Intel Xeon E3-1270 vs Intel Core i3-2120

Comparative analysis of Intel Xeon E3-1270 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), 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), 3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score.

Intel Xeon E3-1270

Intel Core i3-2120

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Xeon E3-1270

CPU is newer: launch date 1 month(s) later
2 more cores, run more applications at once: 4 vs 2
4 more threads: 8 vs 4
Around 15% higher clock speed: 3.80 GHz vs 3.3 GHz
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 16% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 1745 vs 1510
2.7x better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 5365 vs 1964
Around 28% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 738 vs 577
2.2x better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 2830 vs 1265
166.9x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s): 12.187 vs 0.073
2.2x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s): 79.092 vs 35.45
2.5x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s): 0.558 vs 0.227
3.6x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s): 3.622 vs 0.999
6.9x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s): 15.794 vs 2.296

Specifications (specs)
Launch date	April 2011 vs February 2011
Number of cores	4 vs 2
Number of threads	8 vs 4
Maximum frequency	3.80 GHz vs 3.3 GHz
L1 cache	64 KB (per core) vs 64 KB (per core)
L2 cache	256 KB (per core) vs 256 KB (per core)
L3 cache	8192 KB (shared) vs 3072 KB (shared)
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	1745 vs 1510
PassMark - CPU mark	5365 vs 1964
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	738 vs 577
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	2830 vs 1265
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	12.187 vs 0.073
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	79.092 vs 35.45
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	0.558 vs 0.227
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	3.622 vs 0.999
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	15.794 vs 2.296

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i3-2120

Around 23% lower typical power consumption: 65 Watt vs 80 Watt

Thermal Design Power (TDP)	65 Watt vs 80 Watt

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Xeon E3-1270
CPU 2: Intel Core i3-2120

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

1745

1510

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

5365

1964

Geekbench 4 - Single Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

738

577

Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

2830

1265

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

12.187

0.073

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

CPU 1

CPU 2

79.092

35.45

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

CPU 1

CPU 2

0.558

0.227

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

3.622

0.999

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

15.794

2.296

Name	Intel Xeon E3-1270	Intel Core i3-2120
PassMark - Single thread mark	1745	1510
PassMark - CPU mark	5365	1964
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	738	577
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	2830	1265
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	12.187	0.073
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	79.092	35.45
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	0.558	0.227
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	3.622	0.999
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	15.794	2.296
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score		0

Compare specifications (specs)

	Intel Xeon E3-1270	Intel Core i3-2120
Essentials
Architecture codename	Sandy Bridge	Sandy Bridge
Launch date	April 2011	February 2011
Launch price (MSRP)	$369	$95
Place in performance rating	2115	2905
Price now	$317	$30
Processor Number	E3-1270	i3-2120
Series	Intel® Xeon® Processor E3 Family	Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors
Status	Discontinued	Launched
Value for money (0-100)	7.66	38.51
Vertical segment	Server	Desktop
Performance
64 bit support
Base frequency	3.40 GHz	3.30 GHz
Bus Speed	5 GT/s DMI	5 GT/s DMI
Die size	216 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	8192 KB (shared)	3072 KB (shared)
Manufacturing process technology	32 nm	32 nm
Maximum core temperature	69.1°C	69.1°C
Maximum frequency	3.80 GHz	3.3 GHz
Number of cores	4	2
Number of threads	8	4
Transistor count	1160 million	504 million
Memory
ECC memory support
Max memory channels	2	2
Maximum memory bandwidth	21 GB/s	21 GB/s
Maximum memory size	32 GB	32 GB
Supported memory types	DDR3 1066/1333	DDR3 1066/1333
Graphics
Intel® Clear Video HD technology
Intel® Flexible Display Interface (Intel® FDI)
Intel® InTru™ 3D technology
Intel® Quick Sync Video
Device ID		0x102
Graphics base frequency		850 MHz
Graphics max dynamic frequency		1.10 GHz
Graphics max frequency		1.1 GHz
Processor graphics		Intel® HD Graphics 2000
Graphics interfaces
Wireless Display (WiDi) support
Number of displays supported		2
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	LGA1155	FCLGA1155
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	80 Watt	65 Watt
Peripherals
Max number of PCIe lanes	20	16
PCI Express revision	2.0	2.0
Security & Reliability
Execute Disable Bit (EDB)
Intel® Identity Protection 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® Demand Based Switching
Intel® Fast Memory Access
Intel® Flex Memory Access
Intel® Hyper-Threading technology
Intel® Turbo Boost technology
Intel® vPro™ Platform Eligibility
Thermal Monitoring
Virtualization
Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x)
Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d)
Intel® VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT)