Core i3-2120

Details and Benchmarks for Intel Core i3-2120

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Benchmark Results

Combined benchmark scores based on multiple data points, giving a quick overview of this processor's performance.

Overall Score

Overall score for Core i3-2120 based on all benchmark results gathered. Look at this like a meta score, you will find more specific workload ratings below.

4,541 Rank: 1243
Rank Name Score Visual
1239 Core i7-2620M 4,545
+0.1%
1240 Xeon W3530 4,545
+0.1%
1241 Xeon E3-1225 4,544
+0.1%
1242 Athlon 200GE 4,543
+0%
1243 Core i3-2120 4,541
1244 Core i3-5157U 4,541
+0%
1245 FX-9830P 4,540
+-0%
1246 Core i5-3427U 4,540
+-0%
1247 Core M-5Y71 4,539
+-0%
1248 Pentium G3450T 4,537
-0.1%

View full ranking →

Multicore Score

Multicore performance score for Core i3-2120 based on multi-threaded benchmark results.

4,392 Rank: 1475
Rank Name Score Visual
1471 Core i7-5500U 4,394
+0%
1472 Core i5-3320M 4,394
+0%
1473 Phenom II X3 710 4,394
+0%
1474 Core i5-4210M 4,392
+0%
1475 Core i3-2120 4,392
1476 Pentium G850 4,392
+0%
1477 A8-3800 4,391
+-0%
1478 Phenom II X2 560 4,391
+-0%
1479 Core i3-4030U 4,391
+-0%
1480 A8-6500B 4,391
+-0%

View full ranking →

Singlecore Score

Single-core performance score for Core i3-2120 based on single-threaded benchmark results.

4,641 Rank: 1183
Rank Name Score Visual
1179 Core i7 860 4,647
+0.1%
1180 Ryzen 3 3250U 4,646
+0.1%
1181 Xeon X5680 4,645
+0.1%
1182 Core i7-3537U 4,642
+0%
1183 Core i3-2120 4,641
1184 Core M-5Y70 4,640
+-0%
1185 Athlon Silver 3050U 4,640
+-0%
1186 Core M 5Y10 4,638
-0.1%
1187 Core i7-2720QM 4,638
-0.1%
1188 Xeon W3565 4,637
-0.1%

View full ranking →

Workload Scores

Performance scores grouped by workload type, normalized and aggregated from multiple raw benchmark results.

Number Crunching

Aggregated score for Core i3-2120 based on integer math, floating point math, and prime number computation benchmarks.

4,531 Rank: 1295
Rank Name Score Visual
1291 Celeron G1850 4,532
+0%
1292 Core i7-4550U 4,532
+0%
1293 Phenom II X4 925 4,532
+0%
1294 Pentium G4500T 4,531
+0%
1295 Core i3-2120 4,531
1296 Core i5-4258U 4,531
+0%
1297 Core i5-4300U 4,531
+0%
1298 Core i3-7100U 4,531
+0%
1299 Core i7-3537U 4,531
+0%
1300 Xeon X3220 4,531
+0%

View full ranking →

Data Processing

Aggregated score for Core i3-2120 based on data encryption, data compression, and string sorting benchmarks.

4,515 Rank: 1242
Rank Name Score Visual
1238 Athlon II X4 610e 4,516
+0%
1239 Phenom II X4 900e 4,516
+0%
1240 Core i7-2640M 4,515
+0%
1241 Core i5-6200U 4,515
+0%
1242 Core i3-2120 4,515
1243 Athlon II X3 460 4,515
+0%
1244 Phenom II X4 810 4,515
+0%
1245 Xeon E5420 4,515
+0%
1246 Athlon Silver 3050U 4,515
+0%
1247 Pentium G4500 4,514
+-0%

View full ranking →

Physics & Compute

Aggregated score for Core i3-2120 based on physics simulation and extended instruction set (SSE/AVX) benchmarks.

