Retailer photo of Intel Core i3-12100. View this offer in Where to buy
Intel · CPU · Intel 12th
Intel Core i3-12100
The current Intel Core i3-12100 price from retailers, its key specifications, and how it performs for each job.
Trade-offs: you want strong value with Balanced priorities specifically
- Cores / threads
- 4C / 8T
- Boost clock
- 4300 MHz
- Socket
- LGA 1700
- TDP
- 89 W
- Memory support
- DDR5, DDR4
Move a slider and the page re-scores this product against the same market frame.
What does it cost today, and is that a good price?
Market confidence: LowAt CAD 321 the Intel Core i3-12100 is priced in line with its CAD 321 representative market level. Only one retailer currently backs that price, so the level is a single data point rather than a market.
Limited market: only one retailer currently has a verified offer, so treat this price as a single data point.
Prices & availability
Intel Core i3-12100: current price and offers
Compare the offers we track for this model, across variants and retailers.
1 tracked offers · 1 retailers
| Variant | Store | Condition | Price (snapshot) | Value · Balanced | Checked | Offer link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Intel Core i3-12100 | Newegg | New | CAD 321 | 38 | 2026-10-17 | View offer → |
| Intel Core i3-12100Multiple variants available | Amazon Affiliate | Varies | Find on Amazon | Not tracked | No price snapshot | Find on Amazon → |
Prices are dated snapshots, not live quotes — confirm the final price at the store. New, refurbished and used offers are listed separately; used offers carry warranty and seller risk.
Performance and where it ranks
Two different questions, side by side. Performance compares what the hardware can do; Value compares what that capability costs at today’s price. A product can rank high on one and low on the other — that gap is the point.
Performance Balanced
How much it can do. Price plays no part in this ranking.
#161 of 220 graded processors
- #158 IntelIntel Core i7-7800X 9
- #159 IntelIntel Core i5-10500 9
- #160 IntelIntel Core i7-8700 9
- #161 IntelIntel Core i3-12100 9
- #162 IntelIntel Core i5-10400F 8
- #163 IntelIntel Core i5-10400 8
- #164 IntelIntel Core i7-6850K 8
Value Balanced
How much of that you get for today’s price.
#108 of 220 currently priced processors
- #105 IntelIntel Core i5-10400 38
- #106 IntelIntel Core i7-9700K 38
- #107 IntelIntel Core i9-13900 38
- #108 IntelIntel Core i3-12100 38
- #109 AMDAMD Ryzen 3 4100 37
- #110 IntelIntel Core i7-11700 37
- #111 IntelIntel Core i5-10600K 37
Performance Gaming
How much it can do. Price plays no part in this ranking.
#107 of 220 graded processors
- #104 IntelIntel Core i3-9350K 61
- #105 IntelIntel Core i7-11700F 61
- #106 IntelIntel Core i7-11700 61
- #107 IntelIntel Core i3-12100 61
- #108 IntelIntel Core i5-12600K 61
- #109 IntelIntel Core i5-11600 61
- #110 AMDAMD Ryzen 5 5600GT 60
Value Gaming
How much of that you get for today’s price.
#74 of 220 currently priced processors
- #71 IntelIntel Core i9-13900KF 53
- #72 IntelIntel Core i9-13900 52
- #73 IntelIntel Celeron G6900 52
- #74 IntelIntel Core i3-12100 51
- #75 IntelIntel Core i5-13400 51
- #76 IntelIntel Core i5-12500 50
- #77 AMDAMD Ryzen 9 7950X 50
Performance Productivity
How much it can do. Price plays no part in this ranking.
#161 of 220 graded processors
- #158 IntelIntel Core i7-7800X 9
- #159 IntelIntel Core i5-10500 9
- #160 IntelIntel Core i7-8700 9
- #161 IntelIntel Core i3-12100 9
- #162 IntelIntel Core i5-10400F 8
- #163 IntelIntel Core i5-10400 8
- #164 IntelIntel Core i7-6850K 8
Value Productivity
How much of that you get for today’s price.
#138 of 220 currently priced processors
- #135 IntelIntel Core i9-9900K 4
- #136 IntelIntel Core i7-9700K 4
- #137 IntelIntel Core i5-10400F 4
- #138 IntelIntel Core i3-12100 4
- #139 IntelIntel Core i5-10500 4
- #140 IntelIntel Core i9-9820X 4
- #141 IntelIntel Core i5-10600 4
Performance Performance per Watt
How much it can do. Price plays no part in this ranking.
