Intel Core i3-8120 vs Intel Core i5-8420

Comparative analysis of Intel Core i3-8120 and Intel Core i5-8420 processors for all known characteristics in the following categories: Essentials, Performance, Memory, Compatibility, Security & Reliability, Advanced Technologies, Virtualization.

Intel Core i3-8120

Intel Core i5-8420

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i3-8120

Around 28% higher clock speed: 3.7 GHz vs 2.9 GHz

Maximum frequency	3.7 GHz vs 2.9 GHz

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i5-8420

2 more cores, run more applications at once: 6 vs 4
Around 50% more L1 cache; more data can be stored in the L1 cache for quick access later
Around 50% more L2 cache; more data can be stored in the L2 cache for quick access later
Around 50% more L3 cache; more data can be stored in the L3 cache for quick access later

Number of cores	6 vs 4
L1 cache	64K (per core) vs 64K (per core)
L2 cache	256K (per core) vs 256K (per core)
L3 cache	9 MB (shared) vs 6 MB (shared)

Compare specifications (specs)

	Intel Core i3-8120	Intel Core i5-8420
Essentials
Architecture codename	Coffee Lake	Coffee Lake
Launch date	September 2018	September 2018
Place in performance rating	not rated	not rated
Vertical segment	Desktop	Desktop
Performance
64 bit support
L1 cache	64K (per core)	64K (per core)
L2 cache	256K (per core)	256K (per core)
L3 cache	6 MB (shared)	9 MB (shared)
Manufacturing process technology	14 nm	14 nm
Maximum case temperature (TCase)	72 °C	72 °C
Maximum frequency	3.7 GHz	2.9 GHz
Number of cores	4	6
Memory
Supported memory types	DDR4	DDR4
Compatibility
Max number of CPUs in a configuration	1	1
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	65 Watt	65 Watt
Security & Reliability
Intel® Trusted Execution technology (TXT)
Advanced Technologies
Intel® Advanced Vector Extensions (AVX)
Intel® AES New Instructions
Virtualization
Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x)
Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d)