Intel Core i3-1115G4E vs Intel Core i3-9100E Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data shows a consistent and decisive pattern: the Intel Core i3-9100E wins every single head-to-head comparison across all six Cinebench tests. The i3-9100E takes the R15 multi-core test with a score of 559 against 452 for the i3-1115G4E, a 23.7% advantage. In R15 single-core, the margin is nearly identical at 23.8%, with scores of 78 and 63 respectively.

Moving to R20, the i3-9100E posts 2330 multi-core versus 1887 for the i3-1115G4E, a 23.5% lead. The single-core R20 result shows 328 against 266, a 23.3% gap. The R23 suite reinforces the trend: the i3-9100E scores 5549 multi-core and 783 single-core, while the i3-1115G4E manages 4493 and 634, both representing a 23.5% delta.

The wins total 6 for the i3-9100E and 0 for the i3-1115G4E. The margins are remarkably uniform, hovering between 23.3% and 23.8% across every workload. This consistency suggests the performance difference is structural rather than workload-specific. The i3-1115G4E does have one additional benchmark in the database, a Geekbench test where it scores 2972 multi-core and 1702 single-core, but no comparable Geekbench result exists for the i3-9100E, so no direct head-to-head comparison is possible there.

When placed against the wider field, both processors sit at the 39th percentile of all CPUs in the database. The i3-9100E has an average benchmark score of 1605, while the i3-1115G4E averages 1559. The nearest rivals for the i3-9100E include the Intel Xeon E3-1240L v5 at 1609 (-0.2%), the Intel Core i7-10610U at 1611 (-0.3%), and the Intel Core i7-970 at 1613 (-0.5%). The i3-1115G4E sits alongside the AMD Opteron 6276 at 1560 (-0.1%), the AMD FX-8350 at 1557 (+0.1%), and the Intel Xeon E3-1268L v5 at 1557 (+0.1%). Both chips occupy essentially the same tier of overall performance, yet the desktop-oriented i3-9100E holds a clear edge in every direct comparison.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel generations and target different market segments. The i3-9100E is built on the Coffee Lake architecture, specifically the Coffee Lake Refresh generation, using a 14 nm process node. The i3-1115G4E belongs to the Tiger Lake family, codenamed Tiger Lake-U, built on a 10 nm process with Willow Cove cores. The die sizes reflect the architectural shift: the i3-9100E measures 126 mm², while the i3-1115G4E is larger at 144 mm².

Core configuration differs substantially. The i3-9100E offers 4 cores and 4 threads, while the i3-1115G4E has only 2 cores but 4 threads due to Hyper-Threading. Clock speeds tell a mixed story: the i3-9100E has a base clock of 3.10 GHz and a boost clock of 3.70 GHz, while the i3-1115G4E starts lower at 2.20 GHz base but boosts higher to 3.90 GHz. The thermal design power (TDP) is a major differentiator, with the i3-9100E rated at 65 W versus just 15 W for the i3-1115G4E, reflecting the desktop versus mobile positioning.

Cache hierarchies also differ. The i3-9100E has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 6 MB of shared L3. The i3-1115G4E offers 80 KB of L1 per core, a much larger 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and the same 6 MB of shared L3. Memory support shows the i3-9100E limited to DDR4 with dual-channel operation and 38.4 GB/s of bandwidth, while the i3-1115G4E supports both DDR4 and LPDDR4X, also dual-channel, though no bandwidth figure is recorded for it. The i3-9100E supports ECC memory; the i3-1115G4E does not.

PCIe connectivity differs by generation and lane count. The i3-9100E provides PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU, while the i3-1115G4E supports PCIe Gen 4 but only 4 lanes. Integrated graphics are the UHD Graphics 630 on the i3-9100E versus UHD Graphics G4 with 48 execution units on the i3-1115G4E. The i3-9100E uses an Intel Socket 1151, while the i3-1115G4E is soldered to a BGA 1449 package. Production status also differs: the i3-9100E is end-of-life, whereas the i3-1115G4E is active. The i3-9100E launched in August 2018 with a launch MSRP of $122, while the i3-1115G4E arrived in September 2020 with a launch MSRP of $285. Neither chip has an unlocked multiplier.

