Intel Core i3-2120T vs Intel Core i7-920

Comparative analysis of Intel Core i3-2120T and Intel Core i7-920 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, 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), 3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score, CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s).

 

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i3-2120T

  • CPU is newer: launch date 2 year(s) 9 month(s) later
  • A newer manufacturing process allows for a more powerful, yet cooler running processor: 32 nm vs 45 nm
  • Around 33% higher maximum memory size: 32 GB vs 24 GB
  • 3.7x lower typical power consumption: 35 Watt vs 130 Watt
  • Around 85% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s): 1.611 vs 0.873
Specifications (specs)
Launch date September 2011 vs November 2008
Manufacturing process technology 32 nm vs 45 nm
Maximum memory size 32 GB vs 24 GB
Thermal Design Power (TDP) 35 Watt vs 130 Watt
Benchmarks
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s) 1.611 vs 0.873

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i7-920

  • 2 more cores, run more applications at once: 4 vs 2
  • 4 more threads: 8 vs 4
  • Around 13% higher clock speed: 2.93 GHz vs 2.6 GHz
  • Around 4% higher maximum core temperature: 67.9°C vs 65.0°C
  • 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 4% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 1215 vs 1170
  • Around 85% better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 2840 vs 1538
  • Around 1% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 469 vs 466
  • Around 79% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 1855 vs 1038
  • Around 68% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s): 50.388 vs 29.917
  • Around 41% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s): 0.3 vs 0.213
Specifications (specs)
Number of cores 4 vs 2
Number of threads 8 vs 4
Maximum frequency 2.93 GHz vs 2.6 GHz
Maximum core temperature 67.9°C vs 65.0°C
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 1215 vs 1170
PassMark - CPU mark 2840 vs 1538
Geekbench 4 - Single Core 469 vs 466
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core 1855 vs 1038
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s) 50.388 vs 29.917
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s) 0.3 vs 0.213

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Core i3-2120T
CPU 2: Intel Core i7-920

PassMark - Single thread mark
CPU 1
CPU 2
1170
1215
PassMark - CPU mark
CPU 1
CPU 2
1538
2840
Geekbench 4 - Single Core
CPU 1
CPU 2
466
469
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core
CPU 1
CPU 2
1038
1855
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)
CPU 1
CPU 2
1.611
0.873
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)
CPU 1
CPU 2
29.917
50.388
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)
CPU 1
CPU 2
0.213
0.3
Name Intel Core i3-2120T Intel Core i7-920
PassMark - Single thread mark 1170 1215
PassMark - CPU mark 1538 2840
Geekbench 4 - Single Core 466 469
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core 1038 1855
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s) 1.611 0.873
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s) 29.917 50.388
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s) 0.213 0.3
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score 2227
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s) 1.595
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s) 4

Compare specifications (specs)

Intel Core i3-2120T Intel Core i7-920

Essentials

Architecture codename Sandy Bridge Bloomfield
Launch date September 2011 November 2008
Launch price (MSRP) $50 $340
Place in performance rating 2787 2767
Price now $113 $174
Processor Number i3-2120T i7-920
Series Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors
Status Discontinued Discontinued
Value for money (0-100) 8.24 8.34
Vertical segment Desktop Desktop

Performance

64 bit support
Base frequency 2.60 GHz 2.66 GHz
Bus Speed 5 GT/s DMI 4.8 GT/s QPI
Die size 131 mm 263 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 65.0°C 67.9°C
Maximum frequency 2.6 GHz 2.93 GHz
Number of cores 2 4
Number of threads 4 8
Transistor count 504 million 731 million
Front-side bus (FSB) 1333 MHz
Number of QPI Links 1
VID voltage range 0.800V-1.375V

Memory

Max memory channels 2 3
Maximum memory bandwidth 21 GB/s 25.6 GB/s
Maximum memory size 32 GB 24 GB
Supported memory types DDR3 1066/1333 DDR3 800/1066

Graphics

Device ID 0x102
Graphics base frequency 650 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 42.5mm x 45.0mm
Sockets supported FCLGA1155 FCLGA1366
Thermal Design Power (TDP) 35 Watt 130 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® 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)