Intel Core i3-12100E vs Intel Core i5-1235U Comparison

The Intel Core i3-12100E and Intel Core i5-1235U are both Alder Lake parts, but they target entirely different platforms and deliver sharply contrasting performance profiles. Based on the benchmark data, the i3-12100E is the clear overall winner, taking 14 of the 19 head-to-head tests, with its most decisive victories coming in CPU-intensive workloads. However, the i5-1235U fights back in specific math and encryption tasks, revealing that the choice between them depends heavily on the application.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The i3-12100E dominates the Cinebench suite. In Cinebench R15 multicore, it scores 1164 against the i5-1235U’s 985, a lead of 18.2%. That same margin carries through Cinebench R20 multicore (4854 vs 4105, +18.2%) and Cinebench R23 multicore (11559 vs 9774, +18.3%). Single-core results are equally lopsided: the i3-12100E leads by 18.8% in R15 single-core (164 vs 138), 18.3% in R20 single-core (685 vs 579), and 18.3% in R23 single-core (1631 vs 1379). This consistency suggests a fundamental clock-speed and architecture advantage for the desktop chip.

The Geekbench results amplify the gap even further. The i3-12100E scores 7661 in Geekbench multicore, a massive 44.3% ahead of the i5-1235U’s 5308. In Geekbench single-core, the i3-12100E’s 2202 beats the i5-1235U’s 1609 by 36.9%. This is the largest delta in the entire comparison, indicating that the i3-12100E’s four high-performance cores are far more efficient at executing modern workloads than the i5-1235U’s hybrid arrangement.

The i3-12100E also wins in several Passmark subtests. It leads by 32.3% in extended instructions (10814 vs 8176), by 10.4% in multithread (14271 vs 12923), and by 72.7% in physics (1185 vs 686). The physics result is particularly striking—the i5-1235U’s score of 686 is less than 60% of the i3-12100E’s 1185. In data compression, the i3-12100E edges ahead with 160112 vs 147450, an 8.6% margin. Single-thread performance also favors the i3-12100E, with a 9.1% lead in Passmark single-thread (3438 vs 3151).

The i5-1235U’s victories are fewer but notable. Its biggest win is in Passmark find prime numbers, where it scores 954 against the i3-12100E’s 63—a staggering 93.4% advantage. This suggests the i5-1235U’s additional cores are highly effective at parallel integer-heavy algorithms. It also wins in floating-point math (43303 vs 31919, +26.3%), integer math (48553 vs 40885, +15.8%), data encryption (9347 vs 8069, +13.7%), and random string sorting (17050 vs 16089, +5.6%). These wins show that in specific mathematical workloads, the i5-1235U’s 10 cores can outmuscle the i3-12100E’s 4 cores.

Where Each One Wins

The i3-12100E is the winner for general-purpose computing, rendering, and any workload that relies on strong single-core performance. Its Cinebench and Geekbench scores are uniformly higher, making it the better choice for tasks like video encoding, 3D rendering, and everyday application responsiveness. The 72.7% lead in Passmark physics further confirms its strength in simulation and physics-based calculations, which are common in scientific computing and game physics.

The i5-1235U wins in mathematical throughput tasks. Its 93.4% lead in prime number finding and 26.3% lead in floating-point math indicate that it excels at parallel arithmetic operations, which are common in financial modeling, data analysis, and certain scientific simulations. The 13.7% lead in data encryption also makes it preferable for security-related workloads that involve heavy cryptographic processing. Its 15.8% lead in integer math and 5.6% lead in random string sorting round out a profile that favors number-crunching over latency-sensitive tasks.

The i3-12100E’s 14 wins versus the i5-1235U’s 5 wins is a decisive overall margin, but the i5-1235U’s wins are not trivial. They occur in workloads where the i3-12100E is surprisingly weak—the 63-point prime number score is an outlier that the i5-1235U exploits fully.

The Verdict

The data points to the Intel Core i3-12100E as the superior processor for most users. It wins every Cinebench test, both Geekbench tests, and the majority of Passmark subtests. Its 44.3% lead in Geekbench multicore is the single largest margin in the comparison, demonstrating that its four cores and eight threads deliver more usable performance than the i5-1235U’s ten cores and twelve threads in general-purpose scenarios. The i3-12100E also has a higher average benchmark score of 16853, edging out the i5-1235U’s 16770 by 0.5%.

