Intel Core i3-12100TE vs Intel Core i7-9850HE Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The recorded benchmark data presents a clear and consistent picture: the Intel Core i3-12100TE wins every single head-to-head test in the database, across all six Cinebench workloads. The Intel Core i7-9850HE does not secure a single victory in any recorded benchmark, meaning the use-case split here is not about different strengths but rather about relative margins and platform context.

The i3-12100TE leads in both single-core and multi-core workloads. Its single-core advantage ranges from 1.7% to 2.3% depending on the test version, while its multi-core advantage sits at 2.2% to 2.3%. These are narrow but consistent margins, suggesting that the newer architecture provides a uniform uplift across all types of Cinebench rendering tasks, rather than excelling in one specific area.

For users prioritizing raw thread count, the i7-9850HE nominally offers more cores and threads (6 cores, 12 threads versus 4 cores, 8 threads). However, the benchmark data shows that this extra hardware does not translate into a performance win. In fact, the i3-12100TE outperforms it in multi-core tests despite having fewer cores, which points to superior per-core efficiency and architectural improvements.

The i7-9850HE does have a higher base clock (2.70 GHz versus 2.10 GHz) and boost clock (4.40 GHz versus 4.00 GHz), yet the i3-12100TE still manages to win every test. This indicates that clock speed alone is not the determining factor in these benchmarks. The i3-12100TE's architectural advantages, including a newer process node and larger per-core cache, outweigh the i7-9850HE's clock frequency advantage.

Architecture Differences

The two processors represent fundamentally different generations of Intel design. The i3-12100TE is built on Alder Lake architecture, specifically the Alder Lake-S die, fabricated on a 10 nm process node. The i7-9850HE uses the older Coffee Lake architecture, specifically Coffee Lake-HR, on a 14 nm process node. This process node difference is significant: the 10 nm node allows for tighter transistor density and lower power consumption per operation, which helps explain the i3-12100TE's efficiency despite having fewer cores.

The cache hierarchy also differs substantially. The 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 i7-9850HE has 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 9 MB of shared L3 cache. This means the i3-12100TE has significantly more L2 cache per core (1.25 MB versus 256 KB), which can reduce memory latency for frequently accessed data, and its total L3 cache is 33% larger (12 MB versus 9 MB).

The die sizes are close: the i3-12100TE measures 163 mm², while the i7-9850HE measures 149 mm². The i3-12100TE is slightly larger despite having fewer cores, reflecting the more complex Alder Lake design with its integrated memory controller supporting both DDR4 and DDR5. The i7-9850HE only supports DDR4 memory, while the i3-12100TE supports both DDR4 and DDR5, a significant generational leap.

The integrated graphics differ as well: the i3-12100TE includes UHD Graphics 730, while the i7-9850HE includes UHD Graphics 630. The i3-12100TE also supports PCIe Gen 5 with 20 lanes (CPU only), whereas the i7-9850HE is limited to PCIe Gen 3. The i3-12100TE uses an Intel Socket 1700, indicating a desktop platform, while the i7-9850HE uses Intel BGA 1440, which is a mobile platform socket.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database records six Cinebench comparisons, and the i3-12100TE wins all of them. The margins are tight but consistent, ranging from 1.7% to 2.3%. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i3-12100TE scores 862 against the i7-9850HE's 843, a 2.3% advantage. In Cinebench R15 single-core, the scores are 121 versus 119, a 1.7% edge.

Cinebench R20 shows similar patterns: multi-core scores are 3594 for the i3-12100TE and 3515 for the i7-9850HE, a 2.2% lead. Single-core results are 507 versus 496, again a 2.2% margin. The Cinebench R23 results mirror this: multi-core is 8558 versus 8370, a 2.2% difference, and single-core is 1208 versus 1181, a 2.3% difference.

These margins are remarkably uniform. The largest delta is 2.3% (Cinebench R15 multi-core and Cinebench R23 single-core), and the smallest is 1.7% (Cinebench R15 single-core). This consistency suggests that the i3-12100TE's advantage is not workload-specific but rather a general architectural improvement that applies equally across all rendering scenarios.

The average benchmark score for the i3-12100TE is 2475, compared to 2421 for the i7-9850HE. That places the i3-12100TE at the 49th percentile of all CPUs in the database, while the i7-9850HE sits at the 48th percentile. These are nearly identical percentile rankings, confirming that the performance gap is real but modest in the broader context of all processors.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across several specification fields. The i3-12100TE has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the i7-9850HE has 6 cores and 12 threads. Base clocks are 2.10 GHz versus 2.70 GHz, and boost clocks are 4.00 GHz versus 4.40 GHz, both favoring the i7-9850HE. Thermal design power differs: the i3-12100TE is rated at 35 W, while the i7-9850HE is rated at 45 W.

