Intel Core i3-3120M Benchmark, Test and specs

Last updated: 2023-04-19

The Intel Core i3-3120M is a 2 core processor. It can handle 4 threads simultaneously and was introduced in Q3/2012. The Intel Core i3-3120M is based on the 3. generation of the Intel Core i3 series and requires a mainboard with the socket PGA 988. The Intel Core i3-3120M scores 508 points with one CPU core in the Geekbench 5 benchmark. When using all CPU cores, the result is 1,136 points.

CPU lineage
Here you can see which group the Intel Core i3-3120M belongs to and which processor is the predecessor of the Intel Core i3-3120M.
Name:	Intel Core i3-3120M
Family:	Intel Core i3 (205)
CPU group:	Intel Core i 3000M (29)
Architecture:	Ivy Bridge H
Segment:	Mobile
Generation:	3
Predecessor:	--
Successor:	--

CPU Cores and Base Frequency

The 2 CPU cores of the Intel Core i3-3120M clock with 2.50 GHz. The number of CPU cores and the clock frequency of the processor are largely responsible for the overall performance.

CPU Cores / Threads:	2 / 4
Core architecture:	normal
Cores:	2x

Hyperthreading / SMT:	Yes
Overclocking:	No
Frequency:	2.50 GHz
Turbo Frequency (1 Core):	--
Turbo Frequency (2 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.

AI hardware:	--
AI specifications:	--

Internal Graphics

With the Intel HD Graphics 4000, the Intel Core i3-3120M has an build in graphic solution. It has 16 SM processors, which have a total of 128 texture shaders. The iGPU not only enables games, but also significantly accelerates video playback.

GPU name:	Intel HD Graphics 4000
GPU frequency:	0.65 GHz
GPU (Turbo):	1.10 GHz
Compute units:	16
Shader:	128
Hardware Raytracing:	No
Release date:	Q1/2011

Max. displays:	3
Generation:	7
Direct X:	11.0
Technology:	22 nm
Max. GPU Memory:	2 GB
Frame Generation:	No

Hardware codec support

Processors that have an integrated graphics can play videos faster and more efficiently. This can have a positive effect on the battery life of notebooks, for example.

h265 / HEVC (8 bit):	No
h265 / HEVC (10 bit):	No
h264:	Decode / Encode
VP8:	No
VP9:	No

AV1:	No
AVC:	Decode / Encode
VC-1:	Decode
JPEG:	Decode

Memory type:	Memory bandwidth:
Memory & PCIe The Intel Core i3-3120M supports up to 32 GB memory in up to 2 (Dual Channel) memory channels. This results in a maximum memory bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s.

DDR3-1600	25.6 GB/s
Max. Memory:	32 GB
Memory channels:	2 (Dual Channel)
ECC:	No
PCIe:	2.0 x 16
PCIe Bandwidth:	8.0 GB/s

Thermal Management With the TDP, the processor manufacturer specifies the cooling solution required for the processor. The Intel Core i3-3120M has a TDP of 35 W.

TDP (PL1 / PBP):	35 W
TDP (PL2):	--
TDP up:	--
TDP down:	--
Tjunction max.:	105 °C

Technical details

The Intel Core i3-3120M has a 3.00 MB large cache. The processor is manufactured in 22 nm. Modern production increases the efficiency of the processor.

Technology:	22 nm
Chip design:	Monolithic
Socket:	PGA 988
L2-Cache:	--
L3-Cache:	3.00 MB
AES-NI:	Yes
Operating systems:	Windows 10, Linux

Virtualization:	VT-x, VT-x EPT
Instruction set (ISA):	x86-64 (64 bit)
ISA extensions:	SSE4.1, SSE4.2, AVX
Release date:	Q3/2012
Release price:	--
Part Number:	--
Documents:	Technical data sheet

Intel Core i3-3120M
2C 4T @ 2.50 GHz

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Benchmark results

The benchmark results for the Intel Core i3-3120M have been carefully checked by us. We only publish benchmark results that have been created by us or that have been submitted by a visitor and then checked by a team member. All results are based on and fullfill our benchmark guidelines.

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.


