Intel Core i3-1115G4E vs Intel Core i7-8665U Comparison

The Intel Core i3-1115G4E and the Intel Core i7-8665U occupy the same mobile segment and share the same 15 W TDP rating, but the recorded benchmark data shows a clean and consistent sweep for the older, higher-tier part. Across all six head-to-head Cinebench measurements in the database, the Core i7-8665U wins every contest, with margins clustered tightly between roughly 14 and 15 percent. The two chips land almost identically in the database-wide rankings, at the 39th percentile for the i3-1115G4E and the 38th percentile for the i7-8665U, which makes this pairing an interesting case study in how core count and cache can outweigh a newer process node and a newer architecture generation.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

Starting with the multi-core results, the pattern is uniform. In Cinebench R15 multi-core the i7-8665U posts 527 points against 452 for the i3-1115G4E, a 14.2 percent gap in the i7's favor. The gap is nearly unchanged in Cinebench R20 multi-core, where the i7 scores 2197 versus 1887, a 14.1 percent advantage. Cinebench R23 multi-core repeats the story almost exactly: 5232 against 4493, again a 14.1 percent lead for the i7-8665U.

Single-core results follow the same direction, which is the more surprising part of the data set. The i7-8665U scores 74 in R15 single-core against 63, a 14.9 percent lead, and extends 309 to 266 in R20 single-core, a 13.9 percent advantage. In R23 single-core the margin holds at 14.1 percent, with 738 points for the i7 against 634. That consistency matters: the i3-1115G4E's Willow Cove architecture on a 10 nm node, paired with a 3.90 GHz boost clock, does not translate into a single-thread win anywhere in the recorded data. The i7's 4.80 GHz boost clock evidently does the heavier lifting in lightly threaded workloads.

The database also holds Geekbench results for the i3-1115G4E only, at 2972 multi-core and 1702 single-core, so those figures cannot serve as a direct comparison point here. The average benchmark score across the database tells the aggregate story: 1559 for the i3-1115G4E versus 1513 for the i7-8665U. That the newer i3 edges the aggregate average while losing every direct Cinebench matchup reflects the different test mixes feeding each average rather than a genuine performance reversal.

Where Each One Wins

Strictly by the head-to-head record, the i3-1115G4E wins nothing in this pairing: winsA is 0, winsB is 6. Every multi-core and single-core Cinebench measurement favors the Core i7-8665U.

The use-case split therefore follows the chip capabilities rather than the benchmark scores. The i7-8665U, with 4 cores and 8 threads, is the clear pick within this pairing for threaded work: rendering, batch processing, and any software that scales across threads. The recorded multi-core scores, all roughly 14 percent ahead, quantify that advantage.

The i3-1115G4E's case rests on platform features rather than raw performance. It supports DDR4 and LPDDR4X memory, includes PCIe Gen 4 with 4 CPU lanes, and integrates UHD Graphics G4 with 48 execution units. It is also an active production part, whereas the i7-8665U is listed as end-of-life. For a deployment where platform longevity, newer I/O, or low-power memory support matter more than compute throughput, the i3 remains a live option. For pure processing power, the data gives it no winning scenario against this opponent.

Architecture Differences

The two chips come from different Intel eras. The i3-1115G4E is a Tiger Lake-U part built on Intel's 10 nm process, using the Willow Cove-U core design, with a die size of 144 mm². The i7-8665U is a Whiskey Lake-U part built on the 14 nm process. Both are mobile-segment processors soldered to their respective BGA packages, BGA 1449 for the i3 and BGA 1528 for the i7, and both carry a 15 W TDP rating.

The core configuration is the defining difference. The i3-1115G4E pairs 2 cores with 4 threads, while the i7-8665U offers 4 cores and 8 threads, doubling both counts. That advantage drives the uniform multi-core margins recorded above.

Clock behavior splits the difference. The i3 holds the higher base clock at 2.20 GHz versus 1.90 GHz for the i7, but the i7 boosts considerably higher at 4.80 GHz against 3.90 GHz, which lines up with its single-core sweep.

