i7-9700F vs i3-3120M

VS

Aggregate performance score

Core i3-3120M
2012
2 cores / 4 threads, 35 Watt
1.07
Core i7-9700F
2019
8 cores / 8 threads, 65 Watt
8.34
+679%

Core i7-9700F outperforms Core i3-3120M by a whopping 679% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

Comparing Core i3-3120M and Core i7-9700F processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking2412903
Place by popularitynot in top-100not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluationno data8.64
Market segmentLaptopDesktop processor
SeriesIntel Core i3Intel Core i7
Power efficiency2.8912.14
Architecture codenameIvy Bridge (2012−2013)Coffee Lake (2017−2019)
Release date30 September 2012 (12 years ago)23 April 2019 (5 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)$160$323

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

no data

Detailed specifications

Core i3-3120M and Core i7-9700F 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)8 (Octa-Core)
Threads48
Base clock speed2.5 GHz3 GHz
Boost clock speed2.5 GHz4.7 GHz
Bus typeno dataDMI 3.0
Bus rate5 GT/s4 × 8 GT/s
Multiplierno data30
L1 cache64K (per core)64K (per core)
L2 cache256K (per core)256K (per core)
L3 cache3 MB (shared)12 MB (shared)
Chip lithography22 nm14 nm
Die size118 mm2no data
Maximum core temperature90C (PGA); 105C (BGA)100 °C
Maximum case temperature (TCase)no data72 °C
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibility-+

Compatibility

Information on Core i3-3120M and Core i7-9700F 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)
SocketFCBGA1023,FCPGA988FCLGA1151
Power consumption (TDP)35 Watt65 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i3-3120M and Core i7-9700F. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

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

Security technologies

Core i3-3120M and Core i7-9700F 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+
Anti-Theft+no data

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i3-3120M and Core i7-9700F 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 i7-9700F. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesDDR3DDR4-2666
Maximum memory size32 GB128 GB
Max memory channels22
Maximum memory bandwidth25.6 GB/s42.671 GB/s

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics cardIntel HD Graphics 4000no data
Quick Sync Video+-
Clear Video HD+no data
Graphics max frequency1.1 GHzno data
InTru 3D+no data

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core i3-3120M and Core i7-9700F integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supported3no data
eDP+no data
DisplayPort+-
HDMI+-
SDVO+no data
CRT+no data

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i3-3120M and Core i7-9700F.

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.

i3-3120M 1.07
i7-9700F 8.34
+679%

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.

i3-3120M 1697
i7-9700F 13248
+681%

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.

i3-3120M 399
i7-9700F 1577
+295%

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.

i3-3120M 819
i7-9700F 6311
+671%

Gaming performance

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 1.07 8.34
Recency 30 September 2012 23 April 2019
Physical cores 2 8
Threads 4 8
Chip lithography 22 nm 14 nm
Power consumption (TDP) 35 Watt 65 Watt

i3-3120M has 85.7% lower power consumption.

i7-9700F, on the other hand, has a 679.4% higher aggregate performance score, an age advantage of 6 years, 300% more physical cores and 100% more threads, and a 57.1% more advanced lithography process.

The Core i7-9700F is our recommended choice as it beats the Core i3-3120M in performance tests.

Be aware that Core i3-3120M is a notebook processor while Core i7-9700F is a desktop one.


Should you still have questions on choice between Core i3-3120M and Core i7-9700F, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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Intel Core i3-3120M
Core i3-3120M
Intel Core i7-9700F
Core i7-9700F

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Community ratings

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Questions & comments

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