

#325

Core i9-12900E

MSRP: $500|Avg: $500

94%

#326

Celeron G4900T

MSRP: $42|Avg: $40

94%

#327

Ryzen Threadripper 2920X

MSRP: $649|Avg: $452

93%

Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Comparison

About PassMark

🏆 Chipversus Verdict

🚀 Performance Leadership

Performance Leadership: The Core i5-9600K delivers superior performance across the board. It outperforms the Core i3-12100TE in both compute-intensive tasks (2% faster) and gaming workloads.

Insight	Core i3-12100TE	Core i5-9600K
Gaming	❌ Lower gaming performance	✅ Superior gaming performance
Workstation	❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks	✅ Better multi-core power
Price	✅ More affordable ($149)	⚠️ Higher cost ($178)
Longevity	✨ Modern (Alder Lake-S (2022) / 10 nm)	✨ Modern (Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) / 14 nm)

💎 Value Proposition

Value Proposition: The Core i3-12100TE offers a compelling cost-to-performance ratio. Priced at $149 (vs $178), it costs 16% less. While offering competitive performance, it results in a 17% higher cost efficiency score compared to the Core i5-9600K.

Insight	Core i3-12100TE	Core i5-9600K
Cost Efficiency	✅ Better overall value (+17%)	❌ Lower cost efficiency
Upfront Cost	✅ More affordable ($149)	⚠️ Higher cost ($178)

Performance Check

Paired with RTX 4090

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.

Core i3-12100TE Benchmark Check

Core i5-9600K Benchmark Check

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i3-12100TE and Core i5-9600K

Core i3-12100TE

The Core i3-12100TE 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 2.1 GHz, with boost up to 4 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): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR4, DDR5 Dual-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 10,432 points. Launch price was $149.

Core i5-9600K

The Core i5-9600K is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 19 October 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) architecture. It features 6 cores and 6 threads. Base frequency is 3.7 GHz, with boost up to 4.6 GHz. L3 cache: 9 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2666. Passmark benchmark score: 10,645 points. Launch price was $262.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i3-12100TE packs 4 cores / 8 threads, while the Core i5-9600K offers 6 cores / 6 threads — the Core i5-9600K has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4 GHz on the Core i3-12100TE versus 4.6 GHz on the Core i5-9600K — a 14% clock advantage for the Core i5-9600K (base: 2.1 GHz vs 3.7 GHz). The Core i3-12100TE uses the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture (10 nm), while the Core i5-9600K uses Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-12100TE scores 10,432 against the Core i5-9600K's 10,645 — a 2% lead for the Core i5-9600K. L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Core i3-12100TE vs 9 MB (total) on the Core i5-9600K.

Feature	Core i3-12100TE	Core i5-9600K
Cores / Threads	4 / 8	6 / 6+50%
Boost Clock	4 GHz	4.6 GHz+15%
Base Clock	2.1 GHz	3.7 GHz+76%
L3 Cache	12 MB (total)+33%	9 MB (total)
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)+400%	256K (per core)
Process	10 nm-29%	14 nm
Architecture	Alder Lake-S (2022)	Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019)
PassMark	10,432	10,645+2%
Geekbench 6 Single	2,100	—

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i3-12100TE uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Core i5-9600K uses LGA1151 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR5-4800 on the Core i3-12100TE versus 2666 on the Core i5-9600K — the Core i5-9600K supports 199.3% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. Both support up to 128 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i3-12100TE) vs 16 (Core i5-9600K) — the Core i3-12100TE offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: H610,B660,H670,Z690,Q670,W680,H770 (Core i3-12100TE) and Z390,Q370,H370,B360,H310 (Core i5-9600K).

Feature	Core i3-12100TE	Core i5-9600K
Socket	LGA1700	LGA1151
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0+67%	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-4800	2666+53220%
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB+104857500%	128
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	✅	❌
PCIe Lanes	20+25%	16

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Core i5-9600K has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i3-12100TE) vs true (Core i5-9600K). Both include integrated graphics — UHD Graphics 730 (Core i3-12100TE) and Intel UHD Graphics 630 (Core i5-9600K) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-12100TE targets Embedded. Direct competitor: Core i3-12100TE rivals Ryzen Embedded V2000.