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).

Intel Core i3-2120T

Intel Core i7-920

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: 1216 vs 1165
Around 86% better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 2838 vs 1528
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	1216 vs 1165
PassMark - CPU mark	2838 vs 1528
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

1165

1216

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

1528

2838

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	1165	1216
PassMark - CPU mark	1528	2838
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	2786	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)