i5-12500 vs i3-7100U

VS

Aggregate performance score

Core i3-7100U
2016
2 cores / 4 threads, 15 Watt
1.71
Core i5-12500
2022
6 cores / 12 threads, 65 Watt
12.54
+633%

Core i5-12500 outperforms Core i3-7100U by a whopping 633% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

Comparing Core i3-7100U and Core i5-12500 processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking2050622
Place by popularitynot in top-100not in top-100
Market segmentLaptopDesktop processor
SeriesIntel Core i3no data
Power efficiency10.7818.25
Architecture codenameKaby Lake (2016−2019)Alder Lake-S (2022)
Release date30 August 2016 (8 years ago)4 January 2022 (2 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)$281no data

Detailed specifications

Core i3-7100U and Core i5-12500 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 cores2 (Dual-core)6 (Hexa-Core)
Threads412
Base clock speed2.4 GHz3 GHz
Boost clock speed2.4 GHz4.6 GHz
Bus typeOPIno data
Bus rate4 GT/sno data
Multiplier24no data
L1 cache128 KB80K (per core)
L2 cache512 KB1.25 MB (per core)
L3 cache3 MB18 MB (shared)
Chip lithography14 nmIntel 7 nm
Die sizeno data163 mm2
Maximum core temperature100 °C100 °C
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibility-+

Compatibility

Information on Core i3-7100U and Core i5-12500 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 configuration1 (Uniprocessor)1
SocketFCBGA1356,FPBGA1356FCLGA1700
Power consumption (TDP)15 Watt65 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i3-7100U and Core i5-12500. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensionsIntel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2Intel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2
AES-NI++
AVX++
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)++
Speed Shift++
My WiFi+no data
Turbo Boost Technology-2.0
Hyper-Threading Technology++
TSX-+
Idle States++
Thermal Monitoring++
Flex Memory Access+no data
SIPP-+
Smart Response+no data
Turbo Boost Max 3.0no data-
Deep Learning Boost-+

Security technologies

Core i3-7100U and Core i5-12500 technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXT-+
EDB++
Secure Key++
MPX+-
Identity Protection+-
SGXYes with Intel® MEno data
OS Guard++

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i3-7100U and Core i5-12500 are enumerated here.

AMD-V+-
VT-d++
VT-x++
EPT++

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i3-7100U and Core i5-12500. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesDDR4DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200
Maximum memory size32 GB128 GB
Max memory channels22
Maximum memory bandwidth34.134 GB/s76.8 GB/s
ECC memory support-+

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics card
Compare
Intel HD Graphics 620Intel UHD Graphics 770
Max video memory32 GBno data
Quick Sync Video++
Clear Video+no data
Clear Video HD++
Graphics max frequency1 GHz1.45 GHz
Execution Unitsno data32

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core i3-7100U and Core i5-12500 integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supported34
eDP+no data
DisplayPort+-
HDMI+-
DVI+no data

Graphics image quality

Maximum display resolutions supported by Core i3-7100U and Core i5-12500 integrated GPUs, including resolutions over different interfaces.

4K resolution support+no data
Max resolution over HDMI 1.44096x2304@24Hz4096 x 2160 @ 60Hz
Max resolution over eDP4096x2304@60Hz5120 x 3200 @ 120Hz
Max resolution over DisplayPort4096x2304@60Hz7680 x 4320 @ 60Hz
Max resolution over VGAN/Ano data

Graphics API support

APIs supported by Core i3-7100U and Core i5-12500 integrated GPUs, sometimes API versions are included.

DirectX1212
OpenGL4.54.5

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i3-7100U and Core i5-12500.

PCIe version3.05.0 and 4.0
PCI Express lanes1220

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.

i3-7100U 1.71
i5-12500 12.54
+633%

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.

i3-7100U 2724
i5-12500 19914
+631%

GeekBench 5 Single-Core

GeekBench 5 Single-Core is a cross-platform application developed in the form of CPU tests that independently recreate certain real-world tasks with which to accurately measure performance. This version uses only a single CPU core.

i3-7100U 775
i5-12500 2328
+200%

GeekBench 5 Multi-Core

GeekBench 5 Multi-Core is a cross-platform application developed in the form of CPU tests that independently recreate certain real-world tasks with which to accurately measure performance. This version uses all available CPU cores.

i3-7100U 1581
i5-12500 8959
+467%

Gaming performance

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 1.71 12.54
Integrated graphics card 2.43 6.16
Recency 30 August 2016 4 January 2022
Physical cores 2 6
Threads 4 12
Power consumption (TDP) 15 Watt 65 Watt

i3-7100U has 333.3% lower power consumption.

i5-12500, on the other hand, has a 633.3% higher aggregate performance score, 153.5% faster integrated GPU, an age advantage of 5 years, and 200% more physical cores and 200% more threads.

The Core i5-12500 is our recommended choice as it beats the Core i3-7100U in performance tests.

Be aware that Core i3-7100U is a notebook processor while Core i5-12500 is a desktop one.


Should you still have questions on choice between Core i3-7100U and Core i5-12500, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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Do you think we are right or mistaken in our choice? Vote by clicking "Like" button near your favorite CPU.


Intel Core i3-7100U
Core i3-7100U
Intel Core i5-12500
Core i5-12500

Similar processor comparisons

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Community ratings

Here you can see how users rate the processors, as well as rate them yourself.


3.6 460 votes

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4.1 633 votes

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Questions & comments

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