Intel Core i3-3210 vs Intel Core i3-2120

Comparative analysis of Intel Core i3-3210 and Intel Core i3-2120 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), 3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score, 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).

Intel Core i3-3210

Intel Core i3-2120

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i3-3210

CPU is newer: launch date 1 year(s) 10 month(s) later
A newer manufacturing process allows for a more powerful, yet cooler running processor: 22 nm vs 32 nm
Around 18% lower typical power consumption: 55 Watt vs 65 Watt
Around 12% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 1695 vs 1510
Around 13% better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 2227 vs 1964
87x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s): 6.351 vs 0.073

Specifications (specs)
Launch date	January 2013 vs February 2011
Manufacturing process technology	22 nm vs 32 nm
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	55 Watt vs 65 Watt
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	1695 vs 1510
PassMark - CPU mark	2227 vs 1964
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	6.351 vs 0.073

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i3-2120

Around 3% higher clock speed: 3.3 GHz vs 3.2 GHz
Around 6% higher maximum core temperature: 69.1°C vs 65.3°C
Around 6% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 577 vs 543
Around 2% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 1265 vs 1244

Specifications (specs)
Maximum frequency	3.3 GHz vs 3.2 GHz
Maximum core temperature	69.1°C vs 65.3°C
Benchmarks
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	577 vs 543
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	1265 vs 1244

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Core i3-3210
CPU 2: Intel Core i3-2120

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

1695

1510

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

2227

1964

Geekbench 4 - Single Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

543

577

Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

1244

1265

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

6.351

0.073

Name	Intel Core i3-3210	Intel Core i3-2120
PassMark - Single thread mark	1695	1510
PassMark - CPU mark	2227	1964
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	543	577
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	1244	1265
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	6.351	0.073
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score		0
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)		35.45
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)		0.227
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)		0.999
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)		2.296

Compare specifications (specs)

	Intel Core i3-3210	Intel Core i3-2120
Essentials
Architecture codename	Ivy Bridge	Sandy Bridge
Launch date	January 2013	February 2011
Launch price (MSRP)	$120	$95
Place in performance rating	2224	2905
Price now	$138	$30
Processor Number	i3-3210	i3-2120
Series	Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors	Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors
Status	Discontinued	Launched
Value for money (0-100)	8.60	38.51
Vertical segment	Desktop	Desktop
Performance
64 bit support
Base frequency	3.20 GHz	3.30 GHz
Bus Speed	5 GT/s DMI	5 GT/s DMI
Die size	94 mm	131 mm
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)	3072 KB (shared)
Manufacturing process technology	22 nm	32 nm
Maximum case temperature (TCase)	65 °C
Maximum core temperature	65.3°C	69.1°C
Maximum frequency	3.2 GHz	3.3 GHz
Number of cores	2	2
Number of threads	4	4
Transistor count		504 million
Memory
Max memory channels	2	2
Maximum memory bandwidth	25.6 GB/s	21 GB/s
Maximum memory size	32 GB	32 GB
Supported memory types	DDR3 1333/1600	DDR3 1066/1333
Graphics
Device ID	0x152	0x102
Graphics base frequency	650 MHz	850 MHz
Graphics max dynamic frequency	1.05 GHz	1.10 GHz
Graphics max frequency	1.05 GHz	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 2500	Intel® HD Graphics 2000
Graphics interfaces
Number of displays supported	3	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	37.5mm x 37.5mm
Sockets supported	FCLGA1155	FCLGA1155
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	55 Watt	65 Watt
Thermal Solution	2011C
Peripherals
PCI Express revision	2.0	2.0
PCIe configurations	up to 1x16, 2x8, 1x8 & 2x4
Max number of PCIe lanes		16
Security & Reliability
Anti-Theft technology
Execute Disable Bit (EDB)
Intel® Identity Protection technology
Intel® Secure Key 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® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX
Intel 64
Intel® Advanced Vector Extensions (AVX)
Intel® AES New Instructions
Intel® Hyper-Threading technology
Intel® My WiFi technology
Intel® Turbo Boost technology
Intel® vPro™ Platform Eligibility
Thermal Monitoring
Intel® Fast Memory Access
Intel® Flex Memory Access
Virtualization
Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x)
Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d)
Intel® VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT)