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Intel Core i3-2105

Intel Core i3-2105: Review of an Outdated but Relevant Processor for Budget Tasks (2025)

Introduction

Despite being released in 2011, the Intel Core i3-2105 can still be found in older PCs and budget builds. In 2025, it can't be considered powerful by any means, but it remains a practical solution for specific scenarios. Let's explore who this model is suitable for and how to use it correctly.

1. Key Specifications: Sandy Bridge in Detail

Architecture and Manufacturing Process

The Core i3-2105 is based on the Sandy Bridge microarchitecture (codename) with a 32 nm manufacturing process. This second generation of Intel Core processors brought significant performance improvements compared to previous generations in 2011. Key features include:

- 2 cores / 4 threads thanks to Hyper-Threading.

- Base frequency: 3.1 GHz (no Turbo Boost).

- Integrated graphics Intel HD Graphics 3000 operating at 1100 MHz.

- Support for PCIe 2.0 (16 lanes).

Performance

According to Geekbench 6 (2025):

- Single-Core: 482 points — sufficient for basic tasks.

- Multi-Core: 959 points — weak result for multi-threaded applications.

For comparison, a modern budget processor like the Intel Core i3-13100 (2023) scores around 1800 (Single) and 6000 (Multi) in Geekbench 6.

2. Compatible Motherboards: A Search on the Edge of Impossible

The processor uses the LGA 1155 socket. Compatible chipsets include:

- H61, H67, P67, Z68 — all of which have been discontinued.

Problems in 2025:

- No new motherboards for LGA 1155 are being released.

- Only used models are available on the market (e.g., ASUS P8H61-M, Gigabyte GA-H67MA-UD2H), but their reliability is questionable.

Advice: If you're not willing to take risks with used parts, consider moving to more modern platforms (LGA 1200/1700).

3. Supported Memory: DDR3 as a Limiting Factor

The Core i3-2105 works with DDR3-1066/1333 MHz memory. The maximum capacity depends on the chipset:

- H61 — up to 16 GB (2 slots).

- Z68 — up to 32 GB (4 slots).

Practical Recommendations:

- Use dual-channel mode (2 modules of 4-8 GB).

- DDR3 in 2025 falls behind DDR4/DDR5 in speed and energy efficiency. For instance, DDR4-3200 has a bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s compared to 10.6 GB/s for DDR3-1333.

4. Power Supply: Minimum Requirements

With a TDP of 65 W and the absence of a discrete graphics card, a power supply of 300-400 W will suffice for the system. However, if an upgrade is planned:

- For graphics cards like the NVIDIA GTX 1650, a 450 W power supply with an 80+ Bronze certificate (e.g., Corsair CX450) will be enough.

- Avoid cheap noname power supplies — they may damage components.

5. Pros and Cons: Is It Worth It in 2025?

Advantages:

- Low price: the processor can be found for $15-25 (used).

- Energy efficiency: ideal for a PC running 24/7 (e.g., home server).

- Integrated graphics: HD 3000 handles 1080p video and older games (e.g., CS:GO on low settings).

Disadvantages:

- Outdated architecture: lack of support for AVX, PCIe 3.0/4.0.

- Weak multi-threading potential: 4 threads are insufficient for rendering or modern games.

- Limited upgrade: the maximum for LGA 1155 is the Core i7-3770K (4 cores / 8 threads).

6. Usage Scenarios: Where is the i3-2105 Still Relevant?

Office Tasks

- Working with documents, browsing, Zoom.

- Example: A build with an SSD and 8 GB DDR3 boots Windows 10/11 (with limitations) faster than HDD systems.

Multimedia

- Watching 1080p videos, streaming via YouTube.

- For 4K, an external decoder will be needed (e.g., HDMI adapter with HDCP 2.2 support).

Light Gaming

- Minecraft, Dota 2, Half-Life 2 — achieving 30-40 FPS on low settings.

- With a discrete graphics card (e.g., GT 1030), it’s possible to play GTA V at 720p.

7. Comparison with Competitors

AMD Phenom II X4 965 (2010)

- 4 cores / 4 threads, but worse IPC.

- Geekbench 6: ~380 (Single), ~1200 (Multi).

- Conclusion: i3-2105 is better for single-threaded tasks; Phenom is better for multi-threaded tasks.

Intel Core i5-2500K (2011)

- 4 cores / 4 threads, Turbo Boost up to 3.7 GHz.

- Geekbench 6: ~550 (Single), ~2100 (Multi).

- Conclusion: i5-2500K is 20-30% more powerful but more expensive ($30-40 used).

