Intel Core i3-1125G4 vs Intel Core i5-9600 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Intel Core i5-9600 and the Intel Core i3-1125G4 represent two very different Intel design philosophies, yet their benchmark results in the database are remarkably close. Across the six Cinebench tests recorded, the i5-9600 wins every single round, but the margins are consistently narrow, ranging from 3.5% to 3.7%. This is not a rout; it is a series of tight technical victories for the older desktop part.

The largest gap appears in Cinebench R20 single-core, where the i5-9600 scores 482 against the i3-1125G4's 465, a 3.7% advantage. The same test in Cinebench R15 shows a similar story: 115 versus 111, a 3.6% edge. In multi-threaded workloads, the pattern holds. The i5-9600 posts 820 in Cinebench R15 multicore against 792 for the i3-1125G4, a 3.5% win. In Cinebench R20 multicore, the scores are 3419 and 3301, again a 3.6% difference. The newest test in the set, Cinebench R23, shows the i5-9600 leading 8141 to 7860 in multicore and 1149 to 1109 in single-core, both at a 3.6% margin.

What makes these numbers interesting is the underlying hardware. The i5-9600 has six cores and six threads, while the i3-1125G4 has four cores and eight threads. The i5-9600 also runs at a 65 W TDP, while the i3-1125G4 is a 15 W mobile part. Despite the massive power and core-count differences, the i3-1125G4 stays within 4% in every test. That is a direct consequence of its newer architecture. The i3-1125G4 uses Tiger Lake on a 10 nm process, while the i5-9600 uses Coffee Lake on 14 nm. The newer node and Willow Cove cores allow the mobile chip to close a gap that would normally be much larger given the power envelope.

The average benchmark scores in the database reinforce this picture. The i5-9600 has an average score of 2354, while the i3-1125G4 sits at 2451. That is a 4.1% higher average for the mobile part, which flips the head-to-head narrative somewhat. When you include the Geekbench results that only the i3-1125G4 has, the mobile chip actually looks stronger overall. It posts a Geekbench multicore score of 4509 and a single-core score of 1461. The i5-9600 has no Geekbench entries in the database, so direct comparison there is impossible, but the i3-1125G4's average is lifted by those two strong results.

Both parts occupy the 48th percentile among all CPUs in the database. That is an unusual coincidence. It means that despite their architectural differences and market segments, they sit at essentially the same overall performance level relative to everything else recorded. The nearest rivals for each confirm this. The i5-9600's closest neighbor is the Intel Xeon E3-1285 v6, which scores 2348, just 0.3% lower. The i3-1125G4's nearest rival is the Intel Core i5-8600, which scores 2454, just 0.1% higher. In both cases, the competition is fierce and the margins are razor-thin.

For users who care about raw Cinebench numbers, the i5-9600 is the winner. For those who look at the broader benchmark suite, the i3-1125G4 has a claim to being the better-rounded processor. The data supports both interpretations, and the choice ultimately depends on which workload matters more.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins in Cinebench R23 multicore?

A: The Intel Core i5-9600 wins with a score of 8141 against the i3-1125G4's 7860, a 3.6% advantage.

Q: How much faster is the i5-9600 in single-core tests?

A: Across all three Cinebench versions, the i5-9600 leads by 3.6% to 3.7%. In R20 single-core, it scores 482 versus 465.

Q: Does the i3-1125G4 have any benchmark where it outperforms the i5-9600?

A: In the six head-to-head Cinebench tests, no. However, the i3-1125G4 has a higher average benchmark score overall: 2451 versus 2354, driven by its Geekbench results.

Q: What is the average benchmark score for each CPU?

A: The i5-9600 averages 2354, while the i3-1125G4 averages 2451. That puts the mobile chip 4.1% ahead in this aggregate metric.

Q: Are these processors at the same performance percentile?

A: Yes, both are at the 48th percentile among all CPUs in the database.

Q: What is the closest rival for each processor?

