CPU
GPU
Core i5-470UM
Core i3-2120
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 i5-470UM is positioned at rank 124 and the Core i3-2120 is on rank 911, so the Core i5-470UM offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-470UM
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-2120
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-470UM | Core i3-2120 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($25) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Arrandale (2010−2011) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-470UM | Core i3-2120 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($25) |
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 i5-470UM and Core i3-2120
Core i5-470UM
The Core i5-470UM is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 October 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Arrandale (2010−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.33 GHz, with boost up to 1.86 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1288. Thermal design power (TDP): 18 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,973 points. Launch price was $69.
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.
Processing Power
Both the Core i5-470UM and Core i3-2120 share an identical 2-core/4-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 1.86 GHz on the Core i5-470UM versus 3.3 GHz on the Core i3-2120 — a 55.8% clock advantage for the Core i3-2120 (base: 1.33 GHz vs 3.3 GHz). The Core i5-470UM uses the Arrandale (2010−2011) architecture (32 nm), while the Core i3-2120 uses Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-470UM scores 1,973 against the Core i3-2120's 1,979 — a 0.3% lead for the Core i3-2120. L3 cache: 3 MB on the Core i5-470UM vs 3 MB (total) on the Core i3-2120.
| Feature | Core i5-470UM | Core i3-2120 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 1.86 GHz | 3.3 GHz+77% |
| Base Clock | 1.33 GHz | 3.3 GHz+148% |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB | 3 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB+100% | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 32 nm | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Arrandale (2010−2011) | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) |
| PassMark | 1,973 | 1,979 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | — | 1,073 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 534 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 1,140 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i5-470UM uses the BGA1288 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i3-2120 uses LGA1155 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i5-470UM | Core i3-2120 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | BGA1288 | LGA1155 |
| 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: not specified (Core i5-470UM) / Yes (Core i3-2120). The Core i3-2120 includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics 2000), while the Core i5-470UM requires a dedicated GPU.
| Feature | Core i5-470UM | Core i3-2120 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | Intel HD Graphics 2000 |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | Yes |
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