Core i3-2120 from Intel Corporation at one time became an excellent mid-level chip, which made it possible to assemble both office computers and gaming PCs. In the latter case, it was necessary to equip the system unit with a discrete graphics accelerator. Although this product was released in 2011, its parameters even now continue to be relevant, and the level of performance is sufficient to solve almost any task, albeit with certain reservations.
Niche solutions and possible configuration options
As noted earlier, the Intel Core i3-2120 is a mid-range CPU. Creating a full-fledged workstation to run resource-intensive tasks on it will fail. The same can be said about attempts to make on its basis an ultra-productive gaming PC or entry-level server. But then this processor is perfect for a mid-level gaming computer, office computer or multimedia station. It was for the assembly of such system units that the hero of this review was released. There are only two possible options for picking it: Boxing and Trail. The difference between the two is that in the second case there is no cooling system and thermal grease.
CPU socket of the central processing unit
The Core i3-2120, like any other processor based on the Sandy Bridge architecture, was installed in the FCLGA1155 socket. Moreover, the support of this chip boasted system logic sets of both the sixth series and the seventh. In this case, it was most preferable to use P67, Z68 or even Z77 chipsets. In this case, it was even possible to overclock this chip and due to this, get even a small, but still a performance gain.
Technological features
All CPUs of the Sandy Bridge line were manufactured according to the standards of the 32 nm process technology, which was advanced in 2011. Now, later versions of Cor Ay3 are already manufactured at 14 nm. On the other hand, the most powerful AMD chips from the FX series even now have a value of “32 nm” in the “process technology” column. Therefore, the 2120th in this regard can still be considered not an outdated solution.
Cache subsystem
Intel Core i3-2120, as expected, is equipped with a powerful cache system of three levels. The size of the first of them was equal to 128 Kb. At the second level, its number was increased to 512 Kb. Well, the third level was the highest - 3 MB. Moreover, it was the first level that had the greatest impact on performance - it was divided into 2 identical parts that were “tied” to a specific core, were as close to it as possible, and had the highest possible frequency of operation.
Random Access Memory, its controller and supported types
One of the key innovations of the Sandy Bridge family of processors was that half of the system logic set in the face of the North Bridge was transferred to the CPU chip. Together with the "north bridge" was also included in the chip and the memory controller. Such an engineering solution has significantly increased the speed of RAM. The controller itself in this case is two-channel (that is, it is optimized for operation in combination with an even number of RAM slots (2 or 4). The memory type in this case is DDR3. Recommended frequencies of the modules are 1066 MHz or 1333 MHz. The maximum RAM size in this case - 32 GB.
Thermal pack. Frequency
The thermal package in the 2120th was installed at around 65 watts. Given the completeness of the central processing unit and the "server bridge" of system logic and an integrated graphics accelerator, this is an excellent value. The maximum permissible temperature in this case is 69 0 C. Well, the only possible clock frequency in the normal mode of operation for Core i3-2120 is 3.30 GHz. There was no support for TurboBust technology in this case, and the frequency of the chip did not automatically change.
Silicon crystal filling. Embedded Accelerator Options
Physically, in the Core i3-2120 there are only 2 processing cores that can operate in both x64 and x86 modes. But in this processor device there is support for proprietary technology from Intel, which is called HyperTrading. With its help, this central processor at the software level turns into a familiar 4-threaded computing device. In addition to the north bridge and the RAM controller, there is also a graphics accelerator on this chip. It is called HDGraphics 2000. Its operating frequencies are in the range of 0.85-1.1 GHz, and the number of supported displays is limited to two. The presence of this component in the CPU allows you to use it to assemble entry-level personal computers that do not need to use a discrete video card, and this can significantly reduce its cost. It is for such cases that the developers equipped this semiconductor solution with an integrated graphics accelerator.
Overclocking
As noted earlier, the base frequency in the Intel Core i3-2120 is 3.30 GHz. In this case, the CPU frequency multiplier is fixed at 33. As a result, a relatively small acceleration of this product can be realized only by raising the frequency of the system bus. Such an operation can only be carried out only on advanced modifications of the system logic P67, Z68 or Z77. In basic mode, its frequency is 100 MHz. In practice, this value can be raised to 105-107 MHz, but first you need to lower the frequencies of the other components of the PC (RAM, for example). This will provide an additional 4-5 percent performance.
Comparison of performance level with analogues
On the one hand, the Intel Core i3-2120 CPU was on average 5-10 percent faster than the 1st generation Core processors. In the same way, the 3rd generation of chips based on the same architecture was ahead of him. On the AMD side, only the younger 6-core Fenom 2 could compete with this CPU on equal terms. Moreover, in application programs (for example, archivers), AMD solutions had an advantage. But the games made it possible to fully reveal the potential of the Sandy Bridge chip, and here the advantage was already on the Intel side.
Price. User reviews
For its niche, it was a great processor. It combined good energy efficiency and an acceptable level of performance. Moreover, the results that he shows in toys indicate that he is optimized specifically for solving such problems. Moreover, the test results indicate that he could even compete on equal terms with the younger 6-core models of the “Fen 2” line from “AMD”. And that already says a lot. Now the lot of this chip is the modernization of old PCs based on FCLGA1155, which were equipped with Pentium or Celeron processors. But for the creation of a new PC, it certainly will not work. In this case, it is better to pay attention to the newer FCLGA1150 or FCLGA1151 platforms. So far, this product can be purchased from stock at a price of 4000-5000 rubles.
Summary
The Core i3-2120 was great for building an average PC performance level in 2011. Now it is not recommended for this, because there are more recent solutions. Well, for upgrading a PC with younger CPU models of this family, it can work great.