i3-2120 vs i5-3230M

Primary details

Comparing Core i5-3230M and Core i3-2120 processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking	2102	2322
Place by popularity	not in top-100	not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluation	no data	0.14
Market segment	Laptop	Desktop processor
Series	Intel Core i5	no data
Power efficiency	4.36	1.79
Architecture codename	Ivy Bridge (2012−2013)	Sandy Bridge (2011−2013)
Release date	1 January 2013 (11 years ago)	20 February 2011 (13 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)	$225	$95

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

Detailed specifications

Core i5-3230M and Core i3-2120 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	2.6 GHz	3.3 GHz
Boost clock speed	3.2 GHz	3.3 GHz
Bus rate	5 GT/s	5 GT/s
L1 cache	64K (per core)	64 KB (per core)
L2 cache	256K (per core)	256 KB (per core)
L3 cache	3 MB (shared)	3 MB (shared)
Chip lithography	22 nm	32 nm
Die size	118 mm2	131 mm2
Maximum core temperature	105 °C	69 °C
Number of transistors	no data	504 million
64 bit support	+	+
Windows 11 compatibility	-	-

Compatibility

Information on Core i5-3230M and Core i3-2120 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	FCPGA988	FCLGA1155
Power consumption (TDP)	35 Watt	65 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i5-3230M and Core i3-2120. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

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

Security technologies

Core i5-3230M and Core i3-2120 technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

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

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i5-3230M and Core i3-2120 are enumerated here.

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

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i5-3230M and Core i3-2120. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory types	DDR3	DDR3
Maximum memory size	32 GB	32 GB
Max memory channels	2	2
Maximum memory bandwidth	25.6 GB/s	21 GB/s

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics card Compare	Intel HD Graphics 4000	Intel HD Graphics 2000
Quick Sync Video	+	+
Clear Video HD	+	+
Graphics max frequency	1.1 GHz	1.1 GHz
InTru 3D	+	+

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core i5-3230M and Core i3-2120 integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supported	3	2
eDP	+	no data
DisplayPort	+	-
HDMI	+	-
SDVO	+	no data
CRT	+	no data

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i5-3230M and Core i3-2120.

PCIe version	3.0	2.0
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.

---

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.

---

Pros & cons summary

---

Performance score	1.61	1.23
Integrated graphics card	1.18	0.55
Recency	1 January 2013	20 February 2011
Chip lithography	22 nm	32 nm
Power consumption (TDP)	35 Watt	65 Watt

---

Should you still have questions on choice between Core i5-3230M and Core i3-2120, 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.

---