Athlon X2 QL-66 vs Core i3-3120M
Athlon X2 QL-66
Core i3-3120M
Performance Spectrum - CPU
About PassMark
PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money. The Athlon X2 QL-66 is positioned at rank 1048 and the Core i3-3120M is on rank 460, so the Core i3-3120M offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Athlon X2 QL-66
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-3120M
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon X2 QL-66 | Core i3-3120M |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($5) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Lion (2008−2009) / 65 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon X2 QL-66 | Core i3-3120M |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($5) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
Performance Check
To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.
Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Athlon X2 QL-66 and Core i3-3120M
Athlon X2 QL-66
The Athlon X2 QL-66 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Lion (2008−2009) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Max frequency: 2.2 GHz. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 65 nm process technology. Socket: S1g2. Thermal design power (TDP): 1 MB. Passmark benchmark score: 1,695 points. Launch price was $149.
Core i3-3120M
The Core i3-3120M is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 30 September 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 2.5 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: PGA988. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,709 points. Launch price was $160.
Processing Power
The Athlon X2 QL-66 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, matching the Core i3-3120M's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 2.2 GHz on the Athlon X2 QL-66 versus 2.5 GHz on the Core i3-3120M — a 12.8% clock advantage for the Core i3-3120M. The Athlon X2 QL-66 uses the Lion (2008−2009) architecture (65 nm), while the Core i3-3120M uses Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon X2 QL-66 scores 1,695 against the Core i3-3120M's 1,709 — a 0.8% lead for the Core i3-3120M.
| Feature | Athlon X2 QL-66 | Core i3-3120M |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 2.2 GHz | 2.5 GHz+14% |
| Base Clock | — | 2.5 GHz |
| L3 Cache | — | 3 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 1 MB+300% | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 65 nm | 22 nm-66% |
| Architecture | Lion (2008−2009) | Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) |
| PassMark | 1,695 | 1,709 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 440 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 930 |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon X2 QL-66 uses the S1g2 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i3-3120M uses PGA988 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR2-667 on the Athlon X2 QL-66 versus DDR3-1600 on the Core i3-3120M — the Core i3-3120M supports 40% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Core i3-3120M supports up to 32 GB of RAM compared to 8 GB — 120% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 0 (Athlon X2 QL-66) vs 16 (Core i3-3120M) — the Core i3-3120M offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: AMD S1 (Athlon X2 QL-66) and HM76,HM77 (Core i3-3120M).
| Feature | Athlon X2 QL-66 | Core i3-3120M |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | S1g2 | PGA988 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR2-667 | DDR3-1600+50% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 8 GB | 32 GB+300% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 0 | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Athlon X2 QL-66) / VT-x, VT-d (Core i3-3120M). The Core i3-3120M includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics 4000), while the Athlon X2 QL-66 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-3120M targets Budget Laptop. Direct competitor: Core i3-3120M rivals AMD A8-4500M.
| Feature | Athlon X2 QL-66 | Core i3-3120M |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | Intel HD Graphics 4000 |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x, VT-d |
| Target Use | — | Budget Laptop |
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