Intel Core i3-2125 vs Intel Core i7-990X

Comparative analysis of Intel Core i3-2125 and Intel Core i7-990X 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.

Intel Core i3-2125

Intel Core i7-990X

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i3-2125

CPU is newer: launch date 6 month(s) later
Around 2% higher maximum core temperature: 69.1°C vs 67.9°C
Around 33% higher maximum memory size: 32 GB vs 24 GB
2x lower typical power consumption: 65 Watt vs 130 Watt

Launch date	September 2011 vs February 2011
Maximum core temperature	69.1°C vs 67.9°C
Maximum memory size	32 GB vs 24 GB
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	65 Watt vs 130 Watt

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i7-990X

Processor is unlocked, an unlocked multiplier allows for easier overclocking
4 more cores, run more applications at once: 6 vs 2
8 more threads: 12 vs 4
Around 13% higher clock speed: 3.73 GHz vs 3.3 GHz
3x more L1 cache, more data can be stored in the L1 cache for quick access later
3x more L2 cache, more data can be stored in the L2 cache for quick access later
4x more L3 cache, more data can be stored in the L3 cache for quick access later
Around 1% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 1579 vs 1570
3.4x better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 7111 vs 2083
Around 15% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 665 vs 576
2.8x better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 3608 vs 1288

Specifications (specs)
Unlocked	Unlocked vs Locked
Number of cores	6 vs 2
Number of threads	12 vs 4
Maximum frequency	3.73 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	12288 KB (shared) vs 3072 KB (shared)
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	1579 vs 1570
PassMark - CPU mark	7111 vs 2083
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	665 vs 576
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	3608 vs 1288

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Core i3-2125
CPU 2: Intel Core i7-990X

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

1570

1579

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

2083

7111

Geekbench 4 - Single Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

576

665

Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

1288

3608

Name	Intel Core i3-2125	Intel Core i7-990X
PassMark - Single thread mark	1570	1579
PassMark - CPU mark	2083	7111
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	576	665
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	1288	3608
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score		0

Compare specifications (specs)

	Intel Core i3-2125	Intel Core i7-990X
Essentials
Architecture codename	Sandy Bridge	Gulftown
Launch date	September 2011	February 2011
Launch price (MSRP)	$170	$1,104
Place in performance rating	2140	2150
Price now	$199	$349.99
Processor Number	i3-2125	i7-990X
Series	Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors	Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors
Status	Discontinued	Discontinued
Value for money (0-100)	5.96	7.65
Vertical segment	Desktop	Desktop
Performance
64 bit support
Base frequency	3.30 GHz	3.46 GHz
Bus Speed	5 GT/s DMI	6.4 GT/s QPI
Die size	131 mm	239 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)	12288 KB (shared)
Manufacturing process technology	32 nm	32 nm
Maximum core temperature	69.1°C	67.9°C
Maximum frequency	3.3 GHz	3.73 GHz
Number of cores	2	6
Number of threads	4	12
Transistor count	504 million	1170 million
Number of QPI Links		1
Unlocked
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 1066
Graphics
Device ID	0x112
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 3000
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)	65 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)