Intel Core i3-12100TE vs Intel Core i5-1038NG7 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data for this comparison is unusually one-sided. The Intel Core i3-12100TE wins all six recorded head-to-head tests against the Intel Core i5-1038NG7. There is no test in the database where the Core i5-1038NG7 comes out ahead. This is a clean sweep, and the margins are consistent across both single-core and multi-core workloads.

Starting with the multi-core results, the Core i3-12100TE posts a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 8558, while the Core i5-1038NG7 manages 7441. That is a 15 percent advantage for the desktop part. The margin repeats in Cinebench R20 multi-core, with the Core i3-12100TE scoring 3594 versus 3125, again a 15 percent lead. In the older Cinebench R15 multi-core test, the Core i3-12100TE scores 862 against 750, a 14.9 percent edge. These results show that the Core i3-12100TE is consistently faster when all cores are loaded, despite both CPUs having the same core and thread counts.

Single-core performance tells the same story. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the Core i3-12100TE scores 1208, and the Core i5-1038NG7 scores 1050. That is a 15 percent gap. Cinebench R20 single-core shows 507 for the Core i3-12100TE versus 441 for the Core i5-1038NG7, again a 15 percent difference. Cinebench R15 single-core gives the Core i3-12100TE a 121 score compared to 105, which is the largest relative win at 15.2 percent. The consistency of these percentages across all three Cinebench generations suggests a fundamental clock or architecture advantage rather than a workload-specific quirk.

The Core i5-1038NG7 does have additional benchmark data in the database, including Geekbench scores. It records a Geekbench multi-core score of 4919 and a single-core score of 1354. However, the database does not list a corresponding Geekbench score for the Core i3-12100TE, so these cannot be directly compared in the head-to-head table. The recorded head-to-head data remains exclusively Cinebench-based, and the Core i3-12100TE wins every one of those tests.

Looking at the broader averages, the Core i3-12100TE has an average benchmark score of 2475, placing it in the 49th percentile of all CPUs in the database. The Core i5-1038NG7 sits at 2398 average, in the 48th percentile. The difference between these two parts is roughly 3 percent in average score, though the head-to-head Cinebench deltas are much larger at around 15 percent. This discrepancy likely reflects that the average benchmark score includes a wider range of workloads, some of which favor the mobile part's characteristics.

Where Each One Wins

The Core i3-12100TE wins in every benchmark category where direct comparison data exists. It takes the multi-core crown in all three Cinebench versions (R15, R20, R23) and the single-core crown in all three as well. For users running Cinebench-style rendering workloads, whether they are single-threaded or multi-threaded, the Core i3-12100TE is the clear choice based on the recorded data.

The Core i5-1038NG7 does not win any of the six head-to-head tests in the database. Its only recorded wins are implicit: it has Geekbench scores in the database, but the Core i3-12100TE has no Geekbench entry, so no comparison is possible there. In terms of the available direct comparisons, the Core i5-1038NG7 has no category where it leads.

That said, the Core i5-1038NG7 is a mobile part with a lower thermal design power of 28 watts, compared to 35 watts for the Core i3-12100TE. It also targets a different market segment, as the database lists it as a mobile processor. The Core i3-12100TE is a desktop part. In scenarios where power consumption or mobile integration matters, the Core i5-1038NG7 may be the more practical option, but the benchmark data does not support a performance win for it in any direct test.

For users focused purely on the recorded Cinebench scores, the Core i3-12100TE is the superior processor across the board. The 15 percent margins are not trivial; they represent a meaningful generational improvement in per-core efficiency. The Core i5-1038NG7's best hope is that its Geekbench results, which are not available for the Core i3-12100TE, might have shown a different story, but the database does not provide that comparison.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel generations and are built for different platforms. The Core i3-12100TE is based on Alder Lake architecture, specifically the Alder Lake-S die, and belongs to the Core 12th Gen family. It uses Intel's 10 nm process node and has a die size of 163 mm². The Core i5-1038NG7 is an Ice Lake part, specifically the Ice Lake-U die, belonging to the Core i5 generation (Sunny Cove-U). It also uses a 10 nm process, but its die is smaller at 123 mm².

Both processors have 4 cores and 8 threads. The Core i3-12100TE has a base clock of 2.10 GHz and a boost clock of 4.00 GHz. The Core i5-1038NG7 has a base clock of 2000.00 MHz (which is 2.00 GHz) and a boost clock of 3.80 GHz. The Core i3-12100TE's higher boost clock of 4.00 GHz versus 3.80 GHz is one likely contributor to its single-core advantage.

