Intel Core i3-13100 vs Intel Core i5-1335U Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data paints a clear picture of two processors with distinct personalities. The Intel Core i5-1335U, a 10-core mobile part, and the Intel Core i3-13100, a 4-core desktop chip, split their 17 head-to-head tests almost down the middle: the i5-1335U takes 7 wins, while the i3-13100 secures 10. But the nature of those wins tells the real story.

The i5-1335U dominates in workloads that leverage its higher core count and multithreading capabilities. Its most striking victory comes in Cinebench R15 multicore, where it scores 1464 against the i3-13100's 1208, a 21.2% advantage. The mobile chip also wins decisively in integer math (51244 vs 41313, a 24% gap) and data encryption (10009 vs 8049, a 24.4% edge). Floating-point math goes to the i5-1335U as well, with 35176 versus 32325, an 8.8% lead. These results suggest the 10-core, 12-thread configuration shines when tasks can be parallelized across many execution units.

Meanwhile, the i3-13100 counters with wins in single-threaded and lightly threaded scenarios. Its Cinebench R23 multicore score of 11986 crushes the i5-1335U's 8889.5, a 25.8% margin that seems paradoxical given the i5's extra cores. The desktop chip also leads in Cinebench R20 multicore (5034 vs 4935, 2% ahead) and extended instructions (11053 vs 8974, 18.8% ahead). Single-thread performance favors the i3-13100 in PassMark (3460 vs 3336, 3.6% ahead) and Cinebench R23 single-core (1692 vs 1684.5, just 0.4% ahead). The i3-13100 also wins data compression (161424 vs 159593, 1.1% ahead), prime number finding (52 vs 48, 7.7% ahead), and physics (870 vs 837, 3.8% ahead).

The overall averages reflect this split: the i5-1335U posts an average benchmark score of 18982 (73rd percentile), while the i3-13100 averages 18380 (72nd percentile). These are nearly identical overall positions, but the path to reach them is entirely different.

The Verdict

The data suggests the Intel Core i5-1335U is the better choice for users whose workloads are heavily multithreaded and can exploit its 10 cores. The 21.2% lead in Cinebench R15 multicore, the 24% advantage in integer math, and the 24.4% edge in encryption all point to a processor that scales well with parallel tasks. Its 4% lead in PassMark multithread (14281 vs 13726) reinforces this. The mobile chip also wins random string sorting by 12.7% (17953 vs 15925), which indicates strong performance in sorting algorithms that benefit from parallel execution.

The Intel Core i3-13100, however, is the pick for users who need maximum performance in single-threaded or lightly threaded applications, or who run sustained multi-core loads. Its 25.8% lead in Cinebench R23 multicore is the biggest gap in any test, and it suggests that the desktop chip's higher power envelope (60W TDP versus 15W) allows it to maintain boost clocks over longer periods. The i3-13100 also wins in PassMark single-thread (3460 vs 3336) and physics (870 vs 837), making it the stronger choice for everyday responsiveness and gaming-adjacent workloads.

For pure single-core tasks, the i3-13100's advantage is real but modest. The Cinebench R23 single-core gap is just 0.4%, and the PassMark single-thread gap is 3.6%. Users who spend most of their time in lightly threaded applications might barely notice the difference. But for heavy multi-core rendering, the i3-13100's R23 performance is transformative: 11986 versus 8889.5 is a massive difference in a popular rendering benchmark.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest victory belongs to the i3-13100 in Cinebench R23 multicore, where it outscores the i5-1335U by 25.8% (11986 vs 8889.5). This is a significant margin for two processors from the same architecture generation, and it suggests the desktop chip's higher power limit enables sustained all-core boost behavior that the mobile chip cannot match.

The i5-1335U counters with a 40% lead in Cinebench R15 single-core (238 vs 170), which is the biggest win for either chip in percentage terms. This is curious because the i3-13100 wins the newer Cinebench R23 single-core test, albeit narrowly. The R15 single-core score seems anomalous when compared to the other single-threaded results, and it may reflect differences in how the test scales with the i5's higher boost clock of 4.60 GHz versus the i3's 4.50 GHz.

In encryption, the i5-1335U's 24.4% lead (10009 vs 8049) suggests its 12 threads provide a meaningful advantage in AES-style workloads. The integer math test also goes strongly to the i5-1335U, with 51244 versus 41313, another 24% gap. These two results, combined with the 21.2% Cinebench R15 multicore win, form the core of the i5's case.

