CPU Comparison
Intel Core i3-12100 vs Intel Core i5-5575R
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.
Quad-core performance is sufficient for basic office apps but struggles with heavy multitasking.
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.
Handles older eSports and indie titles at 1080p smoothly thanks to the eDRAM.
Virtualization
Can run a single lightweight virtual machine, but lacks the core count for serious virtualization workloads.
Can run lightweight VMs but is limited by 4 threads and DDR3 memory.
Efficiency
Very power-efficient for a desktop processor, drawing little power at idle and scaling linearly under load.
The 14nm Broadwell chip is reasonably efficient within its 65W envelope.
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 acceleration hardware
- Limited by slow DDR3 memory bandwidth
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
- Iris Pro 6200 performs similarly to an entry-level GT 740 GPU
- Excellent for emulation and older titles
- Not suitable for modern AAA games
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
- Excellent integrated graphics for its era
- Low 65W TDP suitable for small cases
- Includes 128MB L4 eDRAM
- Good single-thread performance for basic tasks
Cons
- Soldered to motherboard, no upgrade path
- Locked multiplier
- Limited to DDR3 memory
- Only 4 threads limits modern multitasking
- Hard to find as a standalone part
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 i5-5575R
- AMD A10-7870KRival
Desktop APU
- AMD A8-7670KRival
Desktop APU
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i5-5675CRival
Desktop Socketed
- Intel Core i7-5557URival
Mobile/Desktop BGA
- AMD A10-8700PRival
Mobile APU
- AMD Ryzen 5 5600GAlt
A modern APU that massively outperforms this chip in every metric.
A modern budget CPU that dwarfs this i5 in single and multi-core performance.
Compare head-to-head- AMD Ryzen 3 3200GAlt
A cheap, modern AM4 alternative with better integrated graphics.
- Intel NUC 11Alt
A complete modern mini PC solution offering vastly superior efficiency.
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 intriguing BGA-packaged processor that delivers strong integrated graphics performance for compact systems, though its locked nature limits upgradability.
Best for: Buying a cheap used NUC or AIO for basic media consumption.
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Intel Core i3-12100 or Intel Core i5-5575R?
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 i5-5575R?
For gaming, the Intel Core i3-12100 leads with a gaming performance score of 65/100 among Intel Core i3-12100 and Intel Core i5-5575R.
Which uses less power?
The Intel Core i3-12100 has the lowest rated TDP. Power draw across these chips: Intel Core i3-12100 (60 W), Intel Core i5-5575R (65 W).
Do Intel Core i3-12100 and Intel Core i5-5575R use the same socket?
No. They use different sockets (Intel Core i3-12100: LGA 1700, Intel Core i5-5575R: Intel BGA 1364), 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.