Intel Core i3-2120 vs AMD Athlon X2 7850 BE

Comparative analysis of Intel Core i3-2120 and AMD Athlon X2 7850 BE processors for all known characteristics in the following categories: Essentials, Performance, Memory, Graphics, Graphics interfaces, Compatibility, Peripherals, Security & Reliability, Advanced Technologies, Virtualization. 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).

Intel Core i3-2120

AMD Athlon X2 7850 BE

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i3-2120

CPU is newer: launch date 1 year(s) 10 month(s) later
Around 18% higher clock speed: 3.3 GHz vs 2.8 GHz
A newer manufacturing process allows for a more powerful, yet cooler running processor: 32 nm vs 65 nm
Around 50% more L3 cache; more data can be stored in the L3 cache for quick access later
Around 46% lower typical power consumption: 65 Watt vs 95 Watt
9.2x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s): 35.45 vs 3.841
2.7x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s): 0.227 vs 0.083
6.3x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s): 0.999 vs 0.159
Around 25% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s): 2.296 vs 1.833

Specifications (specs)
Launch date	February 2011 vs April 2009
Maximum frequency	3.3 GHz vs 2.8 GHz
Manufacturing process technology	32 nm vs 65 nm
L3 cache	3072 KB (shared) vs 2048 KB (shared)
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	65 Watt vs 95 Watt
Benchmarks
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	35.45 vs 3.841
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	0.227 vs 0.083
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	0.999 vs 0.159
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	2.296 vs 1.833

Reasons to consider the AMD Athlon X2 7850 BE

Processor is unlocked, an unlocked multiplier allows for easier overclocking
2x more L1 cache, more data can be stored in the L1 cache for quick access later
2x more L2 cache, more data can be stored in the L2 cache for quick access later
2.7x better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 1554 vs 577
2.1x better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 2668 vs 1265
22.1x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s): 1.611 vs 0.073

Specifications (specs)
Unlocked	Unlocked vs Locked
L1 cache	128 KB (per core) vs 64 KB (per core)
L2 cache	512 KB (per core) vs 256 KB (per core)
Benchmarks
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	1554 vs 577
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	2668 vs 1265
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	1.611 vs 0.073

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Core i3-2120
CPU 2: AMD Athlon X2 7850 BE

Geekbench 4 - Single Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

577

1554

Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

1265

2668

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

0.073

1.611

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

CPU 1

CPU 2

35.45

3.841

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

CPU 1

CPU 2

0.227

0.083

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

0.999

0.159

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

2.296

1.833

Name	Intel Core i3-2120	AMD Athlon X2 7850 BE
PassMark - Single thread mark	1510
PassMark - CPU mark	1953
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	577	1554
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	1265	2668
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score	0
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	0.073	1.611
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	35.45	3.841
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	0.227	0.083
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	0.999	0.159
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	2.296	1.833

Compare specifications (specs)

	Intel Core i3-2120	AMD Athlon X2 7850 BE
Essentials
Architecture codename	Sandy Bridge	Kuma
Launch date	February 2011	April 2009
Launch price (MSRP)	$95
Place in performance rating	2805	2812
Price now	$30
Processor Number	i3-2120
Series	Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors
Status	Launched
Value for money (0-100)	38.51
Vertical segment	Desktop	Desktop
Performance
64 bit support
Base frequency	3.30 GHz
Bus Speed	5 GT/s DMI
Die size	131 mm	285 mm
L1 cache	64 KB (per core)	128 KB (per core)
L2 cache	256 KB (per core)	512 KB (per core)
L3 cache	3072 KB (shared)	2048 KB (shared)
Manufacturing process technology	32 nm	65 nm
Maximum core temperature	69.1°C
Maximum frequency	3.3 GHz	2.8 GHz
Number of cores	2	2
Number of threads	4
Transistor count	504 million	450 million
Unlocked
Memory
Max memory channels	2
Maximum memory bandwidth	21 GB/s
Maximum memory size	32 GB
Supported memory types	DDR3 1066/1333
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
Compatibility
Low Halogen Options Available
Max number of CPUs in a configuration	1	1
Package Size	37.5mm x 37.5mm
Sockets supported	FCLGA1155	AM2+
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	65 Watt	95 Watt
Peripherals
Max number of PCIe lanes	16
PCI Express revision	2.0
Security & Reliability
Execute Disable Bit (EDB)
Intel® Identity Protection technology
Intel® Trusted Execution technology (TXT)
Advanced Technologies
Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® technology
Flexible Display interface (FDI)
Idle States
Instruction set extensions	Intel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX
Intel 64
Intel® AES New Instructions
Intel® Fast Memory Access
Intel® Flex Memory Access
Intel® Hyper-Threading technology
Intel® Turbo Boost technology
Intel® vPro™ Platform Eligibility
Thermal Monitoring
Virtualization
Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x)
Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d)
Intel® VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT)
AMD Virtualization (AMD-V™)