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Core i3-3217U vs i3-2120


Description
The i3-3217U is based on Ivy Bridge architecture while the i3-2120 is based on Sandy Bridge.

Using the multithread performance as a reference, the i3-3217U gets a score of 35.8 k points while the i3-2120 gets 53.5 k points.

Summarizing, the i3-2120 is 1.5 times faster than the i3-3217U . To get a proper comparison between both models, take a look to the data shown below.

Specs
CPUID
306a9
206a7
Core
Ivy Bridge
Sandy Bridge
Architecture
Base frecuency
1.8 GHz
3.3 GHz
Socket
BGA1023
LGA 1155
Cores/Threads
2 /2
2/2
TDP
17 W
65 W
Cache L1 (d+i)
2x32+2x32 kB
2x32+2x32 kB
Cache L2
2x256 kB
2x256 kB
Cache L3
3072 kB
3072 kB
Date
June 2012
February 2012
Mean monothread perf.
16.09k points
24.23k points
Mean multithread perf.
35.81k points
53.48k 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
i3-3217U
i3-2120
Test#1 (Integers)
1.79k
2.7k (x1.51)
Test#2 (FP)
5.02k
7.4k (x1.48)
Test#3 (Generic, ZIP)
2.21k
3.82k (x1.73)
Test#1 (Memory)
2.31k
2.99k (x1.29)
TOTAL
11.32k
16.91k (x1.49)

Multithread

i3-3217U

i3-2120
Test#1 (Integers)
3.56k
6.36k (x1.78)
Test#2 (FP)
11.47k
16.87k (x1.47)
Test#3 (Generic, ZIP)
5.34k
9.4k (x1.76)
Test#1 (Memory)
2.54k
2.91k (x1.14)
TOTAL
22.91k
35.53k (x1.55)

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
i3-3217U
i3-2120
Test#1 (Integers)
5.37k
9.82k (x1.83)
Test#2 (FP)
5.25k
7.9k (x1.5)
Test#3 (Generic, ZIP)
2.2k
3.98k (x1.81)
Test#1 (Memory)
2.25k
2.95k (x1.31)
TOTAL
15.08k
24.64k (x1.63)

Multithread

i3-3217U

i3-2120
Test#1 (Integers)
12.46k
20.46k (x1.64)
Test#2 (FP)
12.14k
17.77k (x1.46)
Test#3 (Generic, ZIP)
5.52k
10.03k (x1.82)
Test#1 (Memory)
2.64k
2.94k (x1.12)
TOTAL
32.75k
51.21k (x1.56)

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
i3-3217U
i3-2120
Test#1 (Integers)
5.83k
9.07k (x1.56)
Test#2 (FP)
5.79k
8.25k (x1.42)
Test#3 (Generic, ZIP)
2.22k
3.99k (x1.8)
Test#1 (Memory)
2.26k
2.92k (x1.29)
TOTAL
16.09k
24.23k (x1.51)

Multithread

i3-3217U

i3-2120
Test#1 (Integers)
12.53k
20.86k (x1.67)
Test#2 (FP)
14.19k
19.51k (x1.37)
Test#3 (Generic, ZIP)
5.63k
10.09k (x1.79)
Test#1 (Memory)
3.46k
3.03k (x0.88)
TOTAL
35.81k
53.48k (x1.49)

Performance/W
i3-3217U
i3-2120
Test#1 (Integers)
737 points/W
321 points/W
Test#2 (FP)
835 points/W
300 points/W
Test#3 (Generic, ZIP)
331 points/W
155 points/W
Test#1 (Memory)
204 points/W
47 points/W
TOTAL
2107 points/W
823 points/W

Performance/GHz
i3-3217U
i3-2120
Test#1 (Integers)
3238 points/GHz
2748 points/GHz
Test#2 (FP)
3217 points/GHz
2499 points/GHz
Test#3 (Generic, ZIP)
1232 points/GHz
1210 points/GHz
Test#1 (Memory)
1255 points/GHz
886 points/GHz
TOTAL
8942 points/GHz
7343 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