8. Practical Assembly Tips

Components:

- SSD is essential: Kingston A400 240 GB ($25) will reduce load times.

- RAM: 8-16 GB DDR3 (e.g., Crucial 8GB DDR3-1600, $20).

- Cooling: The stock cooler is adequate, but for quieter operation, a Deepcool GAMMAXX 400 ($18) is suitable.

Be Cautious with Upgrades:

- Don’t invest in an expensive graphics card — the processor will become a bottleneck.

- Maximum: NVIDIA GTX 1050 Ti or AMD RX 560.

9. Final Conclusion: Who is the Core i3-2105 Suitable For?

This processor should be considered only in the following cases:

1. Super budget build for office work or surfing (e.g., a PC for $100-150 with used components).

2. Upgrading an old computer without replacing the motherboard.

3. Home media center for playing HD content.

For gaming, video editing, or working with modern software (Photoshop 2025, Blender 4.0), the Core i3-2105 is not suitable. In 2025, even budget processors like the Intel Core i3-13100 or AMD Ryzen 3 5300G provide 3-4 times more performance at a similar price ($100-120).

Conclusion: Sandy Bridge is outdated but can still serve in niche scenarios. The key is to clearly understand its limitations.

Basic

Label Name

Intel

Platform

Desktop

Launch Date

May 2011

Model Name

The Intel processor number is just one of several factors - along with processor brand, system configurations, and system-level benchmarks - to be considered when choosing the right processor for your computing needs.

i3-2105

Code Name

Sandy Bridge

CPU Specifications

Total Cores

Cores is a hardware term that describes the number of independent central processing units in a single computing component (die or chip).

Total Threads

Where applicable, Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology is only available on Performance-cores.

Basic Frequency

3.10 GHz

Intel Turbo Boost Technology

Intel® Turbo Boost Technology dynamically increases the processor's frequency as needed by taking advantage of thermal and power headroom to give you a burst of speed when you need it, and increased energy efficiency when you don’t.

Intel Hyper-Threading Technology

Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology (Intel® HT Technology) delivers two processing threads per physical core. Highly threaded applications can get more work done in parallel, completing tasks sooner.

Yes

CPU Socket

The socket is the component that provides the mechanical and electrical connections between the processor and motherboard.

FCLGA1155

Technology

Lithography refers to the semiconductor technology used to manufacture an integrated circuit, and is reported in nanometer (nm), indicative of the size of features built on the semiconductor.

32 nm

TDP

65 W

PCI Express Version

PCI Express Revision is the supported version of the PCI Express standard. Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (or PCIe) is a high-speed serial computer expansion bus standard for attaching hardware devices to a computer. The different PCI Express versions support different data rates.

2.0

Number of PCI Express Lanes

A PCI Express (PCIe) lane consists of two differential signaling pairs, one for receiving data, one for transmitting data, and is the basic unit of the PCIe bus. Max # of PCI Express Lanes is the total number of supported lanes.

Instruction Set

The instruction set is a hard program stored inside the CPU that guides and optimizes CPU operations. With these instruction sets, the CPU can run more efficiently. There are many manufacturers that design CPUs, which results in different instruction sets, such as the 8086 instruction set for the Intel camp and the RISC instruction set for the ARM camp. x86, ARM v8, and MIPS are all codes for instruction sets. Instruction sets can be extended; for example, x86 added 64-bit support to create x86-64. Manufacturers developing CPUs that are compatible with a certain instruction set need authorization from the instruction set patent holder. A typical example is Intel authorizing AMD, enabling the latter to develop CPUs compatible with the x86 instruction set.

64-bit

Intel 64

Intel® 64 architecture delivers 64-bit computing on server, workstation, desktop and mobile platforms when combined with supporting software.¹ Intel 64 architecture improves performance by allowing systems to address more than 4 GB of both virtual and physical memory.

Yes

Memory Specifications

Memory Type

Intel® processors come in four different types: Single Channel, Dual Channel, Triple Channel, and Flex Mode. Maximum supported memory speed may be lower when populating multiple DIMMs per channel on products that support multiple memory channels.

DDR3 1066/1333

Max Memory Size

Max memory size refers to the maximum memory capacity supported by the processor.

32 GB

Memory Channels

The number of memory channels refers to the bandwidth operation for real world application.

Bus Speed

5 GT/s

Max Memory Bandwidth

Max Memory bandwidth is the maximum rate at which data can be read from or stored into a semiconductor memory by the processor (in GB/s).

21 GB/s

GPU Specifications

GPU Name

Intel® HD Graphics 3000

Graphics Base Frequency

Graphics Base frequency refers to the rated/guaranteed graphics render clock frequency in MHz.

