CPU
GPU
Core i3-2120
Core 2 Duo T5800
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 Core 2 Duo T5800 is on rank 292, 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 i3-2120
Performance Per Dollar Core 2 Duo T5800
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i3-2120 | Core 2 Duo T5800 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 (Merom (2006−2008) / 65 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i3-2120 | Core 2 Duo T5800 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Core 2 Duo T5800
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.
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.
Processing Power
The Core i3-2120 packs 2 cores / 4 threads, matching the Core 2 Duo T5800's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 3.3 GHz on the Core i3-2120 versus 2 GHz on the Core 2 Duo T5800 — a 49.1% clock advantage for the Core i3-2120 (base: 3.3 GHz vs 2 GHz). The Core i3-2120 uses the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture (32 nm), while the Core 2 Duo T5800 uses Merom (2006−2008) (65 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-2120 scores 1,979 against the Core 2 Duo T5800's 2,000 — a 1.1% lead for the Core 2 Duo T5800. L3 cache: 3 MB (total) on the Core i3-2120 vs 2 MB L2 Cache on the Core 2 Duo T5800.
| Feature | Core i3-2120 | Core 2 Duo T5800 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 3.3 GHz+65% | 2 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.3 GHz+65% | 2 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB (total)+50% | 2 MB L2 Cache |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 2 MB+700% |
| Process | 32 nm-51% | 65 nm |
| Architecture | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) | Merom (2006−2008) |
| PassMark | 1,979 | 2,000+1% |
| 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 Core 2 Duo T5800 uses PGA478 (PCIe 1.1) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i3-2120 | Core 2 Duo T5800 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1155 | PGA478 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0+82% | PCIe 1.1 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1333 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 32 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: Yes (Core i3-2120) / not specified (Core 2 Duo T5800). The Core i3-2120 includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics 2000), while the Core 2 Duo T5800 requires a dedicated GPU.
| Feature | Core i3-2120 | Core 2 Duo T5800 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | — |
| IGPU Model | Intel HD Graphics 2000 | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | Yes | — |
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