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Core i3-3120M vs i7-2640M


Description
The i3-3120M is based on Ivy Bridge architecture while the i7-2640M is based on Sandy Bridge.

Using the multithread performance as a reference, the i3-3120M gets a score of 47.8 k points while the i7-2640M gets 54.9 k points.

Summarizing, the i7-2640M is 1.1 times faster than the i3-3120M . To get a proper comparison between both models, take a look to the data shown below.

Specs
CPUID
306a9
206a7
Core
Sandy Bridge
Architecture
Base frecuency
2.5 GHz
2.8 GHz
Boost frecuency
2.5 GHz
3.5 GHz
Socket
BGA1023
PGA 988B
Cores/Threads
2 /2
2/4
TDP
35 W
35 W
Cache L1 (d+i)
32+32 kB
2x32+2x32 kB
Cache L2
256 kB
2x256 kB
Cache L3
3072 kB
4096 kB
Date
September 2012
September 2011
Mean monothread perf.
22.12k points
25.86k points
Mean multithread perf.
47.78k points
54.86k points

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
i3-3120M
i7-2640M
Test#1 (Integers)
7.92k
9.63k (x1.22)
Test#2 (FP)
7.96k
8.33k (x1.05)
Test#3 (Generic, ZIP)
3.09k
4.08k (x1.32)
Test#1 (Memory)
3.15k
3.82k (x1.21)
TOTAL
22.12k
25.86k (x1.17)

Multithread

i3-3120M

i7-2640M
Test#1 (Integers)
16.82k
21.22k (x1.26)
Test#2 (FP)
19k
19.6k (x1.03)
Test#3 (Generic, ZIP)
7.7k
10.09k (x1.31)
Test#1 (Memory)
4.25k
3.94k (x0.93)
TOTAL
47.78k
54.86k (x1.15)

Performance/W
i3-3120M
i7-2640M
Test#1 (Integers)
481 points/W
606 points/W
Test#2 (FP)
543 points/W
560 points/W
Test#3 (Generic, ZIP)
220 points/W
288 points/W
Test#1 (Memory)
121 points/W
112 points/W
TOTAL
1365 points/W
1567 points/W

Performance/GHz
i3-3120M
i7-2640M
Test#1 (Integers)
3169 points/GHz
2752 points/GHz
Test#2 (FP)
3182 points/GHz
2380 points/GHz
Test#3 (Generic, ZIP)
1236 points/GHz
1165 points/GHz
Test#1 (Memory)
1259 points/GHz
1092 points/GHz
TOTAL
8847 points/GHz
7390 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