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Core i3-2120 vs Xeon E5-2697 v2


Description
The i3-2120 is based on Sandy Bridge architecture while the E5-2697 v2 is based on Ivy Bridge.

Using the multithread performance as a reference, the i3-2120 gets a score of 53.5 k points while the E5-2697 v2 gets 633.1 k points.

Summarizing, the E5-2697 v2 is 11.8 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
306e4
Core
Sandy Bridge
Ivy Bridge-EP
Architecture
Base frecuency
3.3 GHz
2.7 GHz
Boost frecuency
3.3 GHz
3.5 GHz
Socket
LGA 1155
LGA 2011
Cores/Threads
2/2
12 /24
TDP
65 W
130 W
Cache L1 (d+i)
2x32+2x32 kB
12x32+12x32 kB
Cache L2
2x256 kB
12x256 kB
Cache L3
3072 kB
30720 kB
Date
February 2012
September 2013
Mean monothread perf.
24.23k points
27.92k points
Mean multithread perf.
53.48k points
633.14k 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
E5-2697 v2
Test#1 (Integers)
2.7k
3.44k (x1.27)
Test#2 (FP)
7.4k
9.54k (x1.29)
Test#3 (Generic, ZIP)
3.82k
4.21k (x1.1)
Test#1 (Memory)
2.99k
3.94k (x1.32)
TOTAL
16.91k
21.13k (x1.25)

Multithread

i3-2120

E5-2697 v2
Test#1 (Integers)
6.36k
73.17k (x11.51)
Test#2 (FP)
16.87k
230.83k (x13.68)
Test#3 (Generic, ZIP)
9.4k
107.14k (x11.4)
Test#1 (Memory)
2.91k
7.99k (x2.75)
TOTAL
35.53k
419.12k (x11.79)

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
E5-2697 v2
Test#1 (Integers)
9.82k
10.64k (x1.08)
Test#2 (FP)
7.9k
9.53k (x1.21)
Test#3 (Generic, ZIP)
3.98k
4.12k (x1.04)
Test#1 (Memory)
2.95k
3.62k (x1.22)
TOTAL
24.64k
27.91k (x1.13)

Multithread

i3-2120

E5-2697 v2
Test#1 (Integers)
20.46k
252.69k (x12.35)
Test#2 (FP)
17.77k
238.68k (x13.43)
Test#3 (Generic, ZIP)
10.03k
115.5k (x11.51)
Test#1 (Memory)
2.94k
10.98k (x3.73)
TOTAL
51.21k
617.84k (x12.06)

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
E5-2697 v2
Test#1 (Integers)
9.07k
10.53k (x1.16)
Test#2 (FP)
8.25k
9.98k (x1.21)
Test#3 (Generic, ZIP)
3.99k
4k (x1)
Test#1 (Memory)
2.92k
3.4k (x1.16)
TOTAL
24.23k
27.92k (x1.15)

Multithread

i3-2120

E5-2697 v2
Test#1 (Integers)
20.86k
247.05k (x11.84)
Test#2 (FP)
19.51k
264.43k (x13.55)
Test#3 (Generic, ZIP)
10.09k
111.01k (x11.01)
Test#1 (Memory)
3.03k
10.66k (x3.52)
TOTAL
53.48k
633.14k (x11.84)

Performance/W
i3-2120
E5-2697 v2
Test#1 (Integers)
321 points/W
1900 points/W
Test#2 (FP)
300 points/W
2034 points/W
Test#3 (Generic, ZIP)
155 points/W
854 points/W
Test#1 (Memory)
47 points/W
82 points/W
TOTAL
823 points/W
4870 points/W

Performance/GHz
i3-2120
E5-2697 v2
Test#1 (Integers)
2748 points/GHz
3007 points/GHz
Test#2 (FP)
2499 points/GHz
2852 points/GHz
Test#3 (Generic, ZIP)
1210 points/GHz
1144 points/GHz
Test#1 (Memory)
886 points/GHz
973 points/GHz
TOTAL
7343 points/GHz
7976 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