Intel Core i3-8109U vs Intel Core i7-3632QM Comparison

The Intel Core i3-8109U and the Intel Core i7-3632QM are two very different mobile processors that happen to land in a similar performance bracket. The i3-8109U is a modern, dual-core Kaby Lake part designed for efficiency, while the i7-3632QM is an older, quad-core Ivy Bridge chip with a higher thermal ceiling. Benchmark data shows a genuine split: the newer i3 dominates single-threaded and Geekbench tests, while the older i7 takes command in multi-core Cinebench workloads. This head-to-head is a classic battle between newer architecture and more physical cores.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking result is in Cinebench R15 single-core, where the i3-8109U scores 138.65 against the i7-3632QM's 57. That is a 143.2% advantage for the i3, a massive generational leap in per-core performance. The same pattern appears in Geekbench single-core, with the i3-8109U scoring 1188 to the i7's 613, a 93.8% lead. For everyday responsiveness and lightly-threaded applications, the i3-8109U is clearly the stronger performer.

The story flips entirely in multi-core Cinebench tests. The i7-3632QM wins Cinebench R15 multi-core with 406 points versus the i3's 357, a 12.1% margin. That gap holds steady in Cinebench R20 multi-core (1693 vs 1488, again -12.1% for the i3) and Cinebench R23 multi-core (4033 vs 3544, also -12.1%). The i7's four physical cores and eight threads consistently outpace the i3's two cores and four threads in heavily parallel workloads.

Interestingly, the Cinebench R20 single-core result breaks the pattern slightly. Here, the i7-3632QM actually wins with 238 points versus the i3's 210, an 11.8% lead. This is an outlier compared to the other single-threaded tests, suggesting the i3's advantage is not absolute across all benchmark versions. In Geekbench multi-core, the i3-8109U takes a surprise victory with 2454 points against the i7's 2142, a 14.6% margin. This win flips the multi-core narrative, showing the i3's newer architecture can sometimes overcome the core-count deficit.

Overall, the i7-3632QM wins 5 of the 8 head-to-head tests, but the i3-8109U wins the two most lopsided ones. The average benchmark score is nearly identical: 1235 for the i3 and 1219 for the i7. Both processors sit at the 34th percentile of all CPUs, confirming that they are direct competitors despite their internal differences.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in single-threaded tasks?

A: The Intel Core i3-8109U is significantly faster. It leads by 143.2% in Cinebench R15 single-core and by 93.8% in Geekbench single-core. The only exception is Cinebench R20 single-core, where the i7-3632QM leads by 11.8%.

Q: Does the i7-3632QM's extra cores give it a clear multi-core advantage?

A: Yes, in Cinebench tests. The i7-3632QM wins multi-core R15, R20, and R23 by 12.1% each. However, the i3-8109U wins Geekbench multi-core by 14.6%, so the advantage is not universal across all benchmarks.

Q: How do these CPUs compare to common desktop processors?

A: The i3-8109U has an average benchmark score of 1235, matching the Intel Pentium Gold G6600 exactly (0% delta). The i7-3632QM scores 1219, which is 0.1% behind the Intel Core i5-2500. Both are in the same performance tier as older desktop chips.

Q: What is the difference in power consumption?

A: The i3-8109U has a TDP of 28 watts, while the i7-3632QM has a TDP of 35 watts. The i3 is more power-efficient, which is typical for a newer, smaller process node.

Q: Which chip has better integrated graphics?

A: The i3-8109U features Iris Pro Plus graphics, while the i7-3632QM has Intel HD 4000. The data does not include graphics benchmarks, but the naming suggests the i3's integrated solution is more capable.

Q: Are these CPUs still relevant for modern use?

A: Both have an average benchmark score around 1220-1235, placing them at the 34th percentile of all CPUs. They are entry-level performers today, with the i3-8109U better suited for daily single-threaded tasks and the i7-3632QM for multi-threaded workloads.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from completely different eras of Intel design. The i3-8109U uses the Kaby Lake architecture on a 14 nm process node, with a die size of 123 mm². The i7-3632QM uses the older Ivy Bridge architecture on a 22 nm process node, with a larger die size of 160 mm² and 1,480 million transistors. The smaller process node is a key reason the i3 achieves dramatically higher single-core performance per clock.

