AMD FX-4100 vs Intel Core i3-2120

Comparative analysis of AMD FX-4100 and Intel Core i3-2120 processors for all known characteristics in the following categories: Essentials, Performance, Memory, Compatibility, Peripherals, Advanced Technologies, Virtualization, Graphics, Graphics interfaces, Security & Reliability. Benchmark processor performance analysis: PassMark - Single thread mark, PassMark - CPU mark, Geekbench 4 - Single Core, Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core, 3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score, CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s).

AMD FX-4100

Intel Core i3-2120

Differences

Reasons to consider the AMD FX-4100

CPU is newer: launch date 7 month(s) later
Processor is unlocked, an unlocked multiplier allows for easier overclocking
2 more cores, run more applications at once: 4 vs 2
Around 15% higher clock speed: 3.8 GHz vs 3.3 GHz
Around 2% higher maximum core temperature: 70.50°C vs 69.1°C
Around 50% more L1 cache; more data can be stored in the L1 cache for quick access later
8x more L2 cache, more data can be stored in the L2 cache for quick access later
2.7x more L3 cache, more data can be stored in the L3 cache for quick access later
Around 34% better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 2618 vs 1956
Around 2% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 1286 vs 1265
57.6x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s): 4.203 vs 0.073
Around 3% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s): 0.234 vs 0.227
Around 28% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s): 2.939 vs 2.296

Specifications (specs)
Launch date	October 2011 vs February 2011
Unlocked	Unlocked vs Locked
Number of cores	4 vs 2
Maximum frequency	3.8 GHz vs 3.3 GHz
Maximum core temperature	70.50°C vs 69.1°C
L1 cache	192 KB vs 64 KB (per core)
L2 cache	4 MB vs 256 KB (per core)
L3 cache	8 MB vs 3072 KB (shared)
Benchmarks
PassMark - CPU mark	2618 vs 1956
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	1286 vs 1265
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	4.203 vs 0.073
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	0.234 vs 0.227
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	2.939 vs 2.296

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i3-2120

Around 46% lower typical power consumption: 65 Watt vs 95 Watt
Around 17% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 1510 vs 1289
Around 25% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 577 vs 463
3.4x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s): 35.45 vs 10.462
Around 96% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s): 0.999 vs 0.51

Specifications (specs)
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	65 Watt vs 95 Watt
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	1510 vs 1289
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	577 vs 463
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	35.45 vs 10.462
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	0.999 vs 0.51

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: AMD FX-4100
CPU 2: Intel Core i3-2120

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

1289

1510

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

2618

1956

Geekbench 4 - Single Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

463

577

Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

1286

1265

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

4.203

0.073

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

10.462

35.45

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

0.234

0.227

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

0.51

0.999

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

2.939

2.296

Name	AMD FX-4100	Intel Core i3-2120
PassMark - Single thread mark	1289	1510
PassMark - CPU mark	2618	1956
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	463	577
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	1286	1265
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score	0	0
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	4.203	0.073
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	10.462	35.45
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	0.234	0.227
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	0.51	0.999
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	2.939	2.296

Compare specifications (specs)

	AMD FX-4100	Intel Core i3-2120
Essentials
Architecture codename	Zambezi	Sandy Bridge
Family	AMD FX-Series Processors
Launch date	October 2011	February 2011
OPN PIB	FD4100WMGUSBX
OPN Tray	FD4100WMW4KGU
Place in performance rating	2959	2893
Price now	$129.99	$30
Series	AMD FX 4-Core Black Edition Processors	Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors
Value for money (0-100)	9.22	38.51
Vertical segment	Desktop	Desktop
Launch price (MSRP)		$95
Processor Number		i3-2120
Status		Launched
Performance
64 bit support
Base frequency	3.6 GHz	3.30 GHz
Die size	315 mm	131 mm
L1 cache	192 KB	64 KB (per core)
L2 cache	4 MB	256 KB (per core)
L3 cache	8 MB	3072 KB (shared)
Manufacturing process technology	32 nm SOI	32 nm
Maximum core temperature	70.50°C	69.1°C
Maximum frequency	3.8 GHz	3.3 GHz
Number of cores	4	2
Number of threads	4	4
P0 Vcore voltage	Min: 1.1 V - Max: 1.4125 V
Transistor count	1200 million	504 million
Unlocked
Bus Speed		5 GT/s DMI
Memory
Supported memory frequency	1866 MHz
Supported memory types	DDR3	DDR3 1066/1333
Max memory channels		2
Maximum memory bandwidth		21 GB/s
Maximum memory size		32 GB
Compatibility
Max number of CPUs in a configuration	1	1
Sockets supported	AM3+	FCLGA1155
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	95 Watt	65 Watt
Low Halogen Options Available
Package Size		37.5mm x 37.5mm
Peripherals
PCI Express revision	n / a	2.0
Max number of PCIe lanes		16
Advanced Technologies
Fused Multiply-Add (FMA)
Intel® Advanced Vector Extensions (AVX)
Intel® AES New Instructions
Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® technology
Flexible Display interface (FDI)
Idle States
Instruction set extensions		Intel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX
Intel 64
Intel® Fast Memory Access
Intel® Flex Memory Access
Intel® Hyper-Threading technology
Intel® Turbo Boost technology
Intel® vPro™ Platform Eligibility
Thermal Monitoring
Virtualization
AMD Virtualization (AMD-V™)
Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x)
Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d)
Intel® VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT)
Graphics
Device ID		0x102
Graphics base frequency		850 MHz
Graphics max dynamic frequency		1.10 GHz
Graphics max frequency		1.1 GHz
Intel® Clear Video HD technology
Intel® Flexible Display Interface (Intel® FDI)
Intel® InTru™ 3D technology
Intel® Quick Sync Video
Processor graphics		Intel® HD Graphics 2000
Graphics interfaces
Number of displays supported		2
Wireless Display (WiDi) support
Security & Reliability
Execute Disable Bit (EDB)
Intel® Identity Protection technology
Intel® Trusted Execution technology (TXT)