14 DAY TRIAL // In the coming months, Intel will expand its Sandy Bridge processor lineup with a new K-series Core i3 CPU that targets enthusiast users and features dual processing cores, a 3.3GHz base frequency, and an unlocked multiplier.
The chip is known as the Core i3-2120K and, once launched, it will become Intel's fastest Sandy Bridge CPU with two processing cores.
But its most important feature is the unlocked multiplier design, as this means that overclockers will be able to push the operating frequencies of the processor further than Intel's specifications.
Outside of these modifications, the 2120K shares most of its features with the rest of Intel's Core i3 CPU models and features 3MB of Level 3 cache, Intel HD 2000 integrated graphics, an integrated memory controller, and Hyper-Threading support.
The chip's TDP has also remained unchanged from the rest of the Core i3 desktop lineup and is set at 65W.
Sadly, we don't know when the Core i3-2120K is scheduled to make its appearance, but according to the Xfastest publication, this will be priced at $150 USD.
When it designed the Sandy Bridge architecture, Intel decided to take a different route as far as overclocking is concerned and it locked the BCLK of the CPUs.
This means that overclocking is no longer possible if the processor doesn't come with an unlocked multiplier.
Right now, only two of Intel's CPUs have such a multiplier, the Core i7-2600K and the Core i5-2500K, but both of these feature four processing cores, so the Core i3-2120K will be the only Sandy Bridge chip to come with an unlocked multi.
In the forth quarter of this year, Intel will release new processor models based on the Sandy Bridge-E architecture that will feature even greater overclocking potential as both their BCLK and multiplier will be unlocked.