Intel Core i3-12300 vs Intel Core i9-9980HK Comparison

# Intel Core i9-9980HK vs Intel Core i3-12300

The Intel Core i9-9980HK is a mobile processor from 2019, built on Intel's 14nm Coffee Lake-HR architecture, featuring 8 cores and 16 threads with a base clock of 2.40 GHz and boost up to 5.00 GHz. The Intel Core i3-12300 is a desktop chip from Alder Lake-S, fabricated on the 10nm node, with 4 cores and 8 threads, clocked at 3.50 GHz base and 4.40 GHz boost. Despite the i9's core-count advantage, the i3-12300 wins every single head-to-head benchmark in the data, with margins ranging from 2.9% to 3.2%. Both processors sit at the 55th percentile among all CPUs, and their average benchmark scores are remarkably close: 3577 for the i9 versus 3532 for the i3. The i3 also carries a launch MSRP of $143, while the i9 has no listed launch price. This comparison is essentially a clash of generations: an older high-end mobile part versus a newer mainstream desktop part, with the newer architecture proving more efficient per core.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i9-9980HK has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the Intel Core i3-12300 has 4 cores and 8 threads. That's double the core count and double the threads for the i9.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The i9-9980HK averages 3577, and the i3-12300 averages 3532. The i9 is about 1.3% higher on average, but both CPUs fall at the 55th percentile of all processors, indicating near-identical overall performance.

Q: Who wins in Cinebench R23 multicore?

A: The i3-12300 wins with a score of 12211 against the i9's 11836, a 3.1% advantage. This is notable because the i3 has half the cores and threads of the i9.

Q: What is the launch MSRP of the i3-12300?

A: The launch MSRP of the Intel Core i3-12300 is $143. The i9-9980HK has no launch MSRP listed in the data.

Q: Which processor supports DDR5 memory?

A: Only the Intel Core i3-12300 supports DDR5, alongside DDR4. The i9-9980HK supports DDR4 exclusively.

Q: Are both processors unlocked for overclocking?

A: No. The i9-9980HK has an unlocked multiplier, while the i3-12300 does not. This makes the i9 more flexible for tuning if the motherboard and cooling allow it.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from entirely different eras of Intel design. The i9-9980HK uses the Coffee Lake architecture, specifically the Coffee Lake-HR variant, built on Intel's 14nm process. It has a die size of 149 mm². The i3-12300 uses the Alder Lake architecture, codenamed Alder Lake-S, on Intel's 10nm process, with a slightly larger die at 163 mm². This generational leap is visible in the cache layout: the i9 has 64 KB of L1 per core and 256 KB of L2 per core, with 16 MB of shared L3 cache. The i3 has 80 KB of L1 per core and a much larger 1.25 MB of L2 per core, but only 12 MB of shared L3. The i3's larger per-core L2 is a key architectural advantage for single-threaded workloads.

Memory support also differs. The i9 is limited to DDR4 with dual-channel memory and a listed memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s. The i3 supports both DDR4 and DDR5, also dual-channel, but its memory bandwidth is not listed in the data. PCIe support is another split: the i9 offers Gen 3, while the i3 offers Gen 5 with 20 lanes on the CPU. Integrated graphics are present on both, with the i9 using UHD 630 and the i3 using UHD Graphics 730. The i9 is a mobile part (Intel BGA 1440 socket) and is end-of-life, while the i3 is an active desktop processor on Intel Socket 1700. The i9 has an unlocked multiplier; the i3 is locked.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: the Intel Core i3-12300 wins every benchmark in the head-to-head comparison, despite having half the cores and threads of the i9-9980HK. In Cinebench R15, R20, and R23, both multicore and singlecore, the i3 leads by margins between 2.9% and 3.2%. The i9's only statistical advantage is its average benchmark score (3577 vs 3532), a difference of 1.3% that does not translate into any individual test win. For a builder choosing between these two, the i3-12300 is the clear performance pick in every measured workload. It also comes with a launch MSRP of $143, though pricing comparisons are outside the scope of this analysis. The i9-9980HK's 8-core, 16-thread configuration and its unlocked multiplier make it a more capable part for multi-threaded tasks on paper, but the benchmark results show the newer Alder Lake cores in the i3 simply do more per clock. If you need a working desktop CPU today, the i3-12300 is the one the data supports. If you are specifically looking at an older mobile platform, the i9's 45W TDP and BGA socket make it a niche choice for laptop upgrades or embedded builds, not a mainstream recommendation.

