i5-9500 vs i3-2120

VS

Aggregate performance score

Core i3-2120
2011
2 cores / 4 threads, 65 Watt
1.23
Core i5-9500
2018
6 cores / 6 threads, 65 Watt
6.19
+403%

Core i5-9500 outperforms Core i3-2120 by a whopping 403% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

Comparing Core i3-2120 and Core i5-9500 processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking23221088
Place by popularitynot in top-100not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluation0.148.64
Market segmentDesktop processorDesktop processor
Seriesno dataIntel Core i5
Power efficiency1.799.01
Architecture codenameSandy Bridge (2011−2013)Coffee Lake (2017−2019)
Release date20 February 2011 (13 years ago)19 October 2018 (6 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)$95$192

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

i5-9500 has 6071% better value for money than i3-2120.

Detailed specifications

Core i3-2120 and Core i5-9500 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)6 (Hexa-Core)
Threads46
Base clock speed3.3 GHz3 GHz
Boost clock speed3.3 GHz4.4 GHz
Bus typeno dataDMI 3.0
Bus rate5 GT/s4 × 8 GT/s
Multiplierno data30
L1 cache64 KB (per core)64K (per core)
L2 cache256 KB (per core)256K (per core)
L3 cache3 MB (shared)9 MB (shared)
Chip lithography32 nm14 nm
Die size131 mm2149 mm2
Maximum core temperature69 °C100 °C
Maximum case temperature (TCase)no data72 °C
Number of transistors504 millionno data
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibility-+

Compatibility

Information on Core i3-2120 and Core i5-9500 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 configuration11 (Uniprocessor)
SocketFCLGA1155FCLGA1151
Power consumption (TDP)65 Watt65 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i3-2120 and Core i5-9500. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

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

Security technologies

Core i3-2120 and Core i5-9500 technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXT++
EDB++
Secure Keyno data+
MPX-+
Identity Protection++
SGXno dataYes with Intel® ME
OS Guardno data+

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i3-2120 and Core i5-9500 are enumerated here.

VT-d-+
VT-x++
EPT++

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i3-2120 and Core i5-9500. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesDDR3DDR4-2666
Maximum memory size32 GB128 GB
Max memory channels22
Maximum memory bandwidth21 GB/s42.671 GB/s

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics card
Compare
Intel HD Graphics 2000Intel UHD Graphics 630
Max video memoryno data64 GB
Quick Sync Video++
Clear Videono data+
Clear Video HD++
Graphics max frequency1.1 GHz1.1 GHz
InTru 3D++

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core i3-2120 and Core i5-9500 integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supported23

Graphics image quality

Maximum display resolutions supported by Core i3-2120 and Core i5-9500 integrated GPUs, including resolutions over different interfaces.

4K resolution supportno data+
Max resolution over HDMI 1.4no data4096 x 2304@24Hz
Max resolution over eDPno data4096 x 2304@60Hz
Max resolution over DisplayPortno data4096 x 2304@60Hz

Graphics API support

APIs supported by Core i3-2120 and Core i5-9500 integrated GPUs, sometimes API versions are included.

DirectXno data12
OpenGLno data4.5

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i3-2120 and Core i5-9500.

PCIe version2.03.0
PCI Express lanes1616

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.

i3-2120 1.23
i5-9500 6.19
+403%

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.

i3-2120 1956
i5-9500 9832
+403%

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.

i3-2120 497
i5-9500 1465
+195%

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.

i3-2120 1022
i5-9500 4956
+385%

Gaming performance

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 1.23 6.19
Integrated graphics card 0.55 3.09
Recency 20 February 2011 19 October 2018
Physical cores 2 6
Threads 4 6
Chip lithography 32 nm 14 nm

i5-9500 has a 403.3% higher aggregate performance score, 461.8% faster integrated GPU, an age advantage of 7 years, 200% more physical cores and 50% more threads, and a 128.6% more advanced lithography process.

The Core i5-9500 is our recommended choice as it beats the Core i3-2120 in performance tests.


Should you still have questions on choice between Core i3-2120 and Core i5-9500, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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Intel Core i3-2120
Core i3-2120
Intel Core i5-9500
Core i5-9500

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Community ratings

Here you can see how users rate the processors, as well as rate them yourself.


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Questions & comments

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