Core i3-2120 vs Core i3-5015U
Core i3-2120
Core i3-5015U
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 i3-5015U is on rank 648, so the Core i3-5015U 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 i3-5015U
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i3-2120 | Core i3-5015U |
|---|---|---|
| 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 (Broadwell-U (2015) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i3-2120 | Core i3-5015U |
|---|---|---|
| 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 i3-5015U
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 i3-5015U
The Core i3-5015U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 March 2015 (10 years ago). It is based on the Broadwell-U (2015) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.1 GHz, with boost up to 2.1 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1168. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,990 points. Launch price was $275.
Processing Power
Both the Core i3-2120 and Core i3-5015U share an identical 2-core/4-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.3 GHz on the Core i3-2120 versus 2.1 GHz on the Core i3-5015U — a 44.4% clock advantage for the Core i3-2120 (base: 3.3 GHz vs 2.1 GHz). The Core i3-2120 uses the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture (32 nm), while the Core i3-5015U uses Broadwell-U (2015) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-2120 scores 1,979 against the Core i3-5015U's 1,990 — a 0.6% lead for the Core i3-5015U. Both processors carry 3 MB (total) of L3 cache.
| Feature | Core i3-2120 | Core i3-5015U |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 3.3 GHz+57% | 2.1 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.3 GHz+57% | 2.1 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB (total) | 3 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 32 nm | 14 nm-56% |
| Architecture | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) | Broadwell-U (2015) |
| PassMark | 1,979 | 1,990 |
| 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 i3-5015U uses FCBGA1168 (PCIe 3.0) — 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 12 (Core i3-5015U) — the Core i3-2120 offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives.
| Feature | Core i3-2120 | Core i3-5015U |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1155 | FCBGA1168 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1333 | DDR3L-1600 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 32 GB+100% | 16 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16+33% | 12 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization support: Yes (Core i3-2120) vs VT-x, VT-d (Core i3-5015U). Both include integrated graphics — Intel HD Graphics 2000 (Core i3-2120) and HD Graphics 5500 (Core i3-5015U) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-5015U targets Mobile.
| Feature | Core i3-2120 | Core i3-5015U |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | Intel HD Graphics 2000 | HD Graphics 5500 |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | Yes | VT-x, VT-d |
| Target Use | — | Mobile |
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