Intel Core i3-8109U vs Intel Pentium Silver N6005 Comparison

The Intel Core i3-8109U and Intel Pentium Silver N6005 occupy the same 34th percentile in the benchmark database, yet they achieve that position through radically different performance profiles. The i3-8109U is a dual-core Kaby Lake-R part with a 28 W TDP, while the N6005 is a quad-core Tremont-based Jasper Lake chip with a 10 W TDP. The head-to-head data shows a clear split: the Pentium Silver wins five of eight benchmarks, dominating all Cinebench tests, while the Core i3 wins three, taking both Geekbench tests and the Cinebench R15 single-core test. These are not interchangeable processors; each serves a distinct workload profile, and the benchmark results reveal precisely where each part excels.

The Verdict

The data presents a straightforward choice based on workload type. For sustained multi-threaded rendering workloads, the Intel Pentium Silver N6005 is the definitive winner. It outperforms the i3-8109U by 20.1% in Cinebench R15 multi-core (447 vs 357), by 20.3% in Cinebench R20 multi-core (1866 vs 1488), and by 20.3% in Cinebench R23 multi-core (4444 vs 3544). The N6005’s four physical cores provide a structural advantage that the i3’s two cores with Hyper-Threading cannot overcome, despite the i3’s higher base clock of 3.00 GHz versus the N6005’s 2000.00 MHz base.

However, the Intel Core i3-8109U is the clear choice for single-threaded legacy workloads and Geekbench-style system-level tests. The i3 wins the Cinebench R15 single-core test by a massive 120.1% (138.65 vs 63), and it dominates Geekbench, winning single-core by 110.6% (1188 vs 564) and multi-core by 67.1% (2454 vs 1469). The i3’s Kaby Lake architecture with its 3.60 GHz boost clock delivers far higher per-thread performance than the Tremont-based N6005, which peaks at 3.30 GHz.

For mixed-use scenarios, the benchmark averages tell a nuanced story. The i3-8109U has an average benchmark score of 1235, while the N6005 sits at 1218. The i3’s nearest rival is the Intel Pentium Gold G6600 with a deltaPct of 0, indicating identical average performance. The N6005’s nearest rival is the Intel Core i7-3632QM with a deltaPct of -0.1, making them statistically equivalent. Users who prioritize Cinebench rendering should choose the N6005, while those who need Geekbench performance or legacy single-threaded speed should select the i3-8109U.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Pentium Silver N6005 wins every multi-core Cinebench test in the head-to-head comparison. This includes Cinebench R15 multi-core (447 vs 357), Cinebench R20 multi-core (1866 vs 1488), and Cinebench R23 multi-core (4444 vs 3544). The N6005 also wins the Cinebench R20 single-core test (263 vs 210) and Cinebench R23 single-core (627 vs 500). This pattern indicates that the N6005’s Tremont architecture delivers superior performance in modern Cinebench versions, both in multi-threaded and single-threaded scenarios. The only Cinebench test the N6005 loses is R15 single-core, where the i3’s older architecture still holds a significant edge.

The Intel Core i3-8109U wins both Geekbench tests decisively. The Geekbench multi-core result shows the i3 at 2454 versus the N6005 at 1469, a 67.1% advantage. The Geekbench single-core result shows 1188 versus 564, a 110.6% advantage. The i3 also wins the Cinebench R15 single-core test at 138.65 versus 63. These wins suggest the i3’s Kaby Lake cores are significantly more efficient at executing the mixed integer and floating-point workloads that Geekbench measures, while the N6005’s higher core count cannot compensate for its weaker per-core execution in that specific test suite.

The win distribution is 5 for the N6005 and 3 for the i3-8109U. However, the magnitude of the i3’s wins is generally larger. The i3’s smallest winning margin is 67.1% in Geekbench multi-core, while the N6005’s largest winning margin is 20.3% in Cinebench R20 and R23 multi-core. For users running Cinebench as their