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AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D
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$479Nov 93 videos
Intel Core i3-12100F
The four-core budget king of 2022 that is still a cheap LGA1700 entry point.
- LGA1700
- 4
- 8
- 4.3 GHz
- 58 W
PCPR score
6.0
Poor
Best price we’ve seen
$107MSRP
List price from the maker. Street prices may be higher.
R1
The short version
The Core i3-12100F has four performance cores and eight threads, 12 MB of cache, a 4.3 GHz maximum turbo and a 58 W base rating with 89 W maximum. It has no integrated graphics and is locked. Gamers Nexus called it a budget king at launch. It remains an inexpensive entry to LGA1700 but is limited by four cores in newer games.
Pros
- Very low power draw
- Good value at launch
- DDR4 board support
Cons
- Only four cores
- No integrated graphics
- Locked
- Aging architecture
Best for
- Ultra-low-budget builds
- Light gaming with an entry GPU
J3
Full specifications
Core
- Socket
- LGA1700
- Series
- 12th Gen Core
- Architecture
- Alder Lake
- Cores
- 4
- Performance cores
- 4
- Efficiency cores
- 0
- Threads
- 8
Performance
- Base clock
- 3.3 GHz
- Max boost
- 4.3 GHz
- L3 cache
- 12 MB
- 3D V-Cache
- No
Power
- TDP
- 58 W
- Max power (PPT / PL2)
- 89 W
Features
- Integrated graphics
- No
- Unlocked multiplier
- No
- Process
- Intel 7
Memory
- Memory support
- DDR5, DDR4
- Rated memory speed
- 4,800 MT/s
- Max memory
- 128 GB
Expansion
- PCIe version
- 5.0
- PCIe lanes
- 20
Compatibility notes
- Socket LGA1700 works with 600- and 700-series boards; boards come in DDR4 or DDR5 versions, so choose the memory type before buying. Older 600-series boards may need a BIOS update.
- No integrated graphics.
P1
Where to buy
- Buy from the maker
Intel official page
Direct link
- Check price on Amazon
Amazon
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- See it at Newegg
Newegg
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- See it at Best Buy
Best Buy
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- See it at B&H
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- See it at Micro Center
Micro Center
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AV1
Video reviews
Positive · Review
Budget King: $130 Intel Core i3-12100F CPU Review & Benchmarks
Gamers Nexus
Gamers Nexus' launch review calling it a budget king.
Overview · Comparison
i3 12100F vs i3 14100F - Worth The Upgrade?!
Hardware Tested
Hardware Tested compares the i3-12100F against the i3-14100F to judge whether the newer chip is worth upgrading to.
Positive · Review
intel i3 12100F - Quad-Zilla! Still King of Budget CPUs?
Yesterday's Ram
A video asking whether the 12100F is still the king of budget CPUs.
R9
Common questions
Which motherboards work with the Core i3-12100F?
It uses socket LGA1700, which fits 600- and 700-series chipset boards. Older 600-series boards may need a BIOS update.
Does the Core i3-12100F have integrated graphics?
No. The F suffix means the integrated GPU is disabled, so a discrete graphics card is required.
Does the Core i3-12100F work with DDR4 or DDR5?
Intel lists support for both DDR5 up to 4800 MT/s and DDR4 up to 3200 MT/s, up to 128 GB. The type depends on the motherboard, because a board takes one or the other.
J9Alternatives
