Intel Core i3-2120 vs Intel Core i7-860S

Comparative analysis of Intel Core i3-2120 and Intel Core i7-860S 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 i7-860S

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i3-2120

CPU is newer: launch date 1 year(s) 1 month(s) later
A newer manufacturing process allows for a more powerful, yet cooler running processor: 32 nm vs 45 nm
2x more maximum memory size: 32 GB vs 16 GB
Around 26% lower typical power consumption: 65 Watt vs 82 Watt
Around 29% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 1509 vs 1173

Specifications (specs)
Launch date	February 2011 vs January 2010
Manufacturing process technology	32 nm vs 45 nm
Maximum memory size	32 GB vs 16 GB
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	65 Watt vs 82 Watt
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	1509 vs 1173

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i7-860S

2 more cores, run more applications at once: 4 vs 2
4 more threads: 8 vs 4
Around 5% higher clock speed: 3.46 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 19% better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 2324 vs 1961
12.4x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s): 0.907 vs 0.073
Around 30% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s): 46.184 vs 35.45
Around 22% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s): 0.278 vs 0.227
Around 22% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s): 1.222 vs 0.999
Around 18% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s): 2.716 vs 2.296

Specifications (specs)
Number of cores	4 vs 2
Number of threads	8 vs 4
Maximum frequency	3.46 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 - CPU mark	2324 vs 1961
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	0.907 vs 0.073
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	46.184 vs 35.45
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	0.278 vs 0.227
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	1.222 vs 0.999
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	2.716 vs 2.296

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Core i3-2120
CPU 2: Intel Core i7-860S

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

1509

1173

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

1961

2324

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

0.073

0.907

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

CPU 1

CPU 2

35.45

46.184

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

CPU 1

CPU 2

0.227

0.278

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

0.999

1.222

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

2.296

2.716

Name	Intel Core i3-2120	Intel Core i7-860S
PassMark - Single thread mark	1509	1173
PassMark - CPU mark	1961	2324
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	577
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	1265
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score	0
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	0.073	0.907
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	35.45	46.184
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	0.227	0.278
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	0.999	1.222
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	2.296	2.716

Compare specifications (specs)

	Intel Core i3-2120	Intel Core i7-860S
Essentials
Architecture codename	Sandy Bridge	Lynnfield
Launch date	February 2011	January 2010
Launch price (MSRP)	$95	$422
Place in performance rating	2881	2866
Price now	$30	$198.99
Processor Number	i3-2120	i7-860S
Series	Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors	Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors
Status	Launched	Discontinued
Value for money (0-100)	38.51	6.97
Vertical segment	Desktop	Desktop
Performance
64 bit support
Base frequency	3.30 GHz	2.53 GHz
Bus Speed	5 GT/s DMI	2.5 GT/s DMI
Die size	131 mm	296 mm2
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	45 nm
Maximum core temperature	69.1°C
Maximum frequency	3.3 GHz	3.46 GHz
Number of cores	2	4
Number of threads	4	8
Transistor count	504 million	774 million
VID voltage range		0.6500V-1.4000V
Memory
Max memory channels	2	2
Maximum memory bandwidth	21 GB/s	21 GB/s
Maximum memory size	32 GB	16 GB
Supported memory types	DDR3 1066/1333	DDR3 1066/1333
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	LGA1156
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	65 Watt	82 Watt
Peripherals
Max number of PCIe lanes	16	16
PCI Express revision	2.0	2.0
PCIe configurations		1x16, 2x8
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® SSE4.2
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® Demand Based Switching
Physical Address Extensions (PAE)		36-bit
Virtualization
Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x)
Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d)
Intel® VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT)