Intel Core i3-2120 vs Intel Core 2 Quad Q9300

Comparative analysis of Intel Core i3-2120 and Intel Core 2 Quad Q9300 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 Quad Q9300

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i3-2120

CPU is newer: launch date 2 year(s) 11 month(s) later
Around 32% higher clock speed: 3.3 GHz vs 2.5 GHz
A newer manufacturing process allows for a more powerful, yet cooler running processor: 32 nm vs 45 nm
Around 46% lower typical power consumption: 65 Watt vs 95 Watt
Around 40% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 1510 vs 1081
Around 66% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 577 vs 348
Around 18% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 1265 vs 1074
Around 45% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s): 35.45 vs 24.465

Specifications (specs)
Launch date	February 2011 vs March 2008
Maximum frequency	3.3 GHz vs 2.5 GHz
Manufacturing process technology	32 nm vs 45 nm
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	65 Watt vs 95 Watt
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	1510 vs 1081
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	577 vs 348
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	1265 vs 1074
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	35.45 vs 24.465

Reasons to consider the Intel Core 2 Quad Q9300

2 more cores, run more applications at once: 4 vs 2
Around 3% higher maximum core temperature: 71.4°C vs 69.1°C
2x more L1 cache, more data can be stored in the L1 cache for quick access later
12x more L2 cache, more data can be stored in the L2 cache for quick access later
Around 1% better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 1984 vs 1956
6.5x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s): 0.473 vs 0.073

Specifications (specs)
Number of cores	4 vs 2
Maximum core temperature	71.4°C vs 69.1°C
L1 cache	256 KB vs 64 KB (per core)
L2 cache	6144 KB vs 256 KB (per core)
Benchmarks
PassMark - CPU mark	1984 vs 1956
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	0.473 vs 0.073

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Core i3-2120
CPU 2: Intel Core 2 Quad Q9300

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

1510

1081

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

1956

1984

Geekbench 4 - Single Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

577

348

Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

1265

1074

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

0.073

0.473

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

CPU 1

CPU 2

35.45

24.465

Name	Intel Core i3-2120	Intel Core 2 Quad Q9300
PassMark - Single thread mark	1510	1081
PassMark - CPU mark	1956	1984
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	577	348
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	1265	1074
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score	0
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	0.073	0.473
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	35.45	24.465
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	0.227
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	0.999
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	2.296

Compare specifications (specs)

	Intel Core i3-2120	Intel Core 2 Quad Q9300
Essentials
Architecture codename	Sandy Bridge	Yorkfield
Launch date	February 2011	March 2008
Launch price (MSRP)	$95
Place in performance rating	2894	2868
Price now	$30	$49.99
Processor Number	i3-2120	Q9300
Series	Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors	Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors
Status	Launched	Discontinued
Value for money (0-100)	38.51	18.63
Vertical segment	Desktop	Desktop
Performance
64 bit support
Base frequency	3.30 GHz	2.50 GHz
Bus Speed	5 GT/s DMI	1333 MHz FSB
Die size	131 mm	164 mm2
L1 cache	64 KB (per core)	256 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	71.4°C
Maximum frequency	3.3 GHz	2.5 GHz
Number of cores	2	4
Number of threads	4
Transistor count	504 million	456 million
Maximum case temperature (TCase)		71 °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	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
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)