A: For the i5-9600, it is the Intel Xeon E3-1285 v6, which is 0.3% behind. For the i3-1125G4, it is the Intel Core i5-8600, which is 0.1% ahead.

The Verdict

The data points to two distinct buying scenarios. The Intel Core i5-9600 is the pick for anyone who prioritizes Cinebench rendering performance. It wins all six recorded head-to-head tests, and while the margins are slim, they are consistent. The 65 W desktop part delivers a 3.5% to 3.7% edge across the board, which is meaningful for sustained multi-threaded workloads where the higher TDP can be maintained.

The Intel Core i3-1125G4 is the pick for anyone who values overall benchmark diversity. Its average score of 2451 is 4.1% higher than the i5-9600's 2354, thanks to strong Geekbench results. It also achieves near-parity in Cinebench while consuming only 15 W, which is a fraction of the i5-9600's 65 W TDP. For mobile or low-power systems, the i3-1125G4 is clearly the more efficient choice.

There is no definitive winner here. The i5-9600 is the stronger pure Cinebench performer. The i3-1125G4 is the stronger all-around database entry. Both sit at the same 48th percentile, which means either one will deliver comparable overall performance in a mixed workload. The deciding factor should be the platform: desktop users should take the i5-9600, mobile users should take the i3-1125G4.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every fundamental specification. The i5-9600 has six cores and six threads, while the i3-1125G4 has four cores and eight threads. The i5-9600 has a base clock of 3.10 GHz and a boost clock of 4.50 GHz. The i3-1125G4 has a base clock of 2000.00 MHz and a boost clock of 3.70 GHz. The i5-9600 carries a 65 W TDP; the i3-1125G4 runs at 15 W.

The sockets are incompatible: the i5-9600 uses Intel Socket 1151, while the i3-1125G4 uses Intel BGA 1449. Memory support also differs. The i5-9600 supports DDR4 with a memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s. The i3-1125G4 supports both DDR4 and LPDDR4X, but its memory bandwidth is not recorded in the database. The i5-9600 has 16 PCIe Gen 3 lanes, while the i3-1125G4 has 16 PCIe Gen 4 lanes.

Integrated graphics differ as well. The i5-9600 uses UHD 630, while the i3-1125G4 uses Iris Xe-LP Graphics G4. The i5-9600 is a desktop part, and the i3-1125G4 is a mobile part. The i5-9600 launched on 2018-10-18, while the i3-1125G4 launched on 2021-03-30. The i3-1125G4 has a launch MSRP of $281. The i5-9600 has no recorded launch MSRP.

Architecture Differences

The i5-9600 is built on Coffee Lake, part of the Core i5 (Coffee Lake Refresh) generation. The i3-1125G4 is built on Tiger Lake, part of the Core i3 (Willow Cove-U) generation. The process nodes are different: the i5-9600 uses 14 nm, while the i3-1125G4 uses 10 nm. Both are fabricated by Intel.

Cache layouts differ substantially. The i5-9600 has 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 9 MB of shared L3. The i3-1125G4 has 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 8 MB of shared L3. The die size is recorded only for the i3-1125G4 at 144 mm²; the i5-9600's die size is not in the database.

The newer 10 nm node and Willow Cove cores give the i3-1125G4 a significant architectural advantage per watt. It matches the i5-9600 within 3.7% in Cinebench while using a fraction of the power. The i5-9600 counters with more physical cores and a higher boost clock, which is why it still leads in every recorded test. The i3-1125G4 also supports PCIe Gen 4, while the i5-9600 is limited to Gen 3, which matters for future expansion in compatible systems.

Both processors are end-of-life, and neither has an unlocked multiplier. The i5-9600's part number is SR3X2, and the i3-1125G4's is SRK8S. Neither supports ECC memory. The architectural gap is clear: the i3-1125G4 is the newer design, but the i5-9600 leverages its higher core count and clock speeds to hold a narrow performance lead.