Intel Celeron N5105 vs Intel Core i3-8145U Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The Intel Celeron N5105 has 4 cores, while the Intel Core i3-8145U has 2 cores. Both processors have 4 threads.

Q: What is the difference in base clock speed between the two chips?

A: The Intel Celeron N5105 has a base clock of 2000.00 MHz, while the Intel Core i3-8145U has a base clock of 2.10 GHz. The boost clock also differs, with the i3 reaching 3.90 GHz versus 2.90 GHz for the Celeron.

Q: Which processor has a larger L2 cache?

A: The Intel Celeron N5105 has 1.5 MB of shared L2 cache, while the Intel Core i3-8145U has 256 KB of L2 cache per core. Both have 4 MB of shared L3 cache.

Q: How do the two chips compare in memory bandwidth?

A: The Intel Celeron N5105 offers 46.9 GB/s of memory bandwidth, while the Intel Core i3-8145U offers 38.4 GB/s. Both support dual-channel memory.

Q: Which processor won more head-to-head benchmarks?

A: The Intel Celeron N5105 won 5 of the 6 recorded head-to-head benchmark comparisons, with the Intel Core i3-8145U winning only 1.

Q: What are the thermal design power ratings?

A: The Intel Core i3-8145U has a TDP of 15 watts, while the Intel Celeron N5105 has a TDP of 10 watts.

Architecture Differences

The Intel Core i3-8145U is built on the Whiskey Lake architecture, specifically the Whiskey Lake-U codename, and belongs to the Core i3 generation. It is fabricated on Intel's 10 nm process node and uses the Intel BGA 1528 socket. The chip has 2 physical cores with 4 threads, a base clock of 2.10 GHz, and a boost clock of 3.90 GHz. Its cache hierarchy includes 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 cache per core, and 4 MB of shared L3 cache. The integrated graphics are UHD Graphics 620, and the processor supports DDR4 memory with dual-channel configuration. It also provides PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes available from the CPU.

The Intel Celeron N5105 uses the Tremont architecture, with the Jasper Lake codename, and is part of the Celeron generation. It is also fabricated on Intel's 10 nm process node but uses the Intel BGA 1338 socket. This chip has 4 physical cores and 4 threads, meaning there is no hyper-threading. The base clock is 2000.00 MHz, and the boost clock reaches 2.90 GHz. Its L1 cache is also 64 KB per core, but the L2 cache is 1.5 MB shared across the cores, and the L3 cache is 4 MB shared. The die size is reported as 63.8 mm². Integrated graphics are listed as UHD Graphics 24EU. Memory support includes DDR4 and LPDDR4, with dual-channel operation and a higher memory bandwidth of 46.9 GB/s. PCIe connectivity is Gen 3 with 8 lanes from the CPU.

The architectural split is clear: the i3-8145U is a higher-clocked dual-core part with a larger PCIe allocation and a more capable integrated GPU designation, while the N5105 is a quad-core Tremont design with shared L2 cache, broader memory support, and lower TDP. Both are end-of-life mobile processors, and neither has an unlocked multiplier. The i3-8145U was released in late 2018, while the N5105 has no recorded release date in the database.

The process node is identical at 10 nm, which means the differences in performance come primarily from core count, clock speed, and microarchitecture rather than lithography. The i3-8145U's higher boost clock of 3.90 GHz versus 2.90 GHz for the N5105 gives it an advantage in single-threaded tasks that rely on frequency. The N5105's extra two cores give it an advantage in multi-threaded workloads, though both chips are limited to 4 threads total.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded head-to-head data covers six Cinebench tests across three versions. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Intel Celeron N5105 scores 341 against 322 for the Intel Core i3-8145U, a difference of 5.6 percent in favor of the Celeron. In Cinebench R15 singlecore, the i3-8145U takes a decisive win with a score of 148.5 versus 108.1, which is a 37.4 percent advantage. This is the only benchmark win for the i3-8145U across the entire head-to-head set.

Moving to Cinebench R20, the pattern shifts. In multicore, the N5105 scores 1422 against 1342, again a 5.6 percent lead. In singlecore, the N5105 also wins, scoring 200 against 189, a 5.5 percent difference. This is notable because the i3-8145U has a much higher boost clock, but the Celeron still edges it out in this test.

In Cinebench R23 multicore, the N5105 scores 3388 versus 3196 for the i3-8145U, a 5.7 percent lead. In Cinebench R23 singlecore, the N5105 scores 478 versus 451, a 5.6 percent lead. Across all six tests, the N5105 wins five, with margins ranging from 5.5 percent to 5.7 percent in its favor. The i3-8145U wins only the R15 singlecore test, but by a very large margin of 37.4 percent.

The overall benchmark average also supports the Celeron. The i3-8145U has an average benchmark score of 941, while the N5105 has an average of 955. The i3-8145U sits at the 25th percentile among all CPUs, and the N5105 also sits at the 25th percentile. The nearest rivals for the i3-8145U include the Intel Core i7-2715QE with an average score of 942, the AMD Athlon X4 860K with 943, the Intel Core i5-4330M with 938, and the AMD A8-7670K with 944. The differences range from 0.1 percent to 0.4 percent, placing the i3-8145U in a very tight cluster around the 940 mark.

For the N5105, the nearest rivals are the Intel Xeon W3570 with an average score of 955, the Intel Xeon W3550 with 956, the AMD Athlon X4 870K with 956, and the Intel Core i7-950 with 957. The deltas are very small, ranging from 0 to 0.2 percent, meaning the N5105 is essentially at parity with those older desktop parts.

