Core i9-8950HK vs Core i3-12100TE

Core i9-8950HK

6 Cores12 Thrd45 WWMax: 4.8 GHz2018

Core i3-12100TE

4 Cores8 Thrd35 WWMax: 4 GHz2022

Performance Spectrum - CPU

Core i9-8950HK

6 / 12

10,373

0.0%

10,432

+0.6%

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 i9-8950HK is positioned at rank #927 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 i9-8950HK

#915

Atom x5-Z8300

MSRP: $20|Avg: N/A

1649%

#916

Atom Z3735G

MSRP: $17|Avg: N/A

1625%

#917

Core i5-480M

MSRP: $81|Avg: $77

1492%

#918

Core i5-460M

MSRP: $80|Avg: $129

1485%

#919

Core i5-2540M

MSRP: $266|Avg: $10

1472%

#921

Core i5-450M

MSRP: $32|Avg: $31

1421%

#922

Core i3-380M

MSRP: $49|Avg: $25

1363%

#923

Core i5-430M

MSRP: N/A|Avg: $33

1360%

#924

Core 2 Duo T6600

MSRP: N/A|Avg: $4

1324%

#927

Core i9-8950HK

MSRP: N/A|Avg: N/A

100%

#928

A8-6410

MSRP: $100|Avg: $40

100%

#933

Athlon X2 L310

MSRP: $100|Avg: $20

98%

#939

FX-7600P

MSRP: $150|Avg: $45

96%

#940

Athlon II M300

MSRP: $100|Avg: $10

96%

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 Trade-off: The Core i9-8950HK leads in gaming performance. However, the Core i3-12100TE is the stronger candidate for professional workloads, offering 0.6% greater multi-core processing power.

Insight	Core i9-8950HK	Core i3-12100TE
Gaming	✅ Superior gaming performance	❌ Lower gaming performance
Workstation	❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks	✅ Better multi-core power
Price	✅ More affordable ($0)	⚠️ Higher cost ($149)
Longevity	✨ Modern (Coffee Lake-H (2018−2019) / 14 nm)	✨ Modern (Alder Lake-S (2022) / 10 nm)

💎 Value Proposition

Insight	Core i9-8950HK	Core i3-12100TE
Cost Efficiency	❌ Lower cost efficiency	❌ Lower cost efficiency
Upfront Cost	✅ More affordable ($0)	⚠️ Higher cost ($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 i9-8950HK Benchmark Check

Core i3-12100TE Benchmark Check

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i9-8950HK and Core i3-12100TE

Core i9-8950HK

The Core i9-8950HK is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2 April 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the Coffee Lake-H (2018−2019) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 2.9 GHz, with boost up to 4.8 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: 10,373 points. Launch price was $583.

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 i9-8950HK packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Core i3-12100TE offers 4 cores / 8 threads — the Core i9-8950HK has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.8 GHz on the Core i9-8950HK versus 4 GHz on the Core i3-12100TE — a 18.2% clock advantage for the Core i9-8950HK (base: 2.9 GHz vs 2.1 GHz). The Core i9-8950HK uses the Coffee Lake-H (2018−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Core i3-12100TE uses Alder Lake-S (2022) (10 nm). In PassMark, the Core i9-8950HK scores 10,373 against the Core i3-12100TE's 10,432 — a 0.6% lead for the Core i3-12100TE. Both processors carry 12 MB (total) of L3 cache.

Feature	Core i9-8950HK	Core i3-12100TE
Cores / Threads	6 / 12+50%	4 / 8
Boost Clock	4.8 GHz+20%	4 GHz
Base Clock	2.9 GHz+38%	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-H (2018−2019)	Alder Lake-S (2022)
PassMark	10,373	10,432
Geekbench 6 Single	—	2,100

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i9-8950HK uses the BGA1440 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i3-12100TE uses LGA1700 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Core i9-8950HK	Core i3-12100TE
Socket	BGA1440	LGA1700
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 5.0+67%
Max RAM Speed	—	DDR5-4800
Max RAM Capacity	—	128 GB
RAM Channels	—	2
ECC Support	—	✅
PCIe Lanes	—	20

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: not specified (Core i9-8950HK) / VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i3-12100TE). The Core i3-12100TE includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 730), while the Core i9-8950HK requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-12100TE targets Embedded. Direct competitor: Core i3-12100TE rivals Ryzen Embedded V2000.