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Core i3-2120 vs Xeon W3520


Description
The i3-2120 is based on Sandy Bridge architecture while the W3520 is based on Nehalem.

Using the multithread performance as a reference, the i3-2120 gets a score of 51.2 k points while the W3520 gets 73.2 k points.

Summarizing, the W3520 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
106a5
Core
Sandy Bridge
Nehalem-WS
Architecture
Base frecuency
3.3 GHz
2.667 GHz
Boost frecuency
3.3 GHz
2.933 GHz
Socket
LGA 1155
LGA 1366
Cores/Threads
2/2
4 /8
TDP
65 W
130 W
Cache L1 (d+i)
2x32+2x32 kB
4x32+x4x32 kB
Cache L2
2x256 kB
4x256 kB
Cache L3
3072 kB
8192 kB
Date
February 2012
March 2009
Mean monothread perf.
24.23k points
17.96k points
Mean multithread perf.
53.48k points
73.16k points

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
W3520
Test#1 (Integers)
9.82k
7.35k (x0.75)
Test#2 (FP)
7.9k
4.89k (x0.62)
Test#3 (Generic, ZIP)
3.98k
2.9k (x0.73)
Test#1 (Memory)
2.95k
2.82k (x0.95)
TOTAL
24.64k
17.96k (x0.73)

Multithread

i3-2120

W3520
Test#1 (Integers)
20.46k
29.69k (x1.45)
Test#2 (FP)
17.77k
22.26k (x1.25)
Test#3 (Generic, ZIP)
10.03k
14.91k (x1.49)
Test#1 (Memory)
2.94k
6.29k (x2.14)
TOTAL
51.21k
73.16k (x1.43)

Performance/W
i3-2120
W3520
Test#1 (Integers)
315 points/W
228 points/W
Test#2 (FP)
273 points/W
171 points/W
Test#3 (Generic, ZIP)
154 points/W
115 points/W
Test#1 (Memory)
45 points/W
48 points/W
TOTAL
788 points/W
563 points/W

Performance/GHz
i3-2120
W3520
Test#1 (Integers)
2974 points/GHz
2506 points/GHz
Test#2 (FP)
2393 points/GHz
1669 points/GHz
Test#3 (Generic, ZIP)
1206 points/GHz
989 points/GHz
Test#1 (Memory)
895 points/GHz
960 points/GHz
TOTAL
7468 points/GHz
6123 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