#109 of 220 graded processors
- #106 IntelIntel Core i9-11900F 34
- #107 IntelIntel Core i3-14100F 33
- #108 IntelIntel Core i3-14100 33
- #109 IntelIntel Core i3-12100 33
- #110 IntelIntel Core i7-8700T 33
- #111 IntelIntel Core i7-11700F 32
- #112 IntelIntel Core i7-11700 32
Value Performance per Watt
How much of that you get for today’s price.
#59 of 220 currently priced processors
- #56 IntelIntel Core i5-13500 42
- #57 IntelCore Ultra 9 285K 42
- #58 AMDAMD Ryzen 9 5950X 41
- #59 IntelIntel Core i3-12100 40
- #60 IntelIntel Core i5-13600KF 40
- #61 IntelIntel Core i5-12500 39
- #62 IntelIntel Core i5-13600K 39
These ladders follow the preset scenario shown above. Your own weights re-score this product, not the whole field.
What it is good for
| Scenario | this productCapability grade · Value at current price | Higher capability | Higher Value with current priorities |
|---|---|---|---|
| Balanced (all-round)Weighted all-round view | GradeNo grade Value38 | Higher capability Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus 99 +320% capability · +0% price | Higher Value with current priorities Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus 100 +287% capability · -7% price |
| GamingScenario capability | GradeC Value51 | Higher capability AMD Ryzen 7 9700X A 82 +24% capability · +18% price | Higher Value with current priorities Intel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus A 87 +20% capability · -7% price |
| ProductivityScenario capability | GradeF Value4 | Higher capability Higher capability · Higher Value with current priorities Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus A 48 +320% capability · +0% price | |
| Performance per WattScenario capability | GradeD Value40 | Higher capability AMD Ryzen 7 9700X S 100 +203% capability · +18% price | Higher Value with current priorities Ryzen 5 9600X A 94 +146% capability · -16% price |
Balanced has no letter: it is a weighting preset, not a capability rubric. A grade answers “how well does this handle that job?” — price is never part of it. Relative Value puts the current market price back in.
Compare these grades with the full tier list
Browse shortlists for different uses
Trade-offs
Works well if
- Gaming is your main prioritygraded C for Gaming on the same rubric as the tier list
Consider other options if
- You want strong value with Balanced priorities specificallyat today's market no realistic price for this model reaches strong value with Balanced priorities — the calculation only gets there near CAD 109, against a cheapest tracked CAD 321
- Value for money matters more to you than this exact modelIntel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus holds Relative Value 100 against its 38 with Balanced priorities, at CAD 300
- Productivity is what you actually need it forit grades only F there
For the selected scenario this is not a strong fit — the grade above is the reason, and the models below suit it better.
Consider other options if
- Gaming is what you actually need it forit grades C there; AMD Ryzen 7 9700X grades A at CAD 380
- You want strong value for Gaming specificallycompeting products deliver so much more for Gaming per dollar that no price this model realistically trades at reaches the strong-value mark for this job
- Value for money matters more to you than this exact modelIntel Core Ultra 5 250KF Plus holds Relative Value 87 against its 51 for Gaming, at CAD 300
For the selected scenario this is not a strong fit — the grade above is the reason, and the models below suit it better.
Works well if
- Productivity is not actually your main job — Gaming isit grades F for Productivity, but C for Gaming
Consider other options if
- Productivity is what you actually need it forit grades F there; Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus grades A at CAD 320
- Value for money matters more to you than this exact modelIntel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus holds Relative Value 48 against its 4 for Productivity, at CAD 320
For the selected scenario this is not a strong fit — the grade above is the reason, and the models below suit it better.
Works well if
- Performance per Watt is not actually your main job — Gaming isit grades D for Performance per Watt, but C for Gaming
Consider other options if
- Performance per Watt is what you actually need it forit grades D there; AMD Ryzen 7 9700X grades S at CAD 380
- You want strong value for Performance per Watt specificallycompeting products deliver so much more for Performance per Watt per dollar that no price this model realistically trades at reaches the strong-value mark for this job
- Value for money matters more to you than this exact modelRyzen 5 9600X holds Relative Value 94 against its 40 for Performance per Watt, at CAD 270
Models that suit Performance per Watt better, at this budget
Every line states the fact it was derived from, for the scenario selected above. Thresholds are calculated points on our value curve — information about where the maths turns, not instructions about what to pay.
