Review- Intel Core i3 2120 Processor: More Performance… for a Price

FastStone Photo Resizer

FastStone PhotoResizer is an image converter/ resize software capable of applying image manipulations such as resizing, cropping, rotating, and others on multiple files through batch operation. For the purpose of this test, we convert a collection of TIFF images (66 files; 527 MB total size) to JPEG format (quality level: 90). Each of the pictures is also resized to 600 pixels on the longest side. The entire process only utilizes one processor core (thread). Therefore, processors with high clockspeeds would have a slight advantage over slower CPUs. Results are measured in the amount of time needed to finish the resizing and converting process. Lower scores are better.

In single threading scenarios, the Core i3-2120 wins, due to its higher clockspeed, undoubtedly.

MediaEspresso 6.5

MediaShow Espresso 6.0 is the latest version of this popular video encoding software from Cyberlink. The program converts video from one format to the other (available formats include BlackBerry and iPhone-specific video, and others). Media Espresso 6.0 supports AMD (ATI) Stream and NVIDIA CUDA accelerations. The newest version also offers Intel Quick Sync acceleration. Results are measured in the amount of time needed to finish the video conversion process. Less time means better performance.

Both Sandy Bridge processors are clearly superior to the older Core i3-540 (based on the Clardale architecture) in video encoding scenarios, thanks to Quick Sync acceleration. Core i3-2120 gets slightly ahead of the Core i3-2100, but that is to be expected.

Photoshop CS 5

Adobe Photoshop CS5 is the latest version of the world’s most famous image editing software. We carried out our test using an action that applies “Photo Merge” and several filters on three TIFF images. Results are measured in the amount of time needed to finish the process. Lower figures are better.

The performance difference between the three processors in Photoshop is marginal, measuring in only milliseconds. Still, the Core i3-2120 takes the first place.