Core i3-12300 vs Core i5-1345U

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.

Head-to-Head Verdict, Benchmarks, Value & Long-Term Outlook

This comparison brings together gaming FPS, productivity performance, platform differences, power efficiency, pricing context, and upgrade path so you can see which CPU actually makes more sense.

Core i3-12300

2022

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +7.6% higher average FPS across 3 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $143 MSRP, while Core i5-1345U mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌300% higher power demand at 60W vs 15W.

Core i5-1345U

2023

Why buy it

✅Draws 15W instead of 60W, a 45W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i3-12300 across 3 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (14,226 vs 14,384).

Core i3-12300

2022

Core i5-1345U

2023

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +7.6% higher average FPS across 3 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Why buy it

✅Draws 15W instead of 60W, a 45W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $143 MSRP, while Core i5-1345U mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌300% higher power demand at 60W vs 15W.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i3-12300 across 3 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (14,226 vs 14,384).

Quick Answers

So, is Core i3-12300 better than Core i5-1345U?

Yes. Core i3-12300 is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 7.6% average FPS lead across 3 shared CPU game tests in our data and 1.1% better PassMark, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core i3-12300 is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 7.6% more average FPS across 3 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i3-12300 is the better fit. You are getting 1.1% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 8 threads.

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

Core i3-12300 is the smarter buy today. Core i3-12300 is at an unclear MSRP at $143 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it gives you a 7.6% average FPS lead across 3 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (100.6 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so the better CPU is not just faster, it is also the cleaner value play on paper.

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

Core i5-1345U is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2023 vs 2022). That makes it the safer long-term pick.

Games Benchmarks

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 i3-12300 Benchmark Check

Core i5-1345U Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i3-12300	Core i5-1345U
1080p
low	178 FPS	187 FPS
medium	153 FPS	156 FPS
high	123 FPS	130 FPS
ultra	103 FPS	106 FPS
1440p
low	152 FPS	151 FPS
medium	126 FPS	120 FPS
high	100 FPS	98 FPS
ultra	83 FPS	81 FPS
4K
low	85 FPS	85 FPS
medium	76 FPS	73 FPS
high	60 FPS	59 FPS
ultra	46 FPS	46 FPS

Open Core i3-12300 Open Core i5-1345U

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i3-12300	Core i5-1345U
1080p
low	308 FPS	219 FPS
medium	257 FPS	182 FPS
high	236 FPS	164 FPS
ultra	201 FPS	144 FPS
1440p
low	269 FPS	190 FPS
medium	230 FPS	162 FPS
high	214 FPS	150 FPS
ultra	180 FPS	129 FPS
4K
low	209 FPS	148 FPS
medium	183 FPS	130 FPS
high	156 FPS	124 FPS
ultra	128 FPS	107 FPS

Open Core i3-12300 Open Core i5-1345U

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i3-12300	Core i5-1345U
1080p
low	360 FPS	356 FPS
medium	360 FPS	356 FPS
high	360 FPS	356 FPS
ultra	360 FPS	356 FPS
1440p
low	360 FPS	356 FPS
medium	360 FPS	356 FPS
high	360 FPS	356 FPS
ultra	360 FPS	356 FPS
4K
low	360 FPS	356 FPS
medium	360 FPS	356 FPS
high	330 FPS	356 FPS
ultra	271 FPS	347 FPS

Open Core i3-12300 Open Core i5-1345U

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i3-12300	Core i5-1345U
1080p
low	360 FPS	356 FPS
medium	360 FPS	356 FPS
high	360 FPS	356 FPS
ultra	360 FPS	356 FPS
1440p
low	360 FPS	356 FPS
medium	360 FPS	356 FPS
high	360 FPS	356 FPS
ultra	360 FPS	356 FPS
4K
low	360 FPS	356 FPS
medium	360 FPS	356 FPS
high	360 FPS	356 FPS
ultra	329 FPS	356 FPS

Open Core i3-12300 Open Core i5-1345U

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i3-12300 and Core i5-1345U

Core i3-12300

The Core i3-12300 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 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 4.4 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): 60 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 14,384 points. Launch price was $149.

Core i5-1345U

The Core i5-1345U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 4 January 2023 (2 years ago). It is based on the Raptor Lake-U (2023) architecture. It features 10 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 1.6 GHz, with boost up to 4.7 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1744. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-5200, DDR4-3200, LPDDR4x-4267. Passmark benchmark score: 14,226 points. Launch price was $309.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i3-12300 packs 4 cores / 8 threads, while the Core i5-1345U offers 10 cores / 12 threads — the Core i5-1345U has 6 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.4 GHz on the Core i3-12300 versus 4.7 GHz on the Core i5-1345U — a 6.6% clock advantage for the Core i5-1345U (base: 3.5 GHz vs 1.6 GHz). The Core i3-12300 uses the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Core i5-1345U uses Raptor Lake-U (2023) (Intel 7 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-12300 scores 14,384 against the Core i5-1345U's 14,226 — a 1.1% lead for the Core i3-12300. Both processors carry 12 MB (total) of L3 cache.

Feature	Core i3-12300	Core i5-1345U
Cores / Threads	4 / 8	10 / 12+150%
Boost Clock	4.4 GHz	4.7 GHz+7%
Base Clock	3.5 GHz+119%	1.6 GHz
L3 Cache	12 MB (total)	12 MB (total)
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)	1.25 MB (per core)
Process	Intel 7 nm	Intel 7 nm
Architecture	Alder Lake-S (2022)	Raptor Lake-U (2023)
PassMark	14,384+1%	14,226

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i3-12300 uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Core i5-1345U uses FCBGA1744 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.