AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3990X vs Intel Core i3-12100F Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data presents a clear split between the two processors, with the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3990X taking 10 of the 14 recorded head-to-head wins, while the Intel Core i3-12100F secures 4. The most dramatic difference appears in the 3DMark 16-thread test, where the Threadripper scores 9975 against the i3's 4051, a delta of negative 59.4 percent from the Intel chip's perspective. The margin widens further in the 3DMark max-threads test, with the AMD part at 18441 versus 4023, representing a negative 78.2 percent delta for the i3.

Cinebench results reinforce this pattern with remarkable consistency. The R15 multicore test shows the Threadripper at 6866 against the i3's 1195, a negative 82.6 percent delta, and the same percentage appears in R15 single-core (969 versus 168), R20 multicore (28612 versus 4981), R20 single-core (4039 versus 703), R23 multicore (68124 versus 11860), and R23 single-core (9617 versus 1674). Every one of those Cinebench comparisons yields the identical negative 82.6 percent delta, which suggests a uniform scaling relationship between the two parts in that benchmark suite.

Geekbench multicore follows suit, with the Threadripper at 20912 versus 7252 for the i3, a negative 65.3 percent delta. However, the Geekbench single-core test flips the script: the i3 scores 1932, the Threadripper 1472, giving the Intel part a positive 31.3 percent delta. The 3DMark 2-thread test also favors Intel, with the i3 at 1659 versus 1383, a 20 percent advantage. The 4-thread test is closer, with the i3 at 2859 versus 2721, a 5.1 percent edge.

The 8-thread test returns to AMD territory, as the Threadripper scores 5182 versus 4026, a negative 22.3 percent delta for Intel. The data suggests a clear threshold: workloads that scale beyond roughly 4 threads heavily favor the 64-core part, while lightly threaded tasks give the 4-core i3 an edge, sometimes by significant margins.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The Intel Core i3-12100F is built on Alder Lake-S architecture with a 10 nm process node from Intel's own foundry, featuring 4 cores and 8 threads. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3990X uses Zen 2 architecture, codenamed Castle Peak, on a 7 nm TSMC node, with 64 cores and 128 threads. The Threadripper integrates 30,400 million transistors across 8 dies of 74 mm² each, while the i3 uses a single 163 mm² die.

Cache hierarchies differ substantially. The i3 provides 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 12 MB of shared L3. The Threadripper counters with 64 KB L1 per core, 512 KB L2 per core, and a massive 256 MB L3. The L3 difference alone, 256 MB versus 12 MB, reflects the Threadripper's multi-die design and its target of dataset-heavy workloads.

Memory support also diverges. The i3 supports both DDR4 and DDR5 with a dual-channel memory bus, while the Threadripper supports DDR4 only but with a quad-channel bus, delivering a recorded memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s. The i3 lists no explicit memory bandwidth figure in the database, so a direct comparison is not possible from the recorded data.

PCIe connectivity differs sharply: the i3 offers Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes, while the Threadripper provides Gen 4 with 64 CPU lanes. Both parts lack integrated graphics. The i3 is not multiplier-unlocked, whereas the Threadripper is. The Threadripper uses the AMD Socket TRX4, the i3 uses Intel Socket 1700. The Threadripper has a 280 TDP, the i3 a 58 TDP. The production status for both is listed as active. The Threadripper has a release date of 2020-02-06, while the i3's release date is not recorded in the database.

The process node difference, 7 nm versus 10 nm, partially explains the Threadripper's ability to pack 64 cores into its thermal envelope, though the TDP gap of 280 versus 58 watts indicates the power cost of that core count.

The Verdict

The recorded benchmark data makes the choice straightforward for most use cases. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3990X dominates every multicore test in the database, with deltas ranging from negative 22.3 percent to negative 82.6 percent relative to the Intel i3-12100F. For any workload that uses more than a handful of threads, the Threadripper is clearly superior. The Cinebench R23 multicore result, 68124 versus 11860, represents a roughly 5.7 times advantage, and the Geekbench multicore score, 20912 versus 7252, shows the same pattern.

The Intel i3-12100F wins exclusively in lightly threaded scenarios: 3DMark 2-thread, 4-thread, and single-thread tests, plus Geekbench single-core. Its single-thread 3DMark score of 893 beats the Threadripper's 695 by 28.5 percent, and its Geekbench single-core 1932 beats 1472 by 31.3 percent. For applications that rely on a single primary thread, the i3 is faster, sometimes by over 30 percent.

