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.

 

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: 1584 vs 1570
  • 3.4x better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 7168 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 1584 vs 1570
PassMark - CPU mark 7168 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
1584
PassMark - CPU mark
CPU 1
CPU 2
2083
7168
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 1584
PassMark - CPU mark 2083 7168
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 2147 2157
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)