GuidesComparisonsCore i3 12100F vs Ryzen 5 5600X

Core i3 12100F vs Ryzen 5 5600X [Full Comparison 2024]

We compared Intel's budget king with AMD's best mid-tier CPU in this: Intel Core i3 12100F vs AMD Ryzen 5 5600x to find which is the best.

Expert Verified By

Intel Core i3 12100F

Rated: 6.5/10

Ryzen 5 5600X

Rated: 7.5/10


Pros And Cons

ProsCons
Ryzen 5 5600Xāœ…Better performance
āœ…Relatively low price
āŒMore expensive
āŒHigher power draw
Core i3 12100Fāœ…Dirt cheap
āœ…Lower power draw
āŒVery old manufacuring process
āŒLess performance

Key Takeaway

  • The Core i3 12100F was around 10% slower than the Ryzen 5 5600X in our gaming tests 1080p, which was a noticeable difference.
  • The power consumption of the Ryzen 5 5600X was around 24% higher than the Core i3, making it relatively more power efficient.
  • Both of these processors are positioned as budget-friendly offerings, though the Core i3 12100F is noticeably cheaper.
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At Tech4Gamers, ensuring you get reliable information is our priority. That’s why every comparison undergoes a meticulous review process by our team of experts and editors. Each comparison is carefully examined against our strict editorial guidelines, guaranteeing you trustworthy insights you can depend on.


Specifications Table

NameCore i3 12100FRyzen 5 5600X
ArchitectureAlder LakeZen 3
Memory TypeDDR5 & DDR4DDR4
Max. Memory128 GB128GB
Memory SpeedUp To 4800MHzUp To 3200MHz
Integrated GraphicsNoNo
Graphics ModelDiscrete Graphics Card RequiredDiscrete Graphics Card Required
Launch DateQ1' 22Q2 '20
Best CPU Cooler-CPU Coolers for Ryzen 5 5600X
Best RAM-RAM For Ryzen 5 5600x
Best MotherboardsMotherboards For i3-12100FMotherboards For Ryzen 5 5600X

Architectural Differences

  1. Core Count: The Core i3 12100F, unlike the rest of the 12th-gen processors, offers only 4 performance cores and no efficiency cores, which add up to 8 threads. The Ryzen 5 uses 6 performance cores, which add up to 12 threads.
  2. Clock Speed: The Intel processor has a base clock of only 3.3GHz, while it can boost up to 4.3GHz. The base clock of the Ryzen is around 3.7GHz, while it can go all the way up to 4.6GHz.
  3. L3 Cache: The Ryzen uses 12MB of shared cache, whereas the Ryzen 5 5600X uses 32MB of L3 cache.
  4. Process Node: The Core i3 has a 10nm lithography, whereas the Ryzen 5 5600X uses a 7nm lithography, which should make it more power efficient.
  5. Memory: The Ryzen only supports DDR4 memory, whereas the Core i3 12100F can use both DDR4 and DDR5 memory.

There is no doubt that a good deal is irrefutable, which is what Intel proposes with their Core i3 processors. How does this processor compete with something a bit higher-end? Continue to read the Core i3 12100F vs Ryzen 5 5600X to reveal the truth about these processors. 


Gaming Benchmarks  – 1080p

The subsequent parts of the Core i3 12100F vs Ryzen 5 5600X comparison will deal with the performance of these chips in modern titles, using a test bench we specifically designed to keep these processors as the limiting factors.

Test PC 

Cyberpunk 2077 

Cyberpunk 2077
Cyberpunk 2077 @1080p (Image By Tech4Gamers)
  • The average framerate of the Core i3 12100F reached around 109 FPS in our test of Cyberpunk 2077, whereas the average framerate of the Ryzen 5 5600X was around 126 FPS14% faster than its rival for this comparison.
  • The 1% lows hovered around 66 FPS for the i3, whereas the Ryzen 5 was significantly smoother with lows of around 70 FPS.

Dying Light 2 

Dying Light 2
Dying Light 2 @1080p (Image By Tech4Gamers)
  • The difference in performance was surprisingly small in Dying Light 2, with the i3 averaging 173 FPS, whereas the 5600X was only 1.2% faster with an average framerate of around 175 FPS.
  • The 1% lows were also very close between the two processors, with the 12100F getting around 152 FPS, while the 5600X was a hair slower with a framerate of 151 FPS.

Horizon Zero Dawn 

Horizon Zero Dawn
Horizon Zero Dawn @1080p (Image By Tech4Gamers)
  • The lead of the 5600X returned in Horizon Zero Dawn with an average of around 184 FPS, which was around 4% higher than the 177 FPS average of the 12100F.
  • The difference was equally different in the 1% lows, with the 12100F going to a minimum of around 125 FPS, while the Ryzen 5 5600X had lows closer to 130 FPS.

