Intel Core i3-12100 vs Intel Core i3-1215U Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data presents a strikingly one-sided comparison. Across 19 shared benchmark tests, the Intel Core i3-12100 secures 17 wins, while the Intel Core i3-1215U manages only 2. The margin of victory for the desktop part is often substantial, but the two wins for the mobile chip reveal an interesting nuance in single-threaded efficiency.

Starting with the most lopsided results, the Core i3-12100 dominates in Cinebench workloads. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the desktop chip scores 10623 against the mobile chip's 6644, a delta of -37.5%. That same percentage gap repeats almost exactly across Cinebench R15 and R20 multi-core tests, with scores of 1070 versus 669 and 4461 versus 2790 respectively. The consistency of that 37.5% deficit across three generations of Cinebench suggests a fixed structural advantage rather than a workload-specific quirk.

The single-core Cinebench results tell a similar story. The Core i3-12100 leads by 37.3% in R15 single-core (150 versus 94), 37.5% in R20 single-core (629 versus 393), and 37.4% in R23 single-core (1499 versus 938). These are not marginal differences; they represent a fundamental gap in per-thread performance that persists regardless of the rendering engine used.

Geekbench results reinforce the pattern. The Core i3-12100 scores 7214 in multi-core versus 4365 for the Core i3-1215U, a 39.5% advantage. In single-core, the desktop chip leads by a smaller but still decisive 24.3%, scoring 1962 against 1485. The smaller single-core delta suggests that the mobile chip's architecture is comparatively stronger on a per-clock basis, but it is still outpaced.

PassMark tests show a more varied landscape. The closest contest in the entire dataset is PassMark integer math, where the Core i3-12100 edges out the mobile chip by just 0.4% (35678 versus 35534). Data encryption is similarly tight at 2.5% (7222 versus 7041). These near-parity results indicate that for certain integer-heavy and encryption workloads, the two processors are effectively interchangeable.

The Core i3-1215U's sole victories come in PassMark single-thread and the duplicate PassMark singlethread test, where it scores 3218 against 3173 for the Core i3-12100, a 1.4% advantage. This is a narrow win, but it is consistent across both recorded entries of the same test. It suggests that the mobile chip's boost behavior, despite its lower thermal envelope, can occasionally outpace the desktop part in lightly threaded scenarios.

Other PassMark results fall in between. The desktop chip leads by 17.8% in data compression (142060 versus 116705), 29.2% in extended instructions (9702 versus 6868), 34.7% in prime number finding (49 versus 32), 9.4% in floating point math (28015 versus 25379), 14% in multithread (12170 versus 10472), 24.9% in physics (776 versus 583), and 8.7% in random string sorting (14286 versus 13046). The pattern is clear: the Core i3-12100 wins nearly everywhere, and often by wide margins.

Architecture Differences

Both processors share the Alder Lake architecture and are built on Intel's 10 nm process node, but they target fundamentally different market segments. The Core i3-1215U is a mobile part with 6 cores and 8 threads, while the Core i3-12100 is a desktop part with 4 cores and 8 threads. The mobile chip actually has more physical cores, yet it loses in nearly every benchmark. This is the central paradox of this comparison.

The explanation lies in clock speeds and power targets. The Core i3-1215U has a base clock of 1200 MHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz, while the Core i3-12100 operates at a base clock of 3.30 GHz and boosts to 4.30 GHz. The desktop chip's base clock is nearly three times higher, which means it sustains much higher performance under continuous load. The mobile chip's thermal design point is 15 watts, while the desktop part draws 60 watts. That 45-watt difference in power budget allows the desktop chip to maintain its clock speeds without throttling.

Cache configurations also differ. Both chips have 80 KB of L1 cache per core and 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core, but the L3 cache differs: the Core i3-1215U has 10 MB shared, while the Core i3-12100 has 12 MB shared. That extra 2 MB of L3 cache on the desktop part provides a modest advantage in workloads that benefit from larger working sets.

The sockets and platforms are entirely different. The Core i3-1215U uses Intel BGA 1744, a soldered mobile socket, while the Core i3-12100 uses Intel Socket 1700, a standard desktop socket. The mobile chip's PCIe implementation is Gen 4 with 20 lanes, while the desktop chip offers Gen 5 with 16 lanes. The desktop part's PCIe Gen 5 support is a significant platform advantage for storage and expansion.

Integrated graphics differ as well. The Core i3-1215U carries UHD Graphics 64EU, while the Core i3-12100 has UHD Graphics 730. Both support DDR4 and DDR5 memory in dual-channel mode, and neither supports ECC memory. The die size of the Core i3-12100 is recorded at 163 mm², while the mobile chip's die size is not recorded in the database. The Core i3-1215U was released in February 2022, roughly a month after the Core i3-12100's January 2022 release.

Where Each One Wins

The Core i3-12100 is the clear choice for multi-threaded rendering workloads. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 10623 represents a 60% improvement over the mobile chip's 6644. For anyone running CPU-based rendering, video encoding, or 3D scene compilation, the desktop part delivers dramatically higher throughput. The 39.5% lead in Geekbench multi-core reinforces this conclusion.

