Intel Core i3-8120 socket: LGA 1151

What the Core i3-8120 is

The Core i3-8120 is a four core, four thread desktop processor with a fixed 3.7 GHz clock and no turbo step. It carries 6 MB of shared L3 cache on the 14 nm process with a 126 square mm die. The TechPowerUp database lists part number SR3XP with a September 1, 2018 release and a 65 W TDP.

It sits 100 MHz above the i3-8100 in the same 65 W band, which makes it a small step for office towers bought in late 2018. The fixed clock keeps behavior steady for managed images. ECC memory is listed as supported, which suits small workstations beside plain offices.

UHD Graphics 630 covers office displays without a separate card. The multiplier is locked at 37 times the 100 MHz base clock. Boards from the 300 series with display outputs are the natural match.

Socket and motherboard compatibility

The 8120 fits LGA 1151 revision 2 on 300 series motherboards such as H310, B360 and H370. The database entry names the Intel 300 Series as its chipset. Boards sold in late 2018 accept it with the shipping BIOS where the maker lists the part.

It does not fit 100 or 200 series boards, which are revision 1 for 6th and 7th Gen chips. The Socket vs chipset: what decides whether a CPU works guide explains why the two revisions do not mix despite the shared socket name.

Office buyers should confirm the board BIOS lists the 8120 before ordering, because some early 300 series releases predate this SKU. H310 boards with HDMI outputs suit basic towers. The Intel Core i3-9100 is a nearby alternative with wider board listings at 100 MHz less.

Memory, PCIe and cooling

Memory support is DDR4 in two channels at up to 2400 MT/s, with about 38.4 GB per sec of bandwidth. ECC is listed as supported, so workstation boards that wire it can correct single bit errors. Two matched sticks give dual channel speed for office multitasking.

PCI Express arrives as version 3.0 with 16 lanes from the CPU for graphics and storage. A single NVMe drive and a low profile card fit the lane budget of a compact tower. Cooling uses the shared 75 mm LGA 1151 pattern at 65 W, so stock Intel coolers fit.

Upgrade paths

On the same socket the step up is a six core chip such as the Intel Core i5-8400 where threaded work matters, keeping the board and DDR4. The 8120 keeps its place where a fixed clock quad core covers office work. A used B360 board with this chip makes a cheap fleet tower.

Moving past LGA 1151 to LGA 1200 needs a new board, since no 8th Gen chip fits the newer socket. Office buyers usually add memory or an SSD before replacing the processor.