Intel Core i3-12100E vs Intel Core Ultra 5 115U Comparison

The benchmark data presents a clear hierarchy between these two Intel processors. The Intel Core i3-12100E is the decisive performance winner in the vast majority of tests, securing 15 out of 17 head-to-head victories. However, the Intel Core Ultra 5 115U, despite its lower overall performance, is not without its own specific strengths, particularly in encryption and integer math tasks. This analysis will break down the data to show where each chip excels and for whom each is designed.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Core i3-12100E dominates the Cinebench suite, which stresses both single and multi-threaded rendering. In Cinebench R23 multicore, it scores 11559 against the Ultra 5's 10855, a 6.5% advantage. This same 6.5% delta is consistent across all Cinebench tests, including R15 and R20, for both single and multicore workloads. The single-core results are particularly telling: the i3-12100E scores 1631 in Cinebench R23 single-core, while the Ultra 5 115U trails at 1532, showing a fundamental advantage in per-core performance for the older desktop chip.

The Passmark suite reveals an even wider gap in several specific workloads. The most significant victory for the i3-12100E comes in the Passmark physics test, where it scores 1185 compared to the Ultra 5's 898—a massive 32% lead. Extended instruction test results also heavily favor the i3-12100E, with a score of 10814 versus 8620, a 25.5% difference. Data compression is another area of substantial superiority for the i3-12100E, which scores 160112 against the Ultra 5's 141945, a 12.8% advantage. Even in single-threaded tasks, the i3-12100E maintains a strong lead, scoring 3438 in Passmark single-thread versus 3057 for the Ultra 5, a 12.5% difference.

While the Core i3-12100E wins the majority of tests, the Ultra 5 115U does claim two victories. The most notable is in Passmark data encryption, where the Ultra 5 scores 8606, beating the i3-12100E's 8069 by 6.2%. It also edges out the i3-12100E in Passmark integer math, scoring 41043 versus 40885, a narrow 0.4% margin. These wins, while important, are isolated and do not change the overall performance picture, which is heavily tilted toward the i3-12100E.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i3-12100E is the clear winner for any workload that prioritizes raw computational power. Its 32% lead in physics simulations makes it the better choice for applications that rely on realistic physics calculations. The 25.5% advantage in extended instructions suggests superior performance in tasks that use advanced CPU instruction sets, such as certain encryption algorithms or complex scientific calculations. Its consistent 6.5% lead across all Cinebench tests makes it the stronger option for 3D rendering and other content creation tasks. For general multitasking and productivity, the 9.6% lead in the Passmark multithread test (14271 vs 13024) indicates that the i3-12100E will handle a broader range of simultaneous activities with more headroom.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 115U wins in two distinct areas. Its 6.2% victory in data encryption suggests it has a more efficient hardware path for encryption-related tasks. The 0.4% edge in integer math, while small, indicates it can hold its own in workloads that are heavy on whole-number calculations, like certain financial or database applications. These wins point to the Ultra 5 being more efficient in specific, targeted tasks, but it does not have the overall strength to match the i3-12100E in broad, sustained workloads.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on fundamentally different architectures and for different market segments. The Core i3-12100E is a desktop part based on the Alder Lake architecture, manufactured on Intel's 10 nm process node. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Its cache hierarchy includes 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core, and a shared 12 MB L3 cache. This desktop design is reflected in its Intel Socket 1700 and its support for both DDR4 and DDR5 memory.

In contrast, the Core Ultra 5 115U is a mobile processor based on the newer Meteor Lake architecture, built on a more advanced 7 nm process node. It houses 8 cores and 10 threads, a higher count than the i3-12100E. Its cache structure is different, with 112 KB of L1 cache per core, 2 MB of L2 cache per core, but a smaller shared L3 cache of 10 MB. It is designed for the mobile segment, using an Intel BGA 2049 socket. The Ultra 5 also features a different integrated graphics solution, the Arc Xe-LPG 48EU, compared to the UHD Graphics 730 in the i3-12100E. The memory support is DDR5, with the bandwidth dependent on the motherboard.

Specification Differences

The most striking specification difference is the TDP. The Core i3-12100E has a TDP of 60, while the Core Ultra 5 115U has a TDP of just 15. This massive difference indicates that the i3-12100E is designed to be powered by a desktop platform with a dedicated cooling solution, while the Ultra 5 is engineered for the thermal constraints of a thin-and-light laptop.

Other key differences include the base clock, where the i3-12100E runs at 3.20 GHz, while the Ultra 5 has a much lower base clock of 1500.00 MHz. Both share the same 4.20 GHz boost clock. The i3-12100E offers PCIe Gen 5 with 20 lanes, while the Ultra 5 is limited to PCIe Gen 4 with 12 lanes. The i3-12100E has a launch MSRP of $125. The Core Ultra 5 115U was released later, in December 2023, compared to January 2022 for the i3-12100E. The i3-12100E also has a larger die size of 163 mm², while the Ultra 5's die size is not listed.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in multi-core workloads?

A: The Intel Core i3-12100E is faster. In Cinebench R23 multicore, it scores 11559, which is 6.5% higher than the Core Ultra 5 115U's score of 10855. It also wins the Passmark multithread test with a score of 14271 versus 13024.

Q: Does the Intel Core Ultra 5 115U win in any benchmark?

A: Yes, it wins two benchmarks. It scores 8606 in Passmark data encryption, a 6.2% advantage over the i3-12100E's 8069. It also narrowly wins in Passmark integer math with a score of 41043 compared to 40885.

Q: What is the biggest performance gap between the two?

A: The largest gap is in the Passmark physics test, where the Core i3-12100E scores 1185, a 32% lead over the Core Ultra 5 115U's score of 898.

Q: How do their core and thread counts differ?

A: The Core i3-12100E has 4 cores and 8 threads. The Core Ultra 5 115U has 8 cores and 10 threads.

Q: What are the key architectural differences?

A: The i3-12100E uses the Alder Lake architecture on a 10 nm process, while the Ultra 5 uses the newer Meteor Lake architecture on a 7 nm process. The Ultra 5 also has a smaller L3 cache (10 MB) compared to the i3-12100E (12 MB).

Q: Which processor has a higher TDP?

A: The Intel Core i3-12100E has a significantly higher TDP of 60, compared to the Core Ultra 5 115U's TDP of 15.

The Verdict

The data is unequivocal for anyone building a desktop system: the Intel Core i3-12100E is the superior processor. It wins 15 of 17 benchmark comparisons and provides substantial leads in critical areas like physics, extended instructions, and data compression. Its consistent 6.5% advantage across the Cinebench suite makes it the clear choice for rendering and content creation workloads. For a desktop user seeking maximum performance from a low-cost, active platform, the i3-12100E is the definitive pick.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 115U is a different kind of product. It is a mobile chip, and its low TDP of 15 makes it suitable for laptops where power efficiency is paramount. Its wins in data encryption and integer math show it has specific strengths, but its overall performance is lower. The data suggests it is not intended to compete with the i3-12100E on raw power. Instead, it is a processor for mobile devices where the i3-12100E's higher TDP and desktop socket would be impossible to implement. The choice between the two is not about which is better, but which is appropriate for the intended hardware platform. For a desktop, the i3-12100E; for a laptop, the Ultra 5 115U.