Core i3-12100F vs Ryzen 5 5500
The Core i3-12100F is about 10% faster than the Ryzen 5 5500 in games where the processor sets the frame rate, in our estimates. Below: FPS in popular games, the specs side by side, and the graphics cards that suit each.
Updated · By Muhammad Muzammil
The short answer
In a typical one of 8 popular games at 1080p High with an RTX 5090, the Core i3-12100F gets about 109 FPS and the Ryzen 5 5500 about 99 FPS. With a slower graphics card, or at 1440p and 4K, the card sets the FPS more often and the gap gets smaller.
The Core i3-12100F uses the LGA1700 socket and the Ryzen 5 5500 uses AM4, so they need different motherboards. The Core i3-12100F takes DDR4/DDR5 memory and the Ryzen 5 5500 takes DDR4. Cores and threads: 4 / 8 on the Core i3-12100F, 6 / 12 on the Ryzen 5 5500. Both come with a cooler in the box.
Core i3-12100F vs Ryzen 5 5500: FPS in popular games
Estimated FPS at 1080p High with 32 GB RAM (Core i3-12100F / Ryzen 5 5500 in each column). With an RTX 5090, the processor sets the frame rate wherever it can. Values above 500 show as 500+. See FPS for your own PC.
| Game | RTX 5090 | RTX 5060 |
|---|---|---|
| Counter-Strike 2 | 250 / 227 | 250 / 227 |
| Valorant | 275 / 250 | 275 / 250 |
| Fortnite | 120 / 109 | 120 / 109 |
| Apex Legends | 110 / 100 | 110 / 100 |
| Marvel Rivals | 85 / 77 | 85 / 77 |
| Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 | 109 / 99 | 109 / 99 |
| Cyberpunk 2077 | 88 / 80 | 88 / 80 |
| Baldur's Gate 3 | 89 / 81 | 89 / 81 |
With a mid-range graphics card such as an RTX 5060, the card sets the frame rate in more games, so the difference between the two processors is smaller.
Estimated FPS. Numbers come from the FPSVibe model, not measured benchmarks. How we estimate
Specs side by side
| Spec | Core i3-12100F | Ryzen 5 5500 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / threads | 4 / 8 | 6 / 12 |
| Boost clock | up to 4.3 GHz | up to 4.2 GHz |
| L3 cache | 12 MB | 16 MB |
| Socket | LGA1700 | AM4 |
| Memory | DDR5-4800 / DDR4-3200 | DDR4-3200 |
| Integrated graphics | None | None |
| Cooler in the box | Intel Laminar RM1 | AMD Wraith Stealth |
| Power (TDP) | 58 W | 65 W |
| Launch year | 2022 | 2022 |
| Gaming index (est.) | 50 | 45.4 |
Gaming index: estimated CPU-bound gaming performance at 1080p, Ryzen 7 9800X3D = 100. Memory and box cooler as listed on AMD and Intel product pages; where we couldn't confirm a value there, check the manufacturer's page.
Graphics cards that pair well with the Core i3-12100F
Graphics cards that pair well with the Ryzen 5 5500
Check a build in the bottleneck calculator
Core i3-12100F vs Ryzen 5 5500 FAQs
Is the Core i3-12100F better than the Ryzen 5 5500 for gaming?
The Core i3-12100F is about 10% faster than the Ryzen 5 5500 in games where the processor sets the frame rate, in our estimates. In a typical one of 8 popular games at 1080p High with an RTX 5090, the Core i3-12100F gets about 109 FPS and the Ryzen 5 5500 about 99 FPS.
Core i3-12100F or Ryzen 5 5500: which gets more FPS in Counter-Strike 2?
With an RTX 5090 at 1080p High, the Core i3-12100F gets about 250 FPS and the Ryzen 5 5500 about 227 FPS in our estimates.
Do the Core i3-12100F and Ryzen 5 5500 use the same motherboard?
No. The Core i3-12100F uses the LGA1700 socket and the Ryzen 5 5500 uses AM4, so you need a different motherboard to switch. They also take different memory: DDR4/DDR5 vs DDR4.
Do the Core i3-12100F and Ryzen 5 5500 come with a cooler?
Yes, both do: the Core i3-12100F with the Intel Laminar RM1 and the Ryzen 5 5500 with the AMD Wraith Stealth.
Do the Core i3-12100F and Ryzen 5 5500 have integrated graphics?
No. Neither has integrated graphics, so you need a graphics card to get a picture.
What graphics card should I pair with the Core i3-12100F or the Ryzen 5 5500?
Balanced picks in our estimates: for the Core i3-12100F, RX 9060 XT 8GB, RTX 5060, RTX 5050, Arc B570; for the Ryzen 5 5500, RX 7600 XT, Arc B580, RTX 5050, Arc B570.