Core i3-8120 vs Core i7-720QM

Primary details

Comparing Core i7-720QM and Core i3-8120 processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in performance ranking	2324	not rated
Place by popularity	not in top-100	not in top-100
Market segment	Laptop	Desktop processor
Series	Intel Core i7	Intel Core i3
Architecture codename	Clarksfield (2009−2010)	Coffee Lake (2017−2019)
Release date	23 September 2009 (14 years ago)	1 September 2018 (5 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)	$546	no data
Current price	$418 (0.8x MSRP)	no data

Detailed specifications

Core i7-720QM and Core i3-8120 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)	4 (Quad-Core)
Threads	8	4
Base clock speed	1.6 GHz	3.7 GHz
Boost clock speed	2.8 GHz	3.7 GHz
Bus support	2500 MHz	4 × 8 GT/s
L1 cache	64 KB (per core)	64K (per core)
L2 cache	256 KB (per core)	256K (per core)
L3 cache	6 MB (shared)	6 MB (shared)
Chip lithography	45 nm	14 nm
Die size	296 mm2	126 mm2
Maximum core temperature	100 °C	no data
Maximum case temperature (TCase)	no data	72 °C
Number of transistors	774 million	no data
64 bit support	+	+
Windows 11 compatibility	-	-
Unlocked multiplier	No	No

Compatibility

Information on Core i7-720QM and Core i3-8120 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 (Uniprocessor)
Socket	FCPGA988,PGA988	1151
Power consumption (TDP)	45 Watt	65 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i7-720QM and Core i3-8120. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensions	Intel® SSE4.2	no data
AES-NI	-	+
AVX	no data	+
vPro	+	no data
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)	+	+
Turbo Boost Technology	1.0	no data
Hyper-Threading Technology	+	no data
Idle States	+	no data
Thermal Monitoring	+	no data
PAE	36 Bit	no data
Status	Discontinued	no data

Security technologies

Core i7-720QM and Core i3-8120 technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXT	+	no data
EDB	+	no data

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i7-720QM and Core i3-8120 are enumerated here.

VT-d	+	+
VT-x	+	+
EPT	+	no data

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i7-720QM and Core i3-8120. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory types	DDR3-1066, DDR3-1333	DDR4 Dual-channel
Maximum memory size	8 GB	64 GB
Max memory channels	2	no data
Maximum memory bandwidth	21 GB/s	38.397 GB/s
ECC memory support	-	no data

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics card

None

Intel UHD Graphics 630

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i7-720QM and Core i3-8120.

PCIe version	2	3.0
PCI Express lanes	16	no data

Pros & cons summary

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Recency	23 September 2009	1 September 2018
Threads	8	4
Chip lithography	45 nm	14 nm
Power consumption (TDP)	45 Watt	65 Watt

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Should you still have questions on choice between Core i7-720QM and Core i3-8120, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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