Intel Core i3-3240 vs AMD FX-8120

Comparative analysis of Intel Core i3-3240 and AMD FX-8120 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, CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s), 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), GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Frames), GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Fps).

Intel Core i3-3240

AMD FX-8120

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i3-3240

CPU is newer: launch date 11 month(s) later
Around 7% higher maximum core temperature: 65.3°C vs 61°C
A newer manufacturing process allows for a more powerful, yet cooler running processor: 22 nm vs 32 nm
2.3x lower typical power consumption: 55 Watt vs 125 Watt
Around 34% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 1781 vs 1330
Around 26% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 603 vs 480
Around 21% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s): 1.088 vs 0.898

Specifications (specs)
Launch date	September 2012 vs October 2011
Maximum core temperature	65.3°C vs 61°C
Manufacturing process technology	22 nm vs 32 nm
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	55 Watt vs 125 Watt
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	1781 vs 1330
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	603 vs 480
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	1.088 vs 0.898

Reasons to consider the AMD FX-8120

Processor is unlocked, an unlocked multiplier allows for easier overclocking
6 more cores, run more applications at once: 8 vs 2
4 more threads: 8 vs 4
Around 18% higher clock speed: 4 GHz vs 3.4 GHz
3x more L1 cache, more data can be stored in the L1 cache for quick access later
16x 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 98% better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 4631 vs 2342
Around 56% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 2092 vs 1343
3.3x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s): 7.468 vs 2.252
2.3x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s): 18 vs 7.973
Around 46% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s): 0.38 vs 0.26
2.1x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s): 5.613 vs 2.681

Specifications (specs)
Unlocked	Unlocked vs Locked
Number of cores	8 vs 2
Number of threads	8 vs 4
Maximum frequency	4 GHz vs 3.4 GHz
L1 cache	384 KB vs 64 KB (per core)
L2 cache	8 MB vs 256 KB (per core)
L3 cache	8 MB vs 3072 KB (shared)
Benchmarks
PassMark - CPU mark	4631 vs 2342
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	2092 vs 1343
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	7.468 vs 2.252
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	18 vs 7.973
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	0.38 vs 0.26
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	5.613 vs 2.681

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Core i3-3240
CPU 2: AMD FX-8120

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

1781

1330

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

2342

4631

Geekbench 4 - Single Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

603

480

Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

1343

2092

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

2.252

7.468

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

7.973

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

0.26

0.38

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

1.088

0.898

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

2.681

5.613

Name	Intel Core i3-3240	AMD FX-8120
PassMark - Single thread mark	1781	1330
PassMark - CPU mark	2342	4631
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	603	480
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	1343	2092
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score	0	2399
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	2.252	7.468
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	7.973	18
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	0.26	0.38
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	1.088	0.898
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	2.681	5.613
GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Frames)	1356
GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Fps)	1356

Compare specifications (specs)

	Intel Core i3-3240	AMD FX-8120
Essentials
Architecture codename	Ivy Bridge	Zambezi
Launch date	September 2012	October 2011
Launch price (MSRP)	$75
Place in performance rating	2731	2675
Price now	$67.99	$99.99
Processor Number	i3-3240
Series	Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors	AMD FX 8-Core Black Edition Processors
Status	Launched
Value for money (0-100)	18.67	19.43
Vertical segment	Desktop	Desktop
Family		AMD FX-Series Processors
OPN PIB		FD8120FRGUBOX
OPN Tray		FD8120FRW8KGU
Performance
64 bit support
Base frequency	3.40 GHz	3.1 GHz
Bus Speed	5 GT/s DMI
Die size	94 mm	315 mm
L1 cache	64 KB (per core)	384 KB
L2 cache	256 KB (per core)	8 MB
L3 cache	3072 KB (shared)	8 MB
Manufacturing process technology	22 nm	32 nm
Maximum case temperature (TCase)	65 °C
Maximum core temperature	65.3°C	61°C
Maximum frequency	3.4 GHz	4 GHz
Number of cores	2	8
Number of threads	4	8
P0 Vcore voltage		Min: 1.0125 V - Max: 1.4125 V
Transistor count		1200 million
Unlocked
Memory
Max memory channels	2
Maximum memory bandwidth	25.6 GB/s
Maximum memory size	32 GB
Supported memory types	DDR3 1333/1600
Graphics
Device ID	0x152
Graphics base frequency	650 MHz
Graphics max dynamic frequency	1.05 GHz
Graphics max frequency	1.05 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
Graphics interfaces
Number of displays supported	3
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
Sockets supported	FCLGA1155	AM3+
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	55 Watt	125 Watt
Thermal Solution	2011C
Peripherals
PCI Express revision	2.0	n / a
PCIe configurations	up to 1x16, 2x8, 1x8 & 2x4
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 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
Fused Multiply-Add (FMA)
Virtualization
Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x)
Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d)
Intel® VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT)
AMD Virtualization (AMD-V™)