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

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Abde Manaf

At Tech4Gamers, I began as a comparison writer, analyzing GPU and CPU performance. Now, I focus on writing reviews and contributing to the best-ofs section, sharing personal insights after hands-on testing.

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Pros And Cons

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.

Specifications Table

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 

• CPU: Intel Core i3 12100F / AMD Ryzen 5 5600x 
• GPU: GeForce RTX 3080 Ti 12GB 
• RAM – XPG Lancer RGB 32GB 7200MT/s DDR5
• SSD – XPG GAMMIX S70 BLADE 2TB NVMe
• PSU – ENERMAX REVOLUTION D.F. X 1050W
• CPU Cooler – Arctic Liquid Freezer II 420 – AIO Water Cooler
• OS: Windows 11

Cyberpunk 2077 

• 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 FPS, 14% 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 

• 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 

• 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 

• 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 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 

• 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

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. 

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

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

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.

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Abde Manaf

[Comparisons Expert]

Abdemanaf is a skilled creative writer who has been honing his craft since 2011. While initially working in different fields, he found a passion for technology and has been exploring the tech world since early 2015. Over the years, he has developed an in-depth knowledge of the latest tech trends and product offerings by various companies.

Abdemanaf’s writing reflects his analytical mindset and ability to think critically. He has a knack for breaking down complex technical information into easily digestible pieces, making his articles engaging and accessible to readers from all backgrounds. In February 2022, he joined Tech4Gamers as a blog and product comparison writer, where he has been able to hone his skills further.

As a writer, Abdemanaf is dedicated to staying up-to-date with the latest technological advancements and trends, enabling him to provide readers with the most relevant and accurate information. He is always eager to learn more and is constantly seeking new challenges to improve his skills.

Get In Touch: manaf@tech4gamers.com