i5-12600HX vs i3-12100

Place in the ranking	889	465
Place by popularity	not in top-100	not in top-100
Market segment	Desktop processor	Laptop
Power efficiency	13.45	25.97
Architecture codename	Alder Lake-S (2022)	Alder Lake-HX (2022)
Release date	4 January 2022 (2 years ago)	10 May 2022 (2 years ago)

Detailed specifications

Core i3-12100 and Core i5-12600HX basic parameters such as number of cores, number of threads, base frequency and turbo boost clock, lithography, cache size and multiplier lock state. These parameters indirectly say of CPU speed, though for more precise assessment you have to consider their test results.

Physical cores	4 (Quad-Core)	12 (Dodeca-Core)
Threads	8	16
Base clock speed	3.3 GHz	2.5 GHz
Boost clock speed	4.3 GHz	4.6 GHz
L1 cache	80K (per core)	80K (per core)
L2 cache	1.25 MB (per core)	1.25 MB (per core)
L3 cache	12 MB (shared)	18 MB (shared)
Chip lithography	Intel 7 nm	Intel 7 nm
Die size	163 mm²	215 mm²
Maximum core temperature	100 °C	100 °C
64 bit support	+	+
Windows 11 compatibility	+	+
Unlocked multiplier	-	+

Compatibility

Information on Core i3-12100 and Core i5-12600HX compatibility with other computer components: motherboard (look for socket type), power supply unit (look for power consumption) etc. Useful when planning a future computer configuration or upgrading an existing one. Note that power consumption of some processors can well exceed their nominal TDP, even without overclocking. Some can even double their declared thermals given that the motherboard allows to tune the CPU power parameters.

Number of CPUs in a configuration	1	1
Socket	FCLGA1700	FCBGA1964
Power consumption (TDP)	60 Watt	55 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i3-12100 and Core i5-12600HX. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensions	Intel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2	Intel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2
AES-NI	+	+
FMA	-	+
AVX	+	+
vPro	no data	+
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)	+	+
Speed Shift	+	+
Turbo Boost Technology	2.0	no data
Hyper-Threading Technology	+	+
TSX	+	+
Idle States	+	no data
Thermal Monitoring	+	+
Flex Memory Access	no data	+
SIPP	-	+
Turbo Boost Max 3.0	-	+
Deep Learning Boost	+	+

Security technologies

Core i3-12100 and Core i5-12600HX technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXT	+	+
EDB	+	+
Secure Key	+	+
OS Guard	+	+

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i3-12100 and Core i5-12600HX are enumerated here.

VT-d	+	+
VT-x	+	+
EPT	+	+

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i3-12100 and Core i5-12600HX. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory types	DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200	DDR4, DDR5
Maximum memory size	128 GB	128 GB
Max memory channels	2	2
Maximum memory bandwidth	76.8 GB/s	76.8 GB/s
ECC memory support	-	+

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics card Compare	Intel UHD Graphics 730	Intel UHD Graphics for 12th Gen Intel Processors
Quick Sync Video	+	+
Clear Video HD	+	no data
Graphics max frequency	1.4 GHz	1.35 GHz
Execution Units	24	32

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core i3-12100 and Core i5-12600HX integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supported

Graphics image quality

Maximum display resolutions supported by Core i3-12100 and Core i5-12600HX integrated GPUs, including resolutions over different interfaces.

Max resolution over HDMI 1.4	4096 x 2160 @ 60Hz	4096 x 2304 @ 60Hz
Max resolution over eDP	5120 x 3200 @ 120Hz	5120 x 3200 @ 120Hz
Max resolution over DisplayPort	7680 x 4320 @ 60Hz	7680 x 4320 @ 60Hz

Graphics API support

APIs supported by Core i3-12100 and Core i5-12600HX integrated GPUs, sometimes API versions are included.

DirectX	12	12.1
OpenGL	4.5	4.6

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i3-12100 and Core i5-12600HX.

PCIe version	5.0 and 4.0	5.0 and 4.0
PCI Express lanes	20	20

Synthetic benchmark performance

Various benchmark results of the processors in comparison. Overall score is measured in points in 0-100 range, higher is better.

Combined synthetic benchmark score

This is our combined benchmark performance rating. We are regularly improving our combining algorithms, but if you find some perceived inconsistencies, feel free to speak up in comments section, we usually fix problems quickly.

i3-12100 8.57

i5-12600HX 15.17
+77%

Passmark

Passmark CPU Mark is a widespread benchmark, consisting of 8 different types of workload, including integer and floating point math, extended instructions, compression, encryption and physics calculation. There is also one separate single-threaded scenario measuring single-core performance.

i3-12100 13609

i5-12600HX 24096
+77.1%

Gaming performance

Pros & cons summary

Performance score	8.57	15.17
Integrated graphics card	4.16	5.58
Recency	4 January 2022	10 May 2022
Physical cores	4	12
Threads	8	16
Power consumption (TDP)	60 Watt	55 Watt

i5-12600HX has a 77% higher aggregate performance score, 34.1% faster integrated GPU, an age advantage of 4 months, 200% more physical cores and 100% more threads, and 9.1% lower power consumption.

The Core i5-12600HX is our recommended choice as it beats the Core i3-12100 in performance tests.

Note that Core i3-12100 is a desktop processor while Core i5-12600HX is a notebook one.

Should you still have questions on choice between Core i3-12100 and Core i5-12600HX, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.