Intel Core i3-12100T vs Intel Core i5-1240P Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i5-1240P has 12 cores and 16 threads, while the Intel Core i3-12100T has 4 cores and 8 threads. The i5-1240P offers three times the core count and double the thread count.

Q: What is the difference in boost clock speed?

A: The Intel Core i5-1240P boosts to 4.40 GHz, while the Intel Core i3-12100T boosts to 4.10 GHz. The i5-1240P holds a 0.30 GHz advantage in maximum single-core frequency.

Q: How do their thermal design power (TDP) ratings compare?

A: The Intel Core i3-12100T has a TDP of 35 watts, while the Intel Core i5-1240P has a TDP of 28 watts. The i5-1240P is rated for lower power consumption despite having more cores.

Q: Which processor has the larger die size?

A: The Intel Core i5-1240P has a die size of 217 mm², while the Intel Core i3-12100T has a die size of 163 mm². The i5-1240P's larger die reflects its additional cores and integrated graphics.

Q: Do both processors support the same memory types?

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

Q: What is the PCIe generation difference?

A: The Intel Core i3-12100T supports PCIe Gen 5 with 20 lanes (CPU only), while the Intel Core i5-1240P supports PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes (CPU only). The i3-12100T has the newer PCIe standard.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i5-1240P dominates in most measured benchmarks. It wins five out of six head-to-head tests, including all Cinebench R15 and R20 runs. Its multicore advantage in Cinebench R15 is substantial: it scores 1566.5 versus 1057 for the i3-12100T, a 32.5% lead. In single-core R15, it leads by 34.1% (226 versus 149). The R20 results show a 21.8% advantage in both multicore (5632 versus 4405) and single-core (795 versus 622). This makes the i5-1240P the clear choice for workloads that rely on Cinebench-style rendering, whether those tasks are lightly threaded or heavily parallel.

The Intel Core i3-12100T wins only one head-to-head benchmark, but it is a significant one: Cinebench R23 multicore. It scores 10490 against the i5-1240P's 9392, a 11.7% lead. This is an outlier compared to the other multicore tests, where the i5-1240P is ahead. The i3-12100T also has the higher TDP ceiling (35 watts versus 28 watts), which may allow it to sustain higher clocks under sustained load in some desktop scenarios. For users prioritizing the R23 multicore workload specifically, the i3-12100T is the stronger part.

In the Geekbench tests, only the i3-12100T has recorded scores (multicore 6055, singlecore 1957). The i5-1240P has no Geekbench entries in the database, so direct comparison in that suite is not possible. The i3-12100T's average benchmark score is 3277, slightly higher than the i5-1240P's 3202, a 2.3% difference. Both processors sit at the 53rd percentile among all CPUs, indicating they are statistically equivalent in overall standing despite their different strengths.

Architecture Differences

Both processors are built on Intel's Alder Lake architecture and use a 10 nm process node from Intel's own foundry. The core design shares the same per-core cache amounts: 80 KB L1 per core and 1.25 MB L2 per core. Both have 12 MB of shared L3 cache. The fundamental architectural split is in the silicon itself: the i3-12100T uses the Alder Lake-S die (desktop variant) with a die size of 163 mm², while the i5-1240P uses the Alder Lake-P die (mobile variant) with a die size of 217 mm².

The i3-12100T is a 4-core, 8-thread part with no hybrid core arrangement. The i5-1240P is a 12-core, 16-thread part, which implies a mix of performance and efficiency cores typical of Alder Lake-P mobile designs. This hybrid structure explains why the i5-1240P has more cores but a lower TDP (28 watts versus 35 watts): efficiency cores draw less power under light loads. The i5-1240P also integrates Iris Xe 80EU graphics, a more capable iGPU than the UHD Graphics 730 found on the i3-12100T. For users relying on integrated graphics, the i5-1240P offers a clear advantage in GPU compute and display output capabilities.

The PCIe implementation differs as well. The i3-12100T supports PCIe Gen 5 with 20 lanes (CPU only), while the i5-1240P supports PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes (CPU only). The desktop part has the newer standard, which matters for high-bandwidth add-in cards, though the mobile part's Gen 4 support is still adequate for most laptop peripherals. The i3-12100T uses Intel Socket 1700, a desktop socket, while the i5-1240P uses Intel BGA 1744, a ball-grid array for soldered mobile installation. This is a fundamental form-factor difference: one is upgradeable in a desktop motherboard, the other is fixed to a laptop or mini-PC board.

Specification Differences

The most obvious specification gap is core count: 4 cores and 8 threads for the i3-12100T versus 12 cores and 16 threads for the i5-1240P. Base clock frequencies differ dramatically: the i3-12100T runs at 2.20 GHz base, while the i5-1240P lists a base clock of 1700.00 GHz in the database, which is clearly a placeholder or misprint; the boost clock of 4.40 GHz is the reliable figure. The i3-12100T boosts to 4.10 GHz, so the i5-1240P has the higher maximum frequency.

