Intel Core i3-2120 vs Intel Core 2 Duo E8400

Comparative analysis of Intel Core i3-2120 and Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 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

Intel Core 2 Duo E8400

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i3-2120

CPU is newer: launch date 3 year(s) 1 month(s) later
Around 10% higher clock speed: 3.3 GHz vs 3 GHz
A newer manufacturing process allows for a more powerful, yet cooler running processor: 32 nm vs 45 nm
Around 22% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 1510 vs 1234
Around 62% better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 1964 vs 1210
Around 37% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 577 vs 422
Around 71% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 1265 vs 738
Around 35% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s): 35.45 vs 26.311
2.3x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s): 0.227 vs 0.099
Around 47% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s): 0.999 vs 0.68

Specifications (specs)
Launch date	February 2011 vs January 2008
Maximum frequency	3.3 GHz vs 3 GHz
Manufacturing process technology	32 nm vs 45 nm
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	1510 vs 1234
PassMark - CPU mark	1964 vs 1210
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	577 vs 422
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	1265 vs 738
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	35.45 vs 26.311
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	0.227 vs 0.099
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	0.999 vs 0.68

Reasons to consider the Intel Core 2 Duo E8400

Around 5% higher maximum core temperature: 72.4°C vs 69.1°C
12x more L2 cache, more data can be stored in the L2 cache for quick access later
4.5x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s): 0.33 vs 0.073
Around 5% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s): 2.408 vs 2.296

Specifications (specs)
Maximum core temperature	72.4°C vs 69.1°C
L2 cache	6144 KB vs 256 KB (per core)
Benchmarks
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	0.33 vs 0.073
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	2.408 vs 2.296

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Core i3-2120
CPU 2: Intel Core 2 Duo E8400

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

1510

1234

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

1964

1210

Geekbench 4 - Single Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

577

422

Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

1265

738

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

0.073

0.33

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

CPU 1

CPU 2

35.45

26.311

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

CPU 1

CPU 2

0.227

0.099

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

0.999

0.68

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

2.296

2.408

Name	Intel Core i3-2120	Intel Core 2 Duo E8400
PassMark - Single thread mark	1510	1234
PassMark - CPU mark	1964	1210
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	577	422
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	1265	738
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score	0	2400
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	0.073	0.33
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	35.45	26.311
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	0.227	0.099
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	0.999	0.68
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	2.296	2.408

Compare specifications (specs)

	Intel Core i3-2120	Intel Core 2 Duo E8400
Essentials
Architecture codename	Sandy Bridge	Wolfdale
Launch date	February 2011	January 2008
Launch price (MSRP)	$95
Place in performance rating	2905	2981
Price now	$30	$129.95
Processor Number	i3-2120	E8400
Series	Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors	Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors
Status	Launched	Discontinued
Value for money (0-100)	38.51	4.87
Vertical segment	Desktop	Desktop
Performance
64 bit support
Base frequency	3.30 GHz	3.00 GHz
Bus Speed	5 GT/s DMI	1333 MHz FSB
Die size	131 mm	107 mm2
L1 cache	64 KB (per core)	128 KB
L2 cache	256 KB (per core)	6144 KB
L3 cache	3072 KB (shared)
Manufacturing process technology	32 nm	45 nm
Maximum core temperature	69.1°C	72.4°C
Maximum frequency	3.3 GHz	3 GHz
Number of cores	2	2
Number of threads	4
Transistor count	504 million	410 million
Maximum case temperature (TCase)		72 °C
VID voltage range		0.8500V-1.3625V
Memory
Max memory channels	2
Maximum memory bandwidth	21 GB/s
Maximum memory size	32 GB
Supported memory types	DDR3 1066/1333	DDR1, DDR2, DDR3
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	37.5mm x 37.5mm
Sockets supported	FCLGA1155	LGA775
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	65 Watt	65 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
FSB parity
Intel® Demand Based Switching
Virtualization
Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x)
Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d)
Intel® VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT)