CPU Comparison
Intel Core i3-12100 vs Intel Core i5-4670T
A side-by-side comparison of specs, performance and value. The Intel Core i3-12100 is a 4-core, 8-thread desktop processor introducing the Golden Cove architecture to the budget segment, featuring DDR4/DDR5 support, PCIe 5.0, and a bundled Laminar RM1 cooler.
The Bottom Line
Overview & Launch
Specifications Compared
Performance Compared
Productivity
Handles everyday office tasks and web applications with ease, but heavy multitasking will expose the 4-core limitation.
Four cores handle office apps and light multitasking with ease.
Gaming
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.
Quad cores help with older titles, but HD 4600 limits modern gaming.
Virtualization
Can run a single lightweight virtual machine, but lacks the core count for serious virtualization workloads.
Can run basic VMs, but lacks Hyper-Threading for better scaling.
Efficiency
Very power-efficient for a desktop processor, drawing little power at idle and scaling linearly under load.
Excellent performance-per-watt for a 2013 desktop chip.
Specialized Performance
AI / ML
- No dedicated AI acceleration hardware
- CPU-based inference is slow with only 4 cores
- Not designed or recommended for machine learning tasks
- No AI hardware
- Too slow for modern inference
Content Creation
Gaming
- 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
- Integrated graphics too weak
- CPU is fine for legacy games
- Needs a dedicated GPU for real gaming
Industry Impact
Best CPU by Use Case
Target Audience
Strengths & Weaknesses
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
Pros
- True 4 physical cores
- Low 45W TDP for a quad-core
- 6MB of L3 cache
- Good for basic home servers
Cons
- No Hyper-Threading
- Low base clock of 2.3 GHz
- Obsolete DDR3 memory
- Locked multiplier
Competitors & Alternatives
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
Intel Core i5-4670T
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i5-4570SRival
Desktop
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i5-4440SRival
Desktop
- AMD A10-6790KRival
Desktop
- Intel Core i7-4770TRival
Desktop
- AMD FX-4300Rival
Desktop
Modern quad-core with massive single-thread improvements.
Compare head-to-head- AMD Ryzen 5 5500Alt
Cheap hex-core with great multi-threading.
- Intel Core i5-12400Alt
Excellent modern budget 6-core.
- AMD Ryzen 3 4100Alt
Budget quad-core with modern features.
- Intel Pentium G7400Alt
Modern dual-core for basic office builds.
Our Verdict on Each
The 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 reviewAn impressive engineering feat for its time, delivering true quad-core performance in a 45W package, though outdated now.
Best for: The Core i5-4670T is largely obsolete but retains niche value for budget builders repurposing old hardware. If you already own an LGA 1150 motherboard, finding a used 4670T can be a worthwhile, inexpensive upgrade from a dual-core Pentium or i3, offering true quad-core performance for basic gaming and multitasking. It is particularly attractive if you are building a low-power home server or a pfSense router, as the 45 W TDP keeps electricity costs down. However, do not build a new system around this processor. It lacks modern instructions, DDR4 support, and the single-core performance needed for modern AAA gaming. If purchasing, ensure the price is minimal. For any new build, a modern Intel Core i3 or AMD Ryzen 3 will offer significantly better performance and efficiency out of the box.
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Intel Core i3-12100 or Intel Core i5-4670T?
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 i3-12100 or Intel Core i5-4670T?
For gaming, the Intel Core i3-12100 leads with a gaming performance score of 65/100 among Intel Core i3-12100 and Intel Core i5-4670T.
Which uses less power?
The Intel Core i5-4670T has the lowest rated TDP. Power draw across these chips: Intel Core i3-12100 (60 W), Intel Core i5-4670T (45 W).
Do Intel Core i3-12100 and Intel Core i5-4670T use the same socket?
No. They use different sockets (Intel Core i3-12100: LGA 1700, Intel Core i5-4670T: Intel Socket 1150 (LGA1150)), 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), Intel Core i5-4670T (5,800). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.