CPU
GPU
Core i3-2120
A4-4300M
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 i3-2120 is positioned at rank 911 and the A4-4300M is on rank 647, so the A4-4300M offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-2120
Performance Per Dollar A4-4300M
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i3-2120 | A4-4300M |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($25) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Trinity (2012−2013) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i3-2120 | A4-4300M |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($25) | ✅ 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 Core i3-2120 and A4-4300M
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.
A4-4300M
The A4-4300M is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2014-01-01. It is based on the Trinity (2012−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 3 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1 MB (total). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: FS1r2. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: unknown. Passmark benchmark score: 1,997 points. Launch price was $50.
Processing Power
The Core i3-2120 packs 2 cores / 4 threads, matching the A4-4300M's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 3.3 GHz on the Core i3-2120 versus 3 GHz on the A4-4300M — a 9.5% clock advantage for the Core i3-2120 (base: 3.3 GHz vs 2.5 GHz). The Core i3-2120 uses the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture (32 nm), while the A4-4300M uses Trinity (2012−2013) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-2120 scores 1,979 against the A4-4300M's 1,997 — a 0.9% lead for the A4-4300M. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 534 vs 282, a 61.8% lead for the Core i3-2120 that directly translates to higher frame rates. L3 cache: 3 MB (total) on the Core i3-2120 vs 0 kB on the A4-4300M.
| Feature | Core i3-2120 | A4-4300M |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 3.3 GHz+10% | 3 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.3 GHz+32% | 2.5 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB (total) | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 1 MB (total)+300% |
| Process | 32 nm | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) | Trinity (2012−2013) |
| PassMark | 1,979 | 1,997 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | 1,073 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 534+89% | 282 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 1,140 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i3-2120 uses the LGA1155 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the A4-4300M uses FS1r2 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR3-1333 memory speed. The Core i3-2120 supports up to 32 GB of RAM compared to 16 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 16 PCIe lanes.
| Feature | Core i3-2120 | A4-4300M |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1155 | FS1r2 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1333 | DDR3-1600 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 32 GB+100% | 16 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization support: Yes (Core i3-2120) vs AMD-V (A4-4300M). Both include integrated graphics — Intel HD Graphics 2000 (Core i3-2120) and Radeon HD 7420G (A4-4300M) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: A4-4300M targets Budget Laptop. Direct competitor: A4-4300M rivals Pentium B980.
| Feature | Core i3-2120 | A4-4300M |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | Intel HD Graphics 2000 | Radeon HD 7420G |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | Yes | AMD-V |
| Target Use | — | Budget Laptop |
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