850 MHz

Graphics Frequency

Graphics max dynamic frequency refers to the maximum opportunistic graphics render clock frequency (in MHz) that can be supported using Intel® HD Graphics with Dynamic Frequency feature.

1.10 GHz

Number of Displays Supported

Miscellaneous

Intel Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d)

Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d) continues from the existing support for IA-32 (VT-x) and Itanium® processor (VT-i) virtualization adding new support for I/O-device virtualization. Intel VT-d can help end users improve security and reliability of the systems and also improve performance of I/O devices in virtualized environments.

Intel Virtualization Technology (VT-x)

Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x) allows one hardware platform to function as multiple “virtual” platforms. It offers improved manageability by limiting downtime and maintaining productivity by isolating computing activities into separate partitions.

Yes

Instruction Set Extensions

Intel® SSE4.1 | Intel® SSE4.2 | Intel® AVX

Enhanced Intel SpeedStep Technology

Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® Technology is an advanced means of enabling high performance while meeting the power-conservation needs of mobile systems. Conventional Intel SpeedStep® Technology switches both voltage and frequency in tandem between high and low levels in response to processor load. Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® Technology builds upon that architecture using design strategies such as Separation between Voltage and Frequency Changes, and Clock Partitioning and Recovery.

Yes

Execute Disable Bit

Execute Disable Bit is a hardware-based security feature that can reduce exposure to viruses and malicious-code attacks and prevent harmful software from executing and propagating on the server or network.

Yes

Cache

CPU Cache is an area of fast memory located on the processor. Intel® Smart Cache refers to the architecture that allows all cores to dynamically share access to the last level cache.

3 MB Intel® Smart Cache

Intel AES New Instructions

Intel® AES New Instructions (Intel® AES-NI) are a set of instructions that enable fast and secure data encryption and decryption. AES-NI are valuable for a wide range of cryptographic applications, for example: applications that perform bulk encryption/decryption, authentication, random number generation, and authenticated encryption.

Intel Clear Video HD Technology

Intel® Clear Video HD Technology, like its predecessor, Intel® Clear Video Technology, is a suite of image decode and processing technologies built into the integrated processor graphics that improve video playback, delivering cleaner, sharper images, more natural, accurate, and vivid colors, and a clear and stable video picture. Intel® Clear Video HD Technology adds video quality enhancements for richer color and more realistic skin tones.

Yes

Intel VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT)

Intel® VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT), also known as Second Level Address Translation (SLAT), provides acceleration for memory intensive virtualized applications. Extended Page Tables in Intel® Virtualization Technology platforms reduces the memory and power overhead costs and increases battery life through hardware optimization of page table management.

Yes

Intel InTru 3D Technology

Yes

Intel Flex Memory Access

Yes

Intel Quick Sync Video

Intel® Quick Sync Video delivers fast conversion of video for portable media players, online sharing, and video editing and authoring.

Yes

Benchmarks

Geekbench 6

Single Core Score

482

Geekbench 6

Multi Core Score

959

Geekbench 5

Single Core Score

518

Geekbench 5

Multi Core Score

1152

Passmark CPU

Single Core Score

1429

Passmark CPU

Multi Core Score

2193

Compared to Other CPU

Geekbench 6 Single Core

Core i5-2400S

557 +15.6%

Core i7-2620M

516 +7.1%

Core i3-2105

482

A10 PRO-7800B

446 -7.5%

Xeon Gold 6346

412 -14.5%

Geekbench 6 Multi Core

A10-7850K

1217 +26.9%

Pentium G3258

1078 +12.4%

Core i3-2105

959

Core i3-3220

867 -9.6%

A10-4600M

721 -24.8%

Geekbench 5 Single Core

Xeon E5-2690 v2

552 +6.6%

Core i5-2520M

531 +2.5%

Core i3-2105

518

EPYC 7301

503 -2.9%

FX-4150

489 -5.6%

Geekbench 5 Multi Core

Core i7-7Y75

1336 +16%

Pentium Gold 4417U

1242 +7.8%

Core i3-2105

1152

Core i7-2677M

1073 -6.9%

Pentium G870

1004 -12.8%

Passmark CPU Single Core

A10-7860K

1487 +4.1%

Athlon II X2 280

1462 +2.3%

Core i3-2105

1429

Celeron G1820T

1398 -2.2%

3015e

1363 -4.6%

Passmark CPU Multi Core

Core i3-7102E

2521 +15%

Core i7-3517U

2320 +5.8%

Core i3-2105

2193

Core M-5Y71

2025 -7.7%

Core M-5Y10

1906 -13.1%