Core i7-8700K vs Core i3-12100E
Core i7-8700K
Core i3-12100E
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.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-8700K
Performance Per Dollar
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i7-8700K | Core i3-12100E |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($160) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Coffee Lake-S (2017−2018) / 14 nm) | ✨ Modern (Alder Lake-S (2022) / 10 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i7-8700K | Core i3-12100E |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($160) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
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 i7-8700K and Core i3-12100E
Core i7-8700K
The Core i7-8700K is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 5 October 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Coffee Lake-S (2017−2018) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.7 GHz, with boost up to 4.7 GHz. L3 cache: 12288 kB. L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 13,572 points. Launch price was $359.
Core i3-12100E
The Core i3-12100E is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 4 January 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 4.2 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on 10 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1700. Thermal design power (TDP): 60 Watt. Memory support: DDR4, DDR5 Dual-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 13,535 points. Launch price was $149.
Processing Power
The Core i7-8700K packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Core i3-12100E offers 4 cores / 8 threads — the Core i7-8700K has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.7 GHz on the Core i7-8700K versus 4.2 GHz on the Core i3-12100E — a 11.2% clock advantage for the Core i7-8700K (base: 3.7 GHz vs 3.2 GHz). The Core i7-8700K uses the Coffee Lake-S (2017−2018) architecture (14 nm), while the Core i3-12100E uses Alder Lake-S (2022) (10 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-8700K scores 13,572 against the Core i3-12100E's 13,535 — a 0.3% lead for the Core i7-8700K. L3 cache: 12288 kB on the Core i7-8700K vs 12 MB (total) on the Core i3-12100E.
| Feature | Core i7-8700K | Core i3-12100E |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 6 / 12+50% | 4 / 8 |
| Boost Clock | 4.7 GHz+12% | 4.2 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.7 GHz+16% | 3.2 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 12288 kB | 12 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 1.25 MB (per core)+400% |
| Process | 14 nm | 10 nm-29% |
| Architecture | Coffee Lake-S (2017−2018) | Alder Lake-S (2022) |
| PassMark | 13,572 | 13,535 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 1,594 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i7-8700K uses the LGA1151 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i3-12100E uses LGA1700 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-2666 on the Core i7-8700K versus DDR5-4800 on the Core i3-12100E — the Core i3-12100E supports 22.2% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. Both support up to 128 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 16 (Core i7-8700K) vs 20 (Core i3-12100E) — the Core i3-12100E offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Intel 300 series (Core i7-8700K) and H610,B660,H670,Z690,W680,Q670,R680E (Core i3-12100E).
| Feature | Core i7-8700K | Core i3-12100E |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1151 | LGA1700 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 5.0+67% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-2666 | DDR5-4800+25% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 128 GB | 128 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 20+25% |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Core i7-8700K) / VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i3-12100E). Both include integrated graphics — Intel UHD Graphics 630 (Core i7-8700K) and UHD Graphics 730 (Core i3-12100E) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-12100E targets Embedded. Direct competitor: Core i3-12100E rivals Ryzen Embedded V3000 Series.
| Feature | Core i7-8700K | Core i3-12100E |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | Intel UHD Graphics 630 | UHD Graphics 730 |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x, VT-d, EPT |
| Target Use | — | Embedded |
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