Intel Core i3-12100TE vs Intel Core i5-8600T Comparison

The Intel Core i3-12100TE and Intel Core i5-8600T are both 35 W desktop processors, but they represent very different generations of Intel design. The 12100TE is a modern 4-core, 8-thread Alder Lake part, while the 8600T is an older 6-core, 6-thread Coffee Lake chip. The benchmark data in our database shows a clear and consistent performance hierarchy, with the newer i3 taking every single head-to-head win despite having fewer physical cores.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking result is the consistency of the victory margin. Across all six recorded Cinebench tests, the Intel Core i3-12100TE wins by nearly the same percentage. In the R15 multicore test, the 12100TE scores 862 against the 8600T's 784, a 9.9% advantage. The R15 singlecore test shows a 10% lead, with scores of 121 and 110 respectively. This pattern repeats exactly in R20 and R23.

In Cinebench R20 multicore, the 12100TE posts 3594, while the 8600T manages 3270. The delta is again 9.9%. The singlecore R20 result gives the 12100TE a 507 score versus 461 for the 8600T, another 10% gap. Moving to the more demanding R23 workload, the 12100TE scores 8558 in multicore, and the 8600T scores 7787. That is a 9.9% difference. The R23 singlecore test shows 1208 for the 12100TE and 1099 for the 8600T, once more a 9.9% lead.

The data indicates a few important things. First, the 12100TE's advantage is not workload-specific; it scales across all tested Cinebench versions. Second, the margin is nearly identical whether you are looking at single or multi-threaded performance. This suggests the 12100TE has a fundamental architectural edge that more cores on the 8600T cannot overcome. The older chip has six cores but no hyperthreading, giving it six threads total. The newer chip has four cores with hyperthreading, giving it eight threads. Despite the 8600T's higher core count, the 12100TE's superior IPC and thread count deliver a decisive win.

The average benchmark score in our database reinforces this. The 12100TE has an average score of 2475, placing it in the 49th percentile of all CPUs. The 8600T averages 2383, sitting in the 48th percentile. The 12100TE's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i5-9500T at 2493, which is 0.7% ahead, and the Intel Core i5-8600 at 2454, which is 0.8% behind. The 8600T's nearest rivals include the Intel Xeon E-2234 at 2374, which is 0.4% ahead, and the AMD Ryzen 5 2500X at 2361, which is 1% behind. These figures place both chips in the same general performance tier, but the 12100TE consistently sits at the top of that tier.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i3-12100TE wins every benchmark in our comparison. There is no test where the Intel Core i5-8600T comes out ahead. The 12100TE's wins are split evenly between singlecore and multicore tests, each showing a roughly 10% improvement. This makes the 12100TE the better choice for both lightly-threaded tasks that depend on single-core speed and heavily-threaded workloads that scale with multiple cores and threads.

For the 8600T, there is no winning use case in the recorded data. However, the context of its six physical cores should be noted. In applications that do not use hyperthreading effectively, or that are limited by the number of physical execution units rather than logical threads, the 8600T's six cores could theoretically provide more raw parallel hardware. The database does not contain a benchmark that captures this scenario, so it remains a theoretical advantage. The recorded Cinebench results, which do use the available threads, show the 12100TE winning by a comfortable margin.

The 12100TE also has a higher boost clock, listed at 4.00 GHz versus the 8600T's 3.70 GHz. This contributes to its singlecore dominance. The 12100TE's base clock is slightly lower at 2.10 GHz versus 2.30 GHz, but the boost clock advantage and the newer architecture more than compensate. The 12100TE's 10% singlecore lead in every test is substantial and would be noticeable in everyday desktop responsiveness, application launches, and lightly threaded software.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural eras. The Intel Core i3-12100TE uses the Alder Lake architecture, specifically the Alder Lake-S die, built on Intel's 10 nm process. The Intel Core i5-8600T uses the Coffee Lake architecture on a 14 nm process. This process difference is a major factor in the performance and efficiency characteristics of each chip. The 10 nm node allows for higher transistor density and better power efficiency, which helps the 12100TE achieve its performance leads while maintaining the same 35 W TDP.

The cache configurations also differ significantly. The 12100TE has an 80 KB L1 cache per core and a 1.25 MB L2 cache per core, with a 12 MB shared L3 cache. The 8600T has a 64 KB L1 cache per core, a 256 KB L2 cache per core, and a 9 MB shared L3 cache. The 12100TE's larger per-core caches and bigger shared L3 pool provide a memory subsystem advantage that contributes to its higher IPC.

Memory support is another differentiator. The 12100TE supports both DDR4 and DDR5, while the 8600T is limited to DDR4. The 12100TE also uses a newer PCIe implementation, offering Gen 5 with 20 lanes from the CPU. The 8600T provides PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes. This makes the 12100TE substantially more forward-looking for storage and expansion options. The 8600T has a specified memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s, a figure not provided for the 12100TE in the database.

