Intel Core i3-3120M vs Intel Core i7-2960XM

Comparative analysis of Intel Core i3-3120M and Intel Core i7-2960XM 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), GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Frames), GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Fps).

Intel Core i3-3120M

Intel Core i7-2960XM

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i3-3120M

CPU is newer: launch date 1 year(s) 0 month(s) later
A newer manufacturing process allows for a more powerful, yet cooler running processor: 22 nm vs 32 nm
Around 57% lower typical power consumption: 35 Watt vs 55 Watt

Launch date	1 October 2012 vs 3 September 2011
Manufacturing process technology	22 nm vs 32 nm
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	35 Watt vs 55 Watt

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i7-2960XM

Processor is unlocked, an unlocked multiplier allows for easier overclocking
2 more cores, run more applications at once: 4 vs 2
4 more threads: 8 vs 4
Around 48% higher clock speed: 3.70 GHz vs 2.5 GHz
Around 11% higher maximum core temperature: 100 °C vs 90 °C (PGA); 105 °C (BGA)
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 25% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 1598 vs 1281
2.8x better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 4754 vs 1699
Around 29% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 598 vs 465
2x better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 2083 vs 1041

Specifications (specs)
Unlocked	Unlocked vs Locked
Number of cores	4 vs 2
Number of threads	8 vs 4
Maximum frequency	3.70 GHz vs 2.5 GHz
Maximum core temperature	100 °C vs 90 °C (PGA); 105 °C (BGA)
L1 cache	256 KB vs 128 KB
L2 cache	1024 KB vs 512 KB
L3 cache	8192 KB vs 3072 KB
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	1598 vs 1281
PassMark - CPU mark	4754 vs 1699
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	598 vs 465
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	2083 vs 1041

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Core i3-3120M
CPU 2: Intel Core i7-2960XM

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

1281

1598

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

1699

4754

Geekbench 4 - Single Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

465

598

Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

1041

2083

Name	Intel Core i3-3120M	Intel Core i7-2960XM
PassMark - Single thread mark	1281	1598
PassMark - CPU mark	1699	4754
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	465	598
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	1041	2083
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	4.948
GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Frames)	3107
GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Fps)	3107

Compare specifications (specs)

	Intel Core i3-3120M	Intel Core i7-2960XM
Essentials
Architecture codename	Ivy Bridge	Sandy Bridge
Launch date	1 October 2012	3 September 2011
Launch price (MSRP)	$160	$1,096
Place in performance rating	2017	2022
Price now	$110	$409.95
Processor Number	i3-3120M	i7-2960XM
Series	Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors	Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors
Status	Launched	Launched
Value for money (0-100)	8.61	5.19
Vertical segment	Mobile	Mobile
Performance
64 bit support
Base frequency	2.50 GHz	2.70 GHz
Bus Speed	5 GT/s DMI	5 GT/s DMI
Die size	118 mm	216 mm
L1 cache	128 KB	256 KB
L2 cache	512 KB	1024 KB
L3 cache	3072 KB	8192 KB
Manufacturing process technology	22 nm	32 nm
Maximum core temperature	90 °C (PGA); 105 °C (BGA)	100 °C
Maximum frequency	2.5 GHz	3.70 GHz
Number of cores	2	4
Number of threads	4	8
Transistor count		995 Million
Unlocked
Memory
Max memory channels	2	2
Maximum memory bandwidth	25.6 GB/s	25.6 GB/s
Maximum memory size	32 GB	32 GB
Supported memory types	DDR3/L/-RS 1333/1600	DDR3 1066/1333/1600
Graphics
Device ID	0x166
Graphics base frequency	650 MHz	650 MHz
Graphics max dynamic frequency	1.10 GHz	1.30 GHz
Graphics max frequency	1.1 GHz	1.3 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 4000	Intel® HD Graphics 3000
Graphics interfaces
CRT
DisplayPort
eDP
HDMI
Number of displays supported	3	2
SDVO
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 (rPGA988B); 31mm x 24mm (BGA1023)	37.5mm x 37.5mm (rPGA998)
Sockets supported	FCPGA988	FCPGA988
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	35 Watt	55 Watt
Peripherals
Max number of PCIe lanes	16	16
PCI Express revision	2.0	2.0
PCIe configurations	1x16, 2x8, 1x8 2x4	1x16, 2x8, 1x8 2x4
Security & Reliability
Anti-Theft technology
Execute Disable Bit (EDB)
Intel® Identity Protection technology
Intel® Trusted Execution technology (TXT)
Advanced Technologies
4G WiMAX Wireless
Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® technology
Flexible Display interface (FDI)
Idle States
Instruction set extensions	Intel® AVX	Intel® AVX
Intel 64
Intel® Advanced Vector Extensions (AVX)
Intel® AES New Instructions
Intel® Demand Based Switching
Intel® Fast Memory Access
Intel® Flex Memory Access
Intel® Hyper-Threading technology
Intel® My WiFi technology
Intel® Turbo Boost technology
Intel® vPro™ Platform Eligibility
Thermal Monitoring
Virtualization
AMD Virtualization (AMD-V™)
Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x)
Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d)
Intel® VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT)