Intel Core i3-3120ME vs Intel Core i7-2820QM Benchmark, comparison and differences


Intel Core i3-3120ME		Intel Core i7-2820QM
CPU comparison In this CPU comparison, we compare the Intel Core i3-3120ME and the Intel Core i7-2820QM and use benchmarks to check which processor is faster. We compare the Intel Core i3-3120ME 2 core processor released in Q3/2012 with the Intel Core i7-2820QM which has 4 CPU cores and was introduced in Q1/2011.

Intel Core i3 (205)	Family	Intel Core i7 (298)
Intel Core i 3000M (29)	CPU group	Intel Core i 2000M (46)
3	Generation	2
Ivy Bridge H	Architecture	Sandy Bridge H
Mobile	Segment	Mobile
--	Predecessor	--
--	Successor	--

CPU Cores and Base Frequency The Intel Core i3-3120ME is a 2 core processor with a clock frequency of 2.40 GHz. The processor can compute 4 threads at the same time. The Intel Core i7-2820QM clocks with 2.30 GHz (3.40 GHz), has 4 CPU cores and can calculate 8 threads in parallel.
Intel Core i3-3120ME	Characteristic	Intel Core i7-2820QM
2	Cores	4
4	Threads	8
normal	Core architecture	normal
Yes	Hyperthreading	Yes
No	Overclocking ?	No
2.40 GHz	Frequency	2.30 GHz
--	Turbo Frequency (1 Core)	3.40 GHz
--	Turbo Frequency (All Cores)	--

Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Processors with the support of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) can process many calculations, especially audio, image and video processing, much faster than classic processors. Algorithms for ML improve their performance the more data they have collected via software. ML tasks can be processed up to 10,000 times faster than with a classic processor.
Intel Core i3-3120ME	Characteristic	Intel Core i7-2820QM
--	AI hardware	--
--	AI specifications	--

Internal Graphics Graphics (iGPU) integrated into the processor not only enable image output without having to rely on a dedicated graphics solution, but can also efficiently accelerate video playback.
Intel HD Graphics 4000	GPU	Intel HD Graphics 3000
0.65 GHz	GPU frequency	0.65 GHz
0.90 GHz	GPU (Turbo)	1.30 GHz
7	GPU Generation	6
22 nm	Technology	32 nm
3	Max. displays	2
16	Compute units	12
128	Shader	96
No	Hardware Raytracing	No
No	Frame Generation	No
2 GB	Max. GPU Memory	2 GB
11.0	DirectX Version	10.1

Hardware codec support A photo or video codec that is accelerated in hardware can greatly accelerate the working speed of a processor and extend the battery life of notebooks or smartphones when playing videos.
Intel HD Graphics 4000	GPU	Intel HD Graphics 3000
No	Codec h265 / HEVC (8 bit)	No
No	Codec h265 / HEVC (10 bit)	No
Decode / Encode	Codec h264	Decode / Encode
No	Codec VP9	No
No	Codec VP8	No
No	Codec AV1	No
Decode / Encode	Codec AVC	Decode / Encode
Decode	Codec VC-1	Decode
Decode	Codec JPEG	No

Memory & PCIe Up to 16 GB of memory in a maximum of 2 memory channels is supported by the Intel Core i3-3120ME, while the Intel Core i7-2820QM supports a maximum of 32 GB of memory with a maximum memory bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s enabled.
Intel Core i3-3120ME	Characteristic	Intel Core i7-2820QM
DDR3-1600	Memory	DDR3-1066, DDR3-1333, DDR3-1600
16 GB	Max. Memory	32 GB
2 (Dual Channel)	Memory channels	2 (Dual Channel)
25.6 GB/s	Max. Bandwidth	25.6 GB/s
Yes	ECC	No
--	L2 Cache	--
3.00 MB	L3 Cache	8.00 MB
2.0	PCIe version	2.0
16	PCIe lanes	16
8.0 GB/s	PCIe Bandwidth	8.0 GB/s
Thermal Management The Intel Core i3-3120ME has a TDP of 35 W. The TDP of the Intel Core i7-2820QM is 45 W. System integrators use the TDP of the processor as a guide when dimensioning the cooling solution.
Intel Core i3-3120ME	Characteristic	Intel Core i7-2820QM
35 W	TDP (PL1 / PBP)	45 W
--	TDP (PL2)	--
--	TDP up	--
--	TDP down	--
105 °C	Tjunction max.	100 °C
Technical details The Intel Core i3-3120ME has 3.00 MB cache and is manufactured in 22 nm. The cache of Intel Core i7-2820QM is at 8.00 MB. The processor is manufactured in 32 nm.
Intel Core i3-3120ME	Characteristic	Intel Core i7-2820QM
22 nm	Technology	32 nm
Monolithic	Chip design	Monolithic
x86-64 (64 bit)	Instruction set (ISA)	x86-64 (64 bit)
SSE4.1, SSE4.2, AVX	ISA extensions	SSE4.1, SSE4.2, AVX
BGA 1023	Socket	PGA 988
VT-x, VT-x EPT	Virtualization	VT-x, VT-x EPT
Yes	AES-NI	Yes
Windows 10, Linux	Operating systems	Windows 10, Linux
Q3/2012	Release date	Q1/2011
--	Release price	570 $

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Intel Core i3-3120ME 2C 4T @ 2.40 GHz buy now on Amazon and save! Intel Core i7-2820QM 4C 8T @ 2.30 GHz (3.40 GHz) buy now on Amazon and save!

