CPU
GPU
Core 2 Duo T5800
Core i3-2120
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 Core 2 Duo T5800 is positioned at rank 292 and the Core i3-2120 is on rank 911, so the Core 2 Duo T5800 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core 2 Duo T5800
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-2120
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core 2 Duo T5800 | Core i3-2120 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($25) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Merom (2006−2008) / 65 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core 2 Duo T5800 | Core i3-2120 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($25) |
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 Core 2 Duo T5800 and Core i3-2120
Core 2 Duo T5800
The Core 2 Duo T5800 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2008-01-01. It is based on the Merom (2006−2008) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2 GHz, with boost up to 2 GHz. L3 cache: 2 MB L2 Cache. L2 cache: 2 MB. Built on 65 nm process technology. Socket: PGA478. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 2,000 points. Launch price was $249.
Core i3-2120
The Core i3-2120 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 20 February 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.3 GHz, with boost up to 3.3 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1155. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,979 points. Launch price was $95.
Processing Power
The Core 2 Duo T5800 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, matching the Core i3-2120's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 2 GHz on the Core 2 Duo T5800 versus 3.3 GHz on the Core i3-2120 — a 49.1% clock advantage for the Core i3-2120 (base: 2 GHz vs 3.3 GHz). The Core 2 Duo T5800 uses the Merom (2006−2008) architecture (65 nm), while the Core i3-2120 uses Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Core 2 Duo T5800 scores 2,000 against the Core i3-2120's 1,979 — a 1.1% lead for the Core 2 Duo T5800. L3 cache: 2 MB L2 Cache on the Core 2 Duo T5800 vs 3 MB (total) on the Core i3-2120.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo T5800 | Core i3-2120 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 2 GHz | 3.3 GHz+65% |
| Base Clock | 2 GHz | 3.3 GHz+65% |
| L3 Cache | 2 MB L2 Cache | 3 MB (total)+50% |
| L2 Cache | 2 MB+700% | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 65 nm | 32 nm-51% |
| Architecture | Merom (2006−2008) | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) |
| PassMark | 2,000+1% | 1,979 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | — | 1,073 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 534 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 1,140 |
Memory & Platform
The Core 2 Duo T5800 uses the PGA478 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Core i3-2120 uses LGA1155 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo T5800 | Core i3-2120 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | PGA478 | LGA1155 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 2.0+82% |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR3-1333 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 32 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Core 2 Duo T5800) / Yes (Core i3-2120). The Core i3-2120 includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics 2000), while the Core 2 Duo T5800 requires a dedicated GPU.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo T5800 | Core i3-2120 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | Intel HD Graphics 2000 |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | Yes |
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