Intel Core i3-12100F vs Intel Core i7-8750H Comparison

The Intel Core i7-8750H and Intel Core i3-12100F represent two very different design philosophies from Intel, separated by several generations and market segments. The i7-8750H is a 2018 mobile processor built for laptops, while the i3-12100F is a modern desktop chip. Despite the older chip's higher core count and premium branding, the benchmark data tells a decisive story: the i3-12100F wins 18 of 19 head-to-head comparisons, often by substantial margins.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking pattern in the data is the consistency of the i3-12100F's victory across nearly every workload category. In the Cinebench series, which tests both multi-core and single-core rendering performance, the i3-12100F holds a remarkably uniform advantage. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the i3-12100F scores 11,860 against the i7-8750H's 8,274, a delta of -30.2%. The single-core test tells the same story: 1,674 versus 1,168, again a -30.2% gap. This consistency extends through Cinebench R15 and R20, where the deltas remain tightly clustered between -30.2% and -30.4% across all tests.

Geekbench results follow a similar trajectory but show an even wider gap. In multi-core, the i3-12100F scores 7,252 versus 4,978, a -31.4% difference. The single-core disparity is slightly larger at -32.2%, with scores of 1,932 and 1,309 respectively. These numbers suggest the i3-12100F's architectural advantages are not limited to one type of workload, but rather represent a fundamental per-core performance lead.

The Passmark suite reveals where the i3-12100F's advantages are most pronounced. Data encryption shows the largest relative gap, with the i3-12100F scoring 8,071 against 3,388, a -58% delta. Prime number finding also shows a massive difference: 60 versus 27, a -55% gap. Physics calculations favor the i3-12100F by -38.7%, scoring 985 versus 604. Single-thread performance tells a similar story, with the i3-12100F at 3,444 versus 2,276, a -33.9% delta.

Not every result favors the newer chip. The i7-8750H wins Passmark random string sorting with a score of 18,622 against 15,809, a 17.8% advantage. This is the lone bright spot for the older processor, and it suggests that in certain memory-access patterns, the i7-8750H's design retains some competitive edge. Elsewhere, the i3-12100F's wins range from the modest -13.1% deltas in data compression and integer math to the dominant -58% gap in encryption.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from entirely different architectural eras. The i7-8750H is built on Intel's 14 nm Coffee Lake-H process, with a die size of 149 mm². The i3-12100F uses the newer 10 nm Alder Lake-S process and has a slightly larger die at 163 mm². This process shrink is a key factor behind the performance differences, as it allows for higher clock speeds and improved instruction efficiency.

Core configurations differ significantly. The i7-8750H offers 6 cores and 12 threads, while the i3-12100F is a 4-core, 8-thread part. Despite having 50% more cores, the i7-8750H cannot overcome the per-core performance deficit. The i3-12100F compensates with higher clock speeds: its base clock is 3.30 GHz versus 2.20 GHz, and its boost clock reaches 4.30 GHz versus 4.10 GHz.

Cache hierarchies also diverge. The i7-8750H has 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 per core. The i3-12100F has larger allocations: 80 KB of L1 and 1.25 MB of L2 per core. Both processors share 12 MB of L3 cache, meaning the i3-12100F delivers the same total L3 with fewer cores, giving each core access to a larger pool of shared cache.

Memory support marks another key distinction. The i7-8750H supports DDR4 memory only, while the i3-12100F supports both DDR4 and DDR5, with a dual-channel memory bus. The i3-12100F also features PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only), whereas the FACT PACK does not list PCIe specifications for the i7-8750H. Integrated graphics differ as well: the i7-8750H includes UHD 630 graphics, while the i3-12100F has no integrated graphics, requiring a discrete GPU.

Other differences include socket type — the i7-8750H uses Intel BGA 1440 (soldered for mobile use), while the i3-12100F uses Intel Socket 1700 (desktop LGA). The i7-8750H is end-of-life with a release date of April 2018, while the i3-12100F is active in production. The i3-12100F's part number is SRL63, and the i7-8750H's is SR3YY. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier.