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Average performance in benchmarks

⌀ Single core performance in 2 CPU benchmarks

Intel Core i3-3120ME (70%)

Intel Core i7-2820QM (100%)

⌀ Multi core performance in 3 CPU benchmarks

Intel Core i3-3120ME (43%)

Intel Core i7-2820QM (100%)

Geekbench 5, 64bit (Single-Core)

Geekbench 5 is a cross plattform benchmark that heavily uses the systems memory. A fast memory will push the result a lot. The single-core test only uses one CPU core, the amount of cores or hyperthreading ability doesn't count.


	Intel Core i3-3120ME 2C 4T @ 2.40 GHz	462 (67%)
	Intel Core i7-2820QM 4C 8T @ 3.40 GHz	688 (100%)

Geekbench 5, 64bit (Multi-Core)

Geekbench 5 is a cross plattform benchmark that heavily uses the systems memory. A fast memory will push the result a lot. The multi-core test involves all CPU cores and taks a big advantage of hyperthreading.


	Intel Core i3-3120ME 2C 4T @ 2.40 GHz	1055 (43%)
	Intel Core i7-2820QM 4C 8T @ 2.30 GHz	2449 (100%)

Geekbench 6 (Single-Core)

Geekbench 6 is a benchmark for modern computers, notebooks and smartphones. What is new is an optimized utilization of newer CPU architectures, e.g. based on the big.LITTLE concept and combining CPU cores of different sizes. The single-core benchmark only evaluates the performance of the fastest CPU core, the number of CPU cores in a processor is irrelevant here.


	Intel Core i3-3120ME 2C 4T @ 2.40 GHz	424 (72%)
	Intel Core i7-2820QM 4C 8T @ 3.40 GHz	591 (100%)

Geekbench 6 (Multi-Core)

Geekbench 6 is a benchmark for modern computers, notebooks and smartphones. What is new is an optimized utilization of newer CPU architectures, e.g. based on the big.LITTLE concept and combining CPU cores of different sizes. The multi-core benchmark evaluates the performance of all of the processor's CPU cores. Virtual thread improvements such as AMD SMT or Intel's Hyper-Threading have a positive impact on the benchmark result.


	Intel Core i3-3120ME 2C 4T @ 2.40 GHz	846 (48%)
	Intel Core i7-2820QM 4C 8T @ 2.30 GHz	1769 (100%)

iGPU - FP32 Performance (Single-precision GFLOPS)

The theoretical computing performance of the internal graphics unit of the processor with simple accuracy (32 bit) in GFLOPS. GFLOPS indicates how many billion floating point operations the iGPU can perform per second.


	Intel Core i3-3120ME Intel HD Graphics 4000 @ 0.90 GHz	230 (92%)
	Intel Core i7-2820QM Intel HD Graphics 3000 @ 1.30 GHz	250 (100%)

Estimated results for PassMark CPU Mark

Some of the CPUs listed below have been benchmarked by CPU-monkey. However the majority of CPUs have not been tested and the results have been estimated by a CPU-monkey’s secret proprietary formula. As such they do not accurately reflect the actual Passmark CPU mark values and are not endorsed by PassMark Software Pty Ltd.


	Intel Core i3-3120ME 2C 4T @ 2.40 GHz	1629 (37%)
	Intel Core i7-2820QM 4C 8T @ 2.30 GHz	4406 (100%)

Cinebench R20 (Single-Core)

Cinebench R20 is the successor of Cinebench R15 and is also based on the Cinema 4 Suite. Cinema 4 is a worldwide used software to create 3D forms. The single-core test only uses one CPU core, the amount of cores or hyperthreading ability doesn't count.


	Intel Core i3-3120ME 2C 4T @ 2.40 GHz	0 (0%)
	Intel Core i7-2820QM 4C 8T @ 3.40 GHz	249 (100%)

Cinebench R20 (Multi-Core)

Cinebench R20 is the successor of Cinebench R15 and is also based on the Cinema 4 Suite. Cinema 4 is a worldwide used software to create 3D forms. The multi-core test involves all CPU cores and taks a big advantage of hyperthreading.


	Intel Core i3-3120ME 2C 4T @ 2.40 GHz	0 (0%)
	Intel Core i7-2820QM 4C 8T @ 2.30 GHz	1001 (100%)

CPU-Z Benchmark 17 (Multi-Core)

The CPU-Z benchmark measures a processor's performance by measuring the time it takes the system to complete all benchmark calculations. The faster the benchmark is completed, the higher the score.


	Intel Core i3-3120ME 2C 4T @ 2.40 GHz	0 (0%)
	Intel Core i7-2820QM 4C 8T @ 2.30 GHz	1242 (100%)

Devices using this processor
Intel Core i3-3120ME	Intel Core i7-2820QM
Unknown	Unknown


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Intel Core i3-3120ME vs Intel Core i7-2820QM

CPU comparison with benchmarks

CPU comparison

CPU Cores and Base Frequency

Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning

Internal Graphics

Hardware codec support

Memory & PCIe

Thermal Management

Technical details