Looking for a chip that matches the 12100 in performance while offering better value?
Looking for a chip that matches the 12100 in performance while offering better value?
Planning to upgrade in August means you're comparing options carefully. Many used models like the 3700x seem similar to the i3, unless you're looking for a significant boost. The newer chips mostly compete with i5, which might stretch your budget unless you wait until Christmas. So, are you overlooking something or is the i3 really just the entry-level choice?
Use case? I just acquired a 12100F for personal testing; soon it'll be moved to a file server. Although it's a quad-core processor, it performs significantly better than older models. A 3700X could offer even better performance if used differently.
The Intel CPUs from the budget range, including the 7W N90-N100 series and i3 models, are all quad-core processors. I don't suggest using a quad-core now, especially for intense gaming. It seems like you're planning a more affordable upgrade later—if that's the case, it might be hard to enjoy quad cores in the future. I'd prefer at least six cores if possible.
The i3 offers solid performance for its price, with enhanced instructions per cycle making it competitive against multi-core options like the 2700X or 10400F. However, I wouldn’t recommend this chip if you’re using a 4790. Better chances lie in the 12600K or 12600KF models, which frequently appear at reasonable prices (around $150) or as bundles with the 7500F. For AMD, the 5500 is an option but tends to lag behind the 12100 in gaming scenarios. The 5600 usually costs more without significant gains, and its performance closely matches the 12400F—TPU once reported differences under 1% overall.
5600(x) typically costs around $80, though prices vary by location. Otherwise, a 5500 model is new and offers a halved cache. You can still cover the cost with a RAM OC board, though it might need to be over 4400. Ideally you want about 5000 MHz for perfect timing, but it’s possible with a decent board and a non-binned DJR or REV that handles that frequency. AM4 also provides solid used boards, usually in the mid-range around $50 for something like a Tomahawk.
It is your money ofc, but personally I just wouldn't bother with the 12100, since you already have a high-end quad core and I don't see a point in buying another one. Unless you have a high-end graphics card, I doubt your gaming performance will be overall much different. The 12100 is a great CPU for someone with a low-end PC that only has 4 or fewer threads, like a i5-4570 or i3-6100, but in your case there's less value in it. If you got the 12400F or 12600KF, it would last you longer and especially for the 12600KF likely avoid a future upgrade being needed entirely and at least in my country, they're not THAT much more expensive. If they cost e.g. $200, then I'd get it, but they're around $120-$160. If you're on such a tight budget right now that you can only afford the 12100 and your current PC still works fine, I'd just hang onto it. On the other hand, if your current PC is broken and you're just getting the i3-12100 as a stopgap until you can buy a used 13600K or something like that, I suppose I can see the logic, but by that time AMD and Intel will have new CPUs out and the i3-15100/i5-15400 or Ryzen 9500F could be a big step up. In terms of cooling/motherboard, a phantom spirit or peerless assassin (or even the junior versions) can handle a 12600KF fine, and the i3-12100/i5-12400 come with an acceptable cooler in the box. Any B660/B760 motherboard can handle a 12400F/12600KF in gaming, except for the very lowest-end and I doubt you want to buy something terrible if you're going to the trouble of a platform upgrade..