Core i3-2120 vs Celeron N3450
Core i3-2120
Celeron N3450
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 Celeron N3450 is on rank 122, so the Celeron N3450 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 Celeron N3450
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i3-2120 | Celeron N3450 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 (Apollo Lake (2014−2016) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i3-2120 | Celeron N3450 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Celeron N3450
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.
Celeron N3450
The Celeron N3450 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 30 August 2016 (9 years ago). It is based on the Apollo Lake (2014−2016) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.1 GHz, with boost up to 2.2 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 2 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1296. Thermal design power (TDP): 6 Watt. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 1,981 points. Launch price was $107.
Processing Power
The Core i3-2120 packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the Celeron N3450 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Celeron N3450 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.3 GHz on the Core i3-2120 versus 2.2 GHz on the Celeron N3450 — a 40% clock advantage for the Core i3-2120 (base: 3.3 GHz vs 1.1 GHz). The Core i3-2120 uses the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture (32 nm), while the Celeron N3450 uses Apollo Lake (2014−2016) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-2120 scores 1,979 against the Celeron N3450's 1,981 — a 0.1% lead for the Celeron N3450. L3 cache: 3 MB (total) on the Core i3-2120 vs 0 kB on the Celeron N3450.
| Feature | Core i3-2120 | Celeron N3450 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 4 / 4+100% |
| Boost Clock | 3.3 GHz+50% | 2.2 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.3 GHz+200% | 1.1 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB (total) | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 2 MB+700% |
| Process | 32 nm | 14 nm-56% |
| Architecture | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) | Apollo Lake (2014−2016) |
| PassMark | 1,979 | 1,981 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | 1,073 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 534 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 1,140 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i3-2120 uses the LGA1155 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Celeron N3450 uses FCBGA1296 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-1333 on the Core i3-2120 versus 2400 on the Celeron N3450 — the Celeron N3450 supports 199.5% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Core i3-2120 supports up to 32 GB of RAM compared to 8 — 120% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 16 (Core i3-2120) vs 6 (Celeron N3450) — the Core i3-2120 offers 10 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 FCBGA1296 (Celeron N3450).
| Feature | Core i3-2120 | Celeron N3450 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1155 | FCBGA1296 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1333 | 2400+79900% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 32 GB+419430300% | 8 |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16+167% | 6 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization support: Yes (Core i3-2120) vs true (Celeron N3450). Both include integrated graphics — Intel HD Graphics 2000 (Core i3-2120) and Intel HD Graphics 500 (Celeron N3450) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: Celeron N3450 rivals AMD A4-9120.
| Feature | Core i3-2120 | Celeron N3450 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | Intel HD Graphics 2000 | Intel HD Graphics 500 |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | Yes | true |
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