Core i3-12300 vs Core i9-10885H

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 i9-10885H 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 i9-10885H: 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

✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of BGA1440 and DDR4.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i9-10885H across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (14,384 vs 14,448).
❌Launch MSRP is still $143 MSRP, while Core i9-10885H mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌33.3% higher power demand at 60W vs 45W.

Core i9-10885H

2020

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +5.6% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Draws 45W instead of 60W, a 15W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Older platform position on BGA1440 with DDR4, while Core i3-12300 moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i9-10885H better than Core i3-12300?

Yes. Core i9-10885H is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 5.6% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data and 0.4% better PassMark, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core i9-10885H is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 5.6% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i9-10885H is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.4% better PassMark, backed by 8 cores and 16 threads.

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

Core i9-10885H is still the faster CPU overall, but Core i3-12300 is easier to justify if budget matters more than peak performance. Core i9-10885H comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $143 MSRP, and it still gives you a 5.6% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core i3-12300 is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (100.6 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), which is why it can still make sense for tighter-budget builds 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) and a healthier platform with LGA1700 and DDR5 instead of BGA1440. That gives you a healthier platform runway for motherboard, RAM, and later CPU upgrades.

Core i3-12300 vs Core i9-10885H 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 i9-10885H

The Core i9-10885H 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 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 5.1 GHz. L3 cache: 12 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: 14,448 points. Launch price was $556.

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Processing Power

The Core i3-12300 packs 4 cores / 8 threads, while the Core i9-10885H offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Core i9-10885H has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.4 GHz on the Core i3-12300 versus 5.1 GHz on the Core i9-10885H — a 14.7% clock advantage for the Core i9-10885H (base: 3.5 GHz vs 2.4 GHz). The Core i3-12300 uses the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Core i9-10885H uses Comet Lake-H (2020) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-12300 scores 14,384 against the Core i9-10885H's 14,448 — a 0.4% lead for the Core i9-10885H. Both processors carry 12 MB (total) of L3 cache.

Feature	Core i3-12300	Core i9-10885H
Cores / Threads	4 / 8	8 / 16+100%
Boost Clock	4.4 GHz	5.1 GHz+16%
Base Clock	3.5 GHz+46%	2.4 GHz
L3 Cache	12 MB (total)	12 MB (total)
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)	256K (per core)+20380%
Process	Intel 7 nm-50%	14 nm
Architecture	Alder Lake-S (2022)	Comet Lake-H (2020)
PassMark	14,384	14,448

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Memory & Platform

The Core i3-12300 uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Core i9-10885H uses BGA1440 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.