FX-8120 vs i7-2600K

VS

Aggregate performance score

Core i7-2600K
2011
4 cores / 8 threads, 95 Watt
3.46
FX-8120
2011
8 cores / 8 threads, 125 Watt
4.15
+19.9%

FX-8120 outperforms Core i7-2600K by a significant 20% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

Comparing Core i7-2600K and FX-8120 processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking15551395
Place by popularitynot in top-100not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluation0.47no data
Market segmentDesktop processorDesktop processor
SeriesIntel Core i7 (Desktop)no data
Power efficiency3.443.14
Architecture codenameSandy Bridge (2011−2013)Zambezi (2011−2012)
Release date9 January 2011 (13 years ago)12 October 2011 (13 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)$317no data

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

no data

Detailed specifications

Core i7-2600K and FX-8120 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 cores4 (Quad-Core)8 (Octa-Core)
Threads88
Base clock speed3.4 GHz3.1 GHz
Boost clock speed3.8 GHz4 GHz
Bus rate5 GT/sno data
L1 cache64 KB (per core)384 KB
L2 cache256K (per core)8192 KB
L3 cache8 MB (shared)8192 KB
Chip lithography32 nm32 nm
Die size216 mm2315 mm2
Maximum core temperature73 °C61 °C
Number of transistors1,160 million1,200 million
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibility--
Unlocked multiplier++
P0 Vcore voltageno dataMin: 1.0125 V - Max: 1.4125 V

Compatibility

Information on Core i7-2600K and FX-8120 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
SocketLGA1155AM3+
Power consumption (TDP)95 Watt125 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i7-2600K and FX-8120. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensionsIntel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVXno data
AES-NI++
FMA-+
AVX++
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)+no data
Turbo Boost Technology+no data
Hyper-Threading Technology+no data
Idle States+no data
Thermal Monitoring+-
Flex Memory Access+no data
FDI+no data
Fast Memory Access+no data

Security technologies

Core i7-2600K and FX-8120 technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXT-no data
EDB+no data
Identity Protection+-

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i7-2600K and FX-8120 are enumerated here.

AMD-V-+
VT-d-no data
VT-x+no data
EPT+no data

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i7-2600K and FX-8120. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesDDR3DDR3
Maximum memory size32 GBno data
Max memory channels2no data
Maximum memory bandwidth21 GB/sno data

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics cardIntel HD Graphics 3000no data
Quick Sync Video+-
Clear Video HD+no data
Graphics max frequency1.35 GHzno data
InTru 3D+no data

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core i7-2600K and FX-8120 integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supported2no data

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i7-2600K and FX-8120.

PCIe version2.0n/a
PCI Express lanes16no data

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.

i7-2600K 3.46
FX-8120 4.15
+19.9%

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.

i7-2600K 5492
FX-8120 6594
+20.1%

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.

i7-2600K 666
+61.7%
FX-8120 412

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.

i7-2600K 2293
+50.3%
FX-8120 1526

3DMark Fire Strike Physics

i7-2600K 5020
FX-8120 5380
+7.2%

Gaming performance

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 3.46 4.15
Recency 9 January 2011 12 October 2011
Physical cores 4 8
Power consumption (TDP) 95 Watt 125 Watt

i7-2600K has 31.6% lower power consumption.

FX-8120, on the other hand, has a 19.9% higher aggregate performance score, an age advantage of 9 months, and 100% more physical cores.

The FX-8120 is our recommended choice as it beats the Core i7-2600K in performance tests.


Should you still have questions on choice between Core i7-2600K and FX-8120, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

Vote for your favorite

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Intel Core i7-2600K
Core i7-2600K
AMD FX-8120
FX-8120

Similar processor comparisons

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Community ratings

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Questions & comments

Here you can ask a question about Core i7-2600K or FX-8120, agree or disagree with our judgements, or report an error or mismatch.