Core i3-2120T vs Pro A6-8500B
Core i3-2120T
Pro A6-8500B
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 i3-2120T is positioned at rank 956 and the Pro A6-8500B is on rank 670, so the Pro A6-8500B offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-2120T
Performance Per Dollar Pro A6-8500B
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i3-2120T | Pro A6-8500B |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($38) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Carrizo (2015−2018) / 28 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i3-2120T | Pro A6-8500B |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($38) | ✅ 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 i3-2120T and Pro A6-8500B
Core i3-2120T
The Core i3-2120T is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 4 September 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.6 GHz, with boost up to 2.6 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1155. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,570 points. Launch price was $50.
Pro A6-8500B
The Pro A6-8500B is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 3 June 2015 (10 years ago). It is based on the Carrizo (2015−2018) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.6 GHz, with boost up to 3 GHz. L2 cache: 1024 kB. Built on 28 nm process technology. Socket: FP4. Thermal design power (TDP): 1 MB. Memory support: DDR3/DDR3L-1600. Passmark benchmark score: 1,592 points. Launch price was $69.
Processing Power
Both the Core i3-2120T and Pro A6-8500B share an identical 2-core/4-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2.6 GHz on the Core i3-2120T versus 3 GHz on the Pro A6-8500B — a 14.3% clock advantage for the Pro A6-8500B (base: 2.6 GHz vs 1.6 GHz). The Core i3-2120T uses the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture (32 nm), while the Pro A6-8500B uses Carrizo (2015−2018) (28 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-2120T scores 1,570 against the Pro A6-8500B's 1,592 — a 1.4% lead for the Pro A6-8500B.
| Feature | Core i3-2120T | Pro A6-8500B |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 2.6 GHz | 3 GHz+15% |
| Base Clock | 2.6 GHz+63% | 1.6 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB (total) | — |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 1024 kB+300% |
| Process | 32 nm | 28 nm-13% |
| Architecture | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) | Carrizo (2015−2018) |
| PassMark | 1,570 | 1,592+1% |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 403 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i3-2120T uses the LGA1155 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Pro A6-8500B uses FP4 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i3-2120T | Pro A6-8500B |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1155 | FP4 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1333 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 32 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x, EPT (Core i3-2120T) / not specified (Pro A6-8500B). The Core i3-2120T includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 2000), while the Pro A6-8500B requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-2120T targets Budget Desktop. Direct competitor: Core i3-2120T rivals A6-3500.
| Feature | Core i3-2120T | Pro A6-8500B |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | — |
| IGPU Model | HD Graphics 2000 | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, EPT | — |
| Target Use | Budget Desktop | — |
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