i5-8259U vs i3-7100U

VS

Aggregate performance score

Core i3-7100U
2016
2 cores / 4 threads, 15 Watt
1.72
Core i5-8259U
2018
4 cores / 8 threads, 28 Watt
4.95
+188%

Core i5-8259U outperforms Core i3-7100U by a whopping 188% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

Comparing Core i3-7100U and Core i5-8259U processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking20511237
Place by popularitynot in top-100not in top-100
Market segmentLaptopLaptop
SeriesIntel Core i3Intel Core i5
Power efficiency10.8516.73
Architecture codenameKaby Lake (2016−2019)Coffee Lake-U (2018−2019)
Release date30 August 2016 (8 years ago)5 April 2018 (6 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)$281$320

Detailed specifications

Core i3-7100U and Core i5-8259U basic parameters such as number of cores, number of threads, base frequency and turbo boost clock, lithography, cache size and multiplier lock state. These parameters indirectly say of CPU speed, though for more precise assessment you have to consider their test results.

Physical cores2 (Dual-core)4 (Quad-Core)
Threads48
Base clock speed2.4 GHz2.3 GHz
Boost clock speed2.4 GHz3.8 GHz
Bus typeOPIOPI
Bus rate4 GT/s4 GT/s
Multiplier2423
L1 cache128 KB64K (per core)
L2 cache512 KB256K (per core)
L3 cache3 MB6 MB (shared)
Chip lithography14 nm14 nm
Die sizeno data126 mm2
Maximum core temperature100 °C100 °C
Maximum case temperature (TCase)no data72 °C
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibility-+

Compatibility

Information on Core i3-7100U and Core i5-8259U compatibility with other computer components: motherboard (look for socket type), power supply unit (look for power consumption) etc. Useful when planning a future computer configuration or upgrading an existing one. Note that power consumption of some processors can well exceed their nominal TDP, even without overclocking. Some can even double their declared thermals given that the motherboard allows to tune the CPU power parameters.

Number of CPUs in a configuration1 (Uniprocessor)1 (Uniprocessor)
SocketFCBGA1356,FPBGA1356FCBGA1528
Power consumption (TDP)15 Watt28 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i3-7100U and Core i5-8259U. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensionsIntel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2Intel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2
AES-NI++
AVX++
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)++
eDRAMno data128 MB
Speed Shift++
My WiFi++
Turbo Boost Technology-2.0
Hyper-Threading Technology++
Idle States++
Thermal Monitoring++
Flex Memory Access++
Smart Response+no data

Security technologies

Core i3-7100U and Core i5-8259U technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXT--
EDB++
Secure Key++
MPX++
Identity Protection++
SGXYes with Intel® MEYes with Intel® ME
OS Guard++

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i3-7100U and Core i5-8259U are enumerated here.

AMD-V++
VT-d++
VT-x++
EPT++

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i3-7100U and Core i5-8259U. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesDDR4DDR4
Maximum memory size32 GB32 GB
Max memory channels22
Maximum memory bandwidth34.134 GB/s38.397 GB/s

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics card
Compare
Intel HD Graphics 620Intel Iris Plus Graphics 655
Max video memory32 GB32 GB
Quick Sync Video++
Clear Video++
Clear Video HD++
Graphics max frequency1 GHz1.05 GHz
InTru 3Dno data+

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core i3-7100U and Core i5-8259U integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supported33
eDP++
DisplayPort++
HDMI++
DVI++

Graphics image quality

Maximum display resolutions supported by Core i3-7100U and Core i5-8259U integrated GPUs, including resolutions over different interfaces.

4K resolution support++
Max resolution over HDMI 1.44096x2304@24Hz4096x2304@30Hz
Max resolution over eDP4096x2304@60Hz4096x2304@60Hz
Max resolution over DisplayPort4096x2304@60Hz4096x2304@60Hz
Max resolution over VGAN/Ano data

Graphics API support

APIs supported by Core i3-7100U and Core i5-8259U integrated GPUs, sometimes API versions are included.

DirectX1212
OpenGL4.54.5

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i3-7100U and Core i5-8259U.

PCIe version3.03.0
PCI Express lanes1216

Synthetic benchmark performance

Various benchmark results of the processors in comparison. Overall score is measured in points in 0-100 range, higher is better.


Combined synthetic benchmark score

This is our combined benchmark performance rating. We are regularly improving our combining algorithms, but if you find some perceived inconsistencies, feel free to speak up in comments section, we usually fix problems quickly.

i3-7100U 1.72
i5-8259U 4.95
+188%

Passmark

Passmark CPU Mark is a widespread benchmark, consisting of 8 different types of workload, including integer and floating point math, extended instructions, compression, encryption and physics calculation. There is also one separate single-threaded scenario measuring single-core performance.

i3-7100U 2726
i5-8259U 7867
+189%

GeekBench 5 Single-Core

GeekBench 5 Single-Core is a cross-platform application developed in the form of CPU tests that independently recreate certain real-world tasks with which to accurately measure performance. This version uses only a single CPU core.

i3-7100U 772
i5-8259U 1238
+60.4%

GeekBench 5 Multi-Core

GeekBench 5 Multi-Core is a cross-platform application developed in the form of CPU tests that independently recreate certain real-world tasks with which to accurately measure performance. This version uses all available CPU cores.

i3-7100U 1574
i5-8259U 4103
+161%

Cinebench 10 32-bit single-core

Cinebench R10 is an ancient ray tracing benchmark for processors by Maxon, authors of Cinema 4D. Its single core version uses just one CPU thread to render a futuristic looking motorcycle.

i3-7100U 3874
i5-8259U 5706
+47.3%

Cinebench 10 32-bit multi-core

Cinebench Release 10 Multi Core is a variant of Cinebench R10 using all the processor threads. Possible number of threads is limited by 16 in this version.

i3-7100U 8758
i5-8259U 21869
+150%

wPrime 32

wPrime 32M is a math multi-thread processor test, which calculates square roots of first 32 million integer numbers. Its result is measured in seconds, so that the less is benchmark result, the faster the processor.

i3-7100U 20.25
i5-8259U 7.48
+171%

Cinebench 11.5 64-bit multi-core

Cinebench Release 11.5 Multi Core is a variant of Cinebench R11.5 which uses all the processor threads. A maximum of 64 threads is supported in this version.

i3-7100U 3
i5-8259U 7
+148%

Cinebench 15 64-bit multi-core

Cinebench Release 15 Multi Core is a variant of Cinebench R15 which uses all the processor threads.

i3-7100U 257
i5-8259U 615
+140%

Cinebench 15 64-bit single-core

Cinebench R15 (standing for Release 15) is a benchmark made by Maxon, authors of Cinema 4D. It was superseded by later versions of Cinebench, which use more modern variants of Cinema 4D engine. The Single Core version (sometimes called Single-Thread) only uses a single processor thread to render a room full of reflective spheres and light sources.

i3-7100U 95
i5-8259U 149
+56.5%

Cinebench 11.5 64-bit single-core

Cinebench R11.5 is an old benchmark by Maxon, authors of Cinema 4D. It was superseded by later versions of Cinebench, which use more modern variants of Cinema 4D engine. The Single Core version loads a single thread with ray tracing to render a glossy room full of crystal spheres and light sources.

i3-7100U 1.03
i5-8259U 1.67
+62.1%

Gaming performance

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 1.72 4.95
Integrated graphics card 2.43 4.49
Recency 30 August 2016 5 April 2018
Physical cores 2 4
Threads 4 8
Power consumption (TDP) 15 Watt 28 Watt

i3-7100U has 86.7% lower power consumption.

i5-8259U, on the other hand, has a 187.8% higher aggregate performance score, 84.8% faster integrated GPU, an age advantage of 1 year, and 100% more physical cores and 100% more threads.

The Core i5-8259U is our recommended choice as it beats the Core i3-7100U in performance tests.


Should you still have questions on choice between Core i3-7100U and Core i5-8259U, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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Intel Core i3-7100U
Core i3-7100U
Intel Core i5-8259U
Core i5-8259U

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