Specification Differences

The key specification differences between these two processors are stark. The i9-9980HK has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the i3-12300 has 4 cores and 8 threads. Base clocks differ significantly: the i9 runs at 2.40 GHz, the i3 at 3.50 GHz. Boost clocks are closer, with the i9 at 5.00 GHz and the i3 at 4.40 GHz. The i9's TDP is 45W, versus 60W for the i3. The i9 uses Intel BGA 1440 socket, while the i3 uses Intel Socket 1700. Process nodes differ: 14 nm for the i9, 10 nm for the i3. Die sizes are 149 mm² for the i9 and 163 mm² for the i3. Cache configurations are distinct: the i9 has 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per core with 16 MB shared L3; the i3 has 80 KB L1 and 1.25 MB L2 per core with 12 MB shared L3. Memory support: the i9 is DDR4 only, the i3 supports DDR4 and DDR5. Memory bandwidth is listed at 42.7 GB/s for the i9, not listed for the i3. PCIe: Gen 3 for the i9, Gen 5 with 20 lanes for the i3. Integrated graphics are UHD 630 (i9) versus UHD Graphics 730 (i3). The i9 has an unlocked multiplier; the i3 is locked. Market segment: mobile for the i9, desktop for the i3. Production status: end-of-life for the i9, active for the i3. The i9's release date is 2019-04-22; the i3 has no release date listed. Launch MSRP is only available for the i3 at $143.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head benchmark data shows a clean sweep for the i3-12300 across all six Cinebench tests. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the i3 scores 1230 against the i9's 1193, a 3% lead. In R15 singlecore, the i3 wins 173 to 168, a 2.9% margin. Moving to Cinebench R20 multicore, the i3 scores 5128 versus 4971 for the i9, a 3.1% advantage. In R20 singlecore, the i3 leads 724 to 701, a 3.2% difference. Cinebench R23 multicore shows the i3 at 12211 and the i9 at 11836, again a 3.1% gap. Finally, R23 singlecore has the i3 at 1724 and the i9 at 1671, a 3.1% margin. The consistency of these results is striking: the i3 wins by roughly 3% in every test, regardless of whether the workload is single-threaded or multi-threaded. This suggests the i3's architectural efficiency from the 10nm Alder Lake design and its larger per-core L2 cache overcome the i9's core-count advantage. The i9's only benchmark data outside Cinebench shows Geekbench scores of 6687 multicore and 1389 singlecore, but the i3 has no Geekbench results listed, so no direct comparison is possible there. The win count is 0 for the i9 and 6 for the i3.

Where Each One Wins

Based strictly on the benchmark data, the i3-12300 wins in every measured scenario. Single-threaded workloads favor the i3, as shown by its 2.9% to 3.2% leads in Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 singlecore tests. This makes the i3 the better choice for everyday tasks that rely on single-core performance, such as light productivity, web browsing, and older games that don't scale across many cores. Multi-threaded workloads also go to the i3, despite its 4-core/8-thread configuration versus the i9's 8-core/16-thread setup. The i3's 3.1% advantage in Cinebench R23 multicore suggests that its newer architecture and higher base clock (3.50 GHz vs 2.40 GHz) compensate for the core deficit. For rendering, video encoding, or compilation tasks that use all available threads, the i3 still comes out ahead in this data.

The i9-9980HK's wins are not in the benchmark results but in its feature set. It has an unlocked multiplier, making it the only one of the two that can be overclocked. It also has a lower TDP of 45W, which may be advantageous in power-constrained environments, though this is not reflected in the benchmark scores. The i9's 16 MB of shared L3 cache is larger than the i3's 12 MB, which could help in some cache-sensitive workloads, but again this does not show up as a win in the available tests. The i9 is the only one with a listed memory bandwidth figure (42.7 GB/s), and it supports only DDR4, while the i3's memory bandwidth is unlisted but it supports DDR5.

In practical terms, the i3-12300 is the processor to pick for any workload represented in the Cinebench suite — which is to say, most CPU-bound rendering and productivity tasks. The i9-9980HK holds appeal only for users who specifically need a mobile BGA 1440 part with an unlocked multiplier and are willing to accept lower benchmark scores. For a desktop builder, the i3-12300 is the data-backed choice. For someone repairing or upgrading an older laptop, the i9 might be the only compatible option, but it will not outperform the i3 in the tests shown. The i3's active production status and desktop socket also make it a more future-proof platform, with support for PCIe Gen 5 and DDR5 memory, whereas the i9 is end-of-life with PCIe Gen 3 and DDR4 only.