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CPU Comparison: FPS, Specs & Value

Core i3-12100 vs Core Ultra 9 285K

The Core i3-12100 is quite a bit slower than the Core Ultra 9 285K on average across 100+ games. However, it's a much better value for money, as it's $281.59 cheaper!

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CPU

$257.41View CPUAll CPUs

Up to 383% cheaper – $257.41 vs $539.00
Up to 247% better value for money

CPU

$539.00View CPUAll CPUs

Up to 39% faster on average across 100+ games
Is 2 years and 10 months newer
Up to 383% more expensive – $539.00 vs $257.41

FPS Comparison Across Popular Games

Predicted average FPS at 1080p, 1440p, and 4K, based on real game benchmarks.

Resolution

Quality

Paired GPU

View Compare All GPUs

Select GPU

League of Legends2009

Core i3-12100

305FPS

Core Ultra 9 285K

439FPS

Grand Theft Auto V2013

215FPS

226FPS

641FPS

770FPS

Dota 22013

Core i3-12100

232FPS

Core Ultra 9 285K

322FPS

Valorant2020

Core i3-12100

675FPS

Core Ultra 9 285K

823FPS

Overwatch 22023

Core i3-12100

541FPS

Core Ultra 9 285K

581FPS

Fortnite2017

Core i3-12100

332FPS

Core Ultra 9 285K

316FPS

Apex Legends2019

Core i3-12100

373FPS

Core Ultra 9 285K

395FPS

Specs & Benchmark Comparison

Side-by-side specs, synthetic benchmarks, and key hardware differences.

Scorehelp

Core i3-12100

48%

Core Ultra 9 285K

75%

Core Ultra 9 285K ranks 27 points higher.

Coreshelp

Core i3-12100

Core Ultra 9 285K

Core Ultra 9 285K has 20 more cores.

Threadshelp

Core i3-12100

Core Ultra 9 285K

Core Ultra 9 285K has 16 more threads.

L3 Cachehelp

Core i3-12100

12 MB

Core Ultra 9 285K

36 MB

Core Ultra 9 285K has 24 MB more L3 cache.

Base Frequencyhelp

Core i3-12100

3.3 GHz

Core Ultra 9 285K

3.7 GHz

Core Ultra 9 285K has a 12% higher base clock.

Turbo Frequencyhelp

Core i3-12100

4.3 GHz

Core Ultra 9 285K

5.7 GHz

Core Ultra 9 285K boosts 33% higher.

TDPhelp

Core i3-12100

60W

Core Ultra 9 285K

125W

Core i3-12100 draws 65W less power.

Pricehelp

Core i3-12100

$257.41

Core Ultra 9 285K

$539.00

Core i3-12100 is $281.59 cheaper.

Core i3-12100Core Ultra 9 285K

LGA1700

Sockethelp

LGA1851

Alder Lake-S

Codenamehelp

Arrow Lake-S

Desktop

Segmenthelp

Desktop

UHD Graphics 730

Integrated GPUhelp

Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU

3200 MHz (DDR4), 4800 MHz (DDR5)

RAMhelp

6400 MHz (DDR5)

Not Overclockable

Overclock Supporthelp

Overclockable

Frequently Asked Questions

compare_arrowsWhich is better, Core i3-12100 or Core Ultra 9 285K?expand_more

The Core Ultra 9 285K. It's 56% faster than the Core i3-12100 on average across 100+ games, scoring 75/100 vs 48/100 in our gaming rating.

speedHow much faster is Core Ultra 9 285K than Core i3-12100?expand_more

56% faster on average. The gap varies by game and resolution, check the per-game FPS comparison above.

aspect_ratioWhich is better for 1440p and 4K gaming, Core i3-12100 or Core Ultra 9 285K?expand_more

The Core Ultra 9 285K is faster at both resolutions. Toggle the resolution selector above to see per-game FPS.

paidIs the Core Ultra 9 285K worth buying in 2026?expand_more

It scores 75/100 in our gaming rating, faster than most CPUs on the market. Good buy if the price is right.

differenceWhat is the difference between Core i3-12100 and Core Ultra 9 285K?expand_more

Performance: Core i3-12100 scores 48/100, Core Ultra 9 285K scores 75/100. They also differ in core count, clock speeds, L3 cache, and power draw. Full breakdown in the specs section above.

compressWill the Core i3-12100 or Core Ultra 9 285K bottleneck my PC?expand_more

Depends on the rest of your build, especially your GPU. Swap the paired GPU in the FPS section above to see if it limits performance, or use our bottleneck calculator for a full analysis.

upgradeIs it worth upgrading to the Core i3-12100 or Core Ultra 9 285K?expand_more

The Core Ultra 9 285K is the stronger pick at 75/100. Compare your current CPU against it to see the exact FPS gain across 100+ games.