Core i5-3439Y vs Core i3-4120U
Core i5-3439Y
Core i3-4120U
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 i5-3439Y is positioned at rank 1077 and the Core i3-4120U is on rank 129, so the Core i3-4120U offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-3439Y
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-4120U
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-3439Y | Core i3-4120U |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) / 22 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell (2013−2015) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-3439Y | Core i3-4120U |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
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 i5-3439Y and Core i3-4120U
Core i5-3439Y
The Core i5-3439Y is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 8 January 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.5 GHz, with boost up to 2.3 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1023. Thermal design power (TDP): 13 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,957 points. Launch price was $69.
Core i3-4120U
The Core i3-4120U 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 2 GHz, with boost up to 2 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: 1,948 points. Launch price was $281.
Processing Power
Both the Core i5-3439Y and Core i3-4120U share an identical 2-core/4-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2.3 GHz on the Core i5-3439Y versus 2 GHz on the Core i3-4120U — a 14% clock advantage for the Core i5-3439Y (base: 1.5 GHz vs 2 GHz). The Core i5-3439Y uses the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture (22 nm), while the Core i3-4120U uses Haswell (2013−2015) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-3439Y scores 1,957 against the Core i3-4120U's 1,948 — a 0.5% lead for the Core i5-3439Y. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 472 vs 462, a 2.1% lead for the Core i5-3439Y that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 966 vs 1,071 (10.3% advantage for the Core i3-4120U). L3 cache: 3 MB (total) on the Core i5-3439Y vs 3 MB on the Core i3-4120U.
| Feature | Core i5-3439Y | Core i3-4120U |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 2.3 GHz+15% | 2 GHz |
| Base Clock | 1.5 GHz | 2 GHz+33% |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB (total) | 3 MB |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 512 kB+100% |
| Process | 22 nm | 22 nm |
| Architecture | Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) | Haswell (2013−2015) |
| PassMark | 1,957 | 1,948 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 472+2% | 462 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 966 | 1,071+11% |
Memory & Platform
The Core i5-3439Y uses the BGA1023 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i3-4120U uses FCBGA1168 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR3L-1600 memory speed. The Core i5-3439Y 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 i5-3439Y) vs 12 (Core i3-4120U) — the Core i5-3439Y offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: 7-series (Core i5-3439Y) and HM86,HM87 (Core i3-4120U).
| Feature | Core i5-3439Y | Core i3-4120U |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | BGA1023 | FCBGA1168 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3L-1600 | 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: VT-x (Core i5-3439Y) vs Yes (Core i3-4120U). Both include integrated graphics — HD Graphics 4000 (Core i5-3439Y) and Intel HD Graphics 4400 (Core i3-4120U) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-3439Y targets Budget. Direct competitor: Core i5-3439Y rivals Athlon Silver 3050U.
| Feature | Core i5-3439Y | Core i3-4120U |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | HD Graphics 4000 | Intel HD Graphics 4400 |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x | Yes |
| Target Use | Budget | — |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
You May Also Compare
Similar CPU comparisons based on Core i5-3439Y and Core i3-4120U
