Intel Core i3-6100 vs Intel Core i5-5350U Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data reveals a surprisingly close contest between these two processors, despite their different market positions. The Intel Core i3-6100 takes the majority of wins, claiming 5 out of 7 head-to-head benchmarks, but the margins are consistently narrow. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the i3-6100 scores 224 against 221 for the i5-5350U, a difference of just 1.3%. That pattern repeats across the Cinebench suite: R20 multicore shows 934 versus 923 (1.2% advantage), R20 singlecore shows 131 versus 130 (0.8%), R23 multicore shows 2226 versus 2198 (1.3%), and R23 singlecore shows 314 versus 310 (1.3%). These are essentially rounding-level differences, indicating that in sustained rendering workloads, neither chip has a meaningful edge.

The picture changes dramatically in Geekbench, where the i5-5350U turns the tables. In Geekbench multicore, the i5 scores 1671 against 1605 for the i3-6100, a 4.1% lead. The single-core gap is even more pronounced: 868 versus 785, which translates to a 10.6% advantage for the i5-5350U. This is a notable reversal, suggesting that the i5's architecture handles the Geekbench workload more efficiently despite its lower clock speed. The i5-5350U has a base clock of 1800 MHz with a 2.90 GHz boost, while the i3-6100 runs at a fixed 3.70 GHz with no boost capability. Yet in Geekbench, the slower-clocked chip wins by double digits, which points to architectural efficiency differences rather than raw clock dominance.

Looking at the aggregate picture, the i5-5350U holds an average benchmark score of 903 across all tests, while the i3-6100 sits at 888. The i5's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-940 at an identical 903 (0% delta) and the AMD A10-7860K at 904 (-0.1%). The i3-6100's closest competitor is the Intel Xeon X5550 at 888 (0% delta), with the Intel Pentium G4560T at 887 (0.1% higher). Both chips land at the 24th percentile among all CPUs, meaning they occupy essentially the same performance tier in the database's overall rankings. The average scores differ by only 15 points, or roughly 1.7%, which is well within the noise of typical benchmark variation.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins more benchmarks head-to-head?

A: The Intel Core i3-6100 wins 5 of the 7 head-to-head benchmarks, including all five Cinebench tests. The Intel Core i5-5350U wins the remaining two, both Geekbench tests.

Q: How large is the performance gap in the Cinebench tests?

A: The i3-6100 leads by margins between 0.8% and 1.3% across Cinebench R15, R20, and R23, covering both single-core and multi-core variants. These are very small differences, unlikely to be perceptible in real-world use.

Q: Why does the i5-5350U win Geekbench by such a large margin?

A: The i5-5350U leads by 4.1% in Geekbench multicore and 10.6% in Geekbench singlecore. This occurs despite the i3-6100 having a higher fixed clock speed, suggesting the i5's Broadwell architecture handles Geekbench's workload more efficiently.

Q: What is the overall performance ranking of these two CPUs?

A: Both processors sit at the 24th percentile among all CPUs in the database. The i5-5350U has an average benchmark score of 903, while the i3-6100 averages 888, a difference of about 1.7%.

Q: Are these processors comparable in their nearest rival performance?

A: Yes. The i5-5350U's closest rival is the Intel Core i7-940 at an identical 903 average score. The i3-6100's closest rival is the Intel Xeon X5550 at 888. Both chips are bracketed by rivals within a 0.2% delta on either side.

Q: Does the i3-6100 have a boost clock?

A: No. The i3-6100 has a fixed base clock of 3.70 GHz with no boost capability. The i5-5350U has a base clock of 1.80 GHz and boosts up to 2.90 GHz.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel generations and target different market segments. The i5-5350U is a Broadwell-U part, built on a 14 nm process with 1,900 million transistors on a 133 mm² die. It is designed for mobile use, fitting the Intel BGA 1168 socket with a 15 W TDP. The i3-6100 is a Skylake desktop processor, also on 14 nm but with 1,400 million transistors on a larger 150 mm² die. It uses the Intel Socket 1151 and draws 51 W, more than three times the power of the mobile chip.

