CPU Comparison
Intel Core i3-10105 vs Intel Core i3-12100
A side-by-side comparison of specs, performance and value. The Intel Core i3-10105 is a 4-core, 8-thread desktop processor featuring a 3.7 GHz base clock, 4.4 GHz boost, and UHD Graphics 630, built on the 14nm Comet Lake-R architecture for the LGA 1200 socket.
The Bottom Line
Overview & Launch
Specifications Compared
Performance Compared
Productivity
Easily handles word processing, spreadsheets, and web applications. Multi-threaded tasks like video encoding reveal its 4-core limitations.
Handles everyday office tasks and web applications with ease, but heavy multitasking will expose the 4-core limitation.
Gaming
When paired with a dedicated GPU, it can handle 1080p eSports titles well, but it will bottleneck more demanding modern AAA games.
Delivers playable 1080p frame rates in esports and older AAA titles when paired with a mid-range GPU, though 4 cores limit performance in modern CPU-heavy games.
Virtualization
Can run a lightweight VM or two, but 8 threads and 6MB of cache restrict complex virtualization setups.
Can run a single lightweight virtual machine, but lacks the core count for serious virtualization workloads.
Efficiency
The 14nm process is less power-efficient than newer 10nm or 7nm competing chips, drawing more power per clock.
Very power-efficient for a desktop processor, drawing little power at idle and scaling linearly under load.
Specialized Performance
AI / ML
- No dedicated AI acceleration hardware
- Lacks AVX-512 support found on higher-tier Comet Lake parts
- Suitable only for basic CPU-based inference
- No dedicated AI acceleration hardware
- CPU-based inference is slow with only 4 cores
- Not designed or recommended for machine learning tasks
Content Creation
Gaming
- Requires a dedicated GPU for any meaningful 3D gaming
- eSports titles like CS:GO and Valorant run smoothly
- CPU bottleneck becomes apparent in GPU-heavy 1080p scenarios
- 4 cores are becoming the strict minimum for modern titles
- Strong single-core performance benefits esports titles significantly
- Bottlenecks appear with GPUs above the RTX 3060 tier in CPU-bound games
- UHD 730 iGPU is insufficient for modern gaming
- 4 cores and 8 threads are the minimum recommended for modern PC gaming
Industry Impact
Best CPU by Use Case
Target Audience
Strengths & Weaknesses
Pros
- Included UHD Graphics 630 for display flexibility
- Low 65W TDP keeps cooling simple
- Compatible with both 400 and 500 series motherboards
- Affordable on the used market
- Solid single-threaded performance for basic tasks
Cons
- Limited to PCIe 3.0
- Memory controller capped at DDR4-2666
- Only 6MB of L3 cache
- Older 14nm manufacturing process
- Outperformed by cheaper newer AMD alternatives
- No PCIe 4.0 support for modern NVMe drives
Pros
- Outstanding single-thread performance for the price
- Includes UHD Graphics 730 for display output without a dGPU
- Bundled Laminar RM1 cooler saves money
- DDR4 and DDR5 memory flexibility
- PCIe 5.0 support for future-proofing
- Very low 60 W power consumption
Cons
- Only 4 cores limit heavy multi-threaded workloads
- No hybrid E-cores like higher-tier Alder Lake parts
- Locked multiplier prevents CPU overclocking
- UHD 730 iGPU is too weak for modern gaming
- LGA 1700 is a dead-end platform following 14th-gen
Competitors & Alternatives
Intel Core i3-10105
- AMD Ryzen 3 3100Rival
Budget Desktop
- AMD Ryzen 3 3300XRival
Budget Gaming
- AMD Ryzen 5 3600Rival
Mainstream Desktop
- Intel Core i3-11100Rival
Next-Gen Budget
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i5-10400Rival
Mainstream Desktop
Saves money if a dedicated GPU is already planned for the build.
Compare head-to-headAdds 2 more cores for significantly better multi-threaded performance at a slightly higher price.
Compare head-to-headA massive architectural leap if upgrading to the LGA 1700 platform.
Compare head-to-head- AMD Ryzen 5 5600Alt
Far superior 6-core/12-thread performance for modern gaming and productivity.
Intel Core i3-12100
- AMD Ryzen 5 5500Rival
Budget Gaming
- AMD Ryzen 3 5300GRival
Budget APU
- AMD Ryzen 5 3600Rival
Previous-Gen AM4
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i3-10100Rival
Previous-Gen Intel
- AMD Ryzen 5 4600GRival
Mainstream APU
Saves $25 if a dedicated GPU is already part of the build plan.
Compare head-to-head- Intel Core i5-12400Alt
Provides 6 Golden Cove cores for significantly better multitasking and gaming longevity.
- AMD Ryzen 5 5600Alt
A step up in price but offers a much more balanced 6-core/12-thread profile for gaming and productivity.
If priced similarly, the 13th-gen offers a slight frequency bump for a seamless upgrade.
Compare head-to-head
Our Verdict on Each
A solid entry-level processor that served as a reliable budget option in 2021, though it is now outpaced by newer architectures and limited by PCIe 3.0 and DDR4-2666 memory speeds.
Best for: Upgrading an existing LGA 1200 system on a very tight budget where the CPU can be found used at a steep discount.
Read the full reviewThe i3-12100 delivers exceptional single-threaded performance for its $122 price point, complete with an iGPU and a stock cooler, making it one of the most well-rounded budget desktop processors Intel has ever produced.
Best for: Buy the i3-12100 if you are building a budget desktop PC and want the peace of mind of having integrated graphics as a fallback, or if you do not plan to install a dedicated GPU. At its current street price, it is an excellent choice for office PCs, student workstations, and entry-level gaming rigs paired with a mid-range graphics card like the GTX 1660 Super or RX 6600. Avoid it only if you are certain you will never need the iGPU, as the 12100F offers identical CPU performance for less money.
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Intel Core i3-10105 or Intel Core i3-12100?
Based on our editorial ratings, the Intel Core i3-12100 comes out ahead with a score of 7.8/10. That said, the best choice depends on your workload — check the spec and performance breakdown above for gaming, productivity and efficiency differences.
Which is faster for gaming, Intel Core i3-10105 or Intel Core i3-12100?
For gaming, the Intel Core i3-12100 leads with a gaming performance score of 65/100 among Intel Core i3-10105 and Intel Core i3-12100.
Which uses less power?
The Intel Core i3-12100 has the lowest rated TDP. Power draw across these chips: Intel Core i3-10105 (65 W), Intel Core i3-12100 (60 W).
Do Intel Core i3-10105 and Intel Core i3-12100 use the same socket?
No. They use different sockets (Intel Core i3-10105: LGA 1200, Intel Core i3-12100: LGA 1700), so each needs a compatible motherboard.
Which is faster in multi-core benchmarks?
The Intel Core i3-12100 posts the highest multi-core benchmark score. Multi-core results: Intel Core i3-12100 (8,500). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.