Core i3-12300HL
Model frame rate limit of 125 FPS. That is roughly the fastest this processor can feed a graphics card in a modern AAA title, no matter which card you fit.
The Core i3-12300HL is an entry-level gaming processor in our database, with a model frame rate limit of 125 FPS.
With 4 cores and 8 threads it handles most games, but streaming or heavy background apps at the same time will compete for it.
It uses the LGA 1700 socket with DDR4 or DDR5 memory, and at 1440p it can keep up with a card as fast as the GeForce RTX 5070 Ti.
Frame Rate Limit in Popular Games
| Game (settings) | Most FPS the Core i3-12300HL can feed |
|---|---|
| Cyberpunk 2077 (High, no ray tracing) | ~105 |
| Fortnite (High, DirectX 12) | ~155 |
| Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 (High) | ~140 |
| Counter-Strike 2 (High) | ~275 |
Modelled estimates with an unlimited graphics card, rounded to the nearest 5 FPS. Your real frame rate is the lower of this and what your card can render. See the methodology.
Best match at each resolution
| Resolution | Closest matched card | Estimated FPS |
|---|---|---|
| 1080p | Radeon RX 6800 XT | 125 |
| 1440p | GeForce RTX 5070 Ti | 125 |
| 4K | GeForce RTX 5090 | 125 |
"Closest matched" means the two parts run out of headroom at about the same frame rate, so neither is obviously wasted. A faster card is still worth buying if you plan to raise the resolution later.
The cards it lands closest to
The 24 graphics cards whose frame rate limit sits nearest this processor's, fastest first. Anything faster than the top of this table is wasted on it at 1080p, and anything slower is a card it will never trouble. For any other combination, use the calculator.
| Graphics card | 1080p | 1440p | 4K |
|---|---|---|---|
| GeForce RTX 5080 | 125 cpu | 125 cpu | 99 gpu |
| GeForce RTX 4080 Super | 125 cpu | 125 cpu | 88 gpu |
| Radeon RX 7900 XTX | 125 cpu | 125 cpu | 86 gpu |
| GeForce RTX 4080 | 125 cpu | 125 cpu | 86 gpu |
| GeForce RTX 5070 Ti | 125 cpu | 125 even | 79 gpu |
| Radeon RX 9070 XT | 125 cpu | 125 even | 79 gpu |
| Radeon RX 7900 XT | 125 cpu | 122 even | 77 gpu |
| GeForce RTX 4070 Ti Super | 125 cpu | 120 even | 76 gpu |
| GeForce RTX 3090 Ti | 125 cpu | 118 gpu | 74 gpu |
| GeForce RTX 4070 Ti | 125 cpu | 112 gpu | 70 gpu |
| GeForce RTX 3090 | 125 cpu | 112 gpu | 70 gpu |
| Radeon RX 9070 | 125 cpu | 112 gpu | 70 gpu |
| GeForce RTX 3080 Ti | 125 cpu | 110 gpu | 68 gpu |
| Radeon RX 6950 XT | 125 cpu | 109 gpu | 67 gpu |
| GeForce RTX 5070 | 125 cpu | 106 gpu | 65 gpu |
| GeForce RTX 4070 Super | 125 cpu | 106 gpu | 64 gpu |
| GeForce RTX 3080 12GB | 125 cpu | 106 gpu | 65 gpu |
| Radeon RX 7900 GRE | 125 cpu | 106 gpu | 65 gpu |
| GeForce RTX 3080 | 125 cpu | 102 gpu | 62 gpu |
| Radeon RX 6900 XT | 125 cpu | 102 gpu | 62 gpu |
| Radeon RX 7800 XT | 125 even | 100 gpu | 60 gpu |
| Radeon RX 6800 XT | 125 even | 98 gpu | 59 gpu |
| GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16GB | 120 even | 91 gpu | 54 gpu |
| GeForce RTX 4070 | 120 even | 91 gpu | 54 gpu |
The tag after each number says which part hits its limit first.
Specifications
| Manufacturer | Intel |
| Generation | Intel 12th Gen (Alder Lake) |
| Cores | 4 |
| Threads | 8 |
| Released | 2022 |
Other Intel 12th Gen (Alder Lake) Processors
- Core i3-12100 bottleneck and GPU pairing
- Core i3-12100F bottleneck and GPU pairing
- Core i5-12400 bottleneck and GPU pairing
- Core i5-12400F bottleneck and GPU pairing
Common Questions
Is the Core i3-12300HL good for an RTX 5070?
Yes. At 1440p the RTX 5070 is the limit, not the Core i3-12300HL, at around 106 FPS in our model. That is the balance you want in a gaming PC.
What is the best GPU for the Core i3-12300HL?
At 1440p, the GeForce RTX 5070 Ti is the closest match: the two run out of headroom at about the same frame rate, so neither is wasted. A faster card still makes sense if you play at 4K, where the processor matters less.
Is the Core i3-12300HL still good for gaming?
Yes, for most builds. Its 125 FPS frame rate limit is plenty for 60 to 144 Hz gaming with a mid-range card, though it will hold back a high-end card at 1080p.
Will the Core i3-12300HL bottleneck an RTX 5080?
Yes, at 1440p. It leaves about 16% of the RTX 5080 unused in our model (125 FPS from the processor against 149 from the card). At 4K the gap shrinks a lot.