i3-3120M vs i7-4770K

Aggregate performance score

Core i7-4770K
2013
4 cores / 8 threads, 84 Watt
4.50
+321%
Core i3-3120M
2012
2 cores / 4 threads, 35 Watt
1.07

Core i7-4770K outperforms Core i3-3120M by a whopping 321% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

Comparing Core i7-4770K and Core i3-3120M processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking13132409
Place by popularitynot in top-100not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluation0.56no data
Market segmentDesktop processorLaptop
SeriesIntel Core i7 (Desktop)Intel Core i3
Power efficiency5.052.88
Architecture codenameHaswell (2013−2015)Ivy Bridge (2012−2013)
Release date2 June 2013 (11 years ago)30 September 2012 (12 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)$399$160

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

no data

Detailed specifications

Core i7-4770K and Core i3-3120M 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)2 (Dual-core)
Threads84
Base clock speed3.5 GHz2.5 GHz
Boost clock speed3.9 GHz2.5 GHz
Bus rate5 GT/s5 GT/s
L1 cache64K (per core)64K (per core)
L2 cache256K (per core)256K (per core)
L3 cache8 MB (shared)3 MB (shared)
Chip lithography22 nm22 nm
Die size177 mm2118 mm2
Maximum core temperatureno data90C (PGA); 105C (BGA)
Maximum case temperature (TCase)72 °Cno data
Number of transistors1,400 millionno data
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibility--
Unlocked multiplier+-

Compatibility

Information on Core i7-4770K and Core i3-3120M 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
SocketFCLGA1150FCBGA1023,FCPGA988
Power consumption (TDP)84 Watt35 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i7-4770K and Core i3-3120M. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensionsIntel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2Intel® AVX
AES-NI+-
AVX++
vPro+no data
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)++
My WiFi++
Turbo Boost Technology2.0-
Hyper-Threading Technology++
Idle States++
Thermal Monitoring++
Flex Memory Accessno data+
Demand Based Switchingno data-
FDI++
Fast Memory Accessno data+

Security technologies

Core i7-4770K and Core i3-3120M technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXT--
EDB++
Secure Key+no data
Identity Protection++
OS Guard+no data
Anti-Theft++

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i7-4770K and Core i3-3120M are enumerated here.

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

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i7-4770K and Core i3-3120M. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesDDR3DDR3
Maximum memory size32 GB32 GB
Max memory channels22
Maximum memory bandwidth25.6 GB/s25.6 GB/s

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics card
Compare
Intel HD Graphics 4600Intel HD Graphics 4000
Max video memory2 GBno data
Quick Sync Video++
Clear Video HD++
Graphics max frequency1.25 GHz1.1 GHz
InTru 3D++

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core i7-4770K and Core i3-3120M integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supported33
eDP++
DisplayPort++
HDMI++
DVI+no data
VGA+no data
SDVOno data+
CRTno data+

Graphics image quality

Maximum display resolutions supported by Core i7-4770K and Core i3-3120M integrated GPUs, including resolutions over different interfaces.

Max resolution over HDMI 1.44096x2304@24Hzno data
Max resolution over eDP3840x2160@60Hzno data
Max resolution over DisplayPort3840x2160@60Hzno data
Max resolution over VGA1920x1200@60Hzno data

Graphics API support

APIs supported by Core i7-4770K and Core i3-3120M integrated GPUs, sometimes API versions are included.

DirectX11.2/12no data
OpenGL4.3no data

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i7-4770K and Core i3-3120M.

PCIe versionUp to 3.02.0
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.

i7-4770K 4.50
+321%
i3-3120M 1.07

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.

i7-4770K 7128
+319%
i3-3120M 1701

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.

i7-4770K 1284
+223%
i3-3120M 398

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.

i7-4770K 4089
+399%
i3-3120M 820

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.

i7-4770K 5845
+70.5%
i3-3120M 3428

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.

i7-4770K 22325
+225%
i3-3120M 6867

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.

i7-4770K 8030
+163%
i3-3120M 3057

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.

i7-4770K 7.08
+211%
i3-3120M 22.02

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.

i7-4770K 8
+233%
i3-3120M 2

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.

i7-4770K 1.77
+84.4%
i3-3120M 0.96

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.

i7-4770K 4.4
+1660%
i3-3120M 0.3

Geekbench 2

i7-4770K 12125
+137%
i3-3120M 5113

Gaming performance

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 4.50 1.07
Integrated graphics card 1.84 1.18
Recency 2 June 2013 30 September 2012
Physical cores 4 2
Threads 8 4
Power consumption (TDP) 84 Watt 35 Watt

i7-4770K has a 320.6% higher aggregate performance score, 55.9% faster integrated GPU, an age advantage of 8 months, and 100% more physical cores and 100% more threads.

i3-3120M, on the other hand, has 140% lower power consumption.

The Core i7-4770K is our recommended choice as it beats the Core i3-3120M in performance tests.

Note that Core i7-4770K is a desktop processor while Core i3-3120M is a notebook one.


Should you still have questions on choice between Core i7-4770K and Core i3-3120M, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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Intel Core i7-4770K
Core i7-4770K
Intel Core i3-3120M
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