Intel Core i3 2120 Review

Testing:

The integrated GPU used in the i3 2120 is Intel's HD 2000 graphics engine. Equipped with six execution units, or half of the compliment seen with the HD 3000 GPU used on the i5 2500K, the performance is going to be less than what is offered with a K-SKU or select i3 models, such as the i3 2125.

Testing Setup: Intel Core i3/i5 Socket 1155

• Processors: Intel Core i3 2120, Core i5 2500K
• Cooling: Noctua NH-U12P SE 1366
• Motherboard: MSI Z68A GD80
• Memory: Mushkin 996996 Redline PC317000 9-11-10-28 8GB
• Video Card: Intel HD 2000 (i3 2120), Intel HD 3000 (i5 2500K)
• Power Supply: Mushkin 1000W Joule Modular power supply
• Hard Drive: 1 x Seagate 1TB SATA
• Optical Drive: ASUS Blu-Ray
• Case: Corsair Graphite Series 600T
• OS: Windows 7 Professional 64-bit

Testing Setup: AMD Socket FM1

• Processor: AMD A8-3850 APU
• Cooling: Noctua NH-U12P SE
• Motherboard: Gigabyte A775M-UD2H Socket FM1
• Memory: Mushkin 996805 Redline PC312800 6-8-6-24 1600MHz 4GB
• Video Card: Integrated Radeon HD 6550D
• Power Supply: Mushkin 1000W Joule Modular power supply
• Hard Drive: 1 x Seagate 1TB SATA
• Optical Drive: Lite-On Blu-Ray
• Case: Cooler Master HAF 932
• OS: Windows 7 Professional 64-bit

Batman Arkham Asylum Settings:

• 0x AA in CP
• 0x AF in CP
• Global settings = Low
• Ambient Occlusion = Off

To further put the HD 2000 graphics to the test, I overclocked the IGP from 800MHz to 1350MHz and measured the performance increase over the baseline number in Futuremark 3DMark Vantage. The results show that there is a benefit to pushing the clock speeds on the IGP.

As can be seen in the Batman testing, the HD 2000 graphics engine is capable of playing Batman with reasonable frame rates when the eye candy and resolution are turned down. AMD's solution proves stronger here, delivering performance on par with that of the HD 3000 graphics engine used in the i5 2500K. Overclocking the HD 2000 GPU does pay dividends, but most people probably wont bother.