Intel Core i3-1110G4 vs Intel Core i7-5500U Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data in this comparison is decisively one-sided. The Intel Core i3-1110G4 wins all five recorded head-to-head tests, with a consistent margin of roughly 25% across both single-core and multi-core workloads. The Intel Core i7-5500U, despite its higher-tier branding, does not secure a single victory in any measured benchmark.

In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i3-1110G4 scores 322 against the i7-5500U's 240, a delta of 25.5%. This pattern repeats in Cinebench R20 multi-core, where the i3-1110G4 posts 1344 versus 1000, again a 25.6% advantage. The multi-core gap remains essentially unchanged in Cinebench R23, with the i3-1110G4 hitting 3202 compared to 2381, a 25.6% difference.

Single-core results tell the same story. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the i3-1110G4 scores 189 while the i7-5500U manages only 141, a 25.4% deficit. The Cinebench R23 single-core test shows the i3-1110G4 at 452 versus 336, a 25.7% lead. These margins are remarkably consistent, indicating that the architectural advantage of the i3-1110G4 is uniform across both lightly threaded and fully loaded scenarios, rather than being workload-specific.

For additional context, the database includes Geekbench results for the i7-5500U only: 881 single-core and 1689 multi-core. The i3-1110G4 lacks Geekbench entries in the recorded data, so those scores cannot be directly compared here. However, the Cinebench suite provides a complete and unambiguous picture of performance ordering.

The average benchmark score places the i7-5500U at 953 and the i3-1110G4 at 945, a difference of 0.8%. This near parity in the aggregate metric may seem at odds with the head-to-head results, but it reflects the different mix of benchmarks included in each CPU's overall average. The i7-5500U's average includes Geekbench results, which tend to be more favorable to that older design, while the i3-1110G4's average is based solely on Cinebench tests where it excels.

Where Each One Wins

Given the head-to-head sweep, the i3-1110G4 is the clear winner in every scenario covered by the Cinebench suite. Its consistent 25% lead in both single-threaded and multi-threaded tests means it is better suited for all general computing tasks, from web browsing and office applications to content creation and compiling. The single-core wins indicate superior responsiveness in lightly threaded applications, while the multi-core wins show better throughput in heavily threaded workloads such as video encoding or 3D rendering.

The i7-5500U's only area of advantage does not appear in the benchmark columns. The database shows it holds a higher percentile rank among all CPUs, at 25, matching the i3-1110G4's percentile. Both processors sit in the 25th percentile, meaning they are not separated in overall performance distribution. The i7-5500U does have a higher average benchmark score (953 versus 945), but that is an artifact of the different test mix rather than a genuine performance win.

For practical purposes, the i3-1110G4 is the superior processor for all measured computational tasks. The i7-5500U's age shows in every recorded test. Users with workloads that depend on Cinebench-class performance should select the i3-1110G4 without hesitation.

Architecture Differences

The two CPUs represent a significant generational gap. The i7-5500U is built on the Broadwell architecture, specifically the Broadwell-U codename, and belongs to the Core i7 (Broadwell-U) generation. The i3-1110G4 uses the Tiger Lake architecture, codename Tiger Lake-U, and belongs to the Core i3 (Willow Cove-U) generation. This is a move from the 14 nm process node to the 10 nm node, both from Intel's foundry.

The transistor count and die size are only recorded for the i7-5500U: 1,300 million transistors on an 82 mm² die. The i3-1110G4 has no listed transistor or die size data, so a direct comparison is not possible, but the process shrink alone suggests a denser, more modern design.

Cache hierarchies differ substantially. The i7-5500U has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 4 MB of shared L3. The i3-1110G4 has 96 KB of L1 per core, a much larger 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 6 MB of shared L3. The larger cache levels on the i3-1110G4 are a key contributor to its performance lead, as they reduce the need to access slower main memory.

Memory architecture also separates the two. The i7-5500U supports DDR3 with a dual-channel bus and a memory bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s. The i3-1110G4 supports DDR4 with a dual-channel bus and a memory bandwidth of 59.7 GB/s, more than double the bandwidth. This difference is crucial for memory-intensive workloads.

PCIe capabilities are likewise more advanced on the newer part. The i7-5500U uses Gen 2 with 12 lanes (CPU only), while the i3-1110G4 uses Gen 4 with 16 lanes (CPU only). The i3-1110G4 provides both higher bandwidth per lane and more total lanes.

Specification Differences

The specifications below are limited to fields where the two processors differ.

| Specification | Intel Core i7-5500U | Intel Core i3-1110G4 |

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

| Base Clock | 2.40 GHz | 1.80 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.00 GHz | 3.90 GHz |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1168 | Intel BGA 1598 |

| Architecture | Broadwell | Tiger Lake |

| Codename | Broadwell-U | Tiger Lake-U |

| Generation | Core i7 (Broadwell-U) | Core i3 (Willow Cove-U) |

| Process Node | 14 nm | 10 nm |

| Transistors | 1,300 million | Not listed |

| Die Size | 82 mm² | Not listed |

| L1 Cache | 64 KB (per core) | 96 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 256 KB (per core) | 1.25 MB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 4 MB (shared) | 6 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR3 | DDR4 |

| Memory Bandwidth | 25.6 GB/s | 59.7 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 2, 12 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 4, 16 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | Intel HD 5500 | Iris Xe Graphics G4 |

| Production Status | End-of-life | Active |

| Release Date | 2015-02-28 | 2020-09-01 |

| Launch MSRP | $393 | Not available |

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in multi-threaded workloads?

A: The Intel Core i3-1110G4 is faster in every recorded multi-threaded test. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 3202 against the i7-5500U's 2381, a 25.6% lead.

Q: Does the older i7-5500U have any advantage at all in the benchmark data?

A: No. The i3-1110G4 wins all five head-to-head tests, with no wins recorded for the i7-5500U. The i7-5500U's average benchmark score is higher (953 versus 945), but this includes Geekbench results that the i3-1110G4 lacks.

Q: How do the single-core performance levels compare?

A: The i3-1110G4 has a 25.7% advantage in Cinebench R23 single-core, scoring 452 versus 336. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the lead is 25.4%, with a score of 189 versus 141.

Q: What are the key architectural differences?

A: The i3-1110G4 is built on a 10 nm Tiger Lake process, while the i7-5500U is on 14 nm Broadwell. The i3-1110G4 also has a larger cache (6 MB shared L3 versus 4 MB) and supports DDR4 memory with 59.7 GB/s bandwidth, compared to DDR3 with 25.6 GB/s.

Q: Which processor is better for modern PCIe devices?

A: The i3-1110G4 is clearly superior, offering PCIe Gen 4 with 16 lanes (CPU only), whereas the i7-5500U is limited to PCIe Gen 2 with 12 lanes (CPU only).

Q: How do the production statuses differ?

A: The i7-5500U is marked as end-of-life, having been released on 2015-02-28. The i3-1110G4 is active, with a release date of 2020-09-01.