Intel Core i3-1115G4 vs Intel Core i9-7980XE Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The data presents a complete sweep in the benchmark section: the Intel Core i9-7980XE wins all eight head-to-head tests, with the i3-1115G4 recording zero wins. That said, the magnitude of those wins is not uniform, and the nature of each processor’s strengths becomes clearer when separating single-threaded from multi-threaded workloads.

In multi-threaded applications, the i9-7980XE is in a different league entirely. Cinebench R23 multi-core shows a score of 25072 against 4933 for the i3, a delta of 408.3%. Geekbench multi-core is similarly lopsided at 11198 versus 2465, a 354.3% advantage. This is the expected outcome of an 18-core, 36-thread Skylake-X part facing a 2-core, 4-thread Tiger Lake-U chip. Any workload that scales across cores — rendering, compilation, simulation — belongs to the i9.

Single-threaded results are closer, though the i9 still wins every test. Geekbench single-core is the narrowest margin: 1435 versus 1330, a 7.9% gap. That is a meaningful but modest edge, and it suggests that the newer Tiger Lake architecture narrows the per-core gap considerably. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the i9 scores 1486 versus 292, a 408.9% delta — but that specific figure is inflated by the i3’s unusually low score in that test relative to its other single-thread results. The broader pattern is that the i9 leads in every category, but the lead shrinks dramatically when only one core is active.

The i3-1115G4 does have strengths outside the head-to-head set. Its PassMark single-thread score of 2585 is well above its multi-thread score of 5915, indicating strong per-thread efficiency. It also posts a PassMark floating-point math score of 10791 and integer math of 17472, which are respectable figures for a 15 W mobile part. But none of those results appear in the head-to-head comparisons, so they do not translate to a win anywhere in the direct matchup.

Architecture Differences

The two CPUs come from different eras and design philosophies. The i9-7980XE is built on Intel’s 14 nm process with a Skylake-X architecture, part of the Core i9 Extreme (X-Series 7th Gen) family. It is a desktop part, end-of-life, with a launch MSRP of $1999. It uses an Intel Socket 2066 platform, has an unlocked multiplier, and its die measures 484 mm². Cache is configured as 64 KB L1 per core, 1 MB L2 per core, and 24.75 MB of shared L3. Memory support is DDR4 via a quad-channel bus, yielding 85.3 GB/s of bandwidth. PCIe connectivity is Gen 3 with 44 CPU lanes. There is no integrated graphics.

The i3-1115G4, by contrast, is a mobile processor on Intel’s 10 nm process with a Tiger Lake architecture (Willow Cove-U). It is active in production, launched with an MSRP of $281, and is soldered to Intel BGA 1449. Its die is 144 mm². Cache differs in structure: 80 KB L1 per core, 1.25 MB L2 per core, and 6 MB shared L3. Memory support covers DDR4 and LPDDR4X through a dual-channel bus, and PCIe is Gen 4 with 4 CPU lanes. It includes integrated Iris Xe-LP Graphics G4, and the multiplier is locked.

The process node gap — 14 nm versus 10 nm — explains part of the efficiency difference. The i9 has a 165 W TDP while the i3 is rated at 15 W, an 11-fold difference. The i9 compensates with far more cores and much higher power delivery, while the i3 relies on a newer node and smaller die to deliver competitive single-thread performance at a fraction of the power envelope. The i9’s base clock is 2.60 GHz with a boost of 4.40 GHz; the i3 runs at 2.20 GHz base and 4.10 GHz boost. Despite lower clocks, the i3’s newer architecture keeps it within striking distance in Geekbench single-core.

Neither part supports ECC memory. The i9 is end-of-life; the i3 is still active. The i9’s part number is SR3RS, the i3’s is SRK08. Release dates are roughly three years apart: the i9 in August 2017, the i3 in September 2020.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The i9-7980XE has 18 cores and 36 threads. The i3-1115G4 has 2 cores and 4 threads.

Q: How large is the single-thread performance gap?

A: In Geekbench single-core, the i9 scores 1435 versus 1330 for the i3, a 7.9% difference. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the gap is far larger at 408.5%, though the i3’s score of 696 appears anomalously low compared to its other single-thread results.

Q: Do both processors support the same memory configuration?

A: No. The i9 uses quad-channel DDR4 with 85.3 GB/s bandwidth. The i3 uses dual-channel DDR4 or LPDDR4X, with no bandwidth figure listed.

Q: Which processor has integrated graphics?

A: Only the i3-1115G4 includes integrated graphics, specifically Iris Xe-LP Graphics G4. The i9-7980XE has no integrated graphics.

Q: Are both processors unlocked for overclocking?

A: No. The i9-7980XE has an unlocked multiplier. The i3-1115G4 is locked.

Q: What is the production status of each?

