Core i3-2120 vs Athlon II X3 460
Core i3-2120
Athlon II X3 460
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 Athlon II X3 460 is on rank 734, so the Athlon II X3 460 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 Athlon II X3 460
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i3-2120 | Athlon II X3 460 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($25) | ✅ More affordable ($15) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Rana (2009−2011) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i3-2120 | Athlon II X3 460 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+65%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($25) | ✅ More affordable ($15) |
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 Athlon II X3 460
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.
Athlon II X3 460
The Athlon II X3 460 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 3 May 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Rana (2009−2011) architecture. It features 3 cores and 3 threads. Base frequency is 3.4 GHz, with boost up to 3.4 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: AM3. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,965 points. Launch price was $50.
Processing Power
The Core i3-2120 packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the Athlon II X3 460 offers 3 cores / 3 threads — the Athlon II X3 460 has 1 more core. Boost clocks reach 3.3 GHz on the Core i3-2120 versus 3.4 GHz on the Athlon II X3 460 — a 3% clock advantage for the Athlon II X3 460 (base: 3.3 GHz vs 3.4 GHz). The Core i3-2120 uses the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture (32 nm), while the Athlon II X3 460 uses Rana (2009−2011) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-2120 scores 1,979 against the Athlon II X3 460's 1,965 — a 0.7% lead for the Core i3-2120. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 534 vs 384, a 32.7% lead for the Core i3-2120 that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 1,140 vs 944 (18.8% advantage for the Core i3-2120). L3 cache: 3 MB (total) on the Core i3-2120 vs 0 kB on the Athlon II X3 460.
| Feature | Core i3-2120 | Athlon II X3 460 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 3 / 3+50% |
| Boost Clock | 3.3 GHz | 3.4 GHz+3% |
| Base Clock | 3.3 GHz | 3.4 GHz+3% |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB (total) | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 512 kB (per core)+100% |
| Process | 32 nm-29% | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) | Rana (2009−2011) |
| PassMark | 1,979 | 1,965 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | 1,073 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 534+39% | 384 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 1,140+21% | 944 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i3-2120 uses the LGA1155 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Athlon II X3 460 uses AM3 (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. PCIe lanes: 16 (Core i3-2120) vs 0 (Athlon II X3 460) — the Core i3-2120 offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: H61,H67,P67,Z68,Q65,Q67,B75,H77,Q75,Q77,Z75,Z77 (Core i3-2120) and 760G,770,785G,790FX,870,880G,890FX,970,990FX (Athlon II X3 460).
| Feature | Core i3-2120 | Athlon II X3 460 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1155 | AM3 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1333 | DDR3-1333 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 32 GB+100% | 16 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 0 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization support: Yes (Core i3-2120) vs AMD-V (Athlon II X3 460). The Core i3-2120 includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics 2000), while the Athlon II X3 460 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Athlon II X3 460 targets Budget.
| Feature | Core i3-2120 | Athlon II X3 460 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | No |
| IGPU Model | Intel HD Graphics 2000 | — |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | Yes | AMD-V |
| Target Use | — | Budget |
Value Analysis
The Core i3-2120 launched at $138 MSRP, while the Athlon II X3 460 debuted at $87. At current prices ($25 vs $15), the Athlon II X3 460 is $10 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i3-2120 delivers 79.2 pts/$ vs 131.0 pts/$ for the Athlon II X3 460 — making the Athlon II X3 460 the 49.3% better value option.
| Feature | Core i3-2120 | Athlon II X3 460 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $138 | $87-37% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $25 | $15-40% |
| Performance per Dollar | 79.2 | 131.0+65% |
| Release Date | 2011 | 2011 |
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