CPU Showdown

Core i3-12100EvsRyzen Threadripper 9970X

The Core i3-12100E is a compact, low-power desktop chip for everyday computing and light office work, while the Ryzen Threadripper 9970X is a high-core-count workstation monster built for heavy multi-threaded tasks like rendering or video encoding.

Intel Core i3-12100E
4C / 8T · 60W
VS
AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9970X
32C / 64T · 350W
Intel

Core i3-12100E

Alder Lake-S · 10 nm · 2022

8score
3.2/ 5
0 votes
Cores / Threads
4 / 8
TDP
60W
Boost Clock
4.2 GHz
L3 Cache
12 MB

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AMD

Ryzen Threadripper 9970X

Shimada Peak · 4 nm · 2025

64score
4.4/ 5
0 votes
Cores / Threads
32 / 64
TDP
350W
Boost Clock
5.4 GHz
L3 Cache
128 MB

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Aggregate Performance

Overall Performance Score

A unified score from combined synthetic and real-world benchmarks. 100 represents the fastest desktop CPU available.

Core i3-12100E
8
Ryzen Threadripper 9970XWinner
64
Ryzen Threadripper 9970X leads by 700.0% in aggregate performance.
Where they rank overall
#3Ryzen Threadripper 7980X82
#4Ryzen Threadripper 9970X64
#5Ryzen Threadripper 7970X60
#311Core i3-14100T8
#312Core i3-12100E8
#313Core i7-8700K8
Technical Specifications

Side-by-Side Specs

Every detail compared. Highlighted cells indicate the leading value for that metric.

SpecsCore i3-12100ERyzen Threadripper 9970X
Cores
Total Cores432
Threads864
Base Clock3.2 GHz4.0 GHz
Boost Clock4.2 GHz5.4 GHz
Cache
L2 Cache5 MB32 MB
L3 Cache12 MB128 MB
Platform
Socket1700sTR5
MemoryDDR4DDR5
PCIePCIe 5.0PCIe 5.0
iGPUIntel UHD Graphics 730
Power
Base TDP60W350W
General
Process10 nm4 nm
Verdict

Which should you buy?

Winner overall

The Ryzen Threadripper 9970X wins overall for professionals needing extreme multi-core muscle.

Best value

For budget buyers, the Core i3-12100E offers better value if you only need basic everyday computing.

When the other wins

The Core i3-12100E is the right choice for a low-power office PC where high multi-core speed is unnecessary.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is the Core i3-12100E better than the Ryzen Threadripper 9970X?

Overall the Ryzen Threadripper 9970X is the stronger processor: it ranks higher in our aggregate performance score (64 vs 8 out of 100), so it leads the Core i3-12100E in most workloads.

How much faster is the Ryzen Threadripper 9970X than the Core i3-12100E?

Based on our aggregated benchmark scores the Ryzen Threadripper 9970X is roughly 700% faster than the Core i3-12100E overall. The real-world gap varies by game, resolution and settings.

Which should you buy, the Core i3-12100E or the Ryzen Threadripper 9970X?

If you want the most performance, pick the Ryzen Threadripper 9970X. If the Core i3-12100E is meaningfully cheaper where you shop, it can be the better value for similar real-world results — check current prices and the full spec comparison above before deciding.