i3-4120U vs i3-3120M

Primary details

Comparing Core i3-3120M and Core i3-4120U processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking	2412	2314
Place by popularity	not in top-100	not in top-100
Market segment	Laptop	Laptop
Series	Intel Core i3	Intel Core i3
Power efficiency	2.89	7.76
Architecture codename	Ivy Bridge (2012−2013)	Haswell (2013−2015)
Release date	30 September 2012 (12 years ago)	14 April 2014 (10 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)	$160	$281

Detailed specifications

Core i3-3120M and Core i3-4120U 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)	2 (Dual-core)
Threads	4	4
Base clock speed	2.5 GHz	2 GHz
Boost clock speed	2.5 GHz	2 GHz
Bus rate	5 GT/s	5 GT/s
L1 cache	64K (per core)	128 KB
L2 cache	256K (per core)	512 KB
L3 cache	3 MB (shared)	3 MB
Chip lithography	22 nm	22 nm
Die size	118 mm2	no data
Maximum core temperature	90C (PGA); 105C (BGA)	100 °C
64 bit support	+	+
Windows 11 compatibility	-	-

Compatibility

Information on Core i3-3120M and Core i3-4120U 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	FCBGA1023,FCPGA988	FCBGA1168
Power consumption (TDP)	35 Watt	15 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i3-3120M and Core i3-4120U. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensions	Intel® AVX	Intel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2
AES-NI	-	+
AVX	+	+
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)	+	+
My WiFi	+	no data
Turbo Boost Technology	-	-
Hyper-Threading Technology	+	+
Idle States	+	+
Thermal Monitoring	+	+
Flex Memory Access	+	no data
Demand Based Switching	-	no data
GPIO	no data	+
Smart Connect	no data	+
FDI	+	-
Fast Memory Access	+	no data
AMT	no data	9.5
Matrix Storage	no data	-
HD Audio	no data	+
RST	no data	+

Security technologies

Core i3-3120M and Core i3-4120U technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXT	-	-
EDB	+	+
Secure Key	no data	+
Identity Protection	+	+
Anti-Theft	+	+

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i3-3120M and Core i3-4120U are enumerated here.

AMD-V	+	+
VT-d	-	+
VT-x	+	+
EPT	+	+

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i3-3120M and Core i3-4120U. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory types	DDR3	DDR3
Maximum memory size	32 GB	16 GB
Max memory channels	2	2
Maximum memory bandwidth	25.6 GB/s	25.6 GB/s

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics card Compare	Intel HD Graphics 4000	Intel HD Graphics 4400
Max video memory	no data	2 GB
Quick Sync Video	+	+
Clear Video HD	+	+
Graphics max frequency	1.1 GHz	1 GHz
InTru 3D	+	+

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core i3-3120M and Core i3-4120U integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supported	3	3
eDP	+	+
DisplayPort	+	+
HDMI	+	+
SDVO	+	no data
CRT	+	no data

Graphics image quality

Maximum display resolutions supported by Core i3-3120M and Core i3-4120U integrated GPUs, including resolutions over different interfaces.

Max resolution over HDMI 1.4	no data	3200x2000@60Hz
Max resolution over DisplayPort	no data	3200x2000@60Hz
Max resolution over VGA	no data	N/A

Graphics API support

APIs supported by Core i3-3120M and Core i3-4120U integrated GPUs, sometimes API versions are included.

DirectX	no data	11.2/12
OpenGL	no data	4.3

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i3-3120M and Core i3-4120U.

PCIe version	2.0	2.0
PCI Express lanes	16	12
PCI support	no data	-
USB revision	no data	3.0
Total number of SATA ports	no data	4
Max number of SATA 6 Gb/s Ports	no data	4
Integrated IDE	no data	-
Number of USB ports	no data	4
Integrated LAN	no data	-
UART	no data	+

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.

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Pros & cons summary

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Performance score	1.07	1.23
Integrated graphics card	1.18	1.35
Recency	30 September 2012	14 April 2014
Power consumption (TDP)	35 Watt	15 Watt

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Should you still have questions on choice between Core i3-3120M and Core i3-4120U, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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