Core i7-9750HF vs Core i3-12100TE

Core i7-9750HF

6 Cores12 Thrd45 WWMax: 4.5 GHz2019

Core i3-12100TE

4 Cores8 Thrd35 WWMax: 4 GHz2022

Performance Spectrum - CPU

Core i7-9750HF

6 / 12

10,393

0.0%

10,432

+0.4%

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. The Core i7-9750HF is positioned at rank #772 in our cost-efficiency ranking, representing a Lower cost-benefit for your build. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money.

MSRP is the manufacturer's suggested retail price.•
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.

Performance Per Dollar Core i7-9750HF

#759

Atom x5-Z8300

MSRP: $20|Avg: N/A

1115%

#760

Atom Z3735G

MSRP: $17|Avg: N/A

1099%

#761

Core i5-480M

MSRP: $81|Avg: $77

1009%

#762

Core i5-460M

MSRP: $80|Avg: $129

1004%

#763

Core i5-2540M

MSRP: $266|Avg: $10

995%

#765

Core i5-450M

MSRP: $32|Avg: $31

961%

#766

Core i3-380M

MSRP: $49|Avg: $25

921%

#767

Core i5-430M

MSRP: N/A|Avg: $33

920%

#768

Core 2 Duo T6600

MSRP: N/A|Avg: $4

895%

#772

Core i7-9750HF

MSRP: $395|Avg: $395

100%

Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Per Dollar

Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Comparison

About PassMark

🏆 Chipversus Verdict

🚀 Performance Leadership

Performance Leadership: The Core i3-12100TE delivers superior performance across the board. It outperforms the Core i7-9750HF in both compute-intensive tasks (0.4% faster) and gaming workloads.

Insight	Core i7-9750HF	Core i3-12100TE
Gaming	❌ Lower gaming performance	✅ Superior gaming performance
Workstation	❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks	✅ Better multi-core power
Price	⚠️ Higher cost ($395)	✅ More affordable ($149)
Longevity	✨ Modern (Coffee Lake-HR (2019) / 14 nm)	✨ Modern (Alder Lake-S (2022) / 10 nm)

💎 Value Proposition

Efficiency: The Core i3-12100TE leads not only in performance but also in value. It is effectively 62% cheaper ($149 vs $395) while identifying as the stronger performer.

Insight	Core i7-9750HF	Core i3-12100TE
Cost Efficiency	❌ Lower cost efficiency	✅ Better overall value (+166%)
Upfront Cost	⚠️ Higher cost ($395)	✅ More affordable ($149)

Performance Check

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 i7-9750HF Benchmark Check

Core i3-12100TE Benchmark Check

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i7-9750HF and Core i3-12100TE

Core i7-9750HF

The Core i7-9750HF is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 23 April 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Coffee Lake-HR (2019) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 2.6 GHz, with boost up to 4.5 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: DDR4-2666, LPDDR3-2133. Passmark benchmark score: 10,393 points. Launch price was $149.

Core i3-12100TE

The Core i3-12100TE 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 2.1 GHz, with boost up to 4 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): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR4, DDR5 Dual-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 10,432 points. Launch price was $149.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i7-9750HF packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Core i3-12100TE offers 4 cores / 8 threads — the Core i7-9750HF has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.5 GHz on the Core i7-9750HF versus 4 GHz on the Core i3-12100TE — a 11.8% clock advantage for the Core i7-9750HF (base: 2.6 GHz vs 2.1 GHz). The Core i7-9750HF uses the Coffee Lake-HR (2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Core i3-12100TE uses Alder Lake-S (2022) (10 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-9750HF scores 10,393 against the Core i3-12100TE's 10,432 — a 0.4% lead for the Core i3-12100TE. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,120 vs 2,100, a 60.9% lead for the Core i3-12100TE that directly translates to higher frame rates. Both processors carry 12 MB (total) of L3 cache.

Feature	Core i7-9750HF	Core i3-12100TE
Cores / Threads	6 / 12+50%	4 / 8
Boost Clock	4.5 GHz+13%	4 GHz
Base Clock	2.6 GHz+24%	2.1 GHz
L3 Cache	12 MB (total)	12 MB (total)
L2 Cache	256K (per core)	1.25 MB (per core)+400%
Process	14 nm	10 nm-29%
Architecture	Coffee Lake-HR (2019)	Alder Lake-S (2022)
PassMark	10,393	10,432
Cinebench R23 Multi	6,915	—
Geekbench 6 Single	1,120	2,100+88%
Geekbench 6 Multi	5,149	—

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i7-9750HF uses the BGA1440 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i3-12100TE uses LGA1700 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-2666 on the Core i7-9750HF versus DDR5-4800 on the Core i3-12100TE — the Core i3-12100TE 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 i7-9750HF) vs 20 (Core i3-12100TE) — the Core i3-12100TE offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: HM370,QM370,CM246 (Core i7-9750HF) and H610,B660,H670,Z690,Q670,W680,H770 (Core i3-12100TE).

Feature	Core i7-9750HF	Core i3-12100TE
Socket	BGA1440	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 support: Yes (Core i7-9750HF) vs VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i3-12100TE). The Core i3-12100TE includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 730), while the Core i7-9750HF requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-12100TE targets Embedded. Direct competitor: Core i3-12100TE rivals Ryzen Embedded V2000.