Intel Core i3-2120 vs Intel Core 2 Extreme QX6800

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CPU comparison with benchmarks

-VS-

CPU lineage

Intel Core i3-2120 or Intel Core i3-2120 – which processor offers superior performance? In this comparison, we examine disparities and assess which of these two CPUs outperforms the other. We delve into technical specifications and benchmark outcomes.
The Intel Core i3-2120 features 2 processor cores and has the capability to manage 4 threads concurrently.
It was released in Q1/2011 and belongs to the 2 generation of the Intel Core i3 series.
To use the Intel Core i3-2120, you'll need a motherboard with a LGA 1155 socket.
The Intel Core 2 Extreme QX6800 features 4 processor cores and has the capability to manage 4 threads concurrently.
It was released in Q2/2007 and belongs to the 1 generation of the Intel Core2 Extreme series.
To use the Intel Core 2 Extreme QX6800, you'll need a motherboard with a LGA 775 socket.
Desktop / Server Segment Desktop / Server
Intel Core i3-2120 Name Intel Core 2 Extreme QX6800
Intel Core i3 Family Intel Core2 Extreme
2 Generation 1
Intel Core i 2000 Group Intel Core 2 Extreme QX6000
 
 

CPU Cores and Base Frequency

The Intel Core i3-2120 has 2 CPU cores and can calculate 4 threads in parallel.
The clock frequency of the Intel Core i3-2120 is 3.3 GHz
The Intel Core 2 Extreme QX6800 has 4 CPU cores and can calculate 4 threads in parallel.
The clock frequency of the Intel Core 2 Extreme QX6800 is 2.93 GHz
normal Core architecture normal
3.3 GHz Frequency 2.93 GHz
4 Threads 4
No Overclocking Yes
Yes Hyperthreading No
2 CPU Cores 4
2x Cores 4x
 
 

Internal Graphics

The Intel Core i3-2120 has integrated graphics, called iGPU for short.
Specifically, the Intel Core i3-2120 uses the Intel HD Graphics 2000, which has 48 texture shaders
and 6 execution units.
The iGPU uses the system's main memory as graphics memory and sits on the processor's die.
The Intel Core 2 Extreme QX6800 does not have integrated graphics.
0.85 GHz GPU frequency --
Q1/2011 Release date --
10.1 Direct X --
Intel HD Graphics 2000 GPU name
32 nm Technology --
-- Max. displays --
48 Shaders --
2.0 GB Max. GPU Memory 0 bytes
6 Execution units --
6 Generation --
1.1 GHz GPU (Turbo) --
 
 

Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning

-- AI specifications --
-- AI hardware --
 
 

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.
Decode / Encode AVC --
Decode VC-1 --
No VP9 --
No h265 / HEVC (10 bit) --
Decode / Encode h264 --
No VP8 --
No h265 / HEVC (8 bit) --
No JPEG --
No AV1 --
 
 

Memory & PCIe

The processor supports a maximum memory capacity of 32.0 GB distributed across 2 memory channels. It offers a peak memory bandwidth of 21.3 GB/s. Both the type and quantity of memory can have a substantial impact on the overall system performance.
2 Memory channels 2
32.0 GB Max. Memory 16.0 GB
pci PCIe pci
Yes AES-NI No
No ECC No
21.3 GB/s Bandwidth --
DDR3-1333 Memory type DDR3-1066, DDR2-800
 
 

Thermal Management

The processor has a thermal design power (TDP) of 65 W watts.
TDP indicates the cooling solution needed to effectively manage the processor's heat. It generally provides an approximate indication of the actual power consumption of the CPU itself.
The processor has a thermal design power (TDP) of 130 W watts.
-- Tjunction max --
65 W TDP (PL1 / PBP) 130 W
 
 

Technical details

The Intel Core i3-2120 is manufactured using a 32 nm process.
A smaller manufacturing process indicates a more contemporary and energy-efficient CPU.
In total, this processor boasts a generous 3.0 MB cache.
A substantial cache can significantly enhance the processor's performance, particularly in scenarios like gaming.
The Intel Core 2 Extreme QX6800 is manufactured using a 65 nm process.
Q1/2011 Release date Q2/2007
-- Part Number --
0 bytes L2-Cache 8.0 MB
VT-x, VT-x EPT Virtualization VT-x
SSE4.1, SSE4.2, AVX ISA extensions SSE3, MMX, SSE2
Monolithic Chip design Monolithic
Sandy Bridge S Architecture Kentsfield (Core)
32 nm Technology 65 nm
LGA 1155 Socket LGA 775
Windows 10, Linux Operating systems Windows 10, Linux
120 $ Release price --
Technical data sheet Documents Technical data sheet
x86-64 (64 bit) Instruction set (ISA) x86-64 (64 bit)
3.0 MB L3-Cache 0 bytes