i3-8145U vs i3-8121U

VS

Aggregate performance score

Core i3-8121U
2018
2 cores / 4 threads, 15 Watt
2.76
+15.5%
Core i3-8145U
2018
2 cores / 4 threads, 15 Watt
2.39

Core i3-8121U outperforms Core i3-8145U by a moderate 15% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

Comparing Core i3-8121U and Core i3-8145U processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking16981788
Place by popularitynot in top-100not in top-100
Market segmentLaptopLaptop
SeriesIntel Core i3Intel Core i3
Power efficiency9.3215.07
Architecture codenameCoffee Lake-U (2018−2019)Whiskey Lake-U (2018−2019)
Release date5 May 2018 (6 years ago)1 October 2018 (6 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)no data$281

Detailed specifications

Core i3-8121U and Core i3-8145U 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)2 (Dual-core)
Threads44
Base clock speed2.2 GHz2.1 GHz
Boost clock speed3.2 GHz3.9 GHz
Bus typeOPIOPI
Bus rate4 GT/s4 GT/s
Multiplier2221
L1 cache64K (per core)64 KB (per core)
L2 cache256K (per core)256 KB (per core)
L3 cache4 MB (shared)4 MB (shared)
Chip lithography10 nm14 nm
Die size123 mm2123 mm2
Maximum core temperature105 °C100 °C
Maximum case temperature (TCase)72 °C72 °C
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibility-+

Compatibility

Information on Core i3-8121U and Core i3-8145U 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)
SocketIntel BGA1440FCBGA1528
Power consumption (TDP)15 Watt15 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i3-8121U and Core i3-8145U. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensionsIntel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX, Intel® AVX2, Intel® AVX-512Intel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2
AES-NI++
AVX++
vPro-no data
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)++
QuickAssist-no data
Speed Shift++
My WiFi++
Turbo Boost Technology2.02.0
Hyper-Threading Technology++
Idle States++
Thermal Monitoring++
Flex Memory Access++
Smart Response++
Demand Based Switching-no data
HD Audio+no data
RST+no data

Security technologies

Core i3-8121U and Core i3-8145U technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXT--
EDB++
Secure Key++
MPX+-
Identity Protection-+
SGX-Yes with Intel® ME
OS Guard++

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i3-8121U and Core i3-8145U are enumerated here.

AMD-V-+
VT-d++
VT-x++
VT-i-no data
EPT++

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i3-8121U and Core i3-8145U. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesDDR4DDR4
Maximum memory size32 GB64 GB
Max memory channels22
Maximum memory bandwidth38.397 GB/s38.397 GB/s

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics cardIris Pro PlusIntel UHD Graphics for 8th Generation Intel Processors
Max video memoryno data32 GB
Quick Sync Video-+
Clear Videono data+
Clear Video HDno data+
Graphics max frequencyno data1 GHz

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core i3-8121U and Core i3-8145U integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supportedno data3
eDPno data+
DisplayPort-+
HDMI-+
DVIno data+

Graphics image quality

Maximum display resolutions supported by Core i3-8121U and Core i3-8145U integrated GPUs, including resolutions over different interfaces.

4K resolution supportno data+
Max resolution over HDMI 1.4no data4096x2304@24Hz
Max resolution over eDPno data4096x2304@60Hz
Max resolution over DisplayPortno data4096x2304@60Hz

Graphics API support

APIs supported by Core i3-8121U and Core i3-8145U integrated GPUs, sometimes API versions are included.

DirectXno data12
OpenGLno data4.5

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i3-8121U and Core i3-8145U.

PCIe version3.03.0
PCI Express lanes1616

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.

i3-8121U 2.76
+15.5%
i3-8145U 2.39

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.

i3-8121U 4391
+15.7%
i3-8145U 3794

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.

i3-8121U 1165
+46.7%
i3-8145U 794

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.

i3-8121U 2367
+50.3%
i3-8145U 1575

3DMark06 CPU

3DMark06 is a discontinued DirectX 9 benchmark suite from Futuremark. Its CPU part contains two scenarios, one dedicated to artificial intelligence pathfinding, another to game physics using PhysX package.

i3-8121U 4314
i3-8145U 5158
+19.6%

Cinebench 15 64-bit multi-core

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

i3-8121U 318
i3-8145U 352
+10.7%

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.

i3-8121U 133
i3-8145U 149
+11.7%

Gaming performance

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 2.76 2.39
Recency 5 May 2018 1 October 2018
Chip lithography 10 nm 14 nm

i3-8121U has a 15.5% higher aggregate performance score, and a 40% more advanced lithography process.

i3-8145U, on the other hand, has an age advantage of 4 months.

The Core i3-8121U is our recommended choice as it beats the Core i3-8145U in performance tests.


Should you still have questions on choice between Core i3-8121U and Core i3-8145U, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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Intel Core i3-8121U
Core i3-8121U
Intel Core i3-8145U
Core i3-8145U

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Community ratings

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Questions & comments

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