Feex·CPU
Intel · Core i3 · Desktop

Intel® Core™ i3-2120

The Intel Core i3-2120 is a desktop processor released in Feb 2011, built on the Sandy Bridge architecture using a 32 nm process. It has 2 cores and 4 threads, a base clock of 3.30 GHz, 3 MB of L3 cache, a 65 W TDP and the FCLGA1155 socket.

IntelCore i3DesktopFCLGA1155Sandy BridgeTDP 65 W32 nmIntegrated graphics2011
Cores
2
Threads
4
Base Clock
3.3 GHz
Architecture
Sandy Bridge
Socket
FCLGA1155
Process Node
32 nm
TDP
65 W
L3 Cache
3 MB
Core layout
PP
2 Performance 4 Threads

Best for

Mini PCs and graphics-included builds

Overview

The Intel Core i3-2120 is a desktop processor with 2 cores and 4 threads, built on the Sandy Bridge architecture (32 nm process). It launched in Feb 2011. A 3-MB L3 cache backs the cores (1.8 MB per core). The chip drops into the FCLGA1155 socket and exposes PCIe 2.0 (16 lanes). Rated TDP is 65 W.

Performance

Overall CPU Performance computed
1,718
7% of reference
Reference ceiling 25,000
Multi-Core Performance PassMark rating
1,971
2% of reference
Reference ceiling 120,000
Single-Core Performance PassMark rating
1,498
27% of reference
Reference ceiling 5,500
Productivity Performance computed
3,378
2% of reference
Reference ceiling 160,000
Creator Performance computed
3,780
3% of reference
Reference ceiling 140,000
Engineering Performance computed
1,835
1% of reference
Reference ceiling 200,000
Gaming Performance computed
4,987
23% of reference
Reference ceiling 22,000
Performance per Core computed
986
5% of reference
Reference ceiling 21,053
Performance per Thread computed
493
5% of reference
Reference ceiling 10,527
Performance per Watt computed
30
2% of reference
Reference ceiling 2,000
Efficiency Index computed
213
5% of reference
Reference ceiling 4,000
Performance index computed
21
Intel Core i5-12400 = 100

The Intel Core i3-2120 scores 1,498 in single-core performance and 1,971 in multi-core performance (PassMark CPU Mark ratings). From those two ratings Feex computes 1,718 for overall performance, 3,378 for productivity performance, 3,780 for creator performance, 1,835 for engineering performance and 4,987 for gaming performance. Its multi-core throughput works out to 986 per core, 493 per thread and 30 per watt. Its computed efficiency index is 213. Its performance index is 21, so its overall performance is 79% below the Intel Core i5-12400 (index 100). Each bar shows the score as a share of a reference ceiling, which is the larger of the 99th-percentile score across the Feex CPU database and a fixed baseline.

How these scores are computed

Single-core and multi-core performance are PassMark CPU Mark single-thread and multi-thread ratings. Every other figure on this page's performance section is computed by Feex from those two ratings plus core count, thread count and TDP, so it is a derived value and not a separate benchmark run.

  • Overall performance is the geometric mean of the two ratings: the square root of single-core times multi-core.
  • Productivity performance is 0.65 times multi-core plus 1.4 times single-core.
  • Creator performance is 0.55 times multi-core plus 1.8 times single-core.
  • Engineering performance is multi-core times the smaller of 1.4 and (0.9 plus cores divided by 64).
  • Gaming performance is 3 times single-core plus 0.25 times multi-core.
  • Performance per core, per thread and per watt divide the multi-core rating by physical cores, logical threads and TDP in watts.
  • The efficiency index is the square root of single-core times multi-core, divided by the square root of TDP.
  • The performance index is overall performance divided by the overall performance of the Intel Core i5-12400 (8,069), times 100.

Workload Benchmarks

Scores for individual PassMark CPU Mark test categories. Higher is better. These are measured test scores, not computed from the single-core and multi-core ratings.