The Core i3-12100 also wins in single-core performance across every Cinebench iteration and Geekbench, with advantages ranging from 24.3% to 37.5%. This makes it the better choice for applications that rely on strong per-thread performance, such as legacy software, certain simulation tools, and lightly threaded games.

The desktop chip's lead in PassMark extended instructions (29.2%) and data compression (17.8%) suggests it handles SIMD-heavy workloads and archive operations more efficiently. Its 34.7% advantage in prime number finding indicates stronger raw arithmetic throughput.

The Core i3-1215U's only recorded wins are in PassMark single-thread, where it leads by 1.4%. This narrow victory, combined with its near-parity in integer math (down just 0.4%) and data encryption (down 2.5%), suggests that in short, bursty workloads that do not sustain heavy load, the mobile chip can hold its own. Its higher boost clock of 4.40 GHz, which exceeds the desktop chip's 4.30 GHz, likely explains this behavior.

However, the mobile chip's wins are limited to a single benchmark category. The data shows no scenario where the Core i3-1215U wins in a sustained or multi-threaded workload. Its 6-core configuration does not translate into a performance advantage in any recorded test.

The Verdict

The benchmark data is unambiguous: the Intel Core i3-12100 is the superior processor in 17 of 19 recorded tests, with margins that often exceed 30%. For any workload that benefits from sustained multi-threaded performance, strong single-core speeds, or consistent power delivery, the desktop part is the correct choice.

The Core i3-1215U's niche is narrow but real. Its 1.4% lead in PassMark single-thread and near-parity in integer math and encryption show that it can match the desktop chip in specific short-duration tasks. The mobile chip also carries a significantly lower thermal design point of 15 watts versus 60 watts, which makes it suitable for battery-powered devices where the desktop chip's power draw would be prohibitive.

The Core i3-12100 sits in the 67th percentile of all CPUs in the database, with an average benchmark score of 12054. The Core i3-1215U also sits in the 67th percentile, with an average score of 12604. Despite winning nearly every head-to-head test, the desktop chip's average score is actually lower than the mobile chip's. This discrepancy is explained by the different pools of tests recorded for each processor: the mobile chip has more PassMark results, which may weight its average differently.

The desktop chip's nearest rivals include the Intel Xeon Gold 6314U, Intel Xeon Bronze 3408U, AMD Ryzen 5 3500X, and Intel Core i7-7700, with deltas ranging from 0.2% to 1.2%. The mobile chip's nearest rivals include the Intel Atom x7809C, Intel Core i3-10105F, Intel Core i5-1230U, and AMD EPYC 9174F, with deltas from -0.3% to 0.5%. These rival lists place both chips in similar company, despite their divergent benchmark results.

For a desktop user building a system with Socket 1700, the Core i3-12100 offers the best recorded performance in this comparison. For a mobile user who needs a low-power processor in a BGA 1744 form factor, the Core i3-1215U is the only option of the two, and its performance is competitive in light workloads. The data does not support choosing the mobile chip for raw performance; it only supports choosing it for platform and power constraints.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The Intel Core i3-1215U has 6 cores, while the Intel Core i3-12100 has 4 cores. Both have 8 threads.

Q: Why does the Core i3-12100 win in multi-core benchmarks despite having fewer cores?

A: The Core i3-12100 has a base clock of 3.30 GHz compared to 1200 MHz for the Core i3-1215U, and a 60 watt thermal design point versus 15 watts. The higher sustained clocks and power budget allow it to outperform the mobile chip in multi-threaded tests like Cinebench R23, where it scores 10623 versus 6644.

Q: In which benchmark does the Core i3-1215U win?

A: The Core i3-1215U wins in PassMark single-thread, scoring 3218 against 3173 for the Core i3-12100, a 1.4% advantage. This result appears twice in the database under slightly different test names.

Q: What is the difference in L3 cache size?

A: The Core i3-1215U has 10 MB of shared L3 cache, while the Core i3-12100 has 12 MB of shared L3 cache.

Q: Do both processors support the same memory types?

A: Yes, both support DDR4 and DDR5 memory in dual-channel mode. Neither supports ECC memory.

Q: What are the release dates for these processors?

A: The Core i3-12100 was released on January 3, 2022, and the Core i3-1215U was released on February 22, 2022.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i3-1215U | Intel Core i3-12100 |

|---|---|---|

| Cores | 6 | 4 |

| Base Clock | 1200 MHz | 3.30 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.40 GHz | 4.30 GHz |

| Thermal Design Point | 15 W | 60 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1744 | Intel Socket 1700 |

| Codename | Alder Lake-U | Alder Lake-S |

| L3 Cache | 10 MB (shared) | 12 MB (shared) |

| Die Size | Not recorded | 163 mm² |

| PCIe | Gen 4, 20 Lanes | Gen 5, 16 Lanes |

| Integrated Graphics | UHD Graphics 64EU | UHD Graphics 730 |

| Market Segment | Mobile | Desktop |

| Release Date | 2022-02-22 | 2022-01-03 |

| Part Number | SRLFU | SRL62 |

| Launch MSRP | Not recorded | $122 |