The i3-13100's other notable wins include extended instructions (11053 vs 8974, 18.8% ahead) and data compression (161424 vs 159593, 1.1% ahead). The extended instructions result is interesting because it suggests the desktop chip handles SIMD-heavy workloads better, despite having fewer cores.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ most fundamentally in core count and power. The i5-1335U offers 10 cores and 12 threads, while the i3-13100 has 4 cores and 8 threads. This is a 6-core difference that explains the i5's multithreading advantages. Base clocks also diverge sharply: the i5-1335U runs at 1300 MHz, while the i3-13100 starts at 3400 MHz. Boost clocks are closer, with the i5 at 4.60 GHz and the i3 at 4.50 GHz.

The thermal design power tells a story of different physical realities: the i5-1335U is rated at 15W, while the i3-13100 draws 60W. This 45W difference is critical to understanding the benchmark results. The i3-13100 can sustain higher clocks under load, which is why it wins Cinebench R23 multicore despite having fewer cores.

Sockets differ as expected: the i5-1335U uses Intel BGA 1744 (mobile), while the i3-13100 uses Intel Socket 1700 (desktop). The i5-1335U's integrated graphics are Iris Xe Graphics 80EU, while the i3-13100 has UHD Graphics 730. PCIe support differs too: the i5-1335U offers Gen 4 with 8 lanes, while the i3-13100 has Gen 5 with 16 lanes.

The only other specification difference is die size: the i3-13100 measures 163 mm², while the i5-1335U has no recorded die size. Both chips share the same L1 (80 KB per core), L2 (1.25 MB per core), and L3 (12 MB shared) cache configurations, same memory support (DDR4, DDR5), same dual-channel memory bus, no ECC support, and the same 10 nm process node.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The Intel Core i5-1335U has 10 cores and 12 threads, while the Intel Core i3-13100 has 4 cores and 8 threads.

Q: Why does the i3-13100 win Cinebench R23 multicore despite having fewer cores?

A: The i3-13100 has a 60W TDP compared to the i5-1335U's 15W, allowing it to sustain higher clocks under load. Its Cinebench R23 multicore score is 11986 versus 8889.5, a 25.8% advantage.

Q: Which processor is better for single-threaded performance?

A: The i3-13100 wins most single-threaded tests. It scores 3460 in PassMark single-thread versus 3336 for the i5-1335U, a 3.6% lead. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the gap is much smaller: 1692 versus 1684.5, just 0.4%.

Q: What is the biggest benchmark gap between the two processors?

A: The i5-1335U leads by 40% in Cinebench R15 single-core (238 vs 170), while the i3-13100 leads by 25.8% in Cinebench R23 multicore (11986 vs 8889.5).

Q: How do their overall benchmark averages compare?

A: The i5-1335U has an average benchmark score of 18982, placing it in the 73rd percentile. The i3-13100 averages 18380, placing it in the 72nd percentile.

Q: Which workloads favor the i5-1335U?

A: The i5-1335U wins in integer math (51244 vs 41313, 24% ahead), data encryption (10009 vs 8049, 24.4% ahead), floating-point math (35176 vs 32325, 8.8% ahead), and multithread (14281 vs 13726, 4% ahead).

Architecture Differences

Both processors share the same Raptor Lake architecture and 10 nm process node, but they belong to different sub-families. The i5-1335U is Raptor Lake-U, while the i3-13100 is Raptor Lake-S. This distinction is fundamental: the U-series targets mobile devices with efficiency in mind, while the S-series targets desktop systems where power constraints are less severe.

The core configurations reflect these different design goals. The i5-1335U packs 10 cores and 12 threads into a 15W envelope, which is only possible with aggressive power management and lower base clocks (1300 MHz). The i3-13100 uses 4 cores and 8 threads but runs at a 3400 MHz base clock and can boost to 4.50 GHz, all within a 60W budget.

Cache architecture is identical between the two: 80 KB L1 per core, 1.25 MB L2 per core, and 12 MB shared L3. This means the performance differences come down to core count, clock behavior, and power delivery rather than cache hierarchies.

The integrated graphics differ: the i5-1335U features Iris Xe Graphics 80EU, which is a more capable GPU solution, while the i3-13100 has UHD Graphics 730. The i5-1335U also has fewer PCIe lanes (Gen 4, 8 lanes) compared to the i3-13100's Gen 5, 16 lanes, which matters for desktop expansion options.

The foundry is Intel for both, and both are currently Active in production. They share the same release date of January 3, 2023, and neither has an unlocked multiplier. The i5-1335U's launch MSRP is $340, while the i3-13100's launch MSRP is $134, though the database notes no pricing analysis.

The fundamental architectural takeaway is that Raptor Lake scales across power envelopes, and the benchmark data shows how the same core design can be tuned for very different operating points. The i5-1335U maximizes thread count within a mobile power budget, while the i3-13100 focuses on raw clock speed and sustained performance in a desktop context. The results show that for sustained multi-core workloads, the desktop part's higher power budget wins out, but for parallel math and encryption tasks, the mobile chip's extra threads provide a real advantage.