Where Each One Wins

The i3-12100F is the clear winner in the vast majority of scenarios, but the nature of its victories varies by workload. In multi-threaded rendering tasks like Cinebench R23 multi-core, it leads by 30.2%, demonstrating that its 4 cores with hyperthreading outperform the i7-8750H's 6 cores with hyperthreading. This is an exceptional result for a lower-core-count processor and indicates that the architectural improvements between generations are substantial.

For single-threaded performance, the i3-12100F is even more dominant. Its single-core scores are consistently around 30-34% higher across Cinebench, Geekbench, and Passmark. This makes it the better choice for lightly-threaded applications, legacy software, and tasks where clock speed and IPC are paramount. The 58% lead in data encryption and 55% lead in prime number finding further highlight the i3-12100F's strengths in compute-intensive, integer-heavy workloads.

The i7-8750H's only win comes in random string sorting, where it outperforms by 17.8%. This particular workload may benefit from the i7-8750H's larger core count and specific memory access patterns. For users running such sorting-intensive applications, the older chip retains a niche advantage. However, this single win must be weighed against the i3-12100F's superiority in compression, encryption, floating-point math, integer math, physics, and multithreaded throughput.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i7-8750H has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the Intel Core i3-12100F has 4 cores and 8 threads.

Q: Despite having fewer cores, does the i3-12100F win in multi-core benchmarks?

A: Yes. The i3-12100F wins the Cinebench R23 multi-core test with 11,860 versus 8,274, a -30.2% delta in its favor, and similarly wins Passmark multithread with 14,015 versus 9,799.

Q: What is the single benchmark where the i7-8750H wins?

A: The i7-8750H wins Passmark random string sorting with a score of 18,622 against the i3-12100F's 15,809, a 17.8% advantage.

Q: Do both processors support the same memory types?

A: No. The i7-8750H supports DDR4 only, while the i3-12100F supports both DDR4 and DDR5 with a dual-channel memory bus.

Q: What is the difference in process node?

A: The i7-8750H uses Intel's 14 nm process, while the i3-12100F uses Intel's 10 nm process.

Q: Which processor has integrated graphics?

A: The i7-8750H includes UHD 630 integrated graphics, while the i3-12100F has no integrated graphics.

The Verdict

The data makes a decisive case for the Intel Core i3-12100F. It wins 18 of 19 head-to-head benchmarks, with victory margins ranging from 13.1% to 58%. Its performance advantage is broad and consistent, spanning single-threaded and multi-threaded workloads, rendering, encryption, physics, and integer math. The i3-12100F achieves this despite having 2 fewer cores and 4 fewer threads, which underscores the magnitude of Intel's architectural improvements between Coffee Lake and Alder Lake.

The i7-8750H's only meaningful advantage is in random string sorting, where it leads by 17.8%. For users whose primary workload involves such sorting operations, the older chip has a specific, measurable benefit. Additionally, the i7-8750H includes integrated UHD 630 graphics, making it functional without a discrete GPU, whereas the i3-12100F requires a separate graphics card.

For desktop users building a new system, the i3-12100F is the superior choice based on raw performance data. Its higher clock speeds, larger per-core caches, newer 10 nm process, and support for DDR5 memory make it a more capable processor across virtually all tested workloads. The i7-8750H, as an end-of-life mobile part, is only relevant in scenarios where its integrated graphics or its specific sorting performance are required, or where the mobile form factor is essential.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i7-8750H | Intel Core i3-12100F |

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

| Cores | 6 | 4 |

| Threads | 12 | 8 |

| Base Clock | 2.20 GHz | 3.30 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.10 GHz | 4.30 GHz |

| TDP | 45 W | 58 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1440 | Intel Socket 1700 |

| Architecture | Coffee Lake | Alder Lake |

| Process Node | 14 nm | 10 nm |

| Die Size | 149 mm² | 163 mm² |

| L1 Cache | 64 KB (per core) | 80 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 256 KB (per core) | 1.25 MB (per core) |

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

| Memory Support | DDR4 | DDR4, DDR5 |

| Memory Bus | Not listed | Dual-channel |

| PCIe | Not listed | Gen 5, 16 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | UHD 630 | None |

| Market Segment | Mobile | Desktop |

| Production Status | End-of-life | Active |

| Part Number | SR3YY | SRL63 |

| Launch MSRP | Not listed | $97 |