Cache configuration differs substantially. The i3-8109U has 4 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i7-3632QM has 6 MB of shared L3 cache. Both have the same per-core L1 (64 KB) and L2 (256 KB) cache sizes. The i7's larger L3 pool helps feed its four cores, but the i3's newer architecture makes better use of its smaller cache.

The integrated graphics also differ. The i3-8109U packs Iris Pro Plus, a premium integrated GPU, while the i7-3632QM has the older Intel HD 4000. This is a significant feature gap, as Iris Pro Plus is designed for much better graphical performance. The i3 also supports DDR4 memory, while the i7-3632QM supports dual-channel memory (type not specified in the data).

Release timing highlights the generational gap: the i3-8109U launched on 2018-04-04, while the i7-3632QM launched on 2012-10-18. That is roughly six years of architectural advancement separating the two. The i3 is still listed as Active production status, while the i7's status is not specified.

Specification Differences

The core count is the most obvious difference: the i3-8109U has 2 cores and 4 threads, while the i7-3632QM has 4 cores and 8 threads. This doubles the parallel processing capability of the i7.

Clock speeds tell the opposite story. The i3-8109U has a base clock of 3.00 GHz and a boost clock of 3.60 GHz. The i7-3632QM has a base clock of 2.20 GHz and a boost clock of 3.20 GHz. The i3 runs at higher clocks at all times, which explains its single-threaded dominance.

Power and socket are also different. The i3-8109U has a TDP of 28 watts and uses the Intel BGA 1356 socket. The i7-3632QM has a TDP of 35 watts and uses the Intel Socket G2 (988B). These are not interchangeable sockets. Memory support differs as well: the i3 specifies DDR4, while the i7 lists Dual-channel without a memory type.

The process node is another key spec difference: 14 nm for the i3 versus 22 nm for the i7. This directly impacts power efficiency and thermal output. The i3 also has a smaller die size (123 mm² vs 160 mm²), though the i7 lists its transistor count (1,480 million) while the i3's is not provided. Both have locked multipliers and do not support ECC memory.

The Verdict

The data paints a clear picture for different use cases. The Intel Core i3-8109U is the better choice for anyone prioritizing single-threaded performance and efficiency. It wins Geekbench single-core by 93.8% and Cinebench R15 single-core by 143.2%, while consuming 7 watts less power. Its Iris Pro Plus graphics and DDR4 support also make it a more modern platform.

The Intel Core i7-3632QM is the pick for multi-threaded workloads that can use all eight threads. It consistently beats the i3 by 12.1% in Cinebench multi-core tests and has 2 MB more L3 cache. However, its older architecture means it loses badly in single-threaded tests and Geekbench multi-core.

For a general-purpose laptop CPU, the i3-8109U is the practical recommendation. Its single-threaded performance will make everyday tasks feel snappier, and its lower TDP means better battery life and less heat. The i7-3632QM only makes sense if you have specific multi-threaded applications that scale well beyond four threads and you can tolerate higher power draw.

Where Each One Wins

Intel Core i3-8109U wins in:

• Single-threaded responsiveness: A 143.2% lead in Cinebench R15 single-core and 93.8% in Geekbench single-core makes it the clear choice for web browsing, office work, and light coding.
• Geekbench multi-core: Its 2454 score beats the i7's 2142 by 14.6%, showing that modern architecture can overcome a core deficit in some tests.
• Power efficiency: The 28W TDP versus 35W makes it better suited for thin-and-light laptops.
• Integrated graphics: The Iris Pro Plus GPU is a generation ahead of the Intel HD 4000.
• Modern memory support: Native DDR4 support is a generational upgrade over the i7's unspecified dual-channel memory.

Intel Core i7-3632QM wins in:

• Cinebench multi-core: Wins R15, R20, and R23 by 12.1% each, making it better for video rendering and 3D modeling that uses all cores.
• Raw thread count: 4 cores and 8 threads provide more parallel headroom than the i3's 2 cores and 4 threads.
• Cinebench R20 single-core: A surprise 11.8% win shows its peak clock can still compete in certain tests.
• L3 cache capacity: 6 MB of shared cache versus 4 MB benefits data-heavy workloads.
• Legacy software optimization: Older applications may be better tuned for the Ivy Bridge architecture's characteristics.