Intel Core i3-2120 vs Intel Core i7-2600S

Comparative analysis of Intel Core i3-2120 and Intel Core i7-2600S 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 1 month(s) later
Launch date February 2011 vs January 2011

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i7-2600S

  • 2 more cores, run more applications at once: 4 vs 2
  • 4 more threads: 8 vs 4
  • Around 15% higher clock speed: 3.80 GHz vs 3.3 GHz
  • 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 more L3 cache, more data can be stored in the L3 cache for quick access later
  • Around 14% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 1723 vs 1510
  • 2.4x better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 4628 vs 1964
  • Around 20% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 693 vs 577
  • Around 81% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 2287 vs 1265
  • 50.5x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s): 3.689 vs 0.073
  • Around 78% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s): 63.192 vs 35.45
  • 2x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s): 0.459 vs 0.227
  • Around 73% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s): 1.726 vs 0.999
  • Around 78% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s): 4.081 vs 2.296
Specifications (specs)
Number of cores 4 vs 2
Number of threads 8 vs 4
Maximum frequency 3.80 GHz vs 3.3 GHz
L1 cache 64 KB (per core) vs 64 KB (per core)
L2 cache 256 KB (per core) vs 256 KB (per core)
L3 cache 8192 KB (shared) vs 3072 KB (shared)
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark 1723 vs 1510
PassMark - CPU mark 4628 vs 1964
Geekbench 4 - Single Core 693 vs 577
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core 2287 vs 1265
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s) 3.689 vs 0.073
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s) 63.192 vs 35.45
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s) 0.459 vs 0.227
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s) 1.726 vs 0.999
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s) 4.081 vs 2.296

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Core i3-2120
CPU 2: Intel Core i7-2600S

PassMark - Single thread mark
CPU 1
CPU 2
1510
1723
PassMark - CPU mark
CPU 1
CPU 2
1964
4628
Geekbench 4 - Single Core
CPU 1
CPU 2
577
693
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core
CPU 1
CPU 2
1265
2287
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)
CPU 1
CPU 2
0.073
3.689
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)
CPU 1
CPU 2
35.45
63.192
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)
CPU 1
CPU 2
0.227
0.459
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)
CPU 1
CPU 2
0.999
1.726
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)
CPU 1
CPU 2
2.296
4.081
Name Intel Core i3-2120 Intel Core i7-2600S
PassMark - Single thread mark 1510 1723
PassMark - CPU mark 1964 4628
Geekbench 4 - Single Core 577 693
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core 1265 2287
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score 0
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s) 0.073 3.689
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s) 35.45 63.192
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s) 0.227 0.459
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s) 0.999 1.726
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s) 2.296 4.081

Compare specifications (specs)

Intel Core i3-2120 Intel Core i7-2600S

Essentials

Architecture codename Sandy Bridge Sandy Bridge
Launch date February 2011 January 2011
Launch price (MSRP) $95 $210
Place in performance rating 2905 2448
Price now $30 $198.99
Processor Number i3-2120 i7-2600S
Series Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors
Status Launched Discontinued
Value for money (0-100) 38.51 10.47
Vertical segment Desktop Desktop

Performance

64 bit support
Base frequency 3.30 GHz 2.80 GHz
Bus Speed 5 GT/s DMI 5 GT/s DMI
Die size 131 mm 216 mm
L1 cache 64 KB (per core) 64 KB (per core)
L2 cache 256 KB (per core) 256 KB (per core)
L3 cache 3072 KB (shared) 8192 KB (shared)
Manufacturing process technology 32 nm 32 nm
Maximum core temperature 69.1°C 69.1°C
Maximum frequency 3.3 GHz 3.80 GHz
Number of cores 2 4
Number of threads 4 8
Transistor count 504 million 1160 million

Memory

Max memory channels 2 2
Maximum memory bandwidth 21 GB/s 21 GB/s
Maximum memory size 32 GB 32 GB
Supported memory types DDR3 1066/1333 DDR3 1066/1333

Graphics

Device ID 0x102 0x102
Graphics base frequency 850 MHz 850 MHz
Graphics max dynamic frequency 1.10 GHz 1.35 GHz
Graphics max frequency 1.1 GHz 1.35 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 Intel® HD Graphics 2000

Graphics interfaces

Number of displays supported 2 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 LGA1155
Thermal Design Power (TDP) 65 Watt 65 Watt

Peripherals

Max number of PCIe lanes 16 16
PCI Express revision 2.0 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® 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
Intel® Advanced Vector Extensions (AVX)

Virtualization

Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x)
Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d)
Intel® VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT)