AMD Ryzen 9 9900X vs Intel Core i3-2120
90.1Single-core20
83.6Multi-core20
84.6Gaming20
17 spec wins — AMD Ryzen 9 9900X2 spec wins — Intel Core i3-2120
InnoReviews verdict
AMD Ryzen 9 9900X wins this desktop processor face-off, 85.8 to 20, pulling ahead mainly in Single-core (+70) and gaming (+65). Intel Core i3-2120 still makes sense if its price or standout specs fit your needs better.
Which would you pick?
Key differences
Reasons to pick the AMD Ryzen 9 9900X
- Stronger Single-core score: 90 vs 20
- Stronger Multi-core score: 84 vs 20
- Stronger gaming score: 85 vs 20
- 2300% higher L2 cache: 12 MB vs 1 MB
- 2213% higher PassMark: 55,500 vs 2,400
Reasons to pick the Intel Core i3-2120
- 46% lower Base TDP: 65 W vs 120 W
- Has Cooler included — the other doesn't
- Lower launch price: $138 vs $499
General
| Spec | AMD Ryzen 9 9900X | Intel Core i3-2120 |
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2024+1% | 2011 |
| Socket | AM5 | LGA1155 |
| Process | 4 nm+87% | 32 nm |
| Base TDP | 120 W | 65 W+46% |
| Max turbo power | 162 W | — |
| Unlocked multiplier | Yes | No |
| Cooler included | No | Yes |
Cores & Clocks
| Spec | AMD Ryzen 9 9900X | Intel Core i3-2120 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores | 12+500% | 2 |
| Performance cores | 12+500% | 2 |
| Efficiency cores | 0 | 0 |
| Threads | 24+500% | 4 |
| Base clock | 4.4 GHz+33% | 3.3 GHz |
| Boost clock | 5.6 GHz+70% | 3.3 GHz |
| L2 cache | 12 MB+2300% | 1 MB |
| L3 cache | 64 MB+2033% | 3 MB |
Integrated GPU
| Spec | AMD Ryzen 9 9900X | Intel Core i3-2120 |
|---|---|---|
| iGPU | AMD Radeon Graphics (2 CU RDNA 2) | Intel HD Graphics 2000 |
| iGPU clock | 2,200 MHz+100% | 1,100 MHz |
Memory
| Spec | AMD Ryzen 9 9900X | Intel Core i3-2120 |
|---|---|---|
| Memory support | DDR5-5600 | DDR3-1333 |
| Max memory | 192 GB+500% | 32 GB |
| Memory channels | 2 | 2 |
Platform
| Spec | AMD Ryzen 9 9900X | Intel Core i3-2120 |
|---|---|---|
| PCIe version | 5+150% | 2 |
| CPU PCIe lanes | 28+75% | 16 |
Benchmarks
| Spec | AMD Ryzen 9 9900X | Intel Core i3-2120 |
|---|---|---|
| Geekbench 6 (single) | 3,300+323%Top 3% | 780Top 100% |
| Geekbench 6 (multi) | 19,800+1138%Top 8% | 1,600Top 100% |
| Cinebench R23 (single) | 2,230Top 7% | — |
| Cinebench R23 (multi) | 32,000Top 10% | — |
| PassMark | 55,500+2213%Top 8% | 2,400Top 100% |
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