Integer Math Throughput
9,470
2% of reference
Reference ceiling 617,811
84% below the Intel Core i5-12400 (58,893)
Raw integer arithmetic throughput across cores.
Floating-Point Math
3,607
1% of reference
Reference ceiling 600,000
92% below the Intel Core i5-12400 (45,899)
Heavy floating-point math, mixed precision.
Compression Performance
41,339
2% of reference
Reference ceiling 2,309,868
82% below the Intel Core i5-12400 (228,054)
Throughput on lossless compression workloads.
Cryptography Performance
367
0% of reference
Reference ceiling 137,106
97% below the Intel Core i5-12400 (11,489)
Symmetric encryption and hashing throughput.
Physics Simulation
240
2% of reference
Reference ceiling 12,291
78% below the Intel Core i5-12400 (1,090)
Iterative physics & rigid-body simulation.
Vector / SIMD Throughput
1,968
1% of reference
Reference ceiling 172,975
87% below the Intel Core i5-12400 (15,509)
Wide-vector SIMD intrinsics performance.
Prime Sieve
14
1% of reference
Reference ceiling 1,067
79% below the Intel Core i5-12400 (67)
Searching for prime numbers (branch-heavy work).
Sort Performance
6,108
2% of reference
Reference ceiling 260,323
73% below the Intel Core i5-12400 (22,652)
Random string sorting throughput.

In the individual workload tests the Intel Core i3-2120 scores 9,470 in integer math, 3,607 in floating-point math, 41,339 in compression, 367 in cryptography, 240 in physics simulation, 1,968 in vector SIMD, 14 in the prime sieve and 6,108 in sorting. Higher is better. Compared with the Intel Core i5-12400, it is 84% below in integer math, 92% below in floating-point math, 82% below in compression, 97% below in cryptography, 78% below in physics simulation, 87% below in vector SIMD, 79% below in the prime sieve and 73% below in sorting. Each bar shows the score as a share of that workload's reference ceiling, the larger of the 99th-percentile score across CPUs with a recorded value and a fixed baseline.

Core Configuration

Cores
2
Threads
4
Performance Cores
2
Threads per Core
2
Hybrid Architecture
No
Base Clock
3.3 GHz
Boost Clock
Not recorded

The Intel Core i3-2120 has 2 physical cores and runs 4 logical threads. It does not use a hybrid performance and efficiency core layout. It runs 2 threads per core. It runs at a base clock of 3.30 GHz.

Architecture & Generation

Manufacturer
Intel
Family
Core i3
Segment
Desktop
Generation
Not recorded
Architecture
Sandy Bridge
Codename
Sandy Bridge
Process Node
32 nm
Lithography
32 nm
Release Date
Feb 2011

The Intel Core i3-2120 is a desktop processor, belongs to the Intel Core i3 family, uses the Sandy Bridge architecture, carries the codename Sandy Bridge and is manufactured on a 32 nm process. It launched in Feb 2011.

Cache

L1 Cache (Total)
128 KB
L2 Cache (Total)
512 KB
L2 Cache (per Core)
256 KB
L3 Cache
3 MB
Cache per Core
1.8 MB
Total Cache
3.6 MB

The Intel Core i3-2120 has 128 KB of L1 cache, 512 KB of L2 cache and 3 MB of L3 cache. That adds up to about 3.6 MB of cache, or 1.81 MB per core. Each core has 256 KB of private L2 cache.

Cache Hierarchy

L1L2L3
L1 128 KBL2 512 KBL3 3 MB

The Intel Core i3-2120 has a 3-level cache hierarchy: L1 at 128 KB, L2 at 512 KB and L3 at 3 MB. L3 is the largest level and makes up about 83% of the cache listed here.

Graphics

Integrated Graphics
Yes
Graphics Model
HD 2000
Graphics Base Clock
850 MHz
Graphics Max Clock
1.1 GHz

The Intel Core i3-2120 includes integrated graphics (HD 2000) and clocks the graphics up to 1.10 GHz.

Platform & Compatibility

Socket
FCLGA1155
PCIe Generation
2.0
PCIe Lanes
16

The Intel Core i3-2120 uses the FCLGA1155 socket, supports PCI Express 2.0 and provides up to 16 PCIe lanes.

Power & Thermals

TDP
65 W

The Intel Core i3-2120 has a rated TDP of 65 W.

Platform Capabilities

Instruction sets, security, virtualization, AI acceleration and OS readiness. Features are listed as supported, explicitly not supported, or not recorded; a feature that is not recorded is not the same as unsupported.