The integrated graphics differ as well. The 12100TE includes UHD Graphics 730, while the 8600T has UHD Graphics 630. The 12100TE uses the Intel Socket 1700, while the 8600T uses the older Intel Socket 1151. The die size also differs, with the 12100TE measuring 163 mm² and the 8600T measuring 154 mm². The 12100TE is listed as Active in production, while the 8600T is End-of-life. The 8600T has a release date of April 2018, while no release date is recorded for the 12100TE.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous. The Intel Core i3-12100TE is the superior processor in every measured benchmark. It wins all six head-to-head Cinebench tests with margins between 9.9% and 10%. Its average benchmark score of 2475 is higher than the 8600T's 2383, and it occupies a higher percentile ranking at 49 versus 48. The 12100TE achieves this with fewer physical cores, demonstrating that its newer architecture, higher boost clock, larger caches, and support for eight threads are more valuable than the 8600T's six older cores.

For a user building a new system, the 12100TE is the clear choice. It offers better performance in both single and multi-threaded tasks, supports newer memory and PCIe standards, and has an active production status. The 8600T, being end-of-life and using an older socket, offers no performance advantage in the data and is limited to older platform technology. The only scenario where the 8600T might be considered is if a user already has a Socket 1151 motherboard and is looking for a drop-in upgrade, but even then, the performance data shows the 12100TE is the more capable part. The 12100TE also carries a launch MSRP of $125, compared to the 8600T's $213, although the older chip's price in the current market is not recorded.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The Intel Core i5-8600T has 6 physical cores, while the Intel Core i3-12100TE has 4 physical cores.

Q: Which processor has more threads?

A: The Intel Core i3-12100TE has 8 threads, while the Intel Core i5-8600T has 6 threads. The 12100TE uses hyperthreading to achieve this.

Q: What is the performance difference in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The Intel Core i3-12100TE scores 8558, and the Intel Core i5-8600T scores 7787. This gives the 12100TE a 9.9% lead.

Q: Does the Intel Core i5-8600T win any benchmark?

A: No. In the recorded head-to-head benchmarks, the Intel Core i3-12100TE wins all six tests. The record shows 6 wins for the 12100TE and 0 for the 8600T.

Q: What memory types does each processor support?

A: The Intel Core i3-12100TE supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory. The Intel Core i5-8600T supports only DDR4.

Q: What are the process nodes for these chips?

A: The Intel Core i3-12100TE is built on a 10 nm process, while the Intel Core i5-8600T is built on a 14 nm process.

Specification Differences

The following table lists only the specifications where the two processors differ, according to the database.

• Cores: Intel Core i3-12100TE has 4; Intel Core i5-8600T has 6.
• Threads: Intel Core i3-12100TE has 8; Intel Core i5-8600T has 6.
• Base Clock: Intel Core i3-12100TE is 2.10 GHz; Intel Core i5-8600T is 2.30 GHz.
• Boost Clock: Intel Core i3-12100TE is 4.00 GHz; Intel Core i5-8600T is 3.70 GHz.
• Socket: Intel Core i3-12100TE uses Intel Socket 1700; Intel Core i5-8600T uses Intel Socket 1151.
• Architecture: Intel Core i3-12100TE is Alder Lake; Intel Core i5-8600T is Coffee Lake.
• Process Node: Intel Core i3-12100TE is 10 nm; Intel Core i5-8600T is 14 nm.
• Die Size: Intel Core i3-12100TE is 163 mm²; Intel Core i5-8600T is 154 mm².
• L1 Cache: Intel Core i3-12100TE has 80 KB per core; Intel Core i5-8600T has 64 KB per core.
• L2 Cache: Intel Core i3-12100TE has 1.25 MB per core; Intel Core i5-8600T has 256 KB per core.
• L3 Cache: Intel Core i3-12100TE has 12 MB shared; Intel Core i5-8600T has 9 MB shared.
• Memory Support: Intel Core i3-12100TE supports DDR4 and DDR5; Intel Core i5-8600T supports DDR4 only.
• Memory Bandwidth: Intel Core i3-12100TE is not specified; Intel Core i5-8600T is 42.7 GB/s.
• PCIe: Intel Core i3-12100TE is Gen 5 with 20 Lanes (CPU only); Intel Core i5-8600T is Gen 3 with 16 Lanes (CPU only).
• Integrated Graphics: Intel Core i3-12100TE has UHD Graphics 730; Intel Core i5-8600T has UHD Graphics 630.
• Production Status: Intel Core i3-12100TE is Active; Intel Core i5-8600T is End-of-life.
• Release Date: Intel Core i3-12100TE is not specified; Intel Core i5-8600T is 2018-04-01.
• Launch MSRP: Intel Core i3-12100TE is $125; Intel Core i5-8600T is $213.
• Part Number: Intel Core i3-12100TE is not specified; Intel Core i5-8600T is SR3X3.
• Average Benchmark Score: Intel Core i3-12100TE is 2475; Intel Core i5-8600T is 2383.
• Percentile vs All CPUs: Intel Core i3-12100TE is 49; Intel Core i5-8600T is 48.