i3-8121U vs i5-9500T

Primary details

Comparing Core i5-9500T and Core i3-8121U processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking	1204	1698
Place by popularity	not in top-100	not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluation	5.30	no data
Market segment	Desktop processor	Laptop
Series	Intel Core i5	Intel Core i3
Power efficiency	13.97	9.32
Architecture codename	Coffee Lake (2017−2019)	Coffee Lake-U (2018−2019)
Release date	1 April 2018 (6 years ago)	5 May 2018 (6 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)	$192	no data

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

Detailed specifications

Core i5-9500T and Core i3-8121U 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 cores	6 (Hexa-Core)	2 (Dual-core)
Threads	6	4
Base clock speed	2.2 GHz	2.2 GHz
Boost clock speed	3.7 GHz	3.2 GHz
Bus type	DMI 3.0	OPI
Bus rate	4 × 8 GT/s	4 GT/s
Multiplier	22	22
L1 cache	64 KB (per core)	64K (per core)
L2 cache	256 KB (per core)	256K (per core)
L3 cache	9 MB (shared)	4 MB (shared)
Chip lithography	14 nm	10 nm
Die size	149 mm2	123 mm2
Maximum core temperature	100 °C	105 °C
Maximum case temperature (TCase)	no data	72 °C
64 bit support	+	+
Windows 11 compatibility	+	-

Compatibility

Information on Core i5-9500T and Core i3-8121U 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 configuration	1 (Uniprocessor)	1 (Uniprocessor)
Socket	FCLGA1151	Intel BGA1440
Power consumption (TDP)	35 Watt	15 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i5-9500T and Core i3-8121U. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensions	Intel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2	Intel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX, Intel® AVX2, Intel® AVX-512
AES-NI	+	+
AVX	+	+
vPro	+	-
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)	+	+
QuickAssist	no data	-
Speed Shift	no data	+
My WiFi	no data	+
Turbo Boost Technology	2.0	2.0
Hyper-Threading Technology	-	+
TSX	+	-
Idle States	+	+
Thermal Monitoring	+	+
Flex Memory Access	no data	+
SIPP	+	-
Smart Response	no data	+
Demand Based Switching	no data	-
HD Audio	no data	+
RST	no data	+

Security technologies

Core i5-9500T and Core i3-8121U 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 i5-9500T and Core i3-8121U are enumerated here.

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

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i5-9500T and Core i3-8121U. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory types	DDR4-2666	DDR4
Maximum memory size	128 GB	32 GB
Max memory channels	2	2
Maximum memory bandwidth	42.671 GB/s	38.397 GB/s

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics card	Intel UHD Graphics 630	Iris Pro Plus
Max video memory	64 GB	no data
Quick Sync Video	+	-
Clear Video	+	no data
Clear Video HD	+	no data
Graphics max frequency	1.1 GHz	no data
InTru 3D	+	no data

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core i5-9500T and Core i3-8121U integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supported

3

no data

Graphics image quality

Maximum display resolutions supported by Core i5-9500T and Core i3-8121U integrated GPUs, including resolutions over different interfaces.

4K resolution support	+	no data
Max resolution over HDMI 1.4	4096x2304@24Hz	no data
Max resolution over eDP	4096x2304@60Hz	no data
Max resolution over DisplayPort	4096x2304@60Hz	no data

Graphics API support

APIs supported by Core i5-9500T and Core i3-8121U integrated GPUs, sometimes API versions are included.

DirectX	12	no data
OpenGL	4.5	no data

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i5-9500T and Core i3-8121U.

PCIe version	3.0	3.0
PCI Express lanes	16	16

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.

---

Pros & cons summary

---

Performance score	5.17	2.76
Recency	1 April 2018	5 May 2018
Physical cores	6	2
Threads	6	4
Chip lithography	14 nm	10 nm
Power consumption (TDP)	35 Watt	15 Watt

---

Should you still have questions on choice between Core i5-9500T and Core i3-8121U, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

Vote for your favorite

Do you think we are right or mistaken in our choice? Vote by clicking "Like" button near your favorite CPU.

---