2nd Generation Core processor : Built on Intel's "Sandy Bridge" architecture which is 32nm micro-architecture and other things introduced shared cache and placed the memory controller, graphics and CPU on the same die.
3rd Generation Core processor : Built on Intel's “Ivy Bridge” architecture. It is a copy of Sandy Bridge manufactured on a smaller scale, or die. It consumes less power and gives better performance.
1st generation Core i3 processors were built on Intel’s Nehalem architecture.
2nd Generation Processors vs 3rd Generation Processors
2nd Generation Core processor : Built on Intel's "Sandy Bridge" architecture which is 32nm micro-architecture and other things introduced shared cache and placed the memory controller, graphics and CPU on the same die.
3rd Generation Core processor : Built on Intel's “Ivy Bridge” architecture. It is a copy of Sandy Bridge manufactured on a smaller scale, or die. It consumes less power and gives better performance.
1st generation Core i3 processors were built on Intel’s Nehalem architecture.
2nd Generation Processors vs 3rd Generation Processors
Intel Processors Comparison 1st, 2nd & 3rd Generation Processors
Feature
Previous Generation Intel® Core™ i3 Processor
2nd Generation Intel® Core™ i3 Processors
3rd Generation Intel® Core™ i3 Processors
Processor Number
i3-330M
i3-2328M
i3-3229Y
Launch Date
Q1'10
Q3'12
Q1'13
# of Cores
2
2
2
# of Threads
4
4
4
Cache
3.0 MB
3.0 MB
3.0 MB
Clock Speed
2.13 GHz
2.20 GHz
1.40 GHz
Bus/Core Ratio
16
22
14
Bus Type
DMI
DMI
DMI
Instruction Set
64-bit
64-bit
64-bit
Instruction Set Extensions
SSE4.1, SSE4.2
AVX
AVX
Lithography
32 nm
32 nm
22 nm
Max TDP
35
35
13
Max Memory Size (dependent on memory type)
8 GB
16 GB
32 GB
Memory Types
DDR3-800/1066
DDR3-1066/1333
DDR3/L/-RS 1333/1600
# of Memory Channels
2
2
2
Max Memory Bandwidth
17.1
21.3
25.6
Physical Address Extensions
36-bit
-
-
Processor Graphics
-
Yes
Yes
Graphics Base Frequency
500 MHz
650 MHz
350 MHz
Graphics Max Dynamic Frequency
667 MHz
1.10 GHz
850 MHz
Intel® Quick Sync Video
-
Yes
Yes
Intel® InTru™ 3D Technology
-
Yes
Yes
Intel® Wireless Display
-
Yes
Yes
Intel® Flexible Display Interface (Intel® FDI)
Yes
Yes
Yes
Intel® Clear Video HD Technology
Yes
Yes
Yes
Dual Display Capable
Yes
Yes
Yes
PCI Express Revision
2.0
2.0
-
# of PCI Express Lanes
16
16
-
PCI Express Configurations
1x16
1x16, 2x8, 1x8 2x4
-
Max CPU Configuration
1
1
1
Package Size
rPGA 37.5mmx 37.5mm, BGA 34mmx28mm
37.5mm x 37.5mm (rPGA988B); 31mm x 24mm (BGA1023)
31mm x 24mm
Processing Die Size
81
-
-
# of Processing Die Transistors
382
-
-
Graphics and IMC Lithography
45 nm
32 nm
22 nm
Graphics and IMC Die Size
114
-
-
# of Graphics and IMC Die Transistors
177
-
-
Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology
Yes
Yes
Yes
Intel® Turbo Boost Technology
No
No
No
Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d)
No
No
No
Intel® Trusted Execution Technology
No
No
No
Intel® 64
Yes
Yes
Yes
Intel® Demand Based Switching
-
No
No
Idle States
Yes
Yes
Yes
Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® Technology
Yes
Yes
Yes
Thermal Monitoring Technologies
Yes
Yes
Yes
Execute Disable Bit
Yes
Yes
Yes
You can compare processors at : http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/processor-comparison/comparison-chart.html