i3-8145U vs i3-3120M

Aggregate performance score

Core i3-3120M
2012
2 cores / 4 threads, 35 Watt
1.07
Core i3-8145U
2018
2 cores / 4 threads, 15 Watt
2.39
+123%

Core i3-8145U outperforms Core i3-3120M by a whopping 123% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

Comparing Core i3-3120M and Core i3-8145U processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking24101773
Place by popularitynot in top-100not in top-100
Market segmentLaptopLaptop
SeriesIntel Core i3Intel Core i3
Power efficiency2.8915.08
Architecture codenameIvy Bridge (2012−2013)Whiskey Lake-U (2018−2019)
Release date30 September 2012 (12 years ago)1 October 2018 (6 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)$160$281

Detailed specifications

Core i3-3120M and Core i3-8145U basic parameters such as number of cores, number of threads, base frequency and turbo boost clock, lithography, cache size and multiplier lock state. These parameters indirectly say of CPU speed, though for more precise assessment you have to consider their test results.

Physical cores2 (Dual-core)2 (Dual-core)
Threads44
Base clock speed2.5 GHz2.1 GHz
Boost clock speed2.5 GHz3.9 GHz
Bus typeno dataOPI
Bus rate5 GT/s4 GT/s
Multiplierno data21
L1 cache64K (per core)64 KB (per core)
L2 cache256K (per core)256 KB (per core)
L3 cache3 MB (shared)4 MB (shared)
Chip lithography22 nm14 nm
Die size118 mm2123 mm2
Maximum core temperature90C (PGA); 105C (BGA)100 °C
Maximum case temperature (TCase)no data72 °C
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibility-+

Compatibility

Information on Core i3-3120M and Core i3-8145U compatibility with other computer components: motherboard (look for socket type), power supply unit (look for power consumption) etc. Useful when planning a future computer configuration or upgrading an existing one. Note that power consumption of some processors can well exceed their nominal TDP, even without overclocking. Some can even double their declared thermals given that the motherboard allows to tune the CPU power parameters.

Number of CPUs in a configuration11 (Uniprocessor)
SocketFCBGA1023,FCPGA988FCBGA1528
Power consumption (TDP)35 Watt15 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i3-3120M and Core i3-8145U. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensionsIntel® AVXIntel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2
AES-NI-+
AVX++
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)++
Speed Shiftno data+
My WiFi++
Turbo Boost Technology-2.0
Hyper-Threading Technology++
Idle States++
Thermal Monitoring++
Flex Memory Access++
Smart Responseno data+
Demand Based Switching-no data
FDI+no data
Fast Memory Access+no data

Security technologies

Core i3-3120M and Core i3-8145U technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXT--
EDB++
Secure Keyno data+
Identity Protection++
SGXno dataYes with Intel® ME
OS Guardno data+
Anti-Theft+no data

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i3-3120M and Core i3-8145U are enumerated here.

AMD-V++
VT-d-+
VT-x++
EPT++

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i3-3120M and Core i3-8145U. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesDDR3DDR4
Maximum memory size32 GB64 GB
Max memory channels22
Maximum memory bandwidth25.6 GB/s38.397 GB/s

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics cardIntel HD Graphics 4000Intel® UHD Graphics for 8th Generation Intel® Processors
Max video memoryno data32 GB
Quick Sync Video++
Clear Videono data+
Clear Video HD++
Graphics max frequency1.1 GHz1 GHz
InTru 3D+no data

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core i3-3120M and Core i3-8145U integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supported33
eDP++
DisplayPort++
HDMI++
DVIno data+
SDVO+no data
CRT+no data

Graphics image quality

Maximum display resolutions supported by Core i3-3120M and Core i3-8145U integrated GPUs, including resolutions over different interfaces.

4K resolution supportno data+
Max resolution over HDMI 1.4no data4096x2304@24Hz
Max resolution over eDPno data4096x2304@60Hz
Max resolution over DisplayPortno data4096x2304@60Hz

Graphics API support

APIs supported by Core i3-3120M and Core i3-8145U integrated GPUs, sometimes API versions are included.

DirectXno data12
OpenGLno data4.5

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i3-3120M and Core i3-8145U.

