i3-12100 vs i7-6800K

#ad 
Buy on Amazon
VS

Aggregate performance score

Core i7-6800K
2016
6 cores / 12 threads, 140 Watt
6.76
Core i3-12100
2022
4 cores / 8 threads, 60 Watt
8.57
+26.8%

Core i3-12100 outperforms Core i7-6800K by a significant 27% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

Comparing Core i7-6800K and Core i3-12100 processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking1034889
Place by popularitynot in top-100not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluation1.69no data
Market segmentDesktop processorDesktop processor
Power efficiency4.5713.52
Architecture codenameBroadwell-E (2016)Alder Lake-S (2022)
Release date31 May 2016 (8 years ago)4 January 2022 (2 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)$345no data

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

no data

Detailed specifications

Core i7-6800K and Core i3-12100 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 cores6 (Hexa-Core)4 (Quad-Core)
Threads128
Base clock speed3.4 GHz3.3 GHz
Boost clock speed3.8 GHz4.3 GHz
L1 cache32 KB (per core)80K (per core)
L2 cache256 KB (per core)1.25 MB (per core)
L3 cache15 MB (shared)12 MB (shared)
Chip lithography14 nmIntel 7 nm
Die sizeno data163 mm2
Maximum core temperatureno data100 °C
Maximum case temperature (TCase)72 °Cno data
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibility-+
Unlocked multiplier+-

Compatibility

Information on Core i7-6800K and Core i3-12100 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 configuration11
SocketFCLGA2011FCLGA1700
Power consumption (TDP)140 Watt60 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i7-6800K and Core i3-12100. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensionsno dataIntel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2
AES-NI++
AVX++
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)++
Speed Shiftno data+
Turbo Boost Technology2.02.0
Hyper-Threading Technology++
TSX-+
Idle States++
Thermal Monitoring-+
Smart Response+no data
Turbo Boost Max 3.0+-
Deep Learning Boost-+

Security technologies

Core i7-6800K and Core i3-12100 technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXT++
EDB++
Secure Keyno data+
OS Guardno data+

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i7-6800K and Core i3-12100 are enumerated here.

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

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i7-6800K and Core i3-12100. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesDDR4DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200
Maximum memory size128 GB128 GB
Max memory channels42
Maximum memory bandwidthno data76.8 GB/s

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics cardno dataIntel UHD Graphics 730
Quick Sync Video-+
Clear Video HDno data+
Graphics max frequencyno data1.4 GHz
Execution Unitsno data24

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core i7-6800K and Core i3-12100 integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supportedno data4

Graphics image quality

Maximum display resolutions supported by Core i7-6800K and Core i3-12100 integrated GPUs, including resolutions over different interfaces.

Max resolution over HDMI 1.4no data4096 x 2160 @ 60Hz
Max resolution over eDPno data5120 x 3200 @ 120Hz
Max resolution over DisplayPortno data7680 x 4320 @ 60Hz

Graphics API support

APIs supported by Core i7-6800K and Core i3-12100 integrated GPUs, sometimes API versions are included.

DirectXno data12
OpenGLno data4.5

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i7-6800K and Core i3-12100.

PCIe version3.05.0 and 4.0
PCI Express lanes2820

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.

i7-6800K 6.76
i3-12100 8.57
+26.8%

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.

i7-6800K 10738
i3-12100 13611
+26.8%

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.

i7-6800K 1236
i3-12100 2164
+75.1%

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.

i7-6800K 5661
i3-12100 6831
+20.7%

Gaming performance

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 6.76 8.57
Recency 31 May 2016 4 January 2022
Physical cores 6 4
Threads 12 8
Power consumption (TDP) 140 Watt 60 Watt

i7-6800K has 50% more physical cores and 50% more threads.

i3-12100, on the other hand, has a 26.8% higher aggregate performance score, an age advantage of 5 years, and 133.3% lower power consumption.

The Core i3-12100 is our recommended choice as it beats the Core i7-6800K in performance tests.


Should you still have questions on choice between Core i7-6800K and Core i3-12100, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

Vote for your favorite

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


Intel Core i7-6800K
Core i7-6800K
Intel Core i3-12100
Core i3-12100

Similar processor comparisons

We picked several similar comparisons of processors in the same market segment and performance relatively close to those reviewed on this page.

Community ratings

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


4 242 votes

Rate Core i7-6800K on a scale of 1 to 5:

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
4.1 1763 votes

Rate Core i3-12100 on a scale of 1 to 5:

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5

Questions & comments

Here you can ask a question about Core i7-6800K or Core i3-12100, agree or disagree with our judgements, or report an error or mismatch.