Core i3-12300 vs Core i9-10880H

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 i3-12300 vs Core i9-10880H 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 i3-12300 vs Core i9-10880H: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

Core i3-12300

2022

Why buy it

✅+1% higher PassMark.
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of BGA1440 and DDR4.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i9-10880H across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 16 MB).
❌Launch MSRP is still $143 MSRP, while Core i9-10880H mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌2900% higher power demand at 60W vs 2W.

Core i9-10880H

2020

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +6.2% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+33.3% larger total L3 cache (16 MB vs 12 MB).
✅Draws 2W instead of 60W, a 58W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (14,240 vs 14,384).
❌Older platform position on BGA1440 with DDR4, while Core i3-12300 moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i3-12300 better than Core i9-10880H?

It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Core i9-10880H is ahead with a 6.2% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Core i3-12300 pulls ahead with 1% better PassMark. Core i9-10880H 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 i3-12300 is the stronger fit. You are getting 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 better buy right now. Core i3-12300 comes in at an unclear MSRP at $143 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you 1% better PassMark. The compromise is that Core i9-10880H is still the better pure gaming CPU with a 6.2% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (100.6 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), 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 i3-12300 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2022 vs 2020), 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 i3-12300 vs Core i9-10880H Technical Specifications

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

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 i9-10880H

The Core i9-10880H is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2 April 2020 (5 years ago). It is based on the Comet Lake-H (2020) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 2.3 GHz, with boost up to 5.1 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB. L2 cache: 2 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1440. Thermal design power (TDP): 2 MB + 16 MB. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 14,240 points. Launch price was $149.

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Processing Power

The Core i3-12300 packs 4 cores / 8 threads, while the Core i9-10880H offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Core i9-10880H has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.4 GHz on the Core i3-12300 versus 5.1 GHz on the Core i9-10880H — a 14.7% clock advantage for the Core i9-10880H (base: 3.5 GHz vs 2.3 GHz). The Core i3-12300 uses the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Core i9-10880H uses Comet Lake-H (2020) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-12300 scores 14,384 against the Core i9-10880H's 14,240 — a 1% lead for the Core i3-12300. L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Core i3-12300 vs 16 MB on the Core i9-10880H.

Feature	Core i3-12300	Core i9-10880H
Cores / Threads	4 / 8	8 / 16+100%
Boost Clock	4.4 GHz	5.1 GHz+16%
Base Clock	3.5 GHz+52%	2.3 GHz
L3 Cache	12 MB (total)	16 MB+33%
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)	2 MB+60%
Process	Intel 7 nm-50%	14 nm
Architecture	Alder Lake-S (2022)	Comet Lake-H (2020)
PassMark	14,384+1%	14,240

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Memory & Platform

The Core i3-12300 uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Core i9-10880H uses BGA1440 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.