Cache configurations differ significantly. The Core i3-12100TE has 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core, and 12 MB of shared L3 cache. The Core i5-1038NG7 also has 80 KB of L1 per core, but its L2 is only 256 KB per core, and its L3 is 6 MB shared. That is a substantial difference: the Core i3-12100TE has nearly five times the L2 cache per core and double the L3 cache. Larger caches typically reduce memory latency and improve performance in cache-sensitive workloads, which likely contributes to the benchmark gap.

Memory support also differs. The Core i3-12100TE supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration. The Core i5-1038NG7 supports only DDR4, also dual-channel, with a recorded memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s. The Core i3-12100TE does not have a listed memory bandwidth figure in the database. The Core i3-12100TE also uses PCIe Gen 5 with 20 lanes (CPU only), whereas the Core i5-1038NG7 uses PCIe Gen 3. This makes the Core i3-12100TE more modern in terms of expansion and I/O capabilities.

The integrated graphics differ as well. The Core i3-12100TE features UHD Graphics 730, while the Core i5-1038NG7 features Iris Plus. The database does not include graphics benchmarks, so no performance comparison can be made, but the part names indicate different GPU architectures. The Core i5-1038NG7 has an ECC memory flag of false, and the Core i3-12100TE also has ECC memory false. Neither part supports ECC.

The Core i3-12100TE uses Intel Socket 1700, while the Core i5-1038NG7 uses Intel BGA 1344, which is a soldered mobile socket. The Core i5-1038NG7 is listed as end-of-life production status, with a release date of May 2020. The Core i3-12100TE is listed as active production. The Core i5-1038NG7 has a launch MSRP of $320, and the Core i3-12100TE has a launch MSRP of $125, but pricing is not a factor in the performance analysis.

The Verdict

The database is clear: the Intel Core i3-12100TE outperforms the Intel Core i5-1038NG7 in every recorded head-to-head benchmark. The margins are uniform at approximately 15 percent across single-core and multi-core Cinebench tests. The Core i3-12100TE's higher boost clock (4.00 GHz versus 3.80 GHz), larger L2 cache per core (1.25 MB versus 256 KB), and double the L3 cache (12 MB versus 6 MB) are the most plausible explanations for the consistent advantage.

For a desktop user who needs the best recorded Cinebench performance, the Core i3-12100TE is the choice. It wins all six tests, has a higher average benchmark score (2475 versus 2398), and sits in a slightly higher percentile (49th versus 48th). The Core i3-12100TE also supports DDR5 memory and PCIe Gen 5, making it the more future-ready platform.

The Core i5-1038NG7 is a mobile part, and its lower 28 watt TDP compared to 35 watts for the Core i3-12100TE makes it more power-efficient in absolute terms. It is also from an older generation, with a release date of May 2020 and end-of-life production status. The Core i3-12100TE is active and newer. For anyone building a desktop system, the Core i3-12100TE is the better performer by the numbers. For anyone constrained to a mobile BGA 1344 platform, the Core i5-1038NG7 is the only option that fits, but its performance is behind.

Users who already own a system with the Core i5-1038NG7 should note that its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 7441 is still respectable, but the Core i3-12100TE beats it by a solid 15 percent. The same margin appears in every test, so there is no workload in the recorded data where the Core i5-1038NG7 closes the gap. The verdict from the data is straightforward: the Core i3-12100TE is the faster processor.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has the higher single-core performance?

A: The Intel Core i3-12100TE wins all three single-core Cinebench tests. It scores 121 versus 105 in Cinebench R15, 507 versus 441 in R20, and 1208 versus 1050 in R23. The margin is 15 percent or higher in each case.

Q: How do the multi-core scores compare?

A: The Core i3-12100TE leads in multi-core as well. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score is 8558, while the Core i5-1038NG7 scores 7441. In R20 multi-core, the scores are 3594 versus 3125, and in R15 they are 862 versus 750.

Q: Do both CPUs have the same number of cores and threads?

A: Yes, both the Intel Core i3-12100TE and the Intel Core i5-1038NG7 have 4 cores and 8 threads. The performance difference comes from other factors such as clock speeds and cache sizes.

Q: What is the difference in cache size?

A: The Core i3-12100TE has 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core and 12 MB of shared L3 cache. The Core i5-1038NG7 has 256 KB of L2 per core and 6 MB of shared L3. Both have 80 KB of L1 per core.

Q: Which CPU supports DDR5 memory?

A: Only the Intel Core i3-12100TE supports DDR5 memory. The Core i5-1038NG7 supports DDR4 only. Both have dual-channel memory buses.

Q: What are the production statuses of these two CPUs?

A: The Intel Core i3-12100TE is listed as active production. The Intel Core i5-1038NG7 is listed as end-of-life, with a release date of May 2020.