Intel Core i3-2120 vs Intel Core 2 Quad Q9650

Comparative analysis of Intel Core i3-2120 and Intel Core 2 Quad Q9650 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 Q9650

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i3-2120

CPU is newer: launch date 2 year(s) 6 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 46% lower typical power consumption: 65 Watt vs 95 Watt
Around 18% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 1510 vs 1282
Around 30% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 577 vs 444
Around 15% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s): 35.45 vs 30.945
Around 40% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s): 0.227 vs 0.162

Specifications (specs)
Launch date	February 2011 vs August 2008
Maximum frequency	3.3 GHz vs 3 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 1282
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	577 vs 444
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	35.45 vs 30.945
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	0.227 vs 0.162

Reasons to consider the Intel Core 2 Quad Q9650

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 26% better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 2484 vs 1964
Around 11% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 1400 vs 1265
8x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s): 0.587 vs 0.073
Around 18% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s): 1.175 vs 0.999
Around 86% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s): 4.276 vs 2.296

Specifications (specs)
Number of cores	4 vs 2
Maximum core temperature	71.4°C vs 69.1°C
L1 cache	64 KB (per core) vs 64 KB (per core)
L2 cache	6144 KB (per die) vs 256 KB (per core)
Benchmarks
PassMark - CPU mark	2484 vs 1964
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	1400 vs 1265
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	0.587 vs 0.073
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	1.175 vs 0.999
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	4.276 vs 2.296

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Core i3-2120
CPU 2: Intel Core 2 Quad Q9650

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

1510

1282

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

1964

2484

Geekbench 4 - Single Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

577

444

Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

1265

1400

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

0.073

0.587

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

CPU 1

CPU 2

35.45

30.945

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

CPU 1

CPU 2

0.227

0.162

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

0.999

1.175

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

2.296

4.276

Name	Intel Core i3-2120	Intel Core 2 Quad Q9650
PassMark - Single thread mark	1510	1282
PassMark - CPU mark	1964	2484
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	577	444
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	1265	1400
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score	0	0
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	0.073	0.587
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	35.45	30.945
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	0.227	0.162
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	0.999	1.175
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	2.296	4.276

Compare specifications (specs)

	Intel Core i3-2120	Intel Core 2 Quad Q9650
Essentials
Architecture codename	Sandy Bridge	Yorkfield
Launch date	February 2011	August 2008
Launch price (MSRP)	$95
Place in performance rating	2905	2998
Price now	$30	$54.49
Processor Number	i3-2120	Q9650
Series	Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors	Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors
Status	Launched	Discontinued
Value for money (0-100)	38.51	22.69
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	214 mm2
L1 cache	64 KB (per core)	64 KB (per core)
L2 cache	256 KB (per core)	6144 KB (per die)
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	3 GHz
Number of cores	2	4
Number of threads	4
Transistor count	504 million	820 million
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)