Intel Core i3-1005G1 vs Intel Core i3-8109U Comparison

The Intel Core i3-1005G1 and Intel Core i3-8109U are both dual-core, four-thread mobile processors, but they come from different generations and design philosophies. The i3-1005G1 is a 10nm Ice Lake part with a 15W TDP, while the i3-8109U is a 14nm Kaby Lake part with a 28W TDP. Benchmark data shows the i3-1005G1 wins five of eight head-to-head tests, but the i3-8109U takes the remaining three, including a decisive victory in Cinebench R15 single-core and both Geekbench tests. The average benchmark score for the i3-1005G1 is 1265, against 1235 for the i3-8109U, a difference of 30 points. Both processors sit near the 35th percentile of all CPUs, with the i3-1005G1 at 35 and the i3-8109U at 34.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The i3-1005G1 dominates the Cinebench suite. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, it scores 410 against 357 for the i3-8109U, a 14.8% advantage. The same pattern holds in Cinebench R20 multi-core: 1709 versus 1488, a 14.9% lead. Cinebench R23 multi-core shows 4070 versus 3544, again 14.8% ahead. Single-core results in R20 and R23 also favor the i3-1005G1: 241 versus 210 (14.8%) and 574 versus 500 (14.8%) respectively. These consistent margins suggest the i3-1005G1 has a clear edge in Cinebench workloads, likely due to its newer architecture and higher boost clock in those tests.

The i3-8109U fights back in Cinebench R15 single-core, where it scores 138.65 against a mere 57 for the i3-1005G1. That is a 58.9% difference, the largest gap in any test. The i3-8109U also wins both Geekbench tests. In Geekbench multi-core, it posts 2454 versus 1978, a 19.4% advantage. In Geekbench single-core, it leads 1188 to 1083, an 8.8% margin. These wins are substantial, especially the Geekbench multi-core result, which flips the overall picture.

The head-to-head data shows a clear split: the i3-1005G1 is stronger in Cinebench across the board (except R15 single-core), while the i3-8109U is stronger in Geekbench and that one Cinebench variant. The i3-1005G1 wins five tests, the i3-8109U wins three.

Where Each One Wins

The i3-1005G1 is the better choice for Cinebench-based rendering and multi-threaded workloads. Its wins in R15, R20, and R23 multi-core, plus R20 and R23 single-core, indicate that it handles both heavily threaded and lightly threaded rendering tasks with more headroom. The consistent 14.8% to 14.9% margins across these tests point to a stable architectural advantage, not a one-off result.

The i3-8109U, on the other hand, excels in Geekbench, which is a more general-purpose benchmark covering a wider range of tasks. Its 19.4% lead in Geekbench multi-core and 8.8% lead in single-core suggest it may be better suited for everyday productivity, web browsing, and office applications. The huge win in Cinebench R15 single-core (58.9% ahead) is an outlier, but it still counts. If a workload relies on Geekbench-style performance, the i3-8109U is the stronger part.

The TDP difference also matters. The i3-1005G1 runs at 15W, while the i3-8109U draws 28W. This means the i3-1005G1 is likely to appear in thinner, lighter laptops with less aggressive cooling, while the i3-8109U may be found in larger, performance-oriented machines. The i3-1005G1's lower power draw could translate to longer battery life, though the database does not include battery tests.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on different process nodes and microarchitectures. The i3-1005G1 uses Intel's 10nm process and the Ice Lake architecture (Sunny Cove-U), while the i3-8109U uses the 14nm process and Kaby Lake (Kaby Lake-R). Both have the same die size of 123 mm², and both feature 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 4 MB of shared L3 cache. The cache layout is identical.

Clock speeds differ significantly. The i3-1005G1 has a base clock of 1.20 GHz and a boost clock of 3.40 GHz. The i3-8109U starts at 3.00 GHz and boosts to 3.60 GHz. The i3-8109U has a much higher base clock, which explains its strong single-core performance in Geekbench and Cinebench R15, but the i3-1005G1's boost clock is only 0.20 GHz lower, and its newer architecture appears to give it an edge in Cinebench.

Memory support also differs. The i3-1005G1 supports dual-channel DDR4 with a memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s. The i3-8109U also supports DDR4, but the database does not list its memory bus or bandwidth. The i3-1005G1 includes PCIe Gen 3 support, while the i3-8109U has no PCIe information recorded. Integrated graphics are different: the i3-1005G1 uses UHD Graphics, while the i3-8109U uses Iris Pro Plus. The i3-8109U's Iris Pro Plus is a higher-tier integrated GPU, which may matter for light gaming or media tasks, though the database does not include graphics benchmarks.

Sockets and release dates also separate them. The i3-1005G1 uses Intel BGA 1526 and was released on 2019-07-31. The i3-8109U uses Intel BGA 1356 and was released on 2018-04-04. Both are currently active, and neither has an unlocked multiplier.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher base clock?

A: The Intel Core i3-8109U has a base clock of 3.00 GHz, while the Intel Core i3-1005G1 has a base clock of 1.20 GHz.

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The i3-8109U boosts to 3.60 GHz, slightly ahead of the i3-1005G1's 3.40 GHz.

Q: Which processor has more L3 cache?

A: Both have 4 MB of shared L3 cache, so they are equal in that regard.

Q: Which processor wins in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The i3-1005G1 scores 4070, while the i3-8109U scores 3544, giving the i3-1005G1 a 14.8% lead.

Q: Which processor wins in Geekbench multi-core?

A: The i3-8109U scores 2454, while the i3-1005G1 scores 1978, a 19.4% advantage for the i3-8109U.

Q: Which processor has the lower TDP?

A: The i3-1005G1 has a TDP of 15W, while the i3-8109U has a TDP of 28W.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i3-1005G1 | Intel Core i3-8109U |

|---------------|---------------------|---------------------|

| Base Clock | 1.20 GHz | 3.00 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.40 GHz | 3.60 GHz |

| TDP | 15W | 28W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1526 | Intel BGA 1356 |

| Architecture | Ice Lake | Kaby Lake |

| Process Node | 10 nm | 14 nm |

| Memory Bus | Dual-channel | Not listed |

| Memory Bandwidth | 51.2 GB/s | Not listed |

| PCIe | Gen 3 | Not listed |

| Integrated Graphics | UHD Graphics | Iris Pro Plus |

| Release Date | 2019-07-31 | 2018-04-04 |

| Part Number | SRG0SSRGKF | Not listed |

The Verdict

The data points to a clear split. If your primary workload is Cinebench-based rendering, the Intel Core i3-1005G1 is the stronger choice. It wins every Cinebench test except R15 single-core, with margins of 14.8% to 14.9% over the i3-8109U. Its lower TDP of 15W also makes it more suitable for thin-and-light laptops, and its 10nm process node is more modern.

If your workload leans on Geekbench, or if you need a higher base clock for responsiveness in everyday tasks, the Intel Core i3-8109U is the better pick. It leads by 19.4% in Geekbench multi-core and 8.8% in single-core, and its 3.00 GHz base clock is far higher than the i3-1005G1's 1.20 GHz. The i3-8109U also has the Iris Pro Plus integrated graphics, which may be a factor for light media use.

The average benchmark scores are close: 1265 for the i3-1005G1 versus 1235 for the i3-8109U. The i3-1005G1 edges ahead overall, but the i3-8109U's wins in Geekbench and R15 single-core are significant. Choose the i3-1005G1 for Cinebench-heavy tasks and power efficiency; choose the i3-8109U for Geekbench-style performance and higher base clocks.