Intel Core i3-12100 vs Intel Core i5-9400

Comparative analysis of Intel Core i3-12100 and Intel Core i5-9400 processors for all known characteristics in the following categories: Essentials, Performance, Memory, Graphics, Graphics interfaces, Graphics image quality, Graphics API support, Compatibility, Peripherals, Security & Reliability, Advanced Technologies, Virtualization. Benchmark processor performance analysis: PassMark - Single thread mark, PassMark - CPU mark, 3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score, Geekbench 4 - Single Core, Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core, GFXBench 4.0 - Car Chase Offscreen (Frames), GFXBench 4.0 - Manhattan (Frames), GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Frames), GFXBench 4.0 - Car Chase Offscreen (Fps), GFXBench 4.0 - Manhattan (Fps), GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Fps).

Intel Core i3-12100

Intel Core i5-9400

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i3-12100

CPU is newer: launch date 3 year(s) 3 month(s) later
2 more threads: 8 vs 6
Around 5% higher clock speed: 4.30 GHz vs 4.10 GHz
A newer manufacturing process allows for a more powerful, yet cooler running processor: 7 nm vs 14 nm
3.3x more L2 cache, more data can be stored in the L2 cache for quick access later
Around 33% more L3 cache; more data can be stored in the L3 cache for quick access later
Around 8% lower typical power consumption: 60 Watt vs 65 Watt
Around 41% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 3431 vs 2441
Around 44% better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 13546 vs 9379
Around 7% better performance in 3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score: 4034 vs 3760

Specifications (specs)
Launch date	4 Jan 2022 vs October 2018
Number of threads	8 vs 6
Maximum frequency	4.30 GHz vs 4.10 GHz
Manufacturing process technology	7 nm vs 14 nm
L2 cache	5 MB vs 256K (per core)
L3 cache	12 MB vs 9 MB (shared)
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	60 Watt vs 65 Watt
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	3431 vs 2441
PassMark - CPU mark	13546 vs 9379
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score	4034 vs 3760

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i5-9400

2 more cores, run more applications at once: 6 vs 4
Around 20% more L1 cache; more data can be stored in the L1 cache for quick access later

Number of cores	6 vs 4
L1 cache	64K (per core) vs 320 KB

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Core i3-12100
CPU 2: Intel Core i5-9400

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

3431

2441

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

13546

9379

3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score

CPU 1

CPU 2

4034

3760

Name	Intel Core i3-12100	Intel Core i5-9400
PassMark - Single thread mark	3431	2441
PassMark - CPU mark	13546	9379
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score	4034	3760
Geekbench 4 - Single Core		1075
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core		4645
GFXBench 4.0 - Car Chase Offscreen (Frames)		1738
GFXBench 4.0 - Manhattan (Frames)		3574
GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Frames)		6414
GFXBench 4.0 - Car Chase Offscreen (Fps)		1738
GFXBench 4.0 - Manhattan (Fps)		3574
GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Fps)		6414

Compare specifications (specs)

	Intel Core i3-12100	Intel Core i5-9400
Essentials
Architecture codename	Alder Lake	Coffee Lake
Launch date	4 Jan 2022	October 2018
Launch price (MSRP)	$144
Place in performance rating	779	775
Processor Number	i3-12100	i5-9400
Series	12th Generation Intel Core i3 Processors	9th Generation Intel® Core™ i5 Processors
Vertical segment	Desktop	Desktop
Status		Launched
Performance
64 bit support
L1 cache	320 KB	64K (per core)
L2 cache	5 MB	256K (per core)
L3 cache	12 MB	9 MB (shared)
Manufacturing process technology	7 nm	14 nm
Maximum core temperature	100°C	100°C
Maximum frequency	4.30 GHz	4.10 GHz
Number of cores	4	6
Number of threads	8	6
Base frequency		2.90 GHz
Bus Speed		8 GT/s DMI3
Maximum case temperature (TCase)		72 °C
Memory
Max memory channels	2	2
Maximum memory bandwidth	76.8 GB/s	41.6 GB/s
Maximum memory size	128 GB	128 GB
Supported memory types	Up to DDR5 4800 MT/s Up to DDR4 3200 MT/s	DDR4-2666
Graphics
Device ID	0x4692	0X3E98/x92
Execution Units	24
Graphics base frequency	300 MHz	350 MHz
Graphics max dynamic frequency	1.40 GHz	1.05 GHz
Intel® Clear Video HD technology
Intel® Quick Sync Video
Processor graphics	Intel UHD Graphics 730	Intel® UHD Graphics 630
Intel® Clear Video technology
Intel® InTru™ 3D technology
Max video memory		64 GB
Graphics interfaces
Number of displays supported	4	3
Graphics image quality
Max resolution over DisplayPort	7680 x 4320 @ 60Hz	4096x2304@60Hz
Max resolution over eDP	5120 x 3200 @ 120Hz	4096x2304@60Hz
4K resolution support
Max resolution over HDMI 1.4		4096x2304@24Hz
Graphics API support
DirectX	12	12
OpenGL	4.5	4.5
Compatibility
Max number of CPUs in a configuration	1	1
Package Size	45.0 mm x 37.5 mm	37.5mm x 37.5mm
Sockets supported	FCLGA1700	FCLGA1151
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	60 Watt	65 Watt
Thermal Solution	PCG 2020C	PCG 2015C (65W)
Peripherals
Max number of PCIe lanes	20	16
PCI Express revision	5.0 and 4.0	3.0
PCIe configurations	Up to 1x16+4, 2x8+4	Up to 1x16, 2x8, 1x8+2x4
Scalability	1S Only	1S Only
Security & Reliability
Execute Disable Bit (EDB)
Intel® OS Guard
Intel® Secure Key technology
Secure Boot
Intel® Identity Protection technology
Intel® Memory Protection Extensions (Intel® MPX)
Intel® Software Guard Extensions (Intel® SGX)
Intel® Trusted Execution technology (TXT)
Advanced Technologies
Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® technology
Idle States
Instruction set extensions	Intel SSE4.1, Intel SSE4.2, Intel AVX2	Intel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2
Intel 64
Intel® AES New Instructions
Intel® Hyper-Threading technology
Intel® Optane™ Memory Supported
Intel® Turbo Boost technology
Intel® Volume Management Device (VMD)
Speed Shift technology
Thermal Monitoring
Intel® Advanced Vector Extensions (AVX)
Intel® Stable Image Platform Program (SIPP)
Intel® TSX-NI
Intel® vPro™ Platform Eligibility
Virtualization
Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x)
Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d)
Intel® VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT)