Intel Core i3-12300HE vs Intel Core i9-9820X Comparison

The Intel Core i9-9820X and Intel Core i3-12300HE represent two very different design philosophies from the same manufacturer. The former is a power-hungry, unlocked desktop part from the Skylake-X family, while the latter is an efficient, mobile-focused Alder Lake chip. Despite the generational gap and architectural overhaul, the benchmark data reveals an exceptionally tight race. The i9-9820X wins all six head-to-head Cinebench tests, but the margins are remarkably slim, with the largest delta being just 1.2%. This places the two processors at nearly identical performance levels, despite their vastly different specifications and target platforms.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i9-9820X has a slightly higher average benchmark score of 5049, compared to the Intel Core i3-12300HE's 4995. This difference is less than 1.1%.

Q: What is the performance percentile ranking for each CPU?

A: The Intel Core i9-9820X sits in the 60th percentile of all CPUs, while the Intel Core i3-12300HE is in the 59th percentile, making them effectively equivalent in overall standing.

Q: How do the two chips compare in the Cinebench R23 multi-core test?

A: The Intel Core i9-9820X scores 17459, while the Intel Core i3-12300HE scores 17272. The i9-9820X wins this test by a 1.1% margin.

Q: Which processor supports faster PCIe technology?

A: The Intel Core i3-12300HE supports PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes, while the Intel Core i9-9820X is limited to PCIe Gen 3 with 44 lanes.

Q: What are the memory channel configurations for the two CPUs?

A: The Intel Core i9-9820X uses a quad-channel memory bus, whereas the Intel Core i3-12300HE uses a dual-channel configuration.

Q: Is the Intel Core i9-9820X's launch MSRP higher than the i3-12300HE's?

A: The Intel Core i9-9820X has a launch MSRP of $889. No launch MSRP is available for the Intel Core i3-12300HE.

The Verdict

The data presents a clear, albeit surprising, picture: the Intel Core i9-9820X is the faster processor in every benchmark recorded, but the differences are so marginal that they are likely imperceptible in real-world use. The i9-9820X edges out the i3-12300HE by 1.1% in the Cinebench R23 multi-core test and by 1.2% in the R15 single-core test. For users prioritizing the absolute highest Cinebench scores, the i9-9820X is the technical winner.

However, the choice between these two should be dictated by platform and efficiency, not raw performance. The i9-9820X is an end-of-life desktop part with a 165W TDP, requiring a Socket 2066 motherboard and a capable cooling solution. The i3-12300HE is an active mobile processor with a 45W TDP, soldered to a BGA 1744 board. The i3-12300HE delivers 98.9% of the i9-9820X's multi-core performance in R23 while consuming significantly less power and supporting newer features like PCIe Gen 4 and DDR5 memory. For any new system build, the i3-12300HE is the logical choice; for those already invested in the HEDT platform, the i9-9820X remains a viable, if older, option. The data shows that the architectural efficiency of Alder Lake has effectively neutralized the core-count and thread-count advantage of the older Skylake-X part.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark results are a study in consistency. The Intel Core i9-9820X wins all six Cinebench tests, but the maximum winning margin is just 1.2%. This indicates that the two processors are essentially performance equals in these workloads.

In the multi-core tests, the i9-9820X's advantage is remarkably uniform. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, it scores 1759 against the i3-12300HE's 1740, a 1.1% lead. The R20 multi-core test shows the i9-9820X at 7332 versus 7254, again a 1.1% difference. The R23 multi-core test follows the same pattern, with the i9-9820X scoring 17459 and the i3-12300HE scoring 17272, for another 1.1% margin. Despite having 10 cores and 20 threads against the i3's 8 cores and 12 threads, the i9-9820X cannot translate that hardware advantage into a significant performance lead.

The single-core results are equally close. In Cinebench R15 single-core, the i9-9820X scores 248, while the i3-12300HE scores 245, giving the i9-9820X a 1.2% win. The R20 single-core test sees the i9-9820X at 1034 and the i3-12300HE at 1023, a 1.1% difference. Finally, in R23 single-core, the i9-9820X's score of 2464 edges out the i3-12300HE's 2438, again by 1.1%. The i3-12300HE's higher boost clock of 4.30 GHz compared to the i9-9820X's 4.20 GHz helps it stay competitive, but the older architecture's single-core performance still holds a slight edge.

Specification Differences

The specification sheet highlights the fundamental divide between these two parts. The Intel Core i9-9820X is a 10-core, 20-thread desktop processor with a base clock of 3.30 GHz and a boost clock of 4.20 GHz. Its 165W TDP is a clear indicator of its high-performance desktop intent. The Intel Core i3-12300HE, by contrast, is an 8-core, 12-thread mobile processor with a much lower base clock of 1900.00 MHz (1.90 GHz) but a higher boost clock of 4.30 GHz. Its 45W TDP is typical for a mobile part.

The platform support differs entirely. The i9-9820X uses the Intel Socket 2066, while the i3-12300HE is soldered to Intel BGA 1744. The i9-9820X supports quad-channel DDR4 memory with a bandwidth of 85.3 GB/s, whereas the i3-12300HE supports dual-channel DDR4 and DDR5 memory. The i9-9820X offers PCIe Gen 3 with 44 lanes, while the i3-12300HE provides PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes. The i9-9820X has an unlocked multiplier, while the i3-12300HE's multiplier is locked. The i3-12300HE is also an active product with integrated UHD Graphics, while the i9-9820X is end-of-life and lacks integrated graphics.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gulf between these two processors is vast, yet the performance results are nearly identical. The Intel Core i9-9820X is built on Intel's 14 nm process and uses the Skylake-X architecture. It features a cache hierarchy of 64 KB of L1 and 1 MB of L2 per core, with a shared 16.5 MB of L3 cache. This is a monolithic design from the 9th Gen X-Series, released in late 2018.

The Intel Core i3-12300HE is a much newer design, built on Intel's 10 nm process using the Alder Lake architecture. It features a larger L1 cache at 80 KB per core and a larger L2 cache at 1.25 MB per core, but a smaller shared L3 cache at 12 MB. The die size is listed as 217 mm². This Alder Lake-H part is part of the 12th Gen Core family. The i3-12300HE's newer 10 nm process and more efficient Alder Lake core design allow it to achieve performance parity with the older, higher-power 14 nm Skylake-X part, while drawing significantly less power and offering access to newer platform features like PCIe Gen 4 and DDR5 memory support.