TDP ratings diverge: 35 watts for the desktop i3-12100T versus 28 watts for the mobile i5-1240P. Socket types are incompatible: Intel Socket 1700 for the i3-12100T and Intel BGA 1744 for the i5-1240P. The i3-12100T has a launch MSRP of $122, while the i5-1240P has no recorded launch MSRP. The i3-12100T's part number is SRL64; the i5-1240P's is SRLD9. The i5-1240P has a recorded release date of 2022-02-22, while the i3-12100T's release date is not listed. Both are marked as Active in production status, and neither has an unlocked multiplier.

Integrated graphics differ: UHD Graphics 730 on the i3-12100T versus Iris Xe 80EU on the i5-1240P. Memory support is identical (DDR4 and DDR5, dual-channel), and both lack ECC support. The i5-1240P's die is larger (217 mm² versus 163 mm²), reflecting its extra cores and larger iGPU. The i3-12100T's PCIe Gen 5 support is a generation ahead of the i5-1240P's Gen 4.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench R15 multicore test shows the i5-1240P's biggest win: 1566.5 versus 1057, a 32.5% margin. This is the largest delta in the entire comparison. The R15 single-core test is even more lopsided in percentage terms: 226 versus 149, a 34.1% lead for the i5-1240P. In Cinebench R20, the i5-1240P wins both multicore (5632 versus 4405) and single-core (795 versus 622), each by 21.8%. These four tests establish the i5-1240P as the stronger part in the R15 and R20 suites.

The Cinebench R23 results flip the narrative. In multicore, the i3-12100T scores 10490 against the i5-1240P's 9392, winning by 11.7%. This is the only benchmark where the i3-12100T leads. In R23 single-core, the i5-1240P reclaims the top spot with 1600 versus 1481, a 7.4% margin. The R23 multicore result is particularly noteworthy because it contradicts the pattern from R15 and R20, suggesting that the i3-12100T's higher TDP (35 watts) allows it to sustain performance better in that specific workload, or that the i5-1240P's mobile design throttles under prolonged R23 multicore load.

The i5-1240P wins five of six head-to-head benchmarks, but the i3-12100T's single win in R23 multicore is a major one: it is a modern, widely used rendering test. The i3-12100T also has the only Geekbench scores in the database (multicore 6055, singlecore 1957), so it is the only part with data in that suite. Its average benchmark score of 3277 edges out the i5-1240P's 3202. The nearest rivals for the i3-12100T include the AMD Ryzen Embedded V2516 (delta 0%), Intel Xeon E-2374G (delta 0%), and Intel Core i5-11500T (delta -0.3%). The i5-1240P's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i3-13100T (delta 0.1%), Intel Core i7-9700E (delta 0.2%), and Intel Xeon E-2136 (delta 0.3%). Both CPUs sit at the 53rd percentile, meaning they outrank roughly half of all recorded processors.

The Verdict

The Intel Core i5-1240P is the better processor for most users based on the recorded data. It wins five of six head-to-head benchmarks, with decisive leads in Cinebench R15 multicore (32.5%) and single-core (34.1%), plus consistent 21.8% advantages in R20. Its 12-core, 16-thread configuration provides far more parallel throughput than the i3-12100T's 4 cores and 8 threads. For anyone running Cinebench R15 or R20 workloads, or any application that scales across many threads, the i5-1240P is the clear choice. Its lower TDP (28 watts versus 35 watts) also makes it more power-efficient on paper, despite having triple the core count.

The Intel Core i3-12100T is the pick for a specific but important scenario: Cinebench R23 multicore. It wins that test by 11.7% (10490 versus 9392), and it is the only part with Geekbench scores in the database. Its higher TDP (35 watts) and desktop socket (Intel Socket 1700) make it suited for builds where sustained power delivery is less constrained than in a mobile chassis. Users who prioritize the R23 multicore result, or who need a desktop part with PCIe Gen 5 support (which the i5-1240P lacks), should favor the i3-12100T.

For everyone else, the i5-1240P's overall benchmark superiority is hard to ignore. It matches the i3-12100T in L3 cache (12 MB shared) and memory support (DDR4, DDR5), while offering more cores, a higher boost clock (4.40 GHz versus 4.10 GHz), and a more capable integrated GPU (Iris Xe 80EU versus UHD Graphics 730). The i3-12100T's only structural advantages are its PCIe Gen 5 support and its desktop form factor. If the workload is general-purpose rendering, multitasking, or integrated-graphics duty, the data points squarely to the i5-1240P. If the workload is specifically Cinebench R23 multicore, the i3-12100T is the surprise winner. Choose accordingly.