CPU Comparison

The data presents a clear generational clash: the Intel Core i3-4150, a 2014 desktop part, versus the Intel Core i3-1115GRE, a 2020 mobile processor. Despite both having 2 cores and 4 threads, the benchmark results show a decisive performance shift toward the newer Tiger Lake chip. The i3-1115GRE wins every single head-to-head test, with margins consistently around 26%, making the architectural leap between Haswell and Willow Cove impossible to ignore.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking pattern across the five shared benchmarks is the uniformity of the victory margin. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the i3-1115GRE scores 392 against the i3-4150’s 290, a delta of -26% (from the perspective of the older chip). This exact -26% delta repeats in Cinebench R20 multicore, where the newer chip posts 1637 versus 1212, and again in Cinebench R23 multicore, with scores of 3899 and 2888. The consistency suggests the performance gap is not workload-specific but rather a fundamental throughput advantage.

Single-core results tell the same story with slightly sharper edges. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the i3-1115GRE scores 231 while the i3-4150 manages 170, yielding a -26.4% delta. Cinebench R23 single-core shows 550 versus 407, a -26% gap. The i3-1115GRE’s boost clock of 3.90 GHz, compared to the i3-4150’s fixed 3.50 GHz, partially explains this, but the architectural efficiency of the 10 nm Tiger Lake design is the larger factor. The older Haswell chip has no boost clock at all, relying solely on its base frequency.

Notably, the i3-1115GRE’s win count is 5 out of 5 head-to-head benchmarks, with zero wins for the i3-4150. However, the average benchmark scores tell a more nuanced story. The i3-1115GRE averages 1127 across all tests, while the i3-4150 averages 1119. This places both chips in the 32nd percentile of all CPUs, meaning they land in the same performance tier despite the newer chip’s clear per-benchmark victories. The i3-1115GRE’s nearest rival is the Intel Core i5-3330S (avg score 1128, delta -0.1%), while the i3-4150 sits near the Intel Core i7-2860QM (1120, delta -0.1%). This suggests that in broader, mixed workloads, the two chips are far closer than the Cinebench results imply.

The Verdict

From the data alone, the Intel Core i3-1115GRE is the superior processor for any task that benefits from raw compute speed. It wins every benchmark in the head-to-head comparison, with margins ranging from 25.9% to 26.4%. For users running Cinebench-style rendering workloads, the choice is unambiguous: the newer chip delivers roughly a quarter more performance across the board.

However, the i3-4150 is not without its own territory. It is a desktop part with an Intel Socket 1150, a 54W TDP, and support for DDR3 memory across a dual-channel bus with 25.6 GB/s bandwidth. The i3-1115GRE, by contrast, is a mobile chip on Intel BGA 1449 with a 15W TDP and support for DDR4 and LPDDR4X, but its memory bandwidth figure is not listed. For desktop users with existing DDR3 platforms, the i3-4150 offers a drop-in upgrade path, whereas the i3-1115GRE requires a mobile motherboard or a specialized embedded system.

The percentile data complicates the verdict. Both chips sit at the 32nd percentile of all CPUs, and their average benchmark scores differ by only 8 points (1127 vs 1119). The i3-1115GRE’s nearest rivals include the Intel Core i5-4690T (1129, delta -0.2%), while the i3-4150’s include the AMD Athlon 240GE (1121, delta -0.1%). This indicates that in general-purpose computing, the two are effectively peers, despite the newer chip’s dominance in the specific Cinebench tests. The i3-1115GRE is the pick for raw performance; the i3-4150 is the pick for a legacy desktop socket with a lower launch MSRP of $117, compared to the i3-1115GRE’s $338.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between these chips spans nearly a decade of Intel design philosophy. The i3-4150 uses the Haswell architecture on a 22 nm process node, with 1,400 million transistors packed into a 177 mm² die. The i3-1115GRE moves to Tiger Lake-U on a 10 nm node, with a smaller 144 mm² die size (transistor count not listed). This process shrink allows the newer chip to offer a 15W TDP versus the i3-4150’s 54W, a dramatic efficiency improvement.

Cache hierarchies differ significantly. The i3-4150 provides 64 KB of L1 per core and 256 KB of L2 per core, with 3 MB of shared L3. The i3-1115GRE ups this to 80 KB L1 per core, 1.25 MB L2 per core, and 6 MB of shared L3. Doubling the shared L3 cache and increasing L2 by roughly 5x per core likely underpins much of the performance delta, especially in single-threaded tests. The newer chip also supports ECC memory, a feature absent on the i3-4150.

