Core i3-12100F vs Ryzen Embedded V3C18I

PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.

Head-to-Head Verdict, Benchmarks, Value & Long-Term Outlook

This comparison brings together gaming FPS, productivity performance, platform differences, power efficiency, pricing context, and upgrade path so you can see which CPU actually makes more sense.

Core i3-12100F

2022

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +14.5% higher average FPS across 3 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $403 less on MSRP ($97 MSRP vs $500 MSRP).
✅Delivers 420.0% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 144.1 vs 27.7 PassMark/$ ($97 MSRP vs $500 MSRP).
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 16 MB).
❌286.7% higher power demand at 58W vs 15W.

Ryzen Embedded V3C18I

2022

Why buy it

✅+33.3% larger total L3 cache (16 MB vs 12 MB).
✅Draws 15W instead of 58W, a 43W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i3-12100F across 3 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (13,856 vs 13,979).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 27.7 vs 144.1 PassMark/$ ($500 MSRP vs $97 MSRP).

Core i3-12100F

2022

Ryzen Embedded V3C18I

2022

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +14.5% higher average FPS across 3 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $403 less on MSRP ($97 MSRP vs $500 MSRP).
✅Delivers 420.0% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 144.1 vs 27.7 PassMark/$ ($97 MSRP vs $500 MSRP).
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Why buy it

✅+33.3% larger total L3 cache (16 MB vs 12 MB).
✅Draws 15W instead of 58W, a 43W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 16 MB).
❌286.7% higher power demand at 58W vs 15W.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i3-12100F across 3 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (13,856 vs 13,979).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 27.7 vs 144.1 PassMark/$ ($500 MSRP vs $97 MSRP).

Quick Answers

So, is Core i3-12100F better than Ryzen Embedded V3C18I?

Yes. Core i3-12100F is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 14.5% average FPS lead across 3 shared CPU game tests in our data and 0.9% better PassMark, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core i3-12100F is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 14.5% more average FPS across 3 shared CPU game tests.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i3-12100F is the better fit. You are getting 0.9% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 8 threads.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Core i3-12100F is the smarter buy today. Core i3-12100F is $403 cheaper on MSRP at $97 MSRP versus $500 MSRP, and it gives you a 14.5% average FPS lead across 3 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 420.0% better value on MSRP (144.1 vs 27.7 PassMark/$), so the better CPU is not just faster, it is also the cleaner value play on paper.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Ryzen Embedded V3C18I is the safer long-term CPU choice because it gives you more overall headroom and a better platform outlook.

Games Benchmarks

Paired with RTX 4090

To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.

Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.

Core i3-12100F Benchmark Check

Ryzen Embedded V3C18I Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i3-12100F	Ryzen Embedded V3C18I
1080p
low	167 FPS	172 FPS
medium	141 FPS	138 FPS
high	111 FPS	112 FPS
ultra	92 FPS	89 FPS
1440p
low	145 FPS	142 FPS
medium	121 FPS	112 FPS
high	95 FPS	90 FPS
ultra	79 FPS	71 FPS
4K
low	78 FPS	66 FPS
medium	71 FPS	55 FPS
high	56 FPS	44 FPS
ultra	43 FPS	35 FPS

Open Core i3-12100F Open Ryzen Embedded V3C18I

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i3-12100F	Ryzen Embedded V3C18I
1080p
low	272 FPS	173 FPS
medium	234 FPS	151 FPS
high	213 FPS	132 FPS
ultra	182 FPS	109 FPS
1440p
low	237 FPS	149 FPS
medium	208 FPS	134 FPS
high	193 FPS	119 FPS
ultra	164 FPS	98 FPS
4K
low	186 FPS	108 FPS
medium	167 FPS	100 FPS
high	142 FPS	92 FPS
ultra	117 FPS	74 FPS

Open Core i3-12100F Open Ryzen Embedded V3C18I

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i3-12100F	Ryzen Embedded V3C18I
1080p
low	349 FPS	346 FPS
medium	349 FPS	346 FPS
high	349 FPS	346 FPS
ultra	349 FPS	346 FPS
1440p
low	349 FPS	346 FPS
medium	349 FPS	346 FPS
high	349 FPS	346 FPS
ultra	349 FPS	346 FPS
4K
low	349 FPS	346 FPS
medium	349 FPS	317 FPS
high	315 FPS	280 FPS
ultra	260 FPS	225 FPS

Open Core i3-12100F Open Ryzen Embedded V3C18I

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i3-12100F	Ryzen Embedded V3C18I
1080p
low	349 FPS	346 FPS
medium	349 FPS	346 FPS
high	349 FPS	346 FPS
ultra	349 FPS	346 FPS
1440p
low	349 FPS	346 FPS
medium	349 FPS	346 FPS
high	349 FPS	346 FPS
ultra	349 FPS	346 FPS
4K
low	349 FPS	346 FPS
medium	349 FPS	346 FPS
high	349 FPS	346 FPS
ultra	317 FPS	326 FPS

Open Core i3-12100F Open Ryzen Embedded V3C18I

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i3-12100F and Ryzen Embedded V3C18I

Core i3-12100F

The Core i3-12100F is manufactured by Intel. It was released in Janeiro 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.3 GHz, with boost up to 4.3 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1700. Thermal design power (TDP): 58 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 13,979 points. Launch price was $97.

Ryzen Embedded V3C18I

The Ryzen Embedded V3C18I is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 27 September 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Rembrandt (2022) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 1.9 GHz, with boost up to 3.8 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 6 nm process technology. Socket: FP7. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 13,856 points. Launch price was $149.

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Processing Power

The Core i3-12100F packs 4 cores / 8 threads, while the Ryzen Embedded V3C18I offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Ryzen Embedded V3C18I has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.3 GHz on the Core i3-12100F versus 3.8 GHz on the Ryzen Embedded V3C18I — a 12.3% clock advantage for the Core i3-12100F (base: 3.3 GHz vs 1.9 GHz). The Core i3-12100F uses the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Ryzen Embedded V3C18I uses Rembrandt (2022) (6 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-12100F scores 13,979 against the Ryzen Embedded V3C18I's 13,856 — a 0.9% lead for the Core i3-12100F. L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Core i3-12100F vs 16 MB (total) on the Ryzen Embedded V3C18I.

Feature	Core i3-12100F	Ryzen Embedded V3C18I
Cores / Threads	4 / 8	8 / 16+100%
Boost Clock	4.3 GHz+13%	3.8 GHz
Base Clock	3.3 GHz+74%	1.9 GHz
L3 Cache	12 MB (total)	16 MB (total)+33%
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)+150%	512 kB (per core)
Process	Intel 7 nm	6 nm-14%
Architecture	Alder Lake-S (2022)	Rembrandt (2022)
PassMark	13,979	13,856

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Memory & Platform

The Core i3-12100F uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Ryzen Embedded V3C18I uses FP7 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Core i3-12100F	Ryzen Embedded V3C18I
Socket	LGA1700	FP7
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0+25%	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-3200, DDR5-4800	—
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	—
RAM Channels	2	—
ECC Support	No	—
PCIe Lanes	20	—

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Value Analysis

The Core i3-12100F launched at $97 MSRP, while the Ryzen Embedded V3C18I debuted at $500. On MSRP ($97 vs $500), the Core i3-12100F is $403 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i3-12100F delivers 144.1 pts/$ vs 27.7 pts/$ for the Ryzen Embedded V3C18I — making the Core i3-12100F the 135.5% better value option.