Core i3-3120M vs Core 2 Duo E6700

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Aggregate performance score

Core 2 Duo E6700
2 cores / 2 threads, 65 Watt
0.64
Core i3-3120M
2012
2 cores / 4 threads, 35 Watt
1.10
+71.9%

i3-3120M outperforms Core 2 Duo E6700 by an impressive 72% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

Comparing Core 2 Duo (Desktop) E6700 and Core i3-3120M processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking27422379
Place by popularitynot in top-100not in top-100
Market segmentDesktop processorLaptop
SeriesCore 2 Duo (Desktop)Intel Core i3
Architecture codenameConroe (2006−2007)Ivy Bridge (2012−2013)
Release dateno data1 October 2012 (11 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)no data$160

Detailed specifications

Core 2 Duo (Desktop) E6700 and Core i3-3120M basic parameters such as number of cores, number of threads, base frequency and turbo boost clock, lithography, cache size and multiplier lock state. These parameters indirectly say of CPU speed, though for more precise assessment you have to consider their test results.

Physical cores2 (Dual-core)2 (Dual-core)
Threads24
Base clock speedno data2.5 GHz
Boost clock speed2.66 GHz2.5 GHz
Bus rate1066 MHz5 GT/s
L1 cacheno data128 KB
L2 cacheno data512 KB
L3 cacheno data3 MB
Chip lithography65 nm22 nm
Die sizeno data118 mm2
Maximum core temperatureno data90C (PGA); 105C (BGA)
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibility--

Compatibility

Information on Core 2 Duo (Desktop) E6700 and Core i3-3120M compatibility with other computer components: motherboard (look for socket type), power supply unit (look for power consumption) etc. Useful when planning a future computer configuration or upgrading an existing one. Note that power consumption of some processors can well exceed their nominal TDP, even without overclocking. Some can even double their declared thermals given that the motherboard allows to tune the CPU power parameters.

Number of CPUs in a configurationno data1
Socketno dataFCBGA1023,FCPGA988
Power consumption (TDP)65 Watt35 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core 2 Duo (Desktop) E6700 and Core i3-3120M. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensionsno dataIntel® AVX
AVX-+
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)no data+
My WiFino data+
Turbo Boost Technologyno data-
Hyper-Threading Technologyno data+
Idle Statesno data+
Thermal Monitoring-+
Flex Memory Accessno data+
Demand Based Switchingno data-
FDIno data+
Fast Memory Accessno data+
Statusno dataDiscontinued

Security technologies

Core 2 Duo (Desktop) E6700 and Core i3-3120M technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXTno data-
EDBno data+
Identity Protection-+
Anti-Theftno data+

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core 2 Duo (Desktop) E6700 and Core i3-3120M are enumerated here.

AMD-V-+
VT-dno data-
VT-xno data+
EPTno data+

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core 2 Duo (Desktop) E6700 and Core i3-3120M. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesno dataDDR3
Maximum memory sizeno data32 GB
Max memory channelsno data2
Maximum memory bandwidthno data25.6 GB/s

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics cardno dataIntel HD Graphics 4000
Quick Sync Video-+
Clear Video HDno data+
Graphics max frequencyno data1.1 GHz
InTru 3Dno data+

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core 2 Duo (Desktop) E6700 and Core i3-3120M integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supportedno data3
eDPno data+
DisplayPort-+
HDMI-+
SDVOno data+
CRTno data+

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core 2 Duo (Desktop) E6700 and Core i3-3120M.

PCIe versionno data2.0
PCI Express lanesno data16

Synthetic benchmark performance

Various benchmark results of the processors in comparison. Overall score is measured in points in 0-100 range, higher is better.


Combined synthetic benchmark score

This is our combined benchmark performance rating. We are regularly improving our combining algorithms, but if you find some perceived inconsistencies, feel free to speak up in comments section, we usually fix problems quickly.

Core 2 Duo E6700 0.64
i3-3120M 1.10
+71.9%

Passmark

Passmark CPU Mark is a widespread benchmark, consisting of 8 different types of workload, including integer and floating point math, extended instructions, compression, encryption and physics calculation. There is also one separate single-threaded scenario measuring single-core performance.

Core 2 Duo E6700 990
i3-3120M 1700
+71.7%

GeekBench 5 Single-Core

GeekBench 5 Single-Core is a cross-platform application developed in the form of CPU tests that independently recreate certain real-world tasks with which to accurately measure performance. This version uses only a single CPU core.

Core 2 Duo E6700 304
i3-3120M 395
+29.9%

GeekBench 5 Multi-Core

GeekBench 5 Multi-Core is a cross-platform application developed in the form of CPU tests that independently recreate certain real-world tasks with which to accurately measure performance. This version uses all available CPU cores.

Core 2 Duo E6700 513
i3-3120M 813
+58.5%

Cinebench 10 32-bit single-core

Cinebench R10 is an ancient ray tracing benchmark for processors by Maxon, authors of Cinema 4D. Its single core version uses just one CPU thread to render a futuristic looking motorcycle.

Core 2 Duo E6700 2710
i3-3120M 3428
+26.5%

Cinebench 10 32-bit multi-core

Cinebench Release 10 Multi Core is a variant of Cinebench R10 using all the processor threads. Possible number of threads is limited by 16 in this version.

Core 2 Duo E6700 5110
i3-3120M 6867
+34.4%

3DMark06 CPU

3DMark06 is a discontinued DirectX 9 benchmark suite from Futuremark. Its CPU part contains two scenarios, one dedicated to artificial intelligence pathfinding, another to game physics using PhysX package.

Core 2 Duo E6700 2354
i3-3120M 3057
+29.9%

Gaming performance

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 0.64 1.10
Threads 2 4
Chip lithography 65 nm 22 nm
Power consumption (TDP) 65 Watt 35 Watt

i3-3120M has a 71.9% higher aggregate performance score, 100% more threads, a 195.5% more advanced lithography process, and 85.7% lower power consumption.

The Core i3-3120M is our recommended choice as it beats the Core 2 Duo E6700 in performance tests.

Note that Core 2 Duo E6700 is a desktop processor while Core i3-3120M is a notebook one.


Should you still have questions on choice between Core 2 Duo E6700 and Core i3-3120M, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

Vote for your favorite

Do you think we are right or mistaken in our choice? Vote by clicking "Like" button near your favorite CPU.


Intel Core 2 Duo E6700
Core 2 Duo E6700
Intel Core i3-3120M
Core i3-3120M

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Community ratings

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Questions & comments

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