Intel Core i3-1115G4 vs Intel Core i5-13400E Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i5-13400E has 10 cores and 16 threads, while the Intel Core i3-1115G4 has 2 cores and 4 threads. This is a 5x difference in core count and a 4x difference in thread count.

Q: How do the two processors compare in single-core performance?

A: The Core i5-13400E wins every single-core benchmark in the head-to-head comparison. In Cinebench R23 single-core, it scores 3240 versus 696 for the Core i3-1115G4, a 78.5% advantage.

Q: What is the difference in cache size?

A: The Core i3-1115G4 has 6 MB of shared L3 cache, while the Core i5-13400E has 20 MB of shared L3 cache. Both have 80 KB of L1 cache per core and 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core.

Q: Which processor supports DDR5 memory?

A: Only the Intel Core i5-13400E supports DDR5. The Core i3-1115G4 supports DDR4 and LPDDR4X, while the Core i5-13400E supports DDR4 and DDR5.

Q: What are the TDP ratings for these processors?

A: The Core i3-1115G4 has a TDP of 15 watts, making it a low-power mobile part. The Core i5-13400E has a TDP of 65 watts, which is more than four times higher and reflects its desktop-oriented design.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The Intel Core i5-13400E supports ECC memory, while the Intel Core i3-1115G4 does not. This makes the Core i5-13400E more suitable for reliability-focused workloads.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from entirely different Intel families. The Core i3-1115G4 is built on Tiger Lake, specifically the Tiger Lake-U codename, and belongs to the Willow Cove-U generation. The Core i5-13400E belongs to Raptor Lake, specifically Raptor Lake-S, and carries the Raptor Lake generation label. Both are manufactured on Intel's 10 nm process node, and both are produced by Intel's own foundry, but the architectural lineage is distinct.

The die size tells a story of scale. The Core i3-1115G4 has a die size of 144 mm², while the Core i5-13400E measures 215 mm². That larger die accommodates the substantially higher core count and larger shared cache. The Core i3-1115G4 is a mobile part, designed for the Intel BGA 1449 socket, while the Core i5-13400E is a desktop part on Intel Socket 1700.

The cache hierarchy differs primarily at the L3 level. Both processors share the same per-core L1 and L2 allocations: 80 KB of L1 per core and 1.25 MB of L2 per core. The shared L3 cache, however, jumps from 6 MB on the Core i3-1115G4 to 20 MB on the Core i5-13400E. This larger pool of shared cache is a significant advantage for the Core i5-13400E when handling data sets that exceed the smaller cache capacity.

PCIe support also marks a generational shift. The Core i3-1115G4 offers PCIe Gen 4 with 4 lanes from the CPU, while the Core i5-13400E ups that to PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes from the CPU. The difference in both generation and lane count has direct implications for expansion and I/O throughput.

Integrated graphics differ as well. The Core i3-1115G4 carries Iris Xe-LP Graphics G4, while the Core i5-13400E uses UHD Graphics 730. The Core i3-1115G4 supports DDR4 and LPDDR4X memory, while the Core i5-13400E supports DDR4 and DDR5. ECC memory support is present only on the Core i5-13400E.

The release timeline is also distinct. The Core i3-1115G4 was released on 2020-09-01, while the Core i5-13400E arrived later on 2023-01-03. Both are still listed as active in production status, and neither has an unlocked multiplier.

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data paints a one-sided picture. The Core i5-13400E wins every single head-to-head benchmark recorded in the database. The Core i3-1115G4 has zero wins, while the Core i5-13400E has six wins across all tested workloads.

For the Core i3-1115G4, its strengths are contextual rather than absolute. Its 15 watt TDP makes it a low-power mobile option, and its 2.20 GHz base clock with 4.10 GHz boost clock is sufficient for light, single-threaded tasks. Its average benchmark score of 6851 places it in the 63rd percentile among all CPUs. In the database's nearest rival list, it sits essentially even with the AMD Athlon X4 970 (0% delta), the AMD Athlon Silver 10 (0% delta), and just ahead of the Intel Xeon Gold 6154 (0.7% delta). It trails the Intel Xeon W-2195 by 0.6%. This suggests the Core i3-1115G4 performs at a level consistent with entry-level desktop and mobile parts from several generations.

The Core i5-13400E, by contrast, dominates in every measured workload. Its Cinebench R23 multicore score of 22950 is roughly 4.65 times higher than the Core i3-1115G4's 4933. Its single-core score of 3240 in the same test is about 4.66 times higher. The Core i5-13400E's average benchmark score of 6638 places it in the 62nd percentile, slightly below the Core i3-1115G4's percentile despite its overwhelming head-to-head dominance. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2950X, which edges it by 0.1%, and the Intel Core i9-9940X, which leads by 0.3%. The Core i5-13400E beats the Intel Core i9-12900E by 0.4% and the Intel Pentium Gold G6405 by 0.5%.

