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Core i3-2120 vs i3-4170


Description
The i3-2120 is based on Sandy Bridge architecture while the i3-4170 is based on Haswell.

Using the multithread performance as a reference, the i3-2120 gets a score of 53.5 k points while the i3-4170 gets 72.7 k points.

Summarizing, the i3-4170 is 1.4 times faster than the i3-2120 . To get a proper comparison between both models, take a look to the data shown below.

Specs
CPUID
206a7
306c3
Core
Sandy Bridge
Haswell
Architecture
Base frecuency
3.3 GHz
3.7 GHz
Socket
LGA 1155
LGA1150
Cores/Threads
2/2
2/4
TDP
65 W
54 W
Cache L1 (d+i)
2x32+2x32 kB
2x32+2x32 kB
Cache L2
2x256 kB
2x256 kB
Cache L3
3072 kB
3072 kB
Date
February 2012
March 2015
Mean monothread perf.
24.23k points
44.24k points
Mean multithread perf.
53.48k points
92.71k points

Non-optimized benchmark
The benchmark in Mode 0 (FPU) measures cpu performance with non-optimized software. It uses the basic µinstructions from the i386 architecture with the i387 floating point unit. This mode is compatible with all CPUs so it's practical to compare very different CPUs
Monothread
i3-2120
i3-4170
Test#1 (Integers)
2.7k
4.24k (x1.57)
Test#2 (FP)
7.4k
10.58k (x1.43)
Test#3 (Generic, ZIP)
3.82k
4.87k (x1.27)
Test#1 (Memory)
2.99k
4.2k (x1.41)
TOTAL
16.91k
23.88k (x1.41)

Multithread

i3-2120

i3-4170
Test#1 (Integers)
6.36k
7.7k (x1.21)
Test#2 (FP)
16.87k
27.14k (x1.61)
Test#3 (Generic, ZIP)
9.4k
11.48k (x1.22)
Test#1 (Memory)
2.91k
2.68k (x0.92)
TOTAL
35.53k
49k (x1.38)

SSE3 optimized benchmark
The benchmark in mode I (SSE) is optimized for the use of SIMD instructions with 128 bits register and the SSE set up to version 3. Nearly every modern CPU has support for this mode.
Monothread
i3-2120
i3-4170
Test#1 (Integers)
9.82k
13.1k (x1.33)
Test#2 (FP)
7.9k
11.68k (x1.48)
Test#3 (Generic, ZIP)
3.98k
5.07k (x1.27)
Test#1 (Memory)
2.95k
4.19k (x1.42)
TOTAL
24.64k
34.04k (x1.38)

Multithread

i3-2120

i3-4170
Test#1 (Integers)
20.46k
25.81k (x1.26)
Test#2 (FP)
17.77k
25k (x1.41)
Test#3 (Generic, ZIP)
10.03k
11.96k (x1.19)
Test#1 (Memory)
2.94k
3.87k (x1.32)
TOTAL
51.21k
66.65k (x1.3)

AVX optimized benchmark
The benchmark in mode II (AVX) is optimized to used 256 bits registers beside the first version of the Advanced Vector Extensions (AVX). The first AVX compatible CPU was released in 2011.
Monothread
i3-2120
i3-4170
Test#1 (Integers)
9.07k
13.24k (x1.46)
Test#2 (FP)
8.25k
12.37k (x1.5)
Test#3 (Generic, ZIP)
3.99k
5.11k (x1.28)
Test#1 (Memory)
2.92k
4.17k (x1.43)
TOTAL
24.23k
34.89k (x1.44)

Multithread

i3-2120

i3-4170
Test#1 (Integers)
20.86k
28.15k (x1.35)
Test#2 (FP)
19.51k
29.95k (x1.54)
Test#3 (Generic, ZIP)
10.09k
11.84k (x1.17)
Test#1 (Memory)
3.03k
2.73k (x0.9)
TOTAL
53.48k
72.68k (x1.36)

Performance/W
i3-2120
i3-4170
Test#1 (Integers)
321 points/W
521 points/W
Test#2 (FP)
300 points/W
555 points/W
Test#3 (Generic, ZIP)
155 points/W
219 points/W
Test#1 (Memory)
47 points/W
51 points/W
TOTAL
823 points/W
1346 points/W

Performance/GHz
i3-2120
i3-4170
Test#1 (Integers)
2748 points/GHz
3579 points/GHz
Test#2 (FP)
2499 points/GHz
3343 points/GHz
Test#3 (Generic, ZIP)
1210 points/GHz
1381 points/GHz
Test#1 (Memory)
886 points/GHz
1126 points/GHz
TOTAL
7343 points/GHz
9430 points/GHz

Monothread performance graph
Monothread performance graphics gives the performance vs time. They are useful to measure the time it takes to the CPU to reach the maximum performance.

Usually, CPU's performance will be steady during these tests but if it has a slow frequency strategy, the first samples will show a lower score.


Test#1 (Integers) [points vs time]

grafica bm.hardlimit.com


Test#2 (FP) [points vs time]

grafica bm.hardlimit.com


Test#3 (Generic, ZIP) [points vs time]

grafica bm.hardlimit.com


Test#1 (Memory) [points vs time]

grafica bm.hardlimit.com

Multithread performance graph
Multithread graphs measure the performance against a heavy load during certain time.

If CPU's TDP doesn't limit the frequency and the machine is properly cooled, performance should remain steady vs time. Otherwise, the performance score will oscillate or decrease over time.


Test#1 (Integers) [points vs time]

grafica bm.hardlimit.com


Test#2 (FP) [points vs time]

grafica bm.hardlimit.com


Test#3 (Generic, ZIP) [points vs time]

grafica bm.hardlimit.com


Test#1 (Memory) [points vs time]

grafica bm.hardlimit.com

Hardlimit Benchmark Central - Ver. 3.11.4