Intel Core i3-1110G4 vs Intel Core i3-8145U Comparison

These two 15W mobile processors, the Intel Core i3-1110G4 and the Intel Core i3-8145U, represent two different generations of Intel's low-power laptop silicon. The data shows a familiar story: the newer Tiger Lake part holds a consistent, though often narrow, lead over its Whiskey Lake predecessor across all tested workloads, while the older chip remains competitive due to identical core counts and clock ceilings.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark results show a clean sweep for the Intel Core i3-1110G4, which wins all six head-to-head comparisons. The most significant margin comes in the Cinebench R15 single-core test, where the 1110G4 scores 160.4 against the 8145U's 148.5, an 8% advantage. This is the largest deltaPct recorded between the two parts and highlights the IPC improvements of the newer Willow Cove architecture.

Multi-core results tell a different story, however. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, both processors post an identical score of 322, resulting in a 0% deltaPct. This parity suggests that despite architectural differences, the dual-core, four-thread configuration of both chips hits the same performance ceiling under this specific load. The pattern repeats in Cinebench R20 multi-core, where the 1110G4 scores 1344 versus 1342 for the 8145U, a razor-thin 0.1% margin.

The Cinebench R23 results follow the same trajectory. In the multi-core test, the 1110G4 scores 3202 against the 8145U's 3196, a 0.2% difference. Single-core R23 shows the 1110G4 at 452 and the 8145U at 451, again a 0.2% margin. Interestingly, the Cinebench R20 single-core test produces an exact tie at 189 for both processors. These near-identical scores in multi-threaded workloads indicate that the 8145U's higher base clock of 2.10 GHz helps it compensate for the architectural advantages of the 1110G4, which runs at a lower 1800.00 MHz base clock but boosts to the same 3.90 GHz maximum.

The average benchmark score reinforces the overall picture. The 1110G4 holds an average of 945 across all tests, while the 8145U sits at 941. This places the 1110G4 in the 25th percentile of all CPUs, with its nearest rival being the AMD A8-7670K at 944 (0.1% delta) and the Intel Xeon X5560 at 946 (-0.1% delta). The 8145U also sits in the 25th percentile, with its closest competitor being the Intel Core i5-4330M at 938 (0.3% delta) and the AMD A8-7670K at 944 (-0.4% delta). Both chips are effectively dead-even in the broader CPU landscape, trading places with the same set of older desktop and mobile parts.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i3-1110G4 wins on every benchmark where a difference exists, but the size of that victory varies by workload. Its strongest advantage appears in single-threaded rendering tasks, as demonstrated by the 8% lead in Cinebench R15 single-core. This makes it the better choice for applications that rely heavily on per-core performance, such as legacy productivity software or lightly threaded content creation tools. The 1110G4's newer Tiger Lake architecture with its larger L1 cache of 96 KB per core and 1.25 MB per core L2 cache likely contributes to this edge.

The Intel Core i3-8145U, despite losing every head-to-head comparison, shows remarkable resilience in multi-threaded workloads. Its higher base clock of 2.10 GHz, compared to the 1110G4's 1800.00 MHz, helps it nearly match the newer part in Cinebench R20 and R23 multi-core tests, where the deltas are just 0.1% and 0.2% respectively. In scenarios where sustained multi-core performance matters, such as video transcoding or compiling, the 8145U's older Whiskey Lake design with its smaller 256 KB per core L2 cache and 4 MB shared L3 cache does not fall dramatically behind.

For users prioritizing memory bandwidth, the 1110G4 offers a substantial theoretical advantage. Its dual-channel DDR4 support delivers 59.7 GB/s, compared to the 8145U's 38.4 GB/s. This difference could translate into better performance in memory-bound tasks, even if the CPU core benchmarks do not fully expose it. The 1110G4 also supports PCIe Gen 4 with 16 lanes, while the 8145U is limited to PCIe Gen 3 with the same lane count, which matters for future expansion or fast NVMe storage.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel architecture families, and the data reflects several key generational changes. The Core i3-1110G4 uses the Tiger Lake-U codename with Willow Cove cores, fabricated on Intel's 10 nm process. The Core i3-8145U uses the Whiskey Lake-U codename with older Whiskey Lake cores, also on a 10 nm process. Both are dual-core parts with four threads, and both carry a 15W TDP.

Cache hierarchies differ significantly between the two. The 1110G4 features 96 KB of L1 cache per core, 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core, and 6 MB of shared L3 cache. The 8145U is more modest, with 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 4 MB of shared L3 cache. The larger caches on the 1110G4 likely explain its single-core lead, as more data can reside closer to the execution units.

Memory support also diverges. Both support DDR4 in dual-channel configuration, but the 1110G4 achieves a memory bandwidth of 59.7 GB/s versus 38.4 GB/s for the 8145U. The 1110G4 also moves to PCIe Gen 4 with 16 CPU lanes, while the 8145U remains on PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes. Integrated graphics differ as well: the 1110G4 carries Iris Xe Graphics G4, a newer and more capable iGPU, while the 8145U relies on the older UHD Graphics 620.

The sockets are incompatible, with the 1110G4 using Intel BGA 1598 and the 8145U using Intel BGA 1528. Production status also differs, as the 1110G4 is marked Active while the 8145U is End-of-life. The 8145U carries a launch MSRP of $281, though no such figure is listed for the 1110G4.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: Both the Intel Core i3-1110G4 and the Intel Core i3-8145U have an identical maximum boost clock of 3.90 GHz.

Q: Is the Core i3-1110G4 faster in every benchmark?

A: Yes, the data shows the 1110G4 wins all six head-to-head comparisons, though three tests show a deltaPct of 0% or 0.1%, indicating near-parity.

Q: What is the biggest performance gap between the two processors?

A: The largest gap is in Cinebench R15 single-core, where the 1110G4 scores 160.4 versus 148.5 for the 8145U, an 8% advantage.

Q: How do the cache sizes compare?

A: The 1110G4 has 96 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 6 MB of shared L3 cache. The 8145U has 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 4 MB of shared L3 cache.

Q: Do the processors use the same socket?

A: No, the 1110G4 uses Intel BGA 1598, while the 8145U uses Intel BGA 1528, making them incompatible with each other's motherboards.

Q: Which processor has better integrated graphics?

A: The 1110G4 features Iris Xe Graphics G4, while the 8145U uses the older UHD Graphics 620.

The Verdict

The benchmark data points to the Intel Core i3-1110G4 as the superior processor, but the margins are far from decisive. In multi-core workloads, the two chips are effectively tied, with deltas of 0%, 0.1%, and 0.2% across the R15, R20, and R23 tests. The 8145U's higher base clock compensates for its older architecture, keeping it within striking distance in sustained workloads.

The 1110G4 differentiates itself in single-threaded performance and platform features. Its 8% lead in Cinebench R15 single-core, combined with higher memory bandwidth at 59.7 GB/s, larger caches, and PCIe Gen 4 support, makes it the better foundation for a modern laptop. The inclusion of Iris Xe Graphics G4 versus UHD Graphics 620 also tilts the balance toward the 1110G4 for light gaming or media tasks.

For buyers choosing between these two, the 1110G4 is the clear pick if the system is new or if platform longevity matters. The 8145U, however, remains a viable option for budget-conscious users who find it in existing hardware, particularly for multi-threaded tasks where its performance is nearly identical to the newer chip. The data does not justify paying a premium for the 1110G4 if the workload is primarily multi-threaded, but for single-threaded responsiveness and future-proofing, the 1110G4's advantages are measurable. Given that the 8145U is end-of-life and the 1110G4 remains active, the newer part is the safer long-term investment.