Core i3-2120 vs Core i5-3550S

Primary Details

Comparing Core i5-3550S and Core i3-2120 processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in performance ranking	1559	2173
Place by popularity	not in top-100	90
Cost-Effectiveness Evaluation	0.41	0.14
Market segment	Desktop processor	Desktop processor
Architecture codename	Ivy Bridge (2012−2013)	Sandy Bridge (2011−2013)
Release date	29 April 2012 (12 years ago)	20 February 2011 (13 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)	$350	$95
Current price	$85 (0.2x MSRP)	$76 (0.8x MSRP)

Cost-Effectiveness Evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

i5-3550S has 193% better value for money than i3-2120.

Detailed Specifications

Core i5-3550S 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	4 (Quad-Core)	2 (Dual-core)
Threads	4	4
Base clock speed	3 GHz	3.3 GHz
Boost clock speed	3.7 GHz	3.3 GHz
L1 cache	64 KB (per core)	64 KB (per core)
L2 cache	256 KB (per core)	256 KB (per core)
L3 cache	6144 KB (shared)	3 MB (shared)
Chip lithography	22 nm	32 nm
Die size	160 mm2	131 mm2
Maximum core temperature	69 °C	69 °C
Maximum case temperature (TCase)	69 °C	no data
Number of transistors	1,400 million	504 million
64 bit support	+	+
Windows 11 compatibility	-	-
Unlocked multiplier	No	No

Compatibility

Information on Core i5-3550S 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	FCLGA1155	FCLGA1155
Power consumption (TDP)	65 Watt	65 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i5-3550S and Core i3-2120. 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® AVX
AES-NI	+	-
AVX	+	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	+
FDI	+	+
Fast Memory Access	no data	+
Status	Discontinued	Discontinued

Security technologies

Core i5-3550S 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 i5-3550S and Core i3-2120 are enumerated here.

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

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i5-3550S 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
ECC memory support	-	no data

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics card Compare	Intel HD Graphics 2500	Intel HD Graphics 2000
Quick Sync Video	+	+
Clear Video HD	+	+
Graphics max frequency	1.15 GHz	1.1 GHz
InTru 3D	+	+

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core i5-3550S and Core i3-2120 integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supported

3

2

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i5-3550S and Core i3-2120.

PCIe version	3.0	2.0
PCI Express lanes	no data	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 i5-3550S outperforms Core i3-2120 by 128% based on our aggregated benchmark results.

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Pros & Cons Summary

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Performance score	2.87	1.26
Integrated graphics card	0.68
Recency	29 April 2012	20 February 2011
Physical cores	4	2
Cost	$350	$95
Chip lithography	22 nm	32 nm

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Should you still have questions on choice between Core i5-3550S and Core i3-2120, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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