Intel Core i3-13100F vs Core i3-12100F: Which is the best gaming CPU?

Modified Jun 24, 2024 05:18 GMT

The Intel Core i3-13100F and the i3-12100F are some of the best entry-level gaming CPUs (Image via Amazon)

The Intel Core i3-13100F and the Core i3-12100F are some of the best offerings in the sub-$100 market today. They bring the latest in single-threaded performance technology, which makes them superb for gaming. Besides, you also get the latest improvements in power efficiency, support for DDR5 memory, and the latest motherboards.

However, the processors are selling for nearly the same amount these days. They are pretty identical on paper, which can make choosing between them a bit difficult. To help you make a better decision, we have prepared this detailed comparison.

Note: Some aspects of this article are subjective and solely reflect the writer's opinions.

Both Intel Core i3-13100F and Core i3-12100F offer superb value-for-money under $100

The 12th gen Core i3 is a capable gaming chip on a budget (Image via Amazon)

The Core i3-13100F and 12100F are based on different architectures. While the 12th gen processor utilizes Intel's Alder Lake technology, the 13100F is a Raptor Lake chip. Much hasn't changed in terms of overall performance between these processors, and you can expect similar performance levels if the spec sheets look similar.

Specs comparison

Both the 13100 and the 12100 are four-core processors. They pack all performance-rated 'P' cores and don't utilize the hybrid architecture introduced across other 12th and 13th gen chips.

The newer processor is 200 MHz faster. Other than this, you get the same 17 MB combined (L2+L3) cache and a 60W power design. The non-F variants also pack the same UHD 730 graphics processor. It can't game, but is enough for basic multitasking and video playback.

The detailed specs lists of the processors are as follows:

	Intel Core i3-12100	Intel Core i3-12100F	Intel Core i3-13100	Intel Core i3-13100F
Core count	4 (4P+0E)	4 (4P+0E)	4 (4P+0E)	4 (4P+0E)
Thread count	8	8	8	8
Base clock	3.3 GHz	3.3 GHz	3.4 GHz	3.4 GHz
Boost clock	4.3 GHz	4.3 GHz	4.5 GHz	4.5 GHz
Cache (L2+L3)	17 MB	17 MB	17 MB	17 MB
Memory support	Up to DDR5 4800 MT/s, Up to DDR4 3200 MT/s	Up to DDR5 4800 MT/s, Up to DDR4 3200 MT/s	Up to DDR5 4800 MT/s, Up to DDR4 3200 MT/s	Up to DDR5 4800 MT/s, Up to DDR4 3200 MT/s
TDP	60W	60W	60W	60W
iGPU	Intel UHD Graphics 730	No	Intel UHD Graphics 730	No

The newer Core i3-13100F is currently selling for $87. The 12100F can be picked up for $84. The non-F variants, those with the iGPU, will cost you about $110-120.

Read more: Intel Core i3-14100F vs Core i3-13100F

Performance comparison

The Core i3-13100F is a decent mid-range CPU for gamers (Image via Amazon)

In terms of performance, the 12th and 13th gen Core i3 aren't far apart. While the 13100F doesn't bring some improvements, the performance uplift lies in the 5-7% zone. This won't translate to a noticeable difference in real-world workloads.

Benchmark scores of the chips in Cinebench R23 and Geekbench 6 are as follows:

This data has been sourced from the aggregator website NanoReview.

	Intel Core i3-13100	Intel Core i3-13100F	Intel Core i3-12100	Intel Core i3-12100F
Cinebench R23 single-core	1681	1730	1683	1627
Cinebench R23 multi-core	8651	8807	8065	8512
Geekbench 6 single-core	2282	2375	2215	2712
Geekbench 6 multi-core	7814	8188	7427	9372

In the latest video games, a similar trend continues. The newer Core i3-13100F is about 2-3% faster than the last generation. These numbers were recorded with an RTX 4090. The difference will be even slimmer with more a modest GPU in your rig.

Framerates scored by the two Core i3 chips are as follows:

The numbers have been sourced from the Testing Games YouTube channel.

	Intel Core i3-12100F	Intel Core i3-13100F
Spider-Man: Miles Morales	75 FPS	78 FPS (+4%)
Forza Horizon 5	196 FPS	201 FPS (+2.55%)
Call of Duty: Warzone	69 FPS	71 FPS (+2.9%)
Hitman 3	147 FPS	156 FPS (+6.12%)
Microsoft Flight Simulator	61 FPS	65 FPS (+6.55%)
The Witcher 3	48 FPS	50 FPS (+4.16%)
Cyberpunk 2077	75 FPS	78 FPS (+4%)
God of War	136 FPS	143 FPS (+5.38%)

Intel Core i3-13100F vs Core i3-12100F: The verdict

The Core i3-12100F and i3-13100F are pretty much identical to each other in terms of performance and pricing. Choosing between them can be quite difficult.

However, I would stick with the newer 13100F. This is because it is barely costlier while still being capable of squeezing out an extra frame or two in the latest video games. At the entry-level, every last bit of performance is crucial. Hence, I think sticking to the newer chip is a better deal.

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