Core i3-4012Y vs C-50
Core i3-4012Y
C-50
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. The Core i3-4012Y is positioned at rank 526 and the C-50 is on rank 777, so the Core i3-4012Y offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-4012Y
Performance Per Dollar C-50
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i3-4012Y | C-50 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell (2013−2015) / 22 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Ontario (2011−2012) / 40 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i3-4012Y | C-50 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
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 i3-4012Y and C-50
Core i3-4012Y
The Core i3-4012Y is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 September 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.5 GHz, with boost up to 1.5 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1168. Thermal design power (TDP): 11.5 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,278 points. Launch price was $69.
C-50
The C-50 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 4 January 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Ontario (2011−2012) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Max frequency: 1 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 40 nm process technology. Socket: FT1. Thermal design power (TDP): 9 Watt. Memory support: DDR3 Single-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 1,282 points. Launch price was $69.
Processing Power
The Core i3-4012Y packs 2 cores / 4 threads, matching the C-50's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 1.5 GHz on the Core i3-4012Y versus 1 GHz on the C-50 — a 40% clock advantage for the Core i3-4012Y. The Core i3-4012Y uses the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture (22 nm), while the C-50 uses Ontario (2011−2012) (40 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-4012Y scores 1,278 against the C-50's 1,282 — a 0.3% lead for the C-50. L3 cache: 3 MB on the Core i3-4012Y vs 0 kB on the C-50.
| Feature | Core i3-4012Y | C-50 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 1.5 GHz+50% | 1 GHz |
| Base Clock | 1.5 GHz | — |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB | 512K (per core) |
| Process | 22 nm-45% | 40 nm |
| Architecture | Haswell (2013−2015) | Ontario (2011−2012) |
| PassMark | 1,278 | 1,282 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 485 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 988 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i3-4012Y uses the FCBGA1168 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the C-50 uses FT1 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR3L-1600 / LPDDR3-1600 memory speed. The Core i3-4012Y supports up to 16 GB of RAM compared to 4 GB — 120% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Core i3-4012Y) vs 1 (C-50). PCIe lanes: 12 (Core i3-4012Y) vs 4 (C-50) — the Core i3-4012Y offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: HM86,HM87,QM87 (Core i3-4012Y) and AMD BGA413 (C-50).
| Feature | Core i3-4012Y | C-50 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FCBGA1168 | FT1 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+50% | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3L-1600 / LPDDR3-1600 | DDR3-1066 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 GB+300% | 4 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2+100% | 1 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 12+200% | 4 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x / EPT (Core i3-4012Y) / not specified (C-50). Both include integrated graphics — Intel HD Graphics 4200 (Core i3-4012Y) and Radeon HD 6250 (C-50) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-4012Y targets Low Power.
| Feature | Core i3-4012Y | C-50 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | Intel HD Graphics 4200 | Radeon HD 6250 |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x / EPT | — |
| Target Use | Low Power | — |
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