Core i3-9100F vs FX-8120

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 i3-9100F

2019

Why buy it

✅Costs $108 less on MSRP ($97 MSRP vs $205 MSRP).
✅Delivers 114.9% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 69.1 vs 32.2 PassMark/$ ($97 MSRP vs $205 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 125W, a 60W reduction.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (6 MB vs 8 MB).

FX-8120

2011

Why buy it

✅+33.3% larger total L3 cache (8 MB vs 6 MB).

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (6,594 vs 6,704).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 32.2 vs 69.1 PassMark/$ ($205 MSRP vs $97 MSRP).
❌92.3% higher power demand at 125W vs 65W.

Core i3-9100F

2019

FX-8120

2011

Why buy it

✅Costs $108 less on MSRP ($97 MSRP vs $205 MSRP).
✅Delivers 114.9% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 69.1 vs 32.2 PassMark/$ ($97 MSRP vs $205 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 125W, a 60W reduction.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Why buy it

✅+33.3% larger total L3 cache (8 MB vs 6 MB).

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (6 MB vs 8 MB).

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (6,594 vs 6,704).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 32.2 vs 69.1 PassMark/$ ($205 MSRP vs $97 MSRP).
❌92.3% higher power demand at 125W vs 65W.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i3-9100F better than FX-8120?

Yes. Core i3-9100F is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 0.5% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data, 1.7% better PassMark, and the stronger long-term platform, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core i3-9100F is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 0.5% more average FPS across 4 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i3-9100F is the better fit. You are getting 1.7% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 4 threads.

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

Core i3-9100F is the smarter buy today. Core i3-9100F is $108 cheaper on MSRP at $97 MSRP versus $205 MSRP, and it gives you a 0.5% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 114.9% better value on MSRP (69.1 vs 32.2 PassMark/$), 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 i3-9100F is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2019 vs 2011) and more multi-core headroom with 4 cores / 4 threads instead of 8/8. That extra compute headroom should age better as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

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 i3-9100F Benchmark Check

FX-8120 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i3-9100F	FX-8120
1080p
low	168 FPS	165 FPS
medium	159 FPS	142 FPS
high	125 FPS	115 FPS
ultra	89 FPS	95 FPS
1440p
low	168 FPS	138 FPS
medium	136 FPS	117 FPS
high	106 FPS	92 FPS
ultra	75 FPS	75 FPS
4K
low	74 FPS	63 FPS
medium	62 FPS	57 FPS
high	48 FPS	45 FPS
ultra	38 FPS	35 FPS

Open Core i3-9100F Open FX-8120

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i3-9100F	FX-8120
1080p
low	168 FPS	165 FPS
medium	168 FPS	165 FPS
high	168 FPS	165 FPS
ultra	168 FPS	165 FPS
1440p
low	168 FPS	165 FPS
medium	168 FPS	165 FPS
high	168 FPS	165 FPS
ultra	161 FPS	152 FPS
4K
low	168 FPS	165 FPS
medium	168 FPS	161 FPS
high	144 FPS	147 FPS
ultra	119 FPS	118 FPS

Open Core i3-9100F Open FX-8120

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i3-9100F	FX-8120
1080p
low	168 FPS	165 FPS
medium	168 FPS	165 FPS
high	168 FPS	165 FPS
ultra	168 FPS	165 FPS
1440p
low	168 FPS	165 FPS
medium	168 FPS	165 FPS
high	168 FPS	165 FPS
ultra	168 FPS	165 FPS
4K
low	168 FPS	165 FPS
medium	168 FPS	165 FPS
high	168 FPS	165 FPS
ultra	151 FPS	165 FPS

Open Core i3-9100F Open FX-8120

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i3-9100F	FX-8120
1080p
low	168 FPS	165 FPS
medium	168 FPS	165 FPS
high	168 FPS	165 FPS
ultra	168 FPS	165 FPS
1440p
low	168 FPS	165 FPS
medium	168 FPS	165 FPS
high	168 FPS	165 FPS
ultra	168 FPS	165 FPS
4K
low	168 FPS	165 FPS
medium	168 FPS	165 FPS
high	168 FPS	165 FPS
ultra	168 FPS	165 FPS

Open Core i3-9100F Open FX-8120

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i3-9100F and FX-8120

Core i3-9100F

The Core i3-9100F is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 23 April 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 4.2 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 6,704 points. Launch price was $122.

FX-8120

The FX-8120 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 12 October 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Zambezi (2011−2012) architecture. It features 8 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.1 GHz, with boost up to 4 GHz. L3 cache: 8192 kB. L2 cache: 8192 kB. Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: AM3+. Thermal design power (TDP): 125 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 6,594 points. Launch price was $149.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i3-9100F packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the FX-8120 offers 8 cores / 8 threads — the FX-8120 has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.2 GHz on the Core i3-9100F versus 4 GHz on the FX-8120 — a 4.9% clock advantage for the Core i3-9100F (base: 3.6 GHz vs 3.1 GHz). The Core i3-9100F uses the Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the FX-8120 uses Zambezi (2011−2012) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-9100F scores 6,704 against the FX-8120's 6,594 — a 1.7% lead for the Core i3-9100F. L3 cache: 6 MB (total) on the Core i3-9100F vs 8192 kB on the FX-8120.

Feature	Core i3-9100F	FX-8120
Cores / Threads	4 / 4	8 / 8+100%
Boost Clock	4.2 GHz+5%	4 GHz
Base Clock	3.6 GHz+16%	3.1 GHz
L3 Cache	6 MB (total)	8192 kB+33%
L2 Cache	256K (per core)	8192 kB+3100%
Process	14 nm-56%	32 nm
Architecture	Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019)	Zambezi (2011−2012)
PassMark	6,704+2%	6,594

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Memory & Platform

The Core i3-9100F uses the LGA1151 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the FX-8120 uses AM3+ (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Core i3-9100F	FX-8120
Socket	LGA1151	AM3+
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0+50%	PCIe 2.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-2400	—
Max RAM Capacity	64 GB	—
RAM Channels	2	—
ECC Support	Yes	—
PCIe Lanes	16	—

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d (Core i3-9100F) / not specified (FX-8120). Primary use case: Core i3-9100F targets Desktop.

Feature	Core i3-9100F	FX-8120
Integrated GPU	No	—
Unlocked	No	—
AVX-512	No	—
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	—
Target Use	Desktop	—

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Value Analysis

The Core i3-9100F launched at $97 MSRP, while the FX-8120 debuted at $205. On MSRP ($97 vs $205), the Core i3-9100F is $108 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i3-9100F delivers 69.1 pts/$ vs 32.2 pts/$ for the FX-8120 — making the Core i3-9100F the 73% better value option.