Core i3-2120 vs Phenom II X4 805
Core i3-2120
Phenom II X4 805
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 Phenom II X4 805 is on rank 317, so the Phenom II X4 805 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 Phenom II X4 805
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i3-2120 | Phenom II X4 805 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 (Deneb (2009−2011) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i3-2120 | Phenom II X4 805 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Phenom II X4 805
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.
Phenom II X4 805
The Phenom II X4 805 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 9 February 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Deneb (2009−2011) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 2.5 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). 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: 2,001 points. Launch price was $174.
Processing Power
The Core i3-2120 packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the Phenom II X4 805 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Phenom II X4 805 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.3 GHz on the Core i3-2120 versus 2.5 GHz on the Phenom II X4 805 — a 27.6% 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 Phenom II X4 805 uses Deneb (2009−2011) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-2120 scores 1,979 against the Phenom II X4 805's 2,001 — a 1.1% lead for the Phenom II X4 805. L3 cache: 3 MB (total) on the Core i3-2120 vs 4 MB (total) on the Phenom II X4 805.
| Feature | Core i3-2120 | Phenom II X4 805 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 4 / 4+100% |
| Boost Clock | 3.3 GHz+32% | 2.5 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.3 GHz+32% | 2.5 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB (total) | 4 MB (total)+33% |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 512 kB (per core)+100% |
| Process | 32 nm-29% | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) | Deneb (2009−2011) |
| PassMark | 1,979 | 2,001+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 Phenom II X4 805 uses AM3 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i3-2120 | Phenom II X4 805 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1155 | AM3 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| 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 (Phenom II X4 805). The Core i3-2120 includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics 2000), while the Phenom II X4 805 requires a dedicated GPU.
| Feature | Core i3-2120 | Phenom II X4 805 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | — |
| IGPU Model | Intel HD Graphics 2000 | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | Yes | — |
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