	AMD FX-4300 4C 4T @ 3.80 GHz	511
	MediaTek Kompanio 520 (MT8186) 8C 8T @ 2.05 GHz	511
	Intel Core i3-560 2C 4T @ 3.33 GHz	510
	Intel Core i3-3120M 2C 4T @ 2.50 GHz	508
	Intel Pentium G2030T 2C 2T @ 2.60 GHz	508
	AMD Phenom II X6 1100T 6C 6T @ 3.70 GHz	508
	Intel Xeon E5-2640 v2 8C 16T @ 2.50 GHz	508

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 2 Quad Q6600 4C 4T @ 2.40 GHz	1139
	Intel Core i7-4550U 2C 4T @ 2.60 GHz	1139
	Samsung Exynos 9609 8C 8T @ 2.20 GHz	1139
	Intel Core i3-3120M 2C 4T @ 2.50 GHz	1136
	Samsung Exynos 8890 8C 8T @ 2.60 GHz	1136
	Intel Pentium G3240T 2C 2T @ 2.70 GHz	1136
	AMD A6-3650 4C 4T @ 2.60 GHz	1134

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 Pentium 4405U 2C 4T @ 2.10 GHz	445
	Intel Core i5-3337U 2C 4T @ 2.70 GHz	442
	Intel Celeron G1620 2C 2T @ 2.70 GHz	441
	Intel Core i3-3120M 2C 4T @ 2.50 GHz	439
	Intel Core i3-4010Y 2C 4T @ 1.30 GHz	439
	Intel Pentium Silver J5040 4C 4T @ 3.20 GHz	435
	Intel Core i5-3317U 2C 4T @ 2.60 GHz	431

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.


	Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 8C 8T @ 2.00 GHz	941
	Intel Pentium G3250T 2C 2T @ 2.80 GHz	929
	Intel Pentium G3440T 2C 2T @ 2.80 GHz	929
	Intel Core i3-3120M 2C 4T @ 2.50 GHz	927
	Apple A9 2C 2T @ 1.85 GHz	921
	Qualcomm Snapdragon 652 8C 8T @ 1.80 GHz	920
	Intel Celeron G1850 2C 2T @ 2.90 GHz	920

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 i3-3227U Intel HD Graphics 4000 @ 1.10 GHz	282
	Intel Core i5-3210M Intel HD Graphics 4000 @ 1.10 GHz	282
	Intel Core i5-3230M Intel HD Graphics 4000 @ 1.10 GHz	282
	Intel Core i3-3120M Intel HD Graphics 4000 @ 1.10 GHz	282
	AMD A9-9420e AMD Radeon R5 (Stoney Ridge) @ 0.72 GHz	276
	AMD A6-9220C AMD Radeon R5 (Stoney Ridge) @ 0.72 GHz	276
	AMD A6-5357M AMD Radeon HD 8450G @ 0.72 GHz	276

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 Celeron G1830 2C 2T @ 2.80 GHz	1694
	Intel Celeron G1820 2C 2T @ 2.70 GHz	1690
	Intel Core i7-2617M 2C 4T @ 1.50 GHz	1685
	Intel Core i3-3120M 2C 4T @ 2.50 GHz	1682
	AMD A4-4300M 2C 2T @ 3.00 GHz	1680
	Intel Pentium G2020 2C 2T @ 2.90 GHz	1674
	AMD Athlon II X3 435 3C 3T @ 2.90 GHz	1670

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 Pentium N4200 4C 4T @ 1.10 GHz	624
	Intel Core i5-4200U 2C 4T @ 1.60 GHz	617
	Intel Celeron G3900 2C 2T @ 2.80 GHz	614
	Intel Core i3-3120M 2C 4T @ 2.50 GHz	613
	Intel Core i5-3337U 2C 4T @ 1.80 GHz	612
	Intel Celeron N3450 4C 4T @ 1.10 GHz	608
	Intel Core2 Duo E6750 2C 2T @ 2.66 GHz	601

Benchmarks

Geekbench 5 (SC)
2,488 entries

Geekbench 5 (MC)
2,461 entries

Geekbench 6 (SC)
1,755 entries

Geekbench 6 (MC)
1,703 entries

FP32 SP (iGPU)
2,026 entries

PassMark CPU-Mark
2,392 entries

CPU-Z Benchmark 17 (MC)
733 entries

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