Instruction Sets

9 supported
Supported
AVX64-bit (x86-64)SSE4.1SSE4.2SSESSE2SSE3SSSE3MMX
Not recorded
AES-NIAMXAVX-512AVX2AVX-VNNICET

Security and Reliability

0 supported
Not recorded
AES-NIControl-flow Enforcement (CET)Execute Disable (NX)Boot GuardHardware RNGHardware Shield

Virtualization

0 supported
Not recorded
Extended Page Tables (EPT)VT-d (DMA Remapping)VT-x (Hardware Virtualization)VT-x with EPTIOMMUSecond-Level Address Translation

OS Compatibility

0 supported
Not supported
Windows 11 eligible

The Intel Core i3-2120 supports AVX, 64-bit (x86-64), SSE4.1, SSE4.2, SSE, SSE2, SSE3, SSSE3 and MMX among its instruction set features. Feex has no record for AES-NI, AMX, AVX-512, AVX2, AVX-VNNI and CET, which is different from being unsupported.

Feex has no record for AES-NI, Control-flow Enforcement (CET), Execute Disable (NX), Boot Guard, Hardware RNG and Hardware Shield, which is different from being unsupported.

Feex has no record for Extended Page Tables (EPT), VT-d (DMA Remapping), VT-x (Hardware Virtualization), VT-x with EPT, IOMMU and Second-Level Address Translation, which is different from being unsupported.

Feex records these as not true for the Intel Core i3-2120: Windows 11 eligible.

Physical & Manufacturing

Launch Price
$138

The Intel Core i3-2120 is manufactured by Intel. It launched at a price of $138.

Naming & Aliases

Display Name
Intel® Core™ i3-2120
Normalized Name
Intel® Core™ i3-2120
Product line brand
Core

Real-world compute in the Feex fleet

No Feex fleet machines with the Intel Core i3-2120 have reported compute telemetry yet, so real-world compute for this processor is not recorded.

How fleet compute is measured · Fleet compute leaderboard · JSON

Data Coverage

Feex has recorded 54% of the specifications it tracks for the Intel Core i3-2120. Values Feex does not hold are shown as "Not recorded" rather than estimated.

Not recorded: Core Configuration: Efficiency Cores, All-Core Boost and Unlocked Multiplier. Architecture & Generation: ISA Family and Market Status. Cache: L4 Cache. Memory Support: Max Memory, Memory Channels, Memory Bandwidth, Memory Types, DDR5 Support, DDR4 Support, LPDDR Support, ECC Memory and Max Memory Speed. Graphics: Execution Units, Display Outputs and Max Video Memory. Platform & Compatibility: Package and Package Size. Power & Thermals: Base Power, Maximum Turbo Power, Configurable TDP (Min), Configurable TDP (Max), Max Junction Temperature and Tcase. Physical & Manufacturing: Transistor Count, Die Size, Die Count and Foundry. Naming & Aliases: SKU, Model Number, Processor Number and Part Number.

Common questions

How many cores and threads does the Intel Core i3-2120 have?

The Intel Core i3-2120 has 2 cores and 4 threads.

What architecture does the Intel Core i3-2120 use?

The Intel Core i3-2120 is built on the Sandy Bridge architecture on a 32 nm process.

Does the Intel Core i3-2120 have integrated graphics?

Yes. The Intel Core i3-2120 includes integrated graphics: HD 2000.

What socket does the Intel Core i3-2120 use?

The Intel Core i3-2120 uses the FCLGA1155 socket.

What is the TDP of the Intel Core i3-2120?

The Intel Core i3-2120 has a TDP of 65 W.

How does the Intel Core i3-2120 perform?

In the Feex normalized performance dataset, the Intel Core i3-2120 scores 1,971 multi-core and 1,498 single-core.

What is the Intel Core i3-2120 best for?

Based on its specifications, the Intel Core i3-2120 is well suited for Mini PCs and graphics-included builds.

How much cache does the Intel Core i3-2120 have?

The Intel Core i3-2120 has 128 KB of L1 cache, 512 KB of L2 cache and 3 MB of L3 cache.

How does the Intel Core i3-2120 compare with the Intel Core i5-12400?

The Intel Core i3-2120 has a computed performance index of 21, which is 79% below the Intel Core i5-12400 (index 100). The index is derived from the single-core and multi-core ratings.