i3-12100F vs i7-990X EE

Aggregate performance score

Core i7-990X EE
6 cores / 12 threads, 130 Watt
4.17
Core i3-12100F
2022
4 cores / 8 threads, 58 Watt
8.88
+113%

Core i3-12100F outperforms Core i7-990X EE by a whopping 113% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

Comparing Core i7-990X EE and Core i3-12100F processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking1380860
Place by popularitynot in top-1005
Market segmentDesktop processorDesktop processor
SeriesCore i7 (Desktop)no data
Power efficiency3.0414.49
Architecture codenameGulftown (2010−2011)Alder Lake-S (2022)
Release dateno data (2024 years ago)January 2022 (2 years ago)

Detailed specifications

Core i7-990X EE and Core i3-12100F 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 speedno data3.3 GHz
Boost clock speed3.73 GHz4.3 GHz
Bus rate6400 MHzno data
L1 cacheno data80K (per core)
L2 cacheno data1.25 MB (per core)
L3 cacheno data12 MB (shared)
Chip lithography32 nmIntel 7 nm
Die sizeno data163 mm2
Maximum core temperatureno data100 °C
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibility-+

Compatibility

Information on Core i7-990X EE and Core i3-12100F 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 configurationno data1
SocketLGA-1366FCLGA1700
Power consumption (TDP)130 Watt58 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i7-990X EE and Core i3-12100F. 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)no data+
Speed Shiftno data+
Turbo Boost Technologyno data2.0
Hyper-Threading Technologyno data+
TSX-+
Idle Statesno data+
Thermal Monitoring-+
Turbo Boost Max 3.0no data-
Deep Learning Boost-+

Security technologies

Core i7-990X EE and Core i3-12100F technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXTno data+
EDBno data+
Secure Keyno data+
OS Guardno data+

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i7-990X EE and Core i3-12100F are enumerated here.

VT-dno data+
VT-xno data+
EPTno data+

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i7-990X EE and Core i3-12100F. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesno dataDDR5-4800, DDR4-3200
Maximum memory sizeno data128 GB
Max memory channelsno data2
Maximum memory bandwidthno data76.8 GB/s

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i7-990X EE and Core i3-12100F.

PCIe versionno data5.0 and 4.0
PCI Express lanesno data20

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.

i7-990X EE 4.17
i3-12100F 8.88
+113%

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.

i7-990X EE 6624
i3-12100F 14110
+113%

Gaming performance

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 4.17 8.88
Physical cores 6 4
Threads 12 8
Power consumption (TDP) 130 Watt 58 Watt

i7-990X EE has 50% more physical cores and 50% more threads.

i3-12100F, on the other hand, has a 112.9% higher aggregate performance score, and 124.1% lower power consumption.

The Core i3-12100F is our recommended choice as it beats the Core i7-990X EE in performance tests.


Should you still have questions on choice between Core i7-990X EE and Core i3-12100F, 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 i7-990X EE
Core i7-990X EE
Intel Core i3-12100F
Core i3-12100F

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.


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Questions & comments

Here you can ask a question about Core i7-990X EE or Core i3-12100F, agree or disagree with our judgements, or report an error or mismatch.