Where Each One Wins

The i3-9100E wins outright in every benchmark category recorded for direct comparison. The multi-core workloads show the biggest absolute gaps: 559 versus 452 in R15, 2330 versus 1887 in R20, and 5549 versus 4493 in R23. These results make sense given the i3-9100E's 4 physical cores versus the i3-1115G4E's 2 physical cores, even though the latter has 4 threads. The 23.5% to 23.7% multi-core deltas align with a scenario where two additional physical cores provide a substantial throughput advantage for heavily threaded applications.

The single-core results are more surprising. Despite the i3-1115G4E having a higher boost clock (3.90 GHz versus 3.70 GHz) and a newer architecture with larger per-core caches, the i3-9100E still wins by roughly 23.5% in every single-core test. This suggests that the older Coffee Lake architecture, with its higher base clock and potentially better sustained boost behavior under the 65 W TDP envelope, outperforms the Tiger Lake chip in these specific Cinebench workloads. The i3-1115G4E's 15 W TDP likely constrains its ability to sustain high clocks even in single-threaded tests.

The i3-1115G4E does have advantages outside raw Cinebench performance. Its 15 W TDP makes it suitable for fanless or low-power designs, and the BGA 1449 socket targets compact mobile systems. The PCIe Gen 4 support with 4 lanes offers modern connectivity for storage and peripheral devices, while the LPDDR4X memory support enables lower power memory configurations. The i3-9100E counters with 16 PCIe Gen 3 lanes, ECC memory support, and a desktop socket that allows for upgradeability and standard cooling solutions.

In terms of the broader benchmark landscape, both processors occupy the same 39th percentile, meaning they sit in a similar class overall. The i3-9100E's average score of 1605 is only 46 points higher than the i3-1115G4E's 1559, a difference of roughly 3%. Yet in the head-to-head Cinebench tests, the i3-9100E's lead is far larger, indicating that the specific workload mix matters. The i3-1115G4E's Geekbench results (2972 multi-core, 1702 single-core) are recorded, but without a corresponding i3-9100E Geekbench score, those numbers stand alone.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: the Intel Core i3-9100E outperforms the Intel Core i3-1115G4E in every direct benchmark comparison. Anyone prioritizing raw compute performance in Cinebench workloads should choose the i3-9100E. It delivers a 23.5% to 23.8% advantage across all six recorded tests, regardless of whether the workload is single-threaded or multi-threaded. The i3-9100E's 4 cores, higher base clock, and 65 W TDP give it a decisive edge that the newer 10 nm process and higher boost clock of the i3-1115G4E cannot overcome.

The i3-1115G4E is not without merit, but its strengths lie outside the benchmark suite. The 15 W TDP makes it a fit for ultraportable and embedded applications where power consumption is critical. The PCIe Gen 4 interface and LPDDR4X memory support provide modern I/O options. The active production status means it remains available for new designs, while the i3-9100E is end-of-life. The launch MSRP of $285 for the i3-1115G4E versus $122 for the i3-9100E also notes a significant price difference, though the database records no current street pricing.

For a desktop system where performance is the primary goal, the i3-9100E is the clear winner. For a low-power embedded or mobile deployment where the 65 W TDP of the i3-9100E is prohibitive, the i3-1115G4E becomes the sensible option despite its lower benchmark scores. The two chips occupy the same performance percentile overall, but the i3-9100E does so with older technology and a higher power budget, while the i3-1115G4E achieves near-parity with a fraction of the power envelope. The verdict depends entirely on the use case.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins in multi-core performance?

A: The Intel Core i3-9100E wins all three multi-core Cinebench tests: R15 at 559 versus 452 (23.7% delta), R20 at 2330 versus 1887 (23.5% delta), and R23 at 5549 versus 4493 (23.5% delta).

Q: Does the i3-1115G4E win any single-core test?

A: No. The i3-9100E wins R15 single-core at 78 versus 63 (23.8% delta), R20 at 328 versus 266 (23.3% delta), and R23 at 783 versus 634 (23.5% delta).

Q: How do the core counts and TDPs compare?

A: The i3-9100E has 4 cores and 4 threads with a 65 W TDP. The i3-1115G4E has 2 cores and 4 threads with a 15 W TDP.

Q: What are the cache configurations?

A: The i3-9100E has 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per core with 6 MB shared L3. The i3-1115G4E has 80 KB L1 and 1.25 MB L2 per core with 6 MB shared L3.

Q: Which chip supports ECC memory?

A: The i3-9100E supports ECC memory. The i3-1115G4E does not.

Q: What are the production statuses of the two processors?

A: The i3-9100E is end-of-life, while the i3-1115G4E is active and in production.