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Core i3-7100U vs i3-2120


Description
The i3-7100U is based on Kaby Lake architecture while the i3-2120 is based on Sandy Bridge.

Using the multithread performance as a reference, the i3-7100U gets a score of 60.5 k points while the i3-2120 gets 53.5 k points.

Summarizing, the i3-7100U is 1.1 times faster than the i3-2120 . To get a proper comparison between both models, take a look to the data shown below.

Specs
CPUID
806e9
206a7
Core
Kaby Lake-U
Sandy Bridge
Architecture
Base frecuency
2.4 GHz
3.3 GHz
Socket
BGA 1356
LGA 1155
Cores/Threads
2/4
2/2
TDP
15 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
August 2016
February 2012
Mean monothread perf.
33.38k points
24.23k points
Mean multithread perf.
79.6k 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
i3-7100U
i3-2120
Test#1 (Integers)
2.41k
2.7k (x1.12)
Test#2 (FP)
9.77k
7.4k (x0.76)
Test#3 (Generic, ZIP)
3.13k
3.82k (x1.22)
Test#1 (Memory)
3.55k
2.99k (x0.84)
TOTAL
18.86k
16.91k (x0.9)

Multithread

i3-7100U

i3-2120
Test#1 (Integers)
5k
6.36k (x1.27)
Test#2 (FP)
21.48k
16.87k (x0.79)
Test#3 (Generic, ZIP)
7.39k
9.4k (x1.27)
Test#1 (Memory)
3.18k
2.91k (x0.91)
TOTAL
37.05k
35.53k (x0.96)

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
i3-7100U
i3-2120
Test#1 (Integers)
8.66k
9.82k (x1.13)
Test#2 (FP)
12.31k
7.9k (x0.64)
Test#3 (Generic, ZIP)
3.28k
3.98k (x1.21)
Test#1 (Memory)
3.92k
2.95k (x0.75)
TOTAL
28.16k
24.64k (x0.88)

Multithread

i3-7100U

i3-2120
Test#1 (Integers)
17.87k
20.46k (x1.15)
Test#2 (FP)
28.59k
17.77k (x0.62)
Test#3 (Generic, ZIP)
7.68k
10.03k (x1.31)
Test#1 (Memory)
3.15k
2.94k (x0.94)
TOTAL
57.28k
51.21k (x0.89)

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
i3-7100U
i3-2120
Test#1 (Integers)
8.76k
9.07k (x1.03)
Test#2 (FP)
13.49k
8.25k (x0.61)
Test#3 (Generic, ZIP)
3.21k
3.99k (x1.24)
Test#1 (Memory)
3.9k
2.92k (x0.75)
TOTAL
29.36k
24.23k (x0.83)

Multithread

i3-7100U

i3-2120
Test#1 (Integers)
18.33k
20.86k (x1.14)
Test#2 (FP)
31.08k
19.51k (x0.63)
Test#3 (Generic, ZIP)
7.5k
10.09k (x1.34)
Test#1 (Memory)
3.61k
3.03k (x0.84)
TOTAL
60.52k
53.48k (x0.88)

Performance/W
i3-7100U
i3-2120
Test#1 (Integers)
1222 points/W
321 points/W
Test#2 (FP)
2072 points/W
300 points/W
Test#3 (Generic, ZIP)
500 points/W
155 points/W
Test#1 (Memory)
240 points/W
47 points/W
TOTAL
4035 points/W
823 points/W

Performance/GHz
i3-7100U
i3-2120
Test#1 (Integers)
3652 points/GHz
2748 points/GHz
Test#2 (FP)
5622 points/GHz
2499 points/GHz
Test#3 (Generic, ZIP)
1337 points/GHz
1210 points/GHz
Test#1 (Memory)
1624 points/GHz
886 points/GHz
TOTAL
12235 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