The Core i9-12900K is a clear winner – it's at least 2x faster gaming CPU than the Core i3-2120 and it's also a much better value for money, as it's only $111.60 more expensive!
Advantages of the Core i9-12900K
- At least 2x faster CPU for gaming
- A much better value for money for gaming
- Can execute more multi-threaded tasks simultaneously – 24 vs 4 threads
Advantages of the Core i3-2120
- Up to 36% cheaper – $197.39 vs $308.99
- Consumes up to 48% less energy – 65 vs 125 Watts
Core i9-12900K vs Core i3-2120 for Gaming
The CPU's performance in selected game and settings
Core i9-12900K
Nov 4th, 2021
Average FPS
213
100%
Min 1% FPS
140
100%
Price, $
$308.99
63%
Value, $/FPS
$1.45/FPS
81%
Core i3-2120
Feb 20th, 2011
Average FPS
168
79%
Min 1% FPS
113
81%
Price, $
$197.39
100%
Value, $/FPS
$1.17/FPS
100%
Core i9-12900K vs Core i3-2120 in My Games
The FPS you'll get in saved games
The FPS you'll get in saved games
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Synthetic Benchmarks
The Core i9-12900K vs Core i3-2120 in synthetic CPU benchmarks
Performance Specifications
The Core i9-12900K vs Core i3-2120 in core CPU performance specifications
Core i9-12900K
Nov 4th, 2021
Cores
16-core
100%
L3 Cache
30 MB
100%
Base Frequency
3.2 GHz
97%
Turbo Frequency
5.2 GHz
100%
Max. DDR5 RAM Speed
4800 MHz
100%
Core i3-2120
Feb 20th, 2011
Cores
2-core
12%
L3 Cache
3 MB
10%
Base Frequency
3.3 GHz
100%
Turbo Frequency
GHz
Max. DDR3 RAM Speed
1333 MHz
28%
Specifications
Comparison of all specifications
Core i9-12900K | SpecificationsComparison of all specifications | Core i3-2120 |
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
Nov 4th, 2021 | Release Date | Feb 20th, 2011 |
| $599.00 | MSRP | $138.00 |
Desktop | Segment | Desktop |
| Intel Socket 1700 | Socket | Intel Socket 1155 |
| Alder Lake | Codename | Sandy Bridge |
| 125 W | Power Consumption | 65 W |
| Performance | ||
16 | Cores | 2 |
24 | Threads | 4 |
| 3.2 GHz | Base Frequency | 3.3 GHz |
| 5.2 GHz | Turbo Frequency | Non-Turbo |
30 MB | L3 Cache | 3 MB |
| Other Features | ||
| DDR4 @ 3200 MHz, DDR5 @ 4800 MHz | RAM | DDR3 @ 1333 MHz |
| UHD Graphics 770 | Integrated Graphics | Intel HD 2000 |
Yes | Overclockable | No |
