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CPU Comparison: FPS, Specs & Value

Core i3-12100F vs Core i9-10980XE

The Core i3-12100F is quite a bit faster than the Core i9-10980XE on average across 100+ games and it's also a much better value for money, as it's $624.01 cheaper!

bar_chartBenchmarks groupCommunity calculateFPS Calculator compressBottleneck Calculator

CPU

$115.99View CPUAll CPUs

Up to 26% faster on average across 100+ games
Is 2 years and 3 months newer
Up to 1009% cheaper – $115.99 vs $740.00
Up to 1301% better value for money

CPU

$740.00View CPUAll CPUs

Up to 1009% more expensive – $740.00 vs $115.99

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

Apex Legends2019

Core i3-12100F

374FPS

Core i9-10980XE

367FPS

Elden Ring2022

Core i3-12100F

163FPS

Core i9-10980XE

155FPS

League of Legends2009

Core i3-12100F

310FPS

Core i9-10980XE

245FPS

Grand Theft Auto V2013

Core i3-12100F

216FPS

Core i9-10980XE

208FPS

Escape From Tarkov2017

Core i3-12100F

240FPS

Core i9-10980XE

226FPS

Fortnite2017

Core i3-12100F

332FPS

Core i9-10980XE

329FPS

Valorant2020

Core i3-12100F

680FPS

Core i9-10980XE

616FPS

Minecraft2011

Core i3-12100F

712FPS

Core i9-10980XE

645FPS

Specs & Benchmark Comparison

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

Scorehelp

Core i3-12100F

50%

Core i9-10980XE

35%

Core i3-12100F ranks 15 points higher.

Coreshelp

Core i3-12100F

Core i9-10980XE

Core i9-10980XE has 14 more cores.

Threadshelp

Core i3-12100F

Core i9-10980XE

Core i9-10980XE has 28 more threads.

L3 Cachehelp

Core i3-12100F

12 MB

Core i9-10980XE

24.75 MB

Core i9-10980XE has 12.75 MB more L3 cache.

Base Frequencyhelp

Core i3-12100F

3.3 GHz

Core i9-10980XE

3 GHz

Core i3-12100F has a 10% higher base clock.

Turbo Frequencyhelp

Core i3-12100F

4.3 GHz

Core i9-10980XE

4.8 GHz

Core i9-10980XE boosts 12% higher.

TDPhelp

Core i3-12100F

58W

Core i9-10980XE

165W

Core i3-12100F draws 107W less power.

Pricehelp

Core i3-12100F

$115.99

Core i9-10980XE

$740.00

Core i3-12100F is $624.01 cheaper.

Core i3-12100FCore i9-10980XE

LGA1700

Sockethelp

LGA2066

Alder Lake-S

Codenamehelp

Cascade Lake-X

Desktop

Segmenthelp

Desktop

No Integrated Graphics

Integrated GPUhelp

No Integrated Graphics

3200 MHz (DDR4), 4800 MHz (DDR5)

RAMhelp

2933 MHz (DDR4)

Not Overclockable

Overclock Supporthelp

Overclockable

Frequently Asked Questions

compare_arrowsWhich is better, Core i3-12100F or Core i9-10980XE?expand_more

The Core i3-12100F. It's 43% faster than the Core i9-10980XE on average across 100+ games, scoring 50/100 vs 35/100 in our gaming rating.

speedHow much faster is Core i3-12100F than Core i9-10980XE?expand_more

43% 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 i3-12100F or Core i9-10980XE?expand_more

The Core i3-12100F is faster at both resolutions. Toggle the resolution selector above to see per-game FPS.

paidIs the Core i3-12100F worth buying in 2026?expand_more

It scores 50/100 in our gaming rating, faster than most CPUs on the market. Good buy if the price is right.

differenceWhat is the difference between Core i3-12100F and Core i9-10980XE?expand_more

Performance: Core i3-12100F scores 50/100, Core i9-10980XE scores 35/100. They also differ in core count, clock speeds, L3 cache, and power draw. Full breakdown in the specs section above.

compressWill the Core i3-12100F or Core i9-10980XE 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 i3-12100F or Core i9-10980XE?expand_more

The Core i3-12100F is the stronger pick at 50/100. Compare your current CPU against it to see the exact FPS gain across 100+ games.