Core i3-4030U vs V-Series V120

Core i3-4030U vs V-Series V120 Performance Spectrum

Core i3-4030U

2 / 4

1,876

+0.1%

1,874

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

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.

Core i3-4030U vs V-Series V120 FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with GeForce RTX 5090 to isolate CPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

Core i3-4030U vs V-Series V120: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

Core i3-4030U

2014

Why buy it

✅+0.1% higher PassMark.

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $281 MSRP, while V-Series V120 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.

V-Series V120

2010

Why buy it

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (1,874 vs 1,876).

Quick Answers

So, is Core i3-4030U better than V-Series V120?

It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, V-Series V120 is ahead with a 1.3% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Core i3-4030U pulls ahead with 0.1% better PassMark.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i3-4030U is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.1% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 4 threads.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Core i3-4030U is the better buy right now. Core i3-4030U comes in at an unclear MSRP at $281 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you 0.1% better PassMark. The compromise is that V-Series V120 is still the better pure gaming CPU with a 1.3% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (6.7 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Core i3-4030U makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2014 vs 2010) and more multi-core headroom with 2 cores / 4 threads instead of 1/1. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Core i3-4030U vs V-Series V120 Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

Core i3-4030U

The Core i3-4030U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 14 April 2014 (11 years ago). It is based on the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.9 GHz, with boost up to 1.9 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1168. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,876 points. Launch price was $281.

V-Series V120

The V-Series V120 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 12 May 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Champlain (2010−2011) architecture. It features 1 cores and 1 threads. Max frequency: 2.2 GHz. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: S1. Thermal design power (TDP): 512 kB. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,874 points. Launch price was $69.

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Processing Power

The Core i3-4030U packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the V-Series V120 offers 1 cores / 1 threads — the Core i3-4030U has 1 more core. Boost clocks reach 1.9 GHz on the Core i3-4030U versus 2.2 GHz on the V-Series V120 — a 14.6% clock advantage for the V-Series V120. The Core i3-4030U uses the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture (22 nm), while the V-Series V120 uses Champlain (2010−2011) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-4030U scores 1,876 against the V-Series V120's 1,874 — a 0.1% lead for the Core i3-4030U.

Feature	Core i3-4030U	V-Series V120
Cores / Threads	2 / 4+100%	1 / 1
Boost Clock	1.9 GHz	2.2 GHz+16%
Base Clock	1.9 GHz	—
L3 Cache	3 MB	—
L2 Cache	512 kB	512 kB
Process	22 nm-51%	45 nm
Architecture	Haswell (2013−2015)	Champlain (2010−2011)
PassMark	1,876	1,874

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Memory & Platform

The Core i3-4030U uses the FCBGA1168 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the V-Series V120 uses S1 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.