Cache configurations differ as well. Both have 64 KB of L1 and 256 KB of L2 per core, but the shared L3 cache is 3 MB on the i5-5350U versus 4 MB on the i3-6100. That extra megabyte of L3 could help the i3 in workloads with larger working sets, though the benchmark data does not show a consistent advantage.

Memory support is another clear split. The i5-5350U supports DDR3 memory in a dual-channel configuration with 29.9 GB/s of bandwidth. The i3-6100 supports DDR4, also dual-channel, but with 34.1 GB/s of bandwidth. Neither chip supports ECC memory. PCIe connectivity also differs: the i5-5350U offers Gen 2 with 12 lanes, while the i3-6100 provides Gen 3 with 16 lanes. This makes the i3 more suitable for discrete graphics and faster storage, while the i5 is more limited in expansion capability.

Integrated graphics differ as well. The i5-5350U carries Intel HD 6000, while the i3-6100 has Intel HD 530. Both are integrated solutions, but the i5's mobile-oriented GPU is designed for lower power consumption, whereas the i3's desktop GPU can rely on the higher 51 W power budget.

Production status and release timing also separate the two. The i5-5350U is end-of-life, released in February 2015 with a launch MSRP of $315. The i3-6100 remains active in production, released in August 2015. The i5 uses part number SR268, while the i3 uses SR2HG. Neither chip has an unlocked multiplier, so overclocking is not supported on either platform.

The Verdict

The data paints a clear picture for different use cases. If the workload is heavily weighted toward Cinebench-style rendering, the i3-6100 holds a narrow but consistent edge, winning all five Cinebench tests by 0.8% to 1.3%. That margin is small enough that most users would not notice a difference, but it is there in the recorded measurements. If the workload involves Geekbench-style single-threaded or multi-threaded tasks, the i5-5350U is the better choice, with a 4.1% multicore lead and a substantial 10.6% single-core advantage.

The i5-5350U is the pick for mobile or low-power systems. Its 15 W TDP makes it suitable for thin-and-light laptops, and its higher average benchmark score (903 versus 888) indicates slightly better overall performance in the database's mixed workload. It also carries the advantage of a boost clock, reaching 2.90 GHz when thermal headroom allows, which likely explains its Geekbench dominance.

The i3-6100 is the desktop choice. Its 51 W TDP and Socket 1151 platform provide room for more robust cooling and expansion, and its Gen 3 PCIe with 16 lanes enables faster peripherals. The 4 MB L3 cache and DDR4 memory support give it a modern platform advantage, even if the raw benchmark scores are nearly identical. For users building a desktop system with discrete graphics and faster storage, the i3-6100 is the more sensible option.

Neither chip is a clear winner in absolute terms. The 24th percentile ranking for both confirms they occupy the same performance tier, and the nearest rival data shows they are bracketed by similarly performing CPUs. The i5-5350U edges ahead on average score, but the i3-6100 wins the majority of individual tests. The choice ultimately comes down to platform: mobile with the i5, desktop with the i3.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i5-5350U | Intel Core i3-6100 |

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

| Base Clock | 1.80 GHz | 3.70 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 2.90 GHz | None |

| TDP | 15 W | 51 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1168 | Intel Socket 1151 |

| Architecture | Broadwell | Skylake |

| Codename | Broadwell-U | Skylake |

| Generation | Core i5 (Broadwell-U) | Core i3 (Skylake) |

| Transistors | 1,900 million | 1,400 million |

| Die Size | 133 mm² | 150 mm² |

| L3 Cache | 3 MB (shared) | 4 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR3 | DDR4 |

| Memory Bandwidth | 29.9 GB/s | 34.1 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 2, 12 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 3, 16 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | Intel HD 6000 | Intel HD 530 |

| Market Segment | Mobile | Desktop |

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

| Release Date | February 2015 | August 2015 |

| Launch MSRP | $315 | Not available |

| Part Number | SR268 | SR2HG |

Both chips share the same 14 nm process node, dual-core/four-thread configuration, 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per core, dual-channel memory bus, lack of ECC support, and locked multipliers. The i5-5350U has a higher transistor count but a smaller die, while the i3-6100 has fewer transistors on a larger die. The i3-6100 offers a higher base clock, more L3 cache, faster memory bandwidth, and newer PCIe generation, while the i5-5350U provides a boost clock, lower power draw, and a higher average benchmark score.