i3-3120ME vs i7-6500U

Primary details

Comparing Core i7-6500U and Core i3-3120ME processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking	1902	not rated
Place by popularity	not in top-100	not in top-100
Market segment	Laptop	Laptop
Series	Intel Core i7	no data
Power efficiency	12.99	no data
Architecture codename	Skylake (2015−2016)	Ivy Bridge (2012−2013)
Release date	1 September 2015 (9 years ago)	1 August 2012 (12 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)	$393	no data

Detailed specifications

Core i7-6500U and Core i3-3120ME 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 cores	2 (Dual-core)	2 (Dual-core)
Threads	4	4
Base clock speed	2.5 GHz	2.4 GHz
Boost clock speed	3.1 GHz	2.4 GHz
Bus type	OPI	no data
Bus rate	4 GT/s	no data
Multiplier	25	no data
L1 cache	128 KB	64 KB (per core)
L2 cache	512 KB	256 KB (per core)
L3 cache	4 MB	3 MB (shared)
Chip lithography	14 nm	22 nm
Die size	98.57 mm2	118 mm2
Maximum core temperature	100 °C	no data
Number of transistors	1750 Million	no data
64 bit support	+	+
Windows 11 compatibility	-	-

Compatibility

Information on Core i7-6500U and Core i3-3120ME 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 configuration	1 (Uniprocessor)	1
Socket	FCBGA1356	Intel BGA1023
Power consumption (TDP)	15 Watt	35 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i7-6500U and Core i3-3120ME. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensions	Intel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2	no data
AES-NI	+	-
AVX	+	+
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)	+	+
My WiFi	+	no data
Turbo Boost Technology	2.0	no data
Hyper-Threading Technology	+	+
Idle States	+	no data
Thermal Monitoring	+	-
Flex Memory Access	+	no data
Smart Response	+	no data

Security technologies

Core i7-6500U and Core i3-3120ME technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXT	-	no data
EDB	+	no data
Secure Key	+	no data
MPX	+	-
Identity Protection	+	-
SGX	Yes with Intel® ME	no data
OS Guard	+	no data

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i7-6500U and Core i3-3120ME are enumerated here.

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

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i7-6500U and Core i3-3120ME. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory types	DDR3, DDR4	unknown Dual-channel
Maximum memory size	32 GB	no data
Max memory channels	2	no data
Maximum memory bandwidth	34.134 GB/s	no data

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics card	Intel HD Graphics 520	Intel HD 4000
Max video memory	32 GB	no data
Quick Sync Video	+	-
Clear Video	+	no data
Clear Video HD	+	no data
Graphics max frequency	1.05 GHz	no data
InTru 3D	+	no data

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core i7-6500U and Core i3-3120ME integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supported	3	no data
eDP	+	no data
DisplayPort	+	-
HDMI	+	-
DVI	+	no data

Graphics image quality

Maximum display resolutions supported by Core i7-6500U and Core i3-3120ME integrated GPUs, including resolutions over different interfaces.

4K resolution support	+	no data
Max resolution over HDMI 1.4	4096x2304@24Hz	no data
Max resolution over eDP	4096x2304@60Hz	no data
Max resolution over DisplayPort	4096x2304@60Hz	no data
Max resolution over VGA	N/A	no data

Graphics API support

APIs supported by Core i7-6500U and Core i3-3120ME integrated GPUs, sometimes API versions are included.

DirectX	12	no data
OpenGL	4.5	no data

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i7-6500U and Core i3-3120ME.

PCIe version	3.0	no data
PCI Express lanes	12	no data

Pros & cons summary

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Recency	1 September 2015	1 August 2012
Chip lithography	14 nm	22 nm
Power consumption (TDP)	15 Watt	35 Watt

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Should you still have questions on choice between Core i7-6500U and Core i3-3120ME, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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