Core i3-12100F vs Core i9-9900K
The Core i3-12100F is faster than the Core i9-9900K on average across 100+ games and it's also a much better value for money, as it's $327.01 cheaper!
FPS Comparison Across Popular Games
Predicted average FPS at 1080p, 1440p, and 4K, based on real game benchmarks.
Specs & Benchmark Comparison
Side-by-side specs, synthetic benchmarks, and key hardware differences.
Base Frequencyhelp
Core i9-9900K has a 9% higher base clock.
LGA1700
Sockethelp
LGA1151Alder Lake-S
Codenamehelp
Coffee Lake-RDesktop
Segmenthelp
DesktopNo Integrated Graphics
Integrated GPUhelp
UHD Graphics 6303200 MHz (DDR4), 4800 MHz (DDR5)
RAMhelp
2666 MHz (DDR4)Not Overclockable
Overclock Supporthelp
OverclockableFrequently Asked Questions
compare_arrowsWhich is better, Core i3-12100F or Core i9-9900K?expand_more
The Core i3-12100F. It's 35% faster than the Core i9-9900K on average across 100+ games, scoring 50/100 vs 37/100 in our gaming rating.
speedHow much faster is Core i3-12100F than Core i9-9900K?expand_more
35% faster on average. The gap varies by game and resolution, check the per-game FPS comparison above.
aspect_ratioWhich is better for 1440p and 4K gaming, Core i3-12100F or Core i9-9900K?expand_more
The Core i3-12100F is faster at both resolutions. Toggle the resolution selector above to see per-game FPS.
paidIs the Core i3-12100F worth buying in 2026?expand_more
It scores 50/100 in our gaming rating, faster than most CPUs on the market. Good buy if the price is right.
differenceWhat is the difference between Core i3-12100F and Core i9-9900K?expand_more
Performance: Core i3-12100F scores 50/100, Core i9-9900K scores 37/100. They also differ in core count, clock speeds, L3 cache, and power draw. Full breakdown in the specs section above.
compressWill the Core i3-12100F or Core i9-9900K bottleneck my PC?expand_more
Depends on the rest of your build, especially your GPU. Swap the paired GPU in the FPS section above to see if it limits performance, or use our bottleneck calculator for a full analysis.
upgradeIs it worth upgrading to the Core i3-12100F or Core i9-9900K?expand_more
The Core i3-12100F is the stronger pick at 50/100. Compare your current CPU against it to see the exact FPS gain across 100+ games.
Popular Comparisons
i3-12100F vs Ryzen 7 9800X3Di3-12100F vs Ryzen 7 7800X3Di3-12100F vs Ryzen 7 9700Xi3-12100F vs Ryzen 7 7700Xi3-12100F vs Ryzen 9 9900Xi3-12100F vs Ryzen 5 5500i3-12100F vs Ultra 7 265KFi3-12100F vs Ryzen 7 9850X3Di3-12100F vs Ryzen 9 9900X3Di3-12100F vs Ryzen 9 9950X3Di3-12100F vs Ryzen 5 7600Xi3-12100F vs Ultra 5 245Ki3-12100F vs Ryzen 5 8500Gi3-12100F vs Ultra 5 245KFi3-12100F vs Ryzen 5 7500X3Di3-12100F vs i5-6600i3-12100F vs i5-4670i3-12100F vs Ryzen 5 3500Xi3-12100F vs Ryzen 5 5600i3-12100F vs Ryzen 3 4100i3-12100F vs i5-4590Si9-9900K vs Ryzen 7 9800X3Di9-9900K vs Ryzen 7 7800X3Di9-9900K vs Ryzen 7 9700Xi9-9900K vs Ryzen 7 7700Xi9-9900K vs Ryzen 9 9900Xi9-9900K vs Ryzen 5 5500i9-9900K vs Ultra 7 265KFi9-9900K vs Ryzen 7 9850X3Di9-9900K vs Ryzen 9 9900X3Di9-9900K vs Ryzen 9 9950X3Di9-9900K vs Ryzen 5 7600Xi9-9900K vs Ultra 5 245Ki9-9900K vs Ryzen 5 8500Gi9-9900K vs Ultra 5 245KFi9-9900K vs Ryzen 5 7500X3Di5-6600 vs i9-9900Ki5-4670 vs i9-9900Ki9-9900K vs Ryzen 5 3500Xi9-9900K vs Ryzen 5 5600i9-9900K vs Ryzen 3 4100i5-4590S vs i9-9900K