Intel Core i3-2120 vs Intel Core 2 Quad Q9400

Comparative analysis of Intel Core i3-2120 and Intel Core 2 Quad Q9400 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).

 

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i3-2120

  • CPU is newer: launch date 2 year(s) 6 month(s) later
  • Around 24% higher clock speed: 3.3 GHz vs 2.67 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 33% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 1510 vs 1139
  • Around 53% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 577 vs 376
  • Around 10% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 1265 vs 1151
  • Around 34% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s): 35.45 vs 26.509
  • Around 67% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s): 0.227 vs 0.136
  • 10.6x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s): 0.999 vs 0.094
Specifications (specs)
Launch date February 2011 vs August 2008
Maximum frequency 3.3 GHz vs 2.67 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 1139
Geekbench 4 - Single Core 577 vs 376
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core 1265 vs 1151
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s) 35.45 vs 26.509
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s) 0.227 vs 0.136
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s) 0.999 vs 0.094

Reasons to consider the Intel Core 2 Quad Q9400

  • 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 9% better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 2150 vs 1964
  • 7.9x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s): 0.574 vs 0.073
  • Around 82% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s): 4.189 vs 2.296
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 2150 vs 1964
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s) 0.574 vs 0.073
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s) 4.189 vs 2.296

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Core i3-2120
CPU 2: Intel Core 2 Quad Q9400

PassMark - Single thread mark
CPU 1
CPU 2
1510
1139
PassMark - CPU mark
CPU 1
CPU 2
1964
2150
Geekbench 4 - Single Core
CPU 1
CPU 2
577
376
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core
CPU 1
CPU 2
1265
1151
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)
CPU 1
CPU 2
0.073
0.574
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)
CPU 1
CPU 2
35.45
26.509
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)
CPU 1
CPU 2
0.227
0.136
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)
CPU 1
CPU 2
0.999
0.094
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)
CPU 1
CPU 2
2.296
4.189
Name Intel Core i3-2120 Intel Core 2 Quad Q9400
PassMark - Single thread mark 1510 1139
PassMark - CPU mark 1964 2150
Geekbench 4 - Single Core 577 376
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core 1265 1151
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score 0 0
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s) 0.073 0.574
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s) 35.45 26.509
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s) 0.227 0.136
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s) 0.999 0.094
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s) 2.296 4.189

Compare specifications (specs)

Intel Core i3-2120 Intel Core 2 Quad Q9400

Essentials

Architecture codename Sandy Bridge Yorkfield
Launch date February 2011 August 2008
Launch price (MSRP) $95
Place in performance rating 2905 3130
Price now $30 $33.98
Processor Number i3-2120 Q9400
Series Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors
Status Launched Discontinued
Value for money (0-100) 38.51 28.99
Vertical segment Desktop Desktop

Performance

64 bit support
Base frequency 3.30 GHz 2.66 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 2.67 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)