However, the i5-1235U is the right choice for specific mathematical workloads. If your primary applications involve prime number calculations, floating-point math, or data encryption, the i5-1235U’s 93.4%, 26.3%, and 13.7% leads respectively make it the faster processor. Its 15.8% lead in integer math also matters for code compilation and certain data processing tasks. For these niche use cases, the i5-1235U’s hybrid core design pays off.

The i3-12100E is also the better choice for single-threaded performance, leading by 9.1% in Passmark single-thread and 36.9% in Geekbench single-core. This makes it more responsive in daily use, where most applications rely on a few fast cores rather than many slower ones. The i5-1235U’s 4.40 GHz boost clock is higher than the i3-12100E’s 4.20 GHz, but the benchmark results show that raw clock speed does not translate to real-world single-thread wins.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i3-12100E has an average benchmark score of 16853, which is 0.5% higher than the Intel Core i5-1235U’s 16770.

Q: How much faster is the i3-12100E in Geekbench multicore?

A: The i3-12100E scores 7661 in Geekbench multicore, which is 44.3% higher than the i5-1235U’s 5308.

Q: In which test does the i5-1235U have its largest advantage?

A: The i5-1235U’s largest advantage is in Passmark find prime numbers, where it scores 954 compared to the i3-12100E’s 63, a 93.4% lead.

Q: What are the core and thread counts for each processor?

A: The i3-12100E has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the i5-1235U has 10 cores and 12 threads.

Q: Which processor has a higher TDP?

A: The i3-12100E has a TDP of 60, while the i5-1235U has a TDP of 15.

Q: How many benchmark wins does each processor have in the head-to-head comparison?

A: The i3-12100E wins 14 tests, while the i5-1235U wins 5 tests.

Architecture Differences

Both processors use Intel’s Alder Lake architecture and are built on a 10 nm process node at Intel’s foundry. However, they are different variants of that architecture. The i3-12100E uses the Alder Lake-S codename, which is designed for desktop platforms, while the i5-1235U uses the Alder Lake-U codename, which is designed for mobile platforms. This distinction explains their different sockets: the i3-12100E fits Intel Socket 1700, while the i5-1235U uses Intel BGA 1744.

The core configurations differ significantly. The i3-12100E has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the i5-1235U has 10 cores and 12 threads. The i5-1235U’s hybrid arrangement—combining high-performance and high-efficiency cores—allows it to achieve higher thread counts, but the benchmark data shows this does not always translate to higher performance. Both processors have the same cache hierarchy: 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 12 MB of shared L3 cache.

The integrated graphics differ as well. The i3-12100E features UHD Graphics 730, while the i5-1235U features Iris Xe 80EU. The i5-1235U’s Iris Xe is generally more capable for graphics tasks, but this comparison focuses on CPU benchmarks. The i3-12100E supports PCIe Gen 5 with 20 lanes (CPU only), while the i5-1235U supports PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes (CPU only). This gives the desktop part a more modern I/O interface.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key specifications. The i3-12100E has a base clock of 3.20 GHz and a boost clock of 4.20 GHz, while the i5-1235U has a base clock of 1300.00 MHz (1.30 GHz) and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz. Despite the i5-1235U’s higher boost clock, the i3-12100E wins in single-core benchmarks, indicating that its higher base clock and desktop design provide better sustained performance.

The TDP is a major differentiator: the i3-12100E has a TDP of 60, while the i5-1235U has a TDP of 15. This makes the i5-1235U far more power-efficient, which is expected for a mobile processor. The market segments also differ—the i3-12100E is a Desktop part, while the i5-1235U is a Mobile part.

The socket types are incompatible: the i3-12100E uses Intel Socket 1700, while the i5-1235U uses Intel BGA 1744. This means they cannot be used in the same motherboards. The i3-12100E has a launch MSRP of $125, while the i5-1235U has no listed launch MSRP. The i3-12100E was released on 2022-01-03, while the i5-1235U was released later on 2022-02-22. Both processors are currently Active in production and have locked multipliers.

The part numbers differ as well: the i3-12100E is SRL6U, and the i5-1235U is SRLFR. Both support DDR4 and DDR5 memory with dual-channel memory buses, and neither supports ECC memory. The i3-12100E has a die size of 163 mm², while the i5-1235U’s die size is not listed. Both are built on the same 10 nm process node.