Similar options to the Intel Core i3-12100
Chosen for Balanced
Chosen for Gaming
Chosen for Productivity
Chosen for Performance per Watt
Alternatives stay near this product’s price range. Step-up options may exceed the standard budget envelope when the capability gain is meaningful.
More head-to-head comparisons in this category
Upgrade planner
Judge the change in the active scenario, then make the cash gap explicit.
Using page scenarioWhat are you upgrading from? These are the axes we compare on, and where this product stands in the current market.
We rank upgrades by out-of-pocket cost — the new price minus what yours is worth — not by sticker price.
Only candidates that clear the configured meaningful-upgrade gate will be shown; roles are omitted rather than filled.
Capability differences are expressed as tiers and index points, not as benchmark percentages we did not measure.
Specifications and compatibility
What this product is, and what to check before it goes into your build.
Core / Performance
- Cores
- 4
- Threads
- 8
- Performance cores
- 4
- Efficiency cores
- 0
- Base clock
- 3300 MHz
- Boost clock
- 4300 MHz
Power / Interface
- TDP
- 89 W
- Maximum turbo power
- 89 W
- Socket
- LGA 1700
- Memory support
- DDR5, DDR4
- Maximum memory
- 128 GB
- Integrated graphics
- Intel UHD Graphics 730
- Process node
- 10 nm
Show all specifications
Core / Performance
- L2 cache
- 5 MB
- L3 cache
- 12 MB
- Unlocked multiplier
- No
Warranty & release
- Warranty
- 3 years
- Release year
- 2022
Hover any value to see where it came from: a manufacturer specification, or a figure The Comparator calculated.
Sources: Comparator offer frame 2026-10-11–2026-10-17
What to check in your build
LGA 1700 required
Your motherboard must use socket LGA 1700. A different socket does not fit — this is a physical constraint, not a preference.
Board BIOS must list this model
A matching socket is necessary but not sufficient — check the vendor CPU support list.
DDR5, DDR4 memory
This processor takes DDR5, DDR4. Memory of another generation does not fit the slots, even on a board with the right socket.
Cooler rated for 89 W or more
No cooler is included. Your cooler must be rated for at least 89 W on socket LGA 1700.
Found an error? Report this specification Email the field, corrected value and an optional source.
Compatibility guidance is practical help, not a score. Missing data is shown as unknown, never invented.
Summary
Intel Core i3-12100 offers a balanced view across an all-round mix of priorities. It ranks #161 by capability in the current modelled field. Its clearest measured strength is multi-thread index 351. Intel Core Ultra 5 225F currently clears the same practical bar with stronger Relative Value.
Intel Core i3-12100 offers C-grade capability for Gaming. It ranks #107 by capability in the current modelled field. Its clearest measured strength is multi-thread index 351. The C grade is the decisive limitation for this workload.
Intel Core i3-12100 offers F-grade capability for Productivity. It ranks #161 by capability in the current modelled field. Its clearest measured strength is multi-thread index 351. The F grade is the decisive limitation for this workload.
Intel Core i3-12100 offers D-grade capability for Performance per Watt. It ranks #109 by capability in the current modelled field. Its clearest measured strength is multi-thread index 351. The D grade is the decisive limitation for this workload.
FAQ
Why does Relative Value change when I choose another scenario?
Each scenario changes the weights applied to capability, price and the other published factors. The hardware facts stay fixed, but the value question changes, so its score and rank can change too.
Why can Amazon appear without a tracked price?
Amazon is shown as a discovery link when we do not have a permitted verified price snapshot. It is excluded from price comparisons, rankings and Relative Value until a compliant tracked price exists.
Useful links & sources
offer frame 2026-10-11–2026-10-17 · formula cpu-value-v1.4 · facts facts-2026-10-17 · Relative Value is an estimate from our current dataset, the selected weights and dated market prices — not an official product rating and not a price forecast. Target prices are calculation thresholds, not predictions. Methodology We are not a shop. Affiliate links may earn us a commission; they never change the calculations or the ranking.