i3-3120M vs Phenom X3 8450

VS

Aggregate performance score

Phenom X3 8450
2008
3 cores / 3 threads, 95 Watt
0.77
Core i3-3120M
2012
2 cores / 4 threads, 35 Watt
1.07
+39%

Core i3-3120M outperforms Phenom X3 8450 by a substantial 39% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

Comparing Phenom X3 8450 and Core i3-3120M processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking26472423
Place by popularitynot in top-100not in top-100
Market segmentDesktop processorLaptop
Seriesno dataIntel Core i3
Power efficiency0.762.88
Architecture codenameToliman (2008)Ivy Bridge (2012−2013)
Release dateApril 2008 (16 years ago)30 September 2012 (12 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)no data$160

Detailed specifications

Phenom X3 8450 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 cores3 (Tri-Core)2 (Dual-core)
Threads34
Base clock speedno data2.5 GHz
Boost clock speed2.1 GHz2.5 GHz
Bus rateno data5 GT/s
L1 cache128 KB (per core)64K (per core)
L2 cache512 KB (per core)256K (per core)
L3 cache2 MB (shared)3 MB (shared)
Chip lithography65 nm22 nm
Die size285 mm2118 mm2
Maximum core temperatureno data90C (PGA); 105C (BGA)
Number of transistors450 millionno data
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibility--

Compatibility

Information on Phenom X3 8450 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
SocketAM2+FCBGA1023,FCPGA988
Power consumption (TDP)95 Watt35 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Phenom X3 8450 and Core i3-3120M. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensionsno dataIntel® AVX
AVX-+
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)no data+
My WiFino data+
Turbo Boost Technologyno data-
Hyper-Threading Technologyno data+
Idle Statesno data+
Thermal Monitoring-+
Flex Memory Accessno data+
Demand Based Switchingno data-
FDIno data+
Fast Memory Accessno data+

Security technologies

Phenom X3 8450 and Core i3-3120M technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXTno data-
EDBno data+
Identity Protection-+
Anti-Theftno data+

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Phenom X3 8450 and Core i3-3120M are enumerated here.

AMD-V++
VT-dno data-
VT-xno data+
EPTno data+

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Phenom X3 8450 and Core i3-3120M. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesno dataDDR3
Maximum memory sizeno data32 GB
Max memory channelsno data2
Maximum memory bandwidthno data25.6 GB/s

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics cardno dataIntel HD Graphics 4000
Quick Sync Video-+
Clear Video HDno data+
Graphics max frequencyno data1.1 GHz
InTru 3Dno data+

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Phenom X3 8450 and Core i3-3120M integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supportedno data3
eDPno data+
DisplayPort-+
HDMI-+
SDVOno data+
CRTno data+

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Phenom X3 8450 and Core i3-3120M.

PCIe versionno data2.0
PCI Express lanesno data16

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.

Phenom X3 8450 0.77
i3-3120M 1.07
+39%

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.

Phenom X3 8450 1221
i3-3120M 1698
+39.1%

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.

Phenom X3 8450 256
i3-3120M 399
+55.9%

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.

Phenom X3 8450 703
i3-3120M 820
+16.6%

Gaming performance

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 0.77 1.07
Physical cores 3 2
Threads 3 4
Chip lithography 65 nm 22 nm
Power consumption (TDP) 95 Watt 35 Watt

Phenom X3 8450 has 50% more physical cores.

i3-3120M, on the other hand, has a 39% higher aggregate performance score, 33.3% more threads, a 195.5% more advanced lithography process, and 171.4% lower power consumption.

The Core i3-3120M is our recommended choice as it beats the Phenom X3 8450 in performance tests.

Note that Phenom X3 8450 is a desktop processor while Core i3-3120M is a notebook one.


Should you still have questions on choice between Phenom X3 8450 and Core i3-3120M, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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AMD Phenom X3 8450
Phenom X3 8450
Intel Core i3-3120M
Core i3-3120M

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Community ratings

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Questions & comments

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