i3 2120 or i3 540

Pedroc1999 · 14 Sep 2012

i know the i3 2120 has a base clock speed of 3,3 but it cant be overclocked, would it make more sense to get an i3 5XX and then overclock it to over 3.3?

Pedroc1999 · 14 Sep 2012

By '5XX' i mean an i3 from the 500 series, 560,550,540 etc

whs · 14 Sep 2012

I would prefer a 3.3 without overclocking - less risk.

Pedroc1999 · 14 Sep 2012

but if i buy a stock 560@3.33 it is already slightly better and there's headroom for OCing

whs · 14 Sep 2012

I guess if you want to muck around with OCing. Read my logo on the bottom of this posting - then you understand from where I come.

DeaconFrost · 14 Sep 2012

Be aware that those two processors require two different sockets. The Core i3-2120 gets my vote simply on the fact that it is a newer socket with much more life than the i3-540.

Zepher · 14 Sep 2012

Passmark shows the 2120 being almost 30% faster than the 560 and about 50% faster than the 540.

bobkn · 14 Sep 2012

DeaconFrost said:

Be aware that those two processors require two different sockets. The Core i3-2120 gets my vote simply on the fact that it is a newer socket with much more life than the i3-540.

Yeah, the I3-540 is Socket 1156 (vs. 1155). 1156 is essentially obsolete. That doesn't mean that it'll stop working, but it is getting more difficult to buy S. 1156 CPUs at retail, at least in the USA.

Pedroc1999 · 15 Sep 2012

Ok thank you very much

i3 2120 or i3 540

i3 2120 or i3 5XX Series