4,536 Rank: 1181
Rank Name Score Visual
1177 Core i5-3230M 4,537
+0%
1178 A10-7860K 4,537
+0%
1179 Core i7-3687U 4,537
+0%
1180 Core i3-6102E 4,536
+0%
1181 Core i3-2120 4,536
1182 A10-9700E 4,536
+0%
1183 A10-7700K 4,536
+0%
1184 A8-7600 4,536
+0%
1185 FX-9830P 4,536
+0%
1186 Core i5-2390T 4,536
+0%

View full ranking →

Core i3-2120 Details

Built on Intel's Sandy Bridge microarchitecture at a 32 nm process node, the Core i3-2120 is a desktop processor that was launched in February 2011. As of March 2026, this represents a nearly 15-year-old design, placing it firmly in the category of legacy hardware. Despite its age, the Core i3-2120 remains notable for its integration of Intel's HD Graphics 2000 and support for simultaneous multithreading via Hyper-Threading, which effectively doubles its thread count to four. The processor operates at a base frequency of 3.3 GHz with a turbo frequency of up to 3.2 GHz and features a 65 W TDP, making it energy-efficient for its time. It uses the FCLGA1155 socket and supports DDR3-1333 memory across a dual-channel interface, with a maximum memory capacity of 32 GB and bandwidth of 21.3 GB/s. Cache hierarchy includes 61 MiB of L1, 244 MiB of L2, and 2.86 MiB of L3 cache, contributing to its balanced performance profile.

The Core i3-2120's integrated graphics, the Intel HD 2000, operates at a base frequency of 850 MHz and can boost to 1.1 GHz, supporting up to two displays. This GPU, while modest by today's standards, was adequate for basic multimedia and light gaming during its era. The processor also supports a wide range of Intel technologies, including AES-NI, AVX2, SSE4.1/4.2, and virtualization features like VT-x and VT-d, enhancing its utility in virtualized environments and encryption-heavy workloads. Its unlocked multiplier allows for some overclocking, although this is limited by the processor's aging architecture and manufacturing process.

In benchmark testing, the Core i3-2120 achieves an Overall Score of 4541, ranking it #1243 out of 2060 processors. Its Singlecore Score of 4641 places it at #1183, while its Multicore Score of 4392 ranks it #1474. These results indicate that the processor is more competitive in single-threaded workloads than in multi-threaded ones, a trend consistent with its older architecture and limited core count. It outperforms several modern low-power processors like the Athlon Silver 3050U and Core M-5Y70 in single-core performance but falls behind more powerful modern CPUs such as the Ryzen 9 9950X3D and Core Ultra 9 285K. In multicore performance, it is surpassed by processors like the Core i7-5500U and Phenom II X3 710, highlighting its limitations in heavily threaded applications.

Given its age and performance characteristics, the Core i3-2120 is best suited for light desktop computing, office productivity, and basic multimedia tasks. It is no longer competitive with modern processors in gaming, content creation, or high-performance computing. However, its low power consumption and compatibility with older motherboards make it a viable option for retro builds, embedded systems, or as a low-cost upgrade in legacy systems. For users seeking a modern experience, this processor is clearly outdated, but it remains a testament to Intel's early efforts in integrating graphics and improving efficiency in mainstream desktop CPUs.
Frequently Compared

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Intel Core i3-2120

Main Specifications

Designer: Intel
Name: Core i3-2120
Model Number: i3-2120
Cores: 2
Threads: 4
Base Frequency: 3300 MHz
Clock Multiplier: 33x (locked)
Core Name: Sandy Bridge
Socket: FCLGA1155
Package: FC-LGA10
Target Segment: Desktop
Max CPUs: 1
TDP: 65 W

Cache Specifications

L1 Cache: 62.464 KiB
L2 Cache: 0.244 MiB
L3 Cache: 2.861 MiB

Memory Specifications

Supported Memory Type: DDR3 1066/1333
Memory Channels: 2
Maximum Memory: 0 GB
Maximum Bandwidth: 21 GB/s
ECC Support: No

PCI-Express Specifications

PCIe Revision: 2.0
PCIe Lanes: 16
PCIe Configuration: 1x16 or 2x8 or 1x8 2x4

Integrated Graphics

GPU: HD Graphics 2000
GPU Designer: Intel
GPU Max Frequency: 1100 MHz

Physical Specifications

Process: 32 nm
Die Area: 131 mm²
Transistor Count: 0.00 billion
Manufacturer: Intel
Word Size: 64-bit

CPU Features

MMX SSE SSE2 SSE3 SSE4.1 SSE4.2 AVX2 AES x86-64 HT EIST TXT vPro VT-x VT-d EPT Secure Key SMEP SIPP IPT TSX SMT Flex Memory FMA
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