PCIe version2.03.0
PCI Express lanes1616

Synthetic benchmark performance

Various benchmark results of the processors in comparison. Overall score is measured in points in 0-100 range, higher is better.


Combined synthetic benchmark score

This is our combined benchmark performance rating. We are regularly improving our combining algorithms, but if you find some perceived inconsistencies, feel free to speak up in comments section, we usually fix problems quickly.

i3-3120M 1.07
i3-8145U 2.39
+123%

Passmark

Passmark CPU Mark is a widespread benchmark, consisting of 8 different types of workload, including integer and floating point math, extended instructions, compression, encryption and physics calculation. There is also one separate single-threaded scenario measuring single-core performance.

i3-3120M 1697
i3-8145U 3790
+123%

GeekBench 5 Single-Core

GeekBench 5 Single-Core is a cross-platform application developed in the form of CPU tests that independently recreate certain real-world tasks with which to accurately measure performance. This version uses only a single CPU core.

i3-3120M 399
i3-8145U 794
+99%

GeekBench 5 Multi-Core

GeekBench 5 Multi-Core is a cross-platform application developed in the form of CPU tests that independently recreate certain real-world tasks with which to accurately measure performance. This version uses all available CPU cores.

i3-3120M 819
i3-8145U 1575
+92.3%

Cinebench 10 32-bit single-core

Cinebench R10 is an ancient ray tracing benchmark for processors by Maxon, authors of Cinema 4D. Its single core version uses just one CPU thread to render a futuristic looking motorcycle.

i3-3120M 3428
i3-8145U 5939
+73.2%

Cinebench 10 32-bit multi-core

Cinebench Release 10 Multi Core is a variant of Cinebench R10 using all the processor threads. Possible number of threads is limited by 16 in this version.

i3-3120M 6867
i3-8145U 12432
+81%

3DMark06 CPU

3DMark06 is a discontinued DirectX 9 benchmark suite from Futuremark. Its CPU part contains two scenarios, one dedicated to artificial intelligence pathfinding, another to game physics using PhysX package.

i3-3120M 3057
i3-8145U 5158
+68.7%

wPrime 32

wPrime 32M is a math multi-thread processor test, which calculates square roots of first 32 million integer numbers. Its result is measured in seconds, so that the less is benchmark result, the faster the processor.

i3-3120M 22.02
i3-8145U 13.1
+68.1%

Cinebench 11.5 64-bit multi-core

Cinebench Release 11.5 Multi Core is a variant of Cinebench R11.5 which uses all the processor threads. A maximum of 64 threads is supported in this version.

i3-3120M 2
i3-8145U 4
+63.7%

Cinebench 11.5 64-bit single-core

Cinebench R11.5 is an old benchmark by Maxon, authors of Cinema 4D. It was superseded by later versions of Cinebench, which use more modern variants of Cinema 4D engine. The Single Core version loads a single thread with ray tracing to render a glossy room full of crystal spheres and light sources.

i3-3120M 0.96
i3-8145U 1.77
+84.4%

TrueCrypt AES

TrueCrypt is a discontinued piece of software that was widely used for on-the-fly-encryption of disk partitions, now superseded by VeraCrypt. It contains several embedded performance tests, one of them being TrueCrypt AES, which measures data encryption speed using AES algorithm. Result is encryption speed in gigabytes per second.

i3-3120M 0.3
i3-8145U 2.2
+780%

Geekbench 2

i3-3120M 5113
i3-8145U 7459
+45.9%

Gaming performance

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 1.07 2.39
Recency 30 September 2012 1 October 2018
Chip lithography 22 nm 14 nm
Power consumption (TDP) 35 Watt 15 Watt

i3-8145U has a 123.4% higher aggregate performance score, an age advantage of 6 years, a 57.1% more advanced lithography process, and 133.3% lower power consumption.

The Core i3-8145U is our recommended choice as it beats the Core i3-3120M in performance tests.


Should you still have questions on choice between Core i3-3120M and Core i3-8145U, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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Intel Core i3-3120M
Core i3-3120M
Intel Core i3-8145U
Core i3-8145U

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Community ratings

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