Interpretation of the head-to-head results shows that the single clear win for the i3-8145U is in Cinebench R15 singlecore, where its boost clock advantage translates into a massive 37.4 percent lead. In every other test, the N5105 leads by a narrow but consistent margin of roughly 5.5 to 5.7 percent. This suggests that the Celeron's extra cores compensate for its lower clock speed in multi-threaded workloads, and its Tremont architecture is competitive enough in single-threaded tests to overcome the i3's clock advantage in the newer Cinebench versions.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ on several specification fields. The core count differs: the i3-8145U has 2 cores, while the N5105 has 4 cores. Thread count is the same at 4 for both. Base clock differs, with the i3 at 2.10 GHz and the N5105 at 2000.00 MHz. Boost clock differs more substantially, with the i3 at 3.90 GHz and the N5105 at 2.90 GHz. TDP differs as well: 15 watts for the i3 versus 10 watts for the Celeron.

The socket is different: Intel BGA 1528 for the i3-8145U and Intel BGA 1338 for the N5105. The architecture differs: Whiskey Lake versus Tremont. The codenames differ: Whiskey Lake-U versus Jasper Lake. The generation labels differ: Core i3 (Whiskey Lake) versus Celeron (Tremont). The process node is the same at 10 nm, and the foundry is the same, Intel.

Cache configurations differ in the L2 level. The i3-8145U has 256 KB of L2 per core, while the N5105 has 1.5 MB of shared L2. L1 cache is the same at 64 KB per core, and L3 is the same at 4 MB shared. Memory support differs: the i3 supports DDR4 only, while the N5105 supports DDR4 and LPDDR4. Memory bandwidth differs as well, with the N5105 at 46.9 GB/s versus 38.4 GB/s for the i3.

PCIe lanes differ: 16 lanes for the i3 versus 8 lanes for the N5105, both Gen 3. Integrated graphics differ: UHD Graphics 620 for the i3 versus UHD Graphics 24EU for the N5105. The i3 has a launch MSRP of $281, while the N5105 has no recorded launch MSRP. The die size is recorded only for the N5105 at 63.8 mm². The release date is recorded only for the i3-8145U, which was released in late 2018. Production status is the same: end-of-life. Multiplier unlocked status is the same: not unlocked.

The Verdict

The benchmark data shows that the Intel Celeron N5105 is the stronger performer in the majority of recorded tests. It wins 5 of 6 head-to-head comparisons, including all multicore tests and the newer singlecore tests from Cinebench R20 and R23. Its average benchmark score of 955 is also higher than the i3-8145U's 941. The N5105 achieves this with a lower TDP of 10 watts versus 15 watts, and it offers higher memory bandwidth at 46.9 GB/s.

The Intel Core i3-8145U has one clear advantage: single-threaded performance in Cinebench R15, where it leads by 37.4 percent. It also has a much higher boost clock of 3.90 GHz, more PCIe lanes, and a higher launch MSRP. However, in the newer Cinebench R20 and R23 tests, the N5105 wins even in single-core, which indicates that the architectural efficiency of Tremont offsets the i3's clock advantage in those workloads.

For a user deciding between these two, the data suggests the N5105 is the better all-around choice for multi-threaded tasks and for workloads represented by the newer Cinebench versions. The i3-8145U is preferable only if the specific workload closely matches Cinebench R15 single-core behavior, where its 37.4 percent lead is substantial. The i3 also has the advantage of 16 PCIe Gen 3 lanes, which may matter for expansion, and its UHD Graphics 620 designation may be relevant for certain graphics tasks, though the database does not provide graphics benchmarks for either chip.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Celeron N5105 wins in all multicore scenarios recorded. In Cinebench R15 multicore, it leads by 5.6 percent. In Cinebench R20 multicore, it leads by 5.6 percent. In Cinebench R23 multicore, it leads by 5.7 percent. These consistent margins indicate that the N5105 is the better choice for any workload that scales across four cores, such as rendering, encoding, or compilation. The N5105 also wins in the newer singlecore tests: R20 singlecore by 5.5 percent and R23 singlecore by 5.6 percent. This means that for modern single-threaded workloads as captured by Cinebench R20 and R23, the N5105 is also superior.

The Intel Core i3-8145U wins in exactly one recorded test: Cinebench R15 singlecore, with a score of 148.5 versus 108.1, a 37.4 percent advantage. This is a very large margin and suggests that for legacy single-threaded workloads that resemble Cinebench R15, the i3-8145U is the clear pick. The i3 also offers 16 PCIe Gen 3 lanes, twice the lane count of the N5105, which could be relevant for systems that need more expansion capacity. Its higher boost clock of 3.90 GHz may also help in bursty, lightly threaded tasks, though the newer Cinebench results do not confirm this advantage.

The use-case split is therefore straightforward. For general productivity, multi-threaded rendering, or any workload that can use four cores, the N5105 is the better choice based on the recorded data. For legacy single-threaded applications that behave like Cinebench R15, the i3-8145U has a decisive edge. The N5105 also has the advantage of lower power consumption at 10 watts TDP, which may be preferable for passive or fanless designs, while the i3-8145U's higher TDP of 15 watts may require more robust cooling. The N5105's higher memory bandwidth of 46.9 GB/s and support for LPDDR4 also make it more flexible for memory-constrained designs, while the i3-8145U's larger PCIe allocation gives it the edge in systems that need more peripheral connectivity.