Intel Core i3-12300 vs Intel Core i9-10885H Comparison

The Intel Core i9-10885H and Intel Core i3-12300 come from different generations and market segments, yet the recorded head-to-head data delivers a clear outcome. Across all six Cinebench tests, the Intel Core i3-12300 posts higher scores than the Intel Core i9-10885H, despite having half the cores and threads. The margins are narrow but consistent, and the architecture differences help explain why the newer, smaller processor wins every shared benchmark.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database records six Cinebench comparisons between these two processors. The Intel Core i3-12300 wins all six. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i3-12300 scores 1230 against the i9-10885H's 1219, a 0.9% lead. In R15 single-core, the i3-12300 scores 173 versus 172, a 0.6% margin. Moving to R20, the i3-12300 scores 5128 against 5082 in multi-core, again 0.9% ahead, and 724 versus 717 in single-core, a 1% lead. In R23, the i3-12300 scores 12211 against 12102 in multi-core (0.9% ahead) and 1724 versus 1708 in single-core (0.9% ahead). The margins are tight, but they are uniform across every test.

The i9-10885H has a higher boost clock at 5.30 GHz compared to the i3-12300's 4.40 GHz, and it has 8 cores and 16 threads versus 4 cores and 8 threads. Yet the i3-12300 still edges ahead. The i3-12300's base clock is higher at 3.50 GHz versus 2.40 GHz, which likely contributes to its single-core advantage. The newer Alder Lake architecture appears to offset the core count deficit. The i9-10885H also has a larger L3 cache at 16 MB shared, while the i3-12300 has 12 MB shared, but that does not translate into a win.

Both processors sit at the 55th percentile of all CPUs in the database. The i9-10885H has an average benchmark score of 3651, while the i3-12300 has an average of 3532. However, these averages are not directly comparable because they are based on different sets of recorded tests. The head-to-head results are the only direct comparison, and they favor the i3-12300 in every instance.

Where Each One Wins

Based on the recorded head-to-head data, the Intel Core i3-12300 wins every benchmark it shares with the i9-10885H. There are no tests where the i9-10885H comes out ahead. The i9-10885H does have Geekbench scores in the database: 6764 multi-core and 1447 single-core. However, the i3-12300 has no Geekbench scores recorded, so no direct comparison is possible. In the six Cinebench tests, the i3-12300 is the clear winner.

For workloads that rely on multi-threaded performance, the i3-12300's victory is notable because the i9-10885H has double the cores and threads. The i3-12300's higher base clock and newer process node (10 nm versus 14 nm) likely explain the result. For single-threaded tasks, the i3-12300 also leads, though by a smaller margin. The i9-10885H's boost clock advantage does not translate into a win. The i3-12300's wins are consistent across all three Cinebench versions, suggesting a stable performance edge rather than a test-specific anomaly.

Architecture Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every architectural aspect. The i9-10885H uses the Comet Lake architecture on a 14 nm process, while the i3-12300 uses Alder Lake on a 10 nm process. The i9-10885H has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the i3-12300 has 4 cores and 8 threads. The i9-10885H has a base clock of 2.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.30 GHz; the i3-12300 has a base of 3.50 GHz and a boost of 4.40 GHz. The i9-10885H has a TDP of 45 W, the i3-12300 has a TDP of 60 W.

Cache configurations differ as well. The i9-10885H has 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3. The i3-12300 has 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 12 MB of shared L3. The i9-10885H supports DDR4 memory only, with a dual-channel bus and a recorded memory bandwidth of 46.9 GB/s. The i3-12300 supports both DDR4 and DDR5, also dual-channel, but no memory bandwidth figure is recorded.

The i9-10885H uses Intel BGA 1440 socket, while the i3-12300 uses Intel Socket 1700. The i9-10885H has PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the i3-12300 has PCIe Gen 5 with 20 lanes. Integrated graphics differ: the i9-10885H has UHD Graphics 630, the i3-12300 has UHD Graphics 730. The i9-10885H is a mobile processor, while the i3-12300 is a desktop processor. The i9-10885H is end-of-life, while the i3-12300 is active. The i9-10885H has a release date of 2020-04-01, while the i3-12300 has no recorded release date. The die size is 206 mm² for the i9-10885H and 163 mm² for the i3-12300.

The Verdict

The recorded data is unambiguous: the Intel Core i3-12300 outperforms the Intel Core i9-10885H in every head-to-head benchmark. The i3-12300 wins all six Cinebench tests, with margins ranging from 0.6% to 1%. This is despite the i9-10885H having twice the cores and threads and a higher boost clock. The i3-12300's newer architecture, higher base clock, and smaller process node appear to be decisive.

For users choosing between these two processors based on the available benchmark data, the i3-12300 is the better performer. The i9-10885H does have Geekbench scores, but without a corresponding i3-12300 score, they cannot be compared. The i9-10885H also has a higher launch MSRP of $556, while the i3-12300 has a launch MSRP of $143. However, price is not a factor in performance analysis. The i3-12300 is the clear winner in the recorded tests.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The Intel Core i9-10885H has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Intel Core i3-12300 has 4 cores and 8 threads.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The i9-10885H has a boost clock of 5.30 GHz, while the i3-12300 has a boost clock of 4.40 GHz.

Q: Which processor wins in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The i3-12300 scores 12211, while the i9-10885H scores 12102, so the i3-12300 wins by 0.9%.

Q: What memory types does each support?

A: The i9-10885H supports DDR4 only. The i3-12300 supports both DDR4 and DDR5.

Q: Which processor has a larger L3 cache?

A: The i9-10885H has 16 MB of shared L3, while the i3-12300 has 12 MB of shared L3.

Q: What is the TDP of each processor?

A: The i9-10885H has a TDP of 45 W, and the i3-12300 has a TDP of 60 W.

Specification Differences

| Field | Intel Core i9-10885H | Intel Core i3-12300 |

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

| Cores | 8 | 4 |

| Threads | 16 | 8 |

| Base Clock | 2.40 GHz | 3.50 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 5.30 GHz | 4.40 GHz |

| TDP | 45 W | 60 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1440 | Intel Socket 1700 |

| Architecture | Comet Lake | Alder Lake |

| Process Node | 14 nm | 10 nm |

| Die Size | 206 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 | 16 MB (shared) | 12 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR4 | DDR4, DDR5 |

| Memory Bandwidth | 46.9 GB/s | Not recorded |

| PCIe | Gen 3, 16 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 5, 20 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | UHD Graphics 630 | UHD Graphics 730 |

| Market Segment | Mobile | Desktop |

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

| Release Date | 2020-04-01 | Not recorded |

| Launch MSRP | $556 | $143 |