i3 2120 benchmarks

[Kristijonas]

Hello, I've spent hours building a new PC and I just bought it (if interested to see: http://www.skytech.lt/krepselis-31423.html )
Now I took i3 2120. I hope it's worth the 20% bigger cost than 2100. The question I have is, will there be benchmarks of 2120 on the site? I would like to compare 2120 vs 2100 and 2120 vs i5
I also want to show my friends that my i3 is better than some i5s ()
Also, what is the normal temperature for i3 2120? I don't think my computer case will be very good, so I'll want to check my temps often and possibly purchase a cooler fan.

http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/289?vs=144

 

[Zap]

Hello Kristijonas, and welcome to AnandTech Forums.

The 2120 is less than 10% higher clock speed than the 2100, so performance-wise it will likely be close to 5% better, so not worth 20% more cost.

Regarding it being "better" than a Core i5, well, maybe the lowest end socket 1156 Core i5, but unfortunately those were pretty easy to overclock. However, you can still be proud of the fact that the integrated video in your Core i3 2120 is faster than any of the Core i5 600 series integrated video.

Regarding temperatures, the CPU can probably handle 80-85ºC under full load. Unless something was wrong (heatsink not installed properly, you forgot to use thermal compound, heatsink fell off, fan died, heatsink clogged with dust) there is nothing to worry about when using the stock cooler.

 

[Kristijonas]

Thank you for reply Zap. I knew 2120 is only 5-10% faster than 2100, I took it just to know in my iron heart that it's the best i3
I didn't know it has a better video, good to know!
If 80C is okay, then I really doubt my computer case ventilation will be so bad as to allow higher temperatures. If it will - I will find a solution quickly. I keep hearing about thermal pastes, unfortunately I have no idea what they are ;x I should go and read some threads about them.
Well, I'm sure 2120 benchmarks will be available soon, too. Just that I'm a little impatient. This whole building of a new PC got me feverish, hehe.

 

[Zap]

I didn't know it has a better video, good to know!

Your Core i3 has HD 2000 integrated video. I think the older Core i5 600 series has HD 900 or something. Note that the newer Core i5 2000 series has the same HD 2000 integrated video.

Also, there is a faster HD 3000 integrated video. It is currently available in three desktop CPUs that I'm aware of:

Core i3 2105
Core i5 2500K
Core i7 2500K

It is also available in all notebook Core i3/i5/i7 2000 series CPUs.

If 80C is okay, then I really doubt my computer case ventilation will be so bad as to allow higher temperatures. If it will - I will find a solution quickly. I keep hearing about thermal pastes, unfortunately I have no idea what they are

The stock heatsink that came with your CPU has thermal paste already on it. Generally speaking, it should be more than sufficient. The biggest problem people have with it (other than perception) is improper installation.

 

[Blastman]

The question I have is, will there be benchmarks of 2120 on the site? I would like to compare 2120 vs 2100 and 2120 vs i5
I also want to show my friends that my i3 is better than some i5s ()
http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/289?vs=144

It's hard to say whether Anand will retest with an i3-2120 -- it's a lot of benches just to add one CPU clocked a little faster. If you want to see some benches with the i3-2120 specifically, you can check out this xbit review. Those dual core i3 SB's are amazingly fast in gaming.

 

[Kristijonas]

Wonderful, thank you for the replies!