The sockets are different: the i3-12100TE uses Intel Socket 1700, and the i7-9850HE uses Intel BGA 1440. The process nodes are 10 nm for the i3-12100TE and 14 nm for the i7-9850HE. The die sizes are 163 mm² versus 149 mm². Cache configurations diverge: L1 cache is 80 KB per core for the i3-12100TE versus 64 KB per core for the i7-9850HE; L2 cache is 1.25 MB per core versus 256 KB per core; L3 cache is 12 MB shared versus 9 MB shared.

Memory support differs: the i3-12100TE supports DDR4 and DDR5, while the i7-9850HE supports only DDR4. Both are dual-channel, but the i7-9850HE lists a memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s. PCIe support is Gen 5 with 20 lanes for the i3-12100TE versus Gen 3 for the i7-9850HE. Integrated graphics are UHD Graphics 730 versus UHD Graphics 630.

The market segments differ as well: the i3-12100TE is a desktop processor, while the i7-9850HE is a mobile processor. Production status shows the i3-12100TE as active, while the i7-9850HE is end-of-life. The i7-9850HE has a part number (SRFED), while the i3-12100TE does not list one. The i3-12100TE has a launch MSRP of $125, while the i7-9850HE has no listed MSRP.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i7-9850HE has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the Intel Core i3-12100TE has 4 cores and 8 threads.

Q: Why does the i3-12100TE win benchmarks despite having fewer cores?

A: The benchmark data shows the i3-12100TE wins all six Cinebench tests. Its architectural advantages, including a 10 nm process node, larger per-core L2 cache (1.25 MB versus 256 KB), and larger L3 cache (12 MB versus 9 MB), appear to compensate for the lower core count.

Q: What are the clock speed differences?

A: The i7-9850HE has a higher base clock at 2.70 GHz versus 2.10 GHz for the i3-12100TE, and a higher boost clock at 4.40 GHz versus 4.00 GHz.

Q: Which processor supports DDR5 memory?

A: Only the Intel Core i3-12100TE supports DDR5 memory. The Intel Core i7-9850HE supports DDR4 only.

Q: What is the thermal design power for each?

A: The i3-12100TE has a TDP of 35 W, while the i7-9850HE has a TDP of 45 W.

Q: Are these processors still in production?

A: The i3-12100TE is listed as active, while the i7-9850HE is listed as end-of-life.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear winner: the Intel Core i3-12100TE outperforms the Intel Core i7-9850HE in every recorded benchmark. The i3-12100TE leads by 2.2% to 2.3% in multi-core tests and 1.7% to 2.3% in single-core tests. This is a consistent, if modest, advantage across the board.

For users selecting a processor based on measured performance, the i3-12100TE is the better choice. Its 35 W TDP is lower than the i7-9850HE's 45 W, and it supports newer memory (DDR5) and PCIe (Gen 5) technologies. The i7-9850HE's higher clock speeds and additional cores do not translate into benchmark wins, which indicates that the i3-12100TE's architectural efficiency is the dominant factor.

The i7-9850HE remains relevant only in specific contexts: it uses a BGA 1440 socket, suggesting it is soldered onto mobile motherboards, whereas the i3-12100TE uses Socket 1700, indicating a desktop platform. For systems already built around the mobile form factor, the i7-9850HE may be the only option, but its end-of-life status suggests limited future availability.

The nearest rivals list provides additional context. The i3-12100TE sits close to the Intel Core i5-8600 (0.8% ahead), the Intel Xeon D-1540 (0.3% ahead), and the Intel Core i5-9500T (0.7% behind). The i7-9850HE is nearly tied with the Intel Core i5-8500B and AMD Ryzen 5 4680U (both 0.1% behind), and slightly ahead of the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 4450U (0.4% ahead) and Intel Xeon E5-2630L v3 (0.5% ahead). This shows both processors occupy a similar performance tier, but the i3-12100TE edges out its rival in every direct comparison.

In summary, the data recommends the i3-12100TE for any user who can use a desktop platform. It is faster, more efficient, and based on a newer architecture. The i7-9850HE should only be considered for existing mobile systems where the BGA 1440 socket is already in use, and even then, its performance is slightly lower than the i3-12100TE across all tested workloads.