Intel Core i3-3120M vs Intel Core i7-3920XM

Comparative analysis of Intel Core i3-3120M and Intel Core i7-3920XM 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), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s).

 

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i3-3120M

  • CPU is newer: launch date 5 month(s) later
  • Around 57% lower typical power consumption: 35 Watt vs 55 Watt
Launch date 1 October 2012 vs 23 April 2012
Thermal Design Power (TDP) 35 Watt vs 55 Watt

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i7-3920XM

  • 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 52% higher clock speed: 3.80 GHz vs 2.5 GHz
  • Around 17% higher maximum core temperature: 105 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 50% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 1916 vs 1281
  • 3.4x better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 5710 vs 1699
  • 3.8x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s): 18.579 vs 4.948
Specifications (specs)
Unlocked Unlocked vs Locked
Number of cores 4 vs 2
Number of threads 8 vs 4
Maximum frequency 3.80 GHz vs 2.5 GHz
Maximum core temperature 105 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 1916 vs 1281
PassMark - CPU mark 5710 vs 1699
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s) 18.579 vs 4.948

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Core i3-3120M
CPU 2: Intel Core i7-3920XM

PassMark - Single thread mark
CPU 1
CPU 2
1281
1916
PassMark - CPU mark
CPU 1
CPU 2
1699
5710
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)
CPU 1
CPU 2
4.948
18.579
Name Intel Core i3-3120M Intel Core i7-3920XM
PassMark - Single thread mark 1281 1916
PassMark - CPU mark 1699 5710
Geekbench 4 - Single Core 465
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core 1041
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s) 4.948 18.579
GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Frames) 3107
GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Fps) 3107
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s) 21.159
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s) 0.762
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s) 3.86
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s) 6.94

Compare specifications (specs)

Intel Core i3-3120M Intel Core i7-3920XM

Essentials

Architecture codename Ivy Bridge Ivy Bridge
Launch date 1 October 2012 23 April 2012
Launch price (MSRP) $160 $1,096
Place in performance rating 2017 2018
Price now $110 $1,096
Processor Number i3-3120M i7-3920XM
Series Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors Intel® Core™ X-series Processors
Status Launched Launched
Value for money (0-100) 8.61 2.46
Vertical segment Mobile Mobile

Performance

64 bit support
Base frequency 2.50 GHz 2.90 GHz
Bus Speed 5 GT/s DMI 5 GT/s DMI
Die size 118 mm 160 mm
L1 cache 128 KB 256 KB
L2 cache 512 KB 1024 KB
L3 cache 3072 KB 8192 KB
Manufacturing process technology 22 nm 22 nm
Maximum core temperature 90 °C (PGA); 105 °C (BGA) 105 C
Maximum frequency 2.5 GHz 3.80 GHz
Number of cores 2 4
Number of threads 4 8
Transistor count 1400 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/L/-RS 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 4000

Graphics interfaces

CRT
DisplayPort
eDP
HDMI
Number of displays supported 3 3
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) 37.5 x 37.5mm (rPGA988B)
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 3.0
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)