Cache design diverges sharply. The i3 gives each core 80 KB of L1 and a generous 1.25 MB of L2 per core, with 6 MB of shared L3. The i7 provides 64 KB of L1 per core and 256 KB of L2 per core, but a larger 8 MB of shared L3. The i3's per-core cache is far deeper, an architectural trait of Willow Cove, while the i7's larger shared L3 pool serves its doubled core count.

Memory and I/O also differ. The i3 supports DDR4 and LPDDR4X over a dual-channel bus; the i7 supports DDR3 and DDR4, also dual-channel, with a recorded memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. On PCIe, the i3 offers Gen 4 with 4 CPU lanes against Gen 3 with 16 CPU lanes on the i7, a trade of newer generation against greater lane count. The integrated graphics differ too: UHD Graphics G4 48EU on the i3 against UHD Graphics 620 on the i7. Neither part supports ECC memory, and neither has an unlocked multiplier. Their launch MSRPs were $285 for the i3-1115G4E and $409 for the i7-8665U.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU is faster overall? A: The Core i7-8665U. It won all six recorded head-to-head Cinebench tests, leading by 13.9 to 14.9 percent in every one.

Q: Does the newer i3-1115G4E win in single-core? A: No. The i7-8665U leads single-core by 14.9 percent in R15 (74 vs 63), 13.9 percent in R20 (309 vs 266), and 14.1 percent in R23 (738 vs 734's counterpart, 634), helped by its 4.80 GHz boost clock.

Q: How do they compare in database-wide ranking? A: They are nearly tied: the i3-1115G4E sits at the 39th percentile and the i7-8665U at the 38th percentile versus all CPUs in the database.

Q: Which has more cores and cache? A: The i7-8665U has 4 cores and 8 threads versus 2 cores and 4 threads, plus 8 MB of shared L3 versus 6 MB. The i3 counters with 1.25 MB of L2 per core versus 256 KB.

Q: Which platforms do they support? A: The i3-1115G4E supports DDR4 and LPDDR4X with PCIe Gen 4 (4 CPU lanes). The i7-8665U supports DDR3 and DDR4 with PCIe Gen 3 (16 CPU lanes) and 38.4 GB/s of recorded memory bandwidth.

Q: Are both still in production? A: No. The i3-1115G4E is listed as active, while the i7-8665U is end-of-life.

The Verdict

On performance alone, the data is unambiguous: the Core i7-8665U is the stronger processor in this matchup, ahead by about 14 percent in every multi-core and single-core Cinebench test recorded. Buyers or system evaluators prioritizing compute throughput for threaded work should pick the i7-8665U from this pairing.

The i3-1115G4E's argument is platform-oriented. It is the newer design on a denser node, it is still in active production, it brings PCIe Gen 4 and LPDDR4X support, and it pairs a modern integrated graphics unit with 48 execution units. Where those platform traits matter more than the roughly 14 percent compute deficit, the i3 is the rational choice. Where raw benchmark output matters, it is not: the head-to-head record shows zero wins for the i3 against six for the i7.

Specification Differences

| Field | Intel Core i3-1115G4E | Intel Core i7-8665U |

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

| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 4 / 8 |

| Base Clock | 2.20 GHz | 1.90 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.90 GHz | 4.80 GHz |

| Architecture | Tiger Lake (Tiger Lake-U) | Whiskey Lake (Whiskey Lake-U) |

| Generation | Core i3 (Willow Cove-U) | Core i7 (Whiskey Lake) |

| Process Node | 10 nm | 14 nm |

| Die Size | 144 mm² | Not recorded |

| L1 Cache | 80 KB per core | 64 KB per core |

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

| L3 Cache | 6 MB shared | 8 MB shared |

| Memory Support | DDR4, LPDDR4X | DDR3, DDR4 |

| Memory Bandwidth | Not recorded | 38.4 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 4, 4 lanes (CPU only) | Gen 3, 16 lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | UHD Graphics G4 48EU | UHD Graphics 620 |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1449 | Intel BGA 1528 |

| Release Date | 2020-09-01 | 2018-09-30 |

| Launch MSRP | $285 | $409 |

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

| Part Number | SRK12 | SRF9W |

Fields where the two agree: manufacturer (Intel), market segment (Mobile), TDP (15 W), memory bus (Dual-channel), ECC support (false), and unlocked multiplier (false).