A: The i9-7980XE is end-of-life. The i3-1115G4 is active.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i9-7980XE | Intel Core i3-1115G4 |

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

| Cores | 18 | 2 |

| Threads | 36 | 4 |

| Base clock | 2.60 GHz | 2.20 GHz |

| Boost clock | 4.40 GHz | 4.10 GHz |

| TDP | 165 W | 15 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 2066 | Intel BGA 1449 |

| Architecture | Skylake | Tiger Lake |

| Codename | Skylake-X | Tiger Lake-U |

| Generation | Core i9 Extreme (X-Series 7th Gen) | Core i3 (Willow Cove-U) |

| Process node | 14 nm | 10 nm |

| Die size | 484 mm² | 144 mm² |

| L1 cache | 64 KB per core | 80 KB per core |

| L2 cache | 1 MB per core | 1.25 MB per core |

| L3 cache | 24.75 MB shared | 6 MB shared |

| Memory support | DDR4 | DDR4, LPDDR4X |

| Memory bus | Quad-channel | Dual-channel |

| Memory bandwidth | 85.3 GB/s | Not listed |

| PCIe | Gen 3, 44 lanes | Gen 4, 4 lanes |

| Integrated graphics | None | Iris Xe-LP Graphics G4 |

| Market segment | Desktop | Mobile |

| Production status | End-of-life | Active |

| Launch MSRP | $1999 | $281 |

| Multiplier unlocked | Yes | No |

| Part number | SR3RS | SRK08 |

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most decisive wins for the i9-7980XE come in multi-threaded Cinebench tests. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i9 scores 2527 against 497, a 408.5% delta. R20 multi-core shows 10530 versus 2071, also 408.5%. R23 multi-core is 25072 versus 4933, at 408.3%. These are nearly identical percentage deltas, which indicates consistent scaling behavior across Cinebench versions. The i9’s 18 cores simply overwhelm the i3’s 2 cores in any workload that uses all available threads.

Geekbench multi-core tells a similar story but with a slightly smaller gap: 11198 versus 2465, a 354.3% delta. The difference in delta percentage between Geekbench and Cinebench suggests that Geekbench’s workload does not scale as perfectly with core count, or that the i3’s newer architecture helps it relatively more in that test. Either way, the i9 leads by a factor of roughly 4.5x.

Single-threaded results are where the i3 shows its architectural merit. In Geekbench single-core, the i9 leads 1435 to 1330, just 7.9% ahead. That is a small enough margin that the i3’s higher per-core efficiency is evident; a 10 nm Tiger Lake core at 4.10 GHz boost is nearly a match for a 14 nm Skylake-X core at 4.40 GHz boost. The Cinebench single-core deltas, however, are anomalous. R15 shows 356 versus 70 (408.6%), R20 shows 1486 versus 292 (408.9%), and R23 shows 3539 versus 696 (408.5%). The i3’s Cinebench single-core scores are disproportionately low compared to its Geekbench single-core score of 1330, which suggests either a driver issue, thermal constraint, or benchmark-specific quirk. The head-to-head data accepts these numbers at face value, so the i9 wins all three, but the Geekbench result is far more representative of the real per-core gap.

The i9’s single-core win in Geekbench is its smallest of the entire matchup. It is also the only test where the delta is in single digits. Every other test shows a triple-digit percentage advantage for the i9, with Geekbench multi-core the only exception at 354.3%. The data does not contain a single test where the i3 wins, and the average benchmark scores reflect that: the i9 sits at 7018, while the i3 is at 6851. Both land at the 63rd percentile among all CPUs, which is a coincidence of the averaging method but worth noting.

The Verdict

The Intel Core i9-7980XE is the clear performance winner in every measured benchmark. Its 18 cores and 36 threads deliver multi-threaded scores that are roughly four to five times higher than the i3-1115G4’s, depending on the test. The largest margin is in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where the i9’s 25072 is 408.3% above the i3’s 4933. Even in the closest test, Geekbench single-core, the i9 leads by 7.9%. For any workload that benefits from parallel processing, the i9 is the only choice between these two.

The i3-1115G4, however, is not without merit. Its Geekbench single-core score of 1330 is within 7.9% of the i9’s 1435, which is remarkable given the i3’s 15 W TDP and 2-core configuration. Its PassMark single-thread score of 2585, while not part of the head-to-head set, suggests strong per-thread efficiency. The i3 is also a mobile part with integrated graphics, a 10 nm process, and a launch MSRP of $281 — all of which make it a fundamentally different product for a fundamentally different use case.

The verdict from the data is straightforward. If the task is multi-threaded rendering, compilation, or any core-scalable workload, the i9-7980XE wins decisively and should be the pick. If the task is light single-threaded work on a mobile platform, the i3-1115G4 is competitive per-core and consumes far less power — but it still loses every direct benchmark comparison. The i9 is end-of-life, while the i3 is active, but that does not change the measured results. The i9 is the faster processor; the i3 is the more efficient one. Both statements are supported by the data.