PUBG 

PUBG
PUBG @1080p (Image By Tech4Gamers)
  • The difference in performance became very large in our test of PUBG, with the 12100F getting an average framerate of around 198 FPS, while the Ryzen was 16% faster with an average of around 230 FPS.
  • The 1% lows fell far below the average of both processors, falling to 79 FPS on the Intel CPU and 95 FPS on the AMD processor. 

Hitman 3 

 Hitman 3
Hitman 3 @1080p (Image By Tech4Gamers)
  • Hitman 3 was no kinder to the lower-end chip, rewarding an average of around 143 FPS to the processor. The Ryzen was 9% faster, with an average of around 157 FPS.
  • There were ten frames of difference between the minimum framerates of both chips, with the 12100F getting around 112 FPS, while the Ryzen had lows closer to 122 FPS.

Microsoft Flight Simulator 

Microsoft Flight Simulator @1080p (Image By Tech4Gamers)
  • For the final game in our testing, the i3 averaged a framerate of around 75 FPS in our test of Microsoft Flight Sim 2020, whereas the Ryzen was noticeably ahead with a framerate of around 89 FPS.
  • The 1% lows hit 60 FPS on the i3, whereas the Ryzen kept its composure with minimums of around 69 FPS.

Overall Gaming Performance

 Average FPS
Average FPS @1080p (Image By Tech4Gamers)

Now that we know how the Core i3 12100F fairs against the 5600X, this part of the comparison will help take a step back to compute the average performance of both chips

Average Framerate

On average, the 12100F had a framerate of around 146 FPS on average, whereas the Ryzen had a framerate of around 160 FPS. This leads the Ryzen to a lead of around 10%, which is a very significant improvement going from chip to chip.

1% Lows

The Ryzen also faired better in terms of minimum framerates, approximately 7.5% better. This gave the effect of significantly less stuttering on the Ryzen, which made the gameplay much more smooth and enjoyable.

Temperatures

Despite the lower performance of the i3, it did fair much cooler in our testing, with an average temperature around 17% lower than the Ryzen. 

Core i3 12100FRyzen 5 5600X
Cyberpunk 20775058
Dying Light 24552
Forza Horizon 54454
PUBG4452
Hitman 34855
Microsoft Flight Simulator4354
Average Temperature46.254.2
Winner: Intel's Core i5 12100F

Though the difference in temperatures is measurable, it is not concerning. If you use a serviceable cooler with either of these processors, temperatures will never be an issue for these CPUs.

Power Consumption

Core i3 12100FRyzen 5 5600X
Cyberpunk 207781103
Dying Light 26478
Forza Horizon 57283
PUBG6989
Hitman 36583
Microsoft Flight Simulator6171
Average Power70.287.2
Winner: Intel's Core i5 12100F

The power consumption was also significantly lower on the i3, with a difference of around 24%. This does not scale linearly with the difference in performance between these processors, indicating the i3 as more power efficient than its rival. Still, most gamers found this attribute useless without any increase in framerate.

Price And Availability

MSRPCurrent Price
Core i3 12100FšŸ’²129šŸ’²93
Ryzen 5 5600XšŸ’²299šŸ’²156
Price Difference131%67%

The Core i3 12100F has become very cheap because of its age and stature in the larger Intel hierarchy, dropping to a price of only $93 on websites like Amazon. The AMD processor is very cheap, but not to the level of the i3. It has a price tag of around $156.

Both processors have fallen significantly lower than their MSRP and can be found even cheaper on the used market.

What We Recommend

Now that we’ve thoroughly examined the Core i3 12100F vs Ryzen 5 5600X, this part of our discussion will assign a demographic to each chip.

Core i3 12100F: If you want a dirt cheap processor that gets the job done, the Core i3 12100F should suffice for your gaming needs. It provides adequate performance for a fraction of the price of even the most modest mid-range processors.

Ryzen 5 5600X: If you’re looking for a little bit more performance and some amenities along the way, like integrated graphics, the Ryzen 5 5600X should be your pick. Sure, it is noticeably more expensive, but it also gives you a noticeably better gaming experience, and it can also serve for significantly longer.


Frequently Asked Questions

Does the Core i3 12100F use the hybrid core architecture?

No, the Core i3 12100F does not use the hybrid core architecture.

Should I get a processor without integrated graphics?

Buying a processor without integrated graphics can be a great way to get a deal that is a few buck cheaper while still performing the same with a discrete graphics card.

What socket does the 5600X use?

The Ryzen 5 5600X uses the AM4 socket.


More From Ryzen 5 5600X

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