Interestingly, both processors sit at the 68th percentile among all CPUs in the database. The i3's average benchmark score is 13494, while the Threadripper's is 12786. The Threadripper's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i3-1210U with a slight negative 0.1 percent delta, the Intel Core i5-8400 at positive 0.2 percent, the Intel Xeon Gold 6348 at positive 0.3 percent, and the AMD EPYC 7502 at positive 0.6 percent. The i3's nearest rivals include the Intel Core 3 N355 at delta 0, the Intel Core i5-9500 at positive 0.3 percent, the Intel Core 5 120UL at negative 0.7 percent, and the Intel Core i7-1250U at positive 1.1 percent. The fact that the 64-core Threadripper lands near the 4-core i3 in average score highlights how heavily single-thread performance drags down the AMD part's aggregate.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3990X has 64 cores and 128 threads, while the Intel Core i3-12100F has 4 cores and 8 threads.

Q: What is the single-thread performance difference?

A: The Intel Core i3-12100F scores 893 in 3DMark single-thread versus 695 for the Threadripper, a 28.5 percent advantage. In Geekbench single-core, the i3 scores 1932 versus 1472, a 31.3 percent edge.

Q: How large is the multicore gap in Cinebench?

A: In Cinebench R23 multicore, the Threadripper scores 68124 and the i3 scores 11860, a negative 82.6 percent delta for Intel. The same negative 82.6 percent delta appears across all six Cinebench tests.

Q: What memory configurations do the two support?

A: The i3 supports DDR4 and DDR5 with a dual-channel bus. The Threadripper supports DDR4 only, but with a quad-channel bus and a recorded bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s.

Q: Which processor has more PCIe lanes?

A: The Threadripper provides Gen 4 with 64 CPU lanes, while the i3 provides Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes.

Q: What are the TDP values?

A: The i3 has a TDP of 58, the Threadripper has a TDP of 280.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3990X wins in every test that exercises significant parallelism. The 3DMark 16-thread test gives it 9975 versus 4051, the 8-thread test gives 5182 versus 4026, and the max-threads test gives 18441 versus 4023. All six Cinebench tests, including the single-core variants, favor the Threadripper by the same negative 82.6 percent delta, which is notable because even single-core Cinebench favors the AMD part despite the i3's wins in other single-thread tests. The Geekbench multicore test also goes to the Threadripper at 20912 versus 7252.

The Intel Core i3-12100F wins in 3DMark 2-thread (1659 versus 1383, a 20 percent margin), 3DMark 4-thread (2859 versus 2721, 5.1 percent), 3DMark single-thread (893 versus 695, 28.5 percent), and Geekbench single-core (1932 versus 1472, 31.3 percent). These wins cluster around low thread counts and single-threaded execution, indicating the i3's higher boost clock of 4.30 GHz, which matches the Threadripper's boost clock exactly, combined with its smaller core count, allows better per-thread performance in certain workloads.

For use-case planning, the data suggests the Threadripper is the choice for rendering, compilation, simulation, or any batch processing that can utilize dozens of threads. The i3 is better suited for interactive applications, legacy software with limited thread support, or scenarios where the fastest possible response on a single thread matters more than aggregate throughput. The Threadripper's 256 MB L3 cache and 102.4 GB/s memory bandwidth support its multicore advantage, while the i3's smaller footprint and lower TDP make it a fit for more constrained systems.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every recorded specification. Core count: 4 versus 64. Threads: 8 versus 128. Base clock: 3.30 GHz versus 2.90 GHz. Boost clock: both at 4.30 GHz. TDP: 58 versus 280. Socket: Intel Socket 1700 versus AMD Socket TRX4. Architecture: Alder Lake versus Zen 2. Process node: 10 nm versus 7 nm. Foundry: Intel versus TSMC. Die size: 163 mm² versus 8x 74 mm². Transistors: not listed for the i3, 30,400 million for the Threadripper.

L1 cache: 80 KB per core versus 64 KB per core. L2 cache: 1.25 MB per core versus 512 KB per core. L3 cache: 12 MB shared versus 256 MB. Memory support: DDR4 and DDR5 versus DDR4 only. Memory bus: dual-channel versus quad-channel. Memory bandwidth: not listed for the i3, 102.4 GB/s for the Threadripper. ECC memory: false for both. PCIe: Gen 5 with 16 lanes versus Gen 4 with 64 lanes. Integrated graphics: none for either. Market segment: Desktop for both. Production status: Active for both. Multiplier unlocked: false for the i3, true for the Threadripper. Part number: SRL63 versus 100-000000163100-100000163WOF. Launch MSRP: $97 for the i3, $3990 for the Threadripper. Release date: not recorded for the i3, 2020-02-06 for the Threadripper. The i3 belongs to the Core 12th Gen series, the Threadripper to the 3000 series.