Memory and I/O differ as well. The i3-4150 supports DDR3 over a dual-channel bus with 25.6 GB/s bandwidth, while the i3-1115GRE supports DDR4 and LPDDR4X (bandwidth not listed). PCIe capabilities shift from Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only) on the Haswell part to Gen 4 with 4 lanes (CPU only) on Tiger Lake. Integrated graphics evolve from Intel HD 4400 to UHD Graphics G4 48EU, though no graphics benchmarks are provided. The i3-4150 runs at a fixed 3.50 GHz base clock with no boost, while the i3-1115GRE has a 2.20 GHz base clock that boosts to 3.90 GHz, a 1.70 GHz range that reflects its mobile power management.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher single-core score in Cinebench R23?

A: The Intel Core i3-1115GRE scores 550 in Cinebench R23 single-core, compared to the i3-4150’s 407, a -26% delta.

Q: Does the i3-4150 win any head-to-head benchmark?

A: No. Out of the five shared benchmarks (Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 in multicore and single-core variants), the i3-1115GRE wins all five, giving it a 5-0 record.

Q: What is the average benchmark score difference between the two chips?

A: The i3-1115GRE averages 1127 across all benchmarks, while the i3-4150 averages 1119, a difference of 8 points. Both fall in the 32nd percentile of all CPUs.

Q: How do the cache sizes compare?

A: The i3-4150 has 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per core, with 3 MB shared L3. The i3-1115GRE has 80 KB L1 and 1.25 MB L2 per core, with 6 MB shared L3.

Q: Which chip supports ECC memory?

A: The Intel Core i3-1115GRE supports ECC memory, while the i3-4150 does not.

Q: What are the TDP levels for each processor?

A: The i3-4150 has a 54W TDP, and the i3-1115GRE has a 15W TDP.

Where Each One Wins

The i3-1115GRE wins unequivocally in raw compute benchmarks. It is faster in every Cinebench test, with multicore scores of 392, 1637, and 3899 in R15, R20, and R23 respectively, versus the i3-4150’s 290, 1212, and 2888. Single-core tests also favor the newer chip, with 231 and 550 in R20 and R23 single-core, versus 170 and 407. For users running rendering, video encoding, or any CPU-bound application, the i3-1115GRE is the clear choice.

The i3-4150’s wins come from platform compatibility and cost. It uses the Intel Socket 1150, a mainstream desktop socket, and supports DDR3 memory with a listed bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s. It also has a lower launch MSRP of $117. In contrast, the i3-1115GRE uses the Intel BGA 1449 socket, which is soldered and not upgradeable, and has a launch MSRP of $338. For a desktop builder with a DDR3 motherboard, the i3-4150 is the practical drop-in option, despite its benchmark deficit.

The i3-1115GRE also wins on efficiency and features. Its 15W TDP makes it suitable for passively cooled or compact mobile systems, while the i3-4150’s 54W TDP requires active cooling. The newer chip adds ECC memory support, Gen 4 PCIe (4 lanes), and a larger 6 MB L3 cache. The i3-4150 counters with more PCIe lanes (16) and a higher base clock (3.50 GHz vs 2.20 GHz), though its lack of boost clock limits its peak performance.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i3-4150 | Intel Core i3-1115GRE |

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

| Base Clock | 3.50 GHz | 2.20 GHz |

| Boost Clock | None | 3.90 GHz |

| TDP | 54W | 15W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1150 | Intel BGA 1449 |

| Architecture | Haswell | Tiger Lake |

| Codename | Haswell | Tiger Lake-U |

| Process Node | 22 nm | 10 nm |

| Die Size | 177 mm² | 144 mm² |

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

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

| L3 Cache | 3 MB (shared) | 6 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR3 | DDR4, LPDDR4X |

| Memory Bandwidth | 25.6 GB/s | Not listed |

| ECC Memory | No | Yes |

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

| Integrated Graphics | Intel HD 4400 | UHD Graphics G4 48EU |

| Market Segment | Desktop | Mobile |

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

| Release Date | 2014-04-30 | 2020-09-01 |

| Launch MSRP | $117 | $338 |

| Part Number | SR1PJ | SRK13 |