The Core i3-1115G4's niche is efficiency and mobility. The Core i5-13400E's niche is raw performance across every benchmark category. For users who need maximum compute throughput, the data clearly favors the Core i5-13400E. For users who prioritize low power draw and compact form factors, the Core i3-1115G4 remains viable, though its performance ceiling is much lower.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every key specification. The Core i3-1115G4 has 2 cores and 4 threads, while the Core i5-13400E has 10 cores and 16 threads. Base clock speeds are 2.20 GHz versus 2.40 GHz, with boost clocks of 4.10 GHz versus 4.60 GHz. TDP ratings are 15 watts versus 65 watts.

The sockets are incompatible: Intel BGA 1449 for the Core i3-1115G4 versus Intel Socket 1700 for the Core i5-13400E. The architectures differ as Tiger Lake versus Raptor Lake, with codenames Tiger Lake-U and Raptor Lake-S respectively. The process nodes are identical at 10 nm, and both are manufactured by Intel.

Die sizes differ substantially: 144 mm² for the Core i3-1115G4 versus 215 mm² for the Core i5-13400E. L1 cache is the same at 80 KB per core, and L2 cache is also the same at 1.25 MB per core. L3 cache differs: 6 MB shared versus 20 MB shared.

Memory support diverges. The Core i3-1115G4 supports DDR4 and LPDDR4X, while the Core i5-13400E supports DDR4 and DDR5. Both use dual-channel memory buses. ECC memory is not supported on the Core i3-1115G4 but is supported on the Core i5-13400E.

PCIe capabilities differ by generation and lane count. The Core i3-1115G4 has PCIe Gen 4 with 4 CPU lanes, while the Core i5-13400E has PCIe Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes. Integrated graphics are Iris Xe-LP Graphics G4 versus UHD Graphics 730.

Market segments differ: mobile versus desktop. Release dates are 2020-09-01 versus 2023-01-03. The Core i3-1115G4 has a launch MSRP of $281, while the Core i5-13400E has no recorded launch MSRP. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head benchmark data shows a consistent and decisive advantage for the Core i5-13400E across all six recorded tests. The delta is exactly 78.5% in every single case, which indicates a near-uniform performance gap regardless of workload type.

In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Core i3-1115G4 scores 497 while the Core i5-13400E scores 2313. The Core i5-13400E wins by 78.5%. In Cinebench R15 singlecore, the scores are 70 and 326, with the same 78.5% delta. The single-core gap is proportionally identical to the multi-core gap, which suggests the Core i5-13400E's advantage holds even in lightly threaded workloads.

Cinebench R20 follows the same pattern. The multicore test shows 2071 for the Core i3-1115G4 versus 9639 for the Core i5-13400E. The singlecore test shows 292 versus 1360. Both are 78.5% gaps in favor of the Core i5-13400E.

Cinebench R23, the most demanding of the Cinebench suite, shows the largest absolute differences. The multicore score is 4933 for the Core i3-1115G4 and 22950 for the Core i5-13400E. The singlecore score is 696 versus 3240. The Core i5-13400E's multicore score is more than 4.6 times that of the Core i3-1115G4, and its singlecore score is nearly 4.7 times higher.

The consistency of the 78.5% delta across all tests is striking. It suggests that the performance gap is not workload-specific but rather a fundamental difference in processing capability. The Core i5-13400E's additional cores, threads, cache, and higher clock speeds combine to deliver a uniformly higher level of performance. The Core i3-1115G4's PassMark results, which include a data compression score of 62444, a data encryption score of 3339, and a floating point math score of 10791, show it can handle everyday tasks, but the head-to-head data leaves no ambiguity about which processor is faster.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous. The Intel Core i5-13400E outperforms the Intel Core i3-1115G4 in every recorded benchmark, with a consistent 78.5% advantage across all six head-to-head tests. Its 10 cores and 16 threads, 20 MB of shared L3 cache, higher boost clock of 4.60 GHz, and support for DDR5 and PCIe Gen 5 make it the superior choice for compute-heavy workloads.

The Core i3-1115G4 is a mobile processor with a 15 watt TDP, designed for efficiency rather than raw performance. Its 2 cores and 4 threads, 6 MB of L3 cache, and 4.10 GHz boost clock are adequate for basic tasks, but its average benchmark score of 6851 and 63rd percentile ranking place it in a modest performance tier. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Athlon X4 970 and AMD Athlon Silver 10, both of which match its average score exactly.

The Core i5-13400E's average benchmark score of 6638 places it in the 62nd percentile, and its nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2950X and Intel Core i9-9940X, both of which are only marginally ahead. The Core i5-13400E also edges out the Intel Core i9-12900E and Intel Pentium Gold G6405 in average score.

Users who need maximum performance for rendering, compilation, or other multi-threaded workloads should choose the Core i5-13400E. Users who require a low-power mobile solution with integrated graphics and a compact footprint may find the Core i3-1115G4 suitable, but they should expect a substantial performance deficit. The benchmark data supports only one conclusion for performance-sensitive applications: the Core i5-13400E is the clear winner.