Ultra 5 125U vs i3-8109U

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Aggregate performance score

Core i3-8109U
2018
2 cores / 4 threads, 28 Watt
2.79
Core Ultra 5 125U
2023
12 cores / 14 threads, 15 Watt
11.53
+313%

Core Ultra 5 125U outperforms Core i3-8109U by a whopping 313% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

Comparing Core i3-8109U and Core Ultra 5 125U processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking1698691
Place by popularitynot in top-100not in top-100
Market segmentLaptopLaptop
SeriesIntel Core i3Intel Meteor Lake-U
Power efficiency9.0970.09
Architecture codenameCoffee Lake-U (2018−2019)Meteor Lake-P (2023)
Release date2 April 2018 (6 years ago)14 December 2023 (less than a year ago)
Launch price (MSRP)$304$363

Detailed specifications

Core i3-8109U and Core Ultra 5 125U 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)12 (Dodeca-Core)
Threads414
Base clock speed3 GHz1.3 GHz
Boost clock speed3.6 GHz4.3 GHz
Bus typeOPIno data
Bus rate4 GT/sno data
Multiplier30no data
L1 cache128 KB112 KB (per core)
L2 cache512 KB2 MB (per core)
L3 cache4 MB (shared)12 MB (shared)
Chip lithography14 nmIntel 4 nm
Die size123 mm2no data
Maximum core temperature100 °C110 °C
Maximum case temperature (TCase)72 °Cno data
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibility+no data

Compatibility

Information on Core i3-8109U and Core Ultra 5 125U 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
SocketFCBGA1528FCBGA2049
Power consumption (TDP)28 Watt15 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i3-8109U and Core Ultra 5 125U. 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++
vProno data+
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)++
eDRAM128 MBno data
Speed Shift++
My WiFi+no data
Turbo Boost Technology2.0no data
Hyper-Threading Technology++
TSX-+
Idle States+no data
Thermal Monitoring++
Flex Memory Access++
Turbo Boost Max 3.0no data-
Deep Learning Boost-+
Supported AI Software Frameworks-OpenVINO™, WindowsML, ONNX RT

Security technologies

Core i3-8109U and Core Ultra 5 125U technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXT-+
EDB++
Secure Key++
MPX+-
Identity Protection+-
SGXYes with Intel® MEno data
OS Guard++

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i3-8109U and Core Ultra 5 125U are enumerated here.

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

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i3-8109U and Core Ultra 5 125U. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesDDR4DDR5
Maximum memory size32 GB96 GB
Max memory channels22
Maximum memory bandwidth38.397 GB/sno data

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics cardIntel Iris Plus Graphics 655Intel® Graphics
Max video memory32 GBno data
Quick Sync Video++
Clear Video+no data
Clear Video HD+no data
Graphics max frequency300 MHz1.85 GHz
InTru 3D+no data

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core i3-8109U and Core Ultra 5 125U integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supported34
eDP+no data
DisplayPort+-
HDMI+-
DVI+no data

Graphics image quality

Maximum display resolutions supported by Core i3-8109U and Core Ultra 5 125U integrated GPUs, including resolutions over different interfaces.

4K resolution support+no data
Max resolution over HDMI 1.44096x2304@30Hz4096 x 2304 @ 60Hz (HDMI 2.1 TMDS) 7680 x 4320 @ 60Hz (HDMI2.1 FRL)
Max resolution over eDP4096x2304@60Hz3840x2400 @ 120Hz
Max resolution over DisplayPort4096x2304@60Hz7680 x 4320 @ 60Hz

Graphics API support

APIs supported by Core i3-8109U and Core Ultra 5 125U integrated GPUs, sometimes API versions are included.

DirectX1212.2
OpenGL4.54.6

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i3-8109U and Core Ultra 5 125U.

PCIe version3.04.0
PCI Express lanes1612
PCI supportno data4.0

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.

i3-8109U 2.79
Ultra 5 125U 11.53
+313%

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.

i3-8109U 4263
Ultra 5 125U 17645
+314%

Cinebench 15 64-bit multi-core

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

i3-8109U 353
Ultra 5 125U 1657
+370%

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.

i3-8109U 139
Ultra 5 125U 225
+62.3%

Geekbench 5.5 Multi-Core

i3-8109U 1880
Ultra 5 125U 8311
+342%

Blender(-)

i3-8109U 1328
+279%
Ultra 5 125U 350

Geekbench 5.5 Single-Core

i3-8109U 888
Ultra 5 125U 1569
+76.7%

7-Zip Single

i3-8109U 3752
Ultra 5 125U 4598
+22.5%

7-Zip

i3-8109U 9489
Ultra 5 125U 39087
+312%

WebXPRT 3

i3-8109U 131
Ultra 5 125U 245
+86.2%

Gaming performance

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 2.79 11.53
Recency 2 April 2018 14 December 2023
Physical cores 2 12
Threads 4 14
Power consumption (TDP) 28 Watt 15 Watt

Ultra 5 125U has a 313.3% higher aggregate performance score, an age advantage of 5 years, 500% more physical cores and 250% more threads, and 86.7% lower power consumption.

The Core Ultra 5 125U is our recommended choice as it beats the Core i3-8109U in performance tests.


Should you still have questions on choice between Core i3-8109U and Core Ultra 5 125U, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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Intel Core i3-8109U
Core i3-8109U
Intel Core Ultra 5 125U
Core Ultra 5 125U

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Community ratings

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Questions & comments

Here you can ask a question about Core i3-8109U or Core Ultra 5 125U, agree or disagree with our judgements, or report an error or mismatch.