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CPU Comparison: FPS, Specs & Value

Core i3-550 vs Core i3-12100F

The Core i3-550 is much slower than the Core i3-12100F on average across 100+ games and it's also a much worse value for money, as it's $20.67 more expensive!

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CPU

$129.94View CPUAll CPUs

Up to 42% more expensive – $129.94 vs $109.27

CPU

$109.27View CPUAll CPUs

Up to 213% faster on average across 100+ games
Is 11 years and 9 months newer
Up to 42% cheaper – $109.27 vs $129.94
Up to 345% better value for money

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 i3-550

114FPS

Core i3-12100F

309FPS

Grand Theft Auto V2013

183FPS

216FPS

343FPS

645FPS

Valorant2020

Core i3-550

538FPS

Core i3-12100F

679FPS

Fortnite2017

Core i3-550

332FPS

Core i3-12100F

332FPS

Dota 22013

Core i3-550

169FPS

Core i3-12100F

234FPS

Minecraft2011

Core i3-550

576FPS

Core i3-12100F

711FPS

Overwatch 22023

Core i3-550

529FPS

Core i3-12100F

542FPS

Specs & Benchmark Comparison

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

Scorehelp

Core i3-550

Core i3-12100F

49%

Core i3-12100F ranks 47 points higher.

Coreshelp

Core i3-550

Core i3-12100F

Core i3-12100F has 2 more cores.

Threadshelp

Core i3-550

Core i3-12100F

Core i3-12100F has 4 more threads.

L3 Cachehelp

Core i3-550

4 MB

Core i3-12100F

12 MB

Core i3-12100F has 8 MB more L3 cache.

Base Frequencyhelp

Core i3-550

3.2 GHz

Core i3-12100F

3.3 GHz

Core i3-12100F has a 3% higher base clock.

Turbo Frequencyhelp

Core i3-550

Core i3-12100F

4.3 GHz

TDPhelp

Core i3-550

73W

Core i3-12100F

58W

Core i3-12100F draws 15W less power.

Pricehelp

Core i3-550

$129.94

Core i3-12100F

$109.27

Core i3-12100F is $20.67 cheaper.

Core i3-550Core i3-12100F

LGA1156

Sockethelp

LGA1700

Clarkdale

Codenamehelp

Alder Lake-S

Desktop

Segmenthelp

Desktop

Intel HD

Integrated GPUhelp

No Integrated Graphics

1333 MHz (DDR3)

RAMhelp

3200 MHz (DDR4), 4800 MHz (DDR5)

Not Overclockable

Overclock Supporthelp

Not Overclockable

Frequently Asked Questions

compare_arrowsWhich is better, Core i3-550 or Core i3-12100F?expand_more

The Core i3-12100F. It's 2350% faster than the Core i3-550 on average across 100+ games, scoring 49/100 vs 2/100 in our gaming rating.

speedHow much faster is Core i3-12100F than Core i3-550?expand_more

2350% 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 i3-550 or Core i3-12100F?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 49/100 in our gaming rating, faster than most CPUs on the market. Good buy if the price is right.

differenceWhat is the difference between Core i3-550 and Core i3-12100F?expand_more

Performance: Core i3-550 scores 2/100, Core i3-12100F scores 49/100. They also differ in core count, clock speeds, L3 cache, and power draw. Full breakdown in the specs section above.

compressWill the Core i3-550 or Core i3-12100F 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 i3-550 or Core i3-12100F?expand_more

The Core i3-12100F is the stronger pick at 49/100. Compare your current CPU against it to see the exact FPS gain across 100+ games.