CPU
GPU
Core i3-3120M
A10-7300
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 i3-3120M is positioned at rank 460 and the A10-7300 is on rank 1042, so the Core i3-3120M offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-3120M
Performance Per Dollar A10-7300
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i3-3120M | A10-7300 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($50) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) / 22 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Kaveri (2014−2015) / 28 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i3-3120M | A10-7300 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($50) |
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 i3-3120M and A10-7300
Core i3-3120M
The Core i3-3120M is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 30 September 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 2.5 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: PGA988. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,709 points. Launch price was $160.
A10-7300
The A10-7300 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2014-01-01. It is based on the Kaveri (2014−2015) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.9 GHz, with boost up to 3.2 GHz. L2 cache: 4096 kB. Built on 28 nm process technology. Socket: FP3. Thermal design power (TDP): 4 MB. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,736 points. Launch price was $130.
Processing Power
The Core i3-3120M packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the A10-7300 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the A10-7300 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.5 GHz on the Core i3-3120M versus 3.2 GHz on the A10-7300 — a 24.6% clock advantage for the A10-7300 (base: 2.5 GHz vs 1.9 GHz). The Core i3-3120M uses the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture (22 nm), while the A10-7300 uses Kaveri (2014−2015) (28 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-3120M scores 1,709 against the A10-7300's 1,736 — a 1.6% lead for the A10-7300.
| Feature | Core i3-3120M | A10-7300 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 4 / 4+100% |
| Boost Clock | 2.5 GHz | 3.2 GHz+28% |
| Base Clock | 2.5 GHz+32% | 1.9 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB (total) | — |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 4096 kB+1500% |
| Process | 22 nm-21% | 28 nm |
| Architecture | Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) | Kaveri (2014−2015) |
| PassMark | 1,709 | 1,736+2% |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 440 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 930 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i3-3120M uses the PGA988 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the A10-7300 uses FP3 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR3-1600 memory speed. The Core i3-3120M 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. Both provide 16 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: HM76,HM77 (Core i3-3120M) and FP3 (A10-7300).
| Feature | Core i3-3120M | A10-7300 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | PGA988 | FP3 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1600 | DDR3-1600 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 32 GB+100% | 16 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 16 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i3-3120M) vs AMD-V (A10-7300). Both include integrated graphics — Intel HD Graphics 4000 (Core i3-3120M) and Radeon R6 (A10-7300) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-3120M targets Budget Laptop, A10-7300 targets Laptop. Direct competitor: Core i3-3120M rivals AMD A8-4500M; A10-7300 rivals Core i3-4010U.
| Feature | Core i3-3120M | A10-7300 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | Intel HD Graphics 4000 | Radeon R6 |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d | AMD-V |
| Target Use | Budget Laptop | Laptop |
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