Core i5-8500 vs Core i3-2120

Primary details

Comparing Core i3-2120 and Core i5-8500 processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in performance ranking	2179	992
Place by popularity	89	not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluation	0.14	10.31
Market segment	Desktop processor	Desktop processor
Series	no data	Intel Core i5
Architecture codename	Sandy Bridge (2011−2013)	Coffee Lake-S (2017−2018)
Release date	20 February 2011 (13 years ago)	14 February 2018 (6 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)	$95	$202
Current price	$76 (0.8x MSRP)	$174 (0.9x MSRP)

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

i5-8500 has 7264% better value for money than i3-2120.

Detailed specifications

Core i3-2120 and Core i5-8500 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 cores	2 (Dual-core)	6 (Hexa-Core)
Threads	4	6
Base clock speed	3.3 GHz	3 GHz
Boost clock speed	3.3 GHz	4.1 GHz
Bus support	no data	4 × 8 GT/s
L1 cache	64 KB (per core)	64K (per core)
L2 cache	256 KB (per core)	256K (per core)
L3 cache	3 MB (shared)	9 MB (shared)
Chip lithography	32 nm	14 nm
Die size	131 mm2	149 mm2
Maximum core temperature	69 °C	100 °C
Maximum case temperature (TCase)	no data	72 °C
Number of transistors	504 million	no data
64 bit support	+	+
Windows 11 compatibility	-	+
Unlocked multiplier	No	No

Compatibility

Information on Core i3-2120 and Core i5-8500 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 configuration	1	1
Socket	FCLGA1155	FCLGA1151
Power consumption (TDP)	65 Watt	65 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i3-2120 and Core i5-8500. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensions	Intel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX	Intel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2
AES-NI	-	+
AVX	no data	+
vPro	no data	+
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)	+	+
Turbo Boost Technology	-	2.0
Hyper-Threading Technology	+	+
TSX	no data	+
Idle States	+	+
Thermal Monitoring	+	+
Flex Memory Access	+	no data
SIPP	no data	+
FDI	+	no data
Fast Memory Access	+	no data
Status	Discontinued	Discontinued

Security technologies

Core i3-2120 and Core i5-8500 technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXT	+	+
EDB	+	+
Secure Key	no data	+
MPX	no data	+
Identity Protection	+	+
SGX	no data	Yes with Intel® ME
OS Guard	no data	+

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i3-2120 and Core i5-8500 are enumerated here.

AMD-V	no data	+
VT-d	-	+
VT-x	+	+
EPT	+	+

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i3-2120 and Core i5-8500. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory types	DDR3	DDR3, DDR4
Maximum memory size	32 GB	64 GB
Max memory channels	2	2
Maximum memory bandwidth	21 GB/s	41.6 GB/s
ECC memory support	no data	-

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics card Compare	Intel HD Graphics 2000	Intel UHD Graphics 630
Max video memory	no data	64 GB
Quick Sync Video	+	+
Clear Video	no data	+
Clear Video HD	+	+
Graphics max frequency	1.1 GHz	1.1 GHz
InTru 3D	+	+

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core i3-2120 and Core i5-8500 integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supported

2

3

Graphics image quality

Maximum display resolutions supported by Core i3-2120 and Core i5-8500 integrated GPUs, including resolutions over different interfaces.

4K resolution support	no data	+
Max resolution over HDMI 1.4	no data	4096x2304@24Hz
Max resolution over eDP	no data	4096x2304@60Hz
Max resolution over DisplayPort	no data	4096x2304@60Hz

Graphics API support

APIs supported by Core i3-2120 and Core i5-8500 integrated GPUs, sometimes API versions are included.

DirectX	no data	12
OpenGL	no data	4.5

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i3-2120 and Core i5-8500.

PCIe version	2.0	3.0
PCI Express lanes	16	16

Synthetic benchmark performance

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

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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 i5-8500 outperforms Core i3-2120 by 391% based on our aggregated benchmark results.

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Pros & cons summary

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Performance score	1.26	6.19
Integrated graphics card		3.08
Recency	20 February 2011	14 February 2018
Physical cores	2	6
Threads	4	6
Cost	$95	$202
Chip lithography	32 nm	14 nm

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Should you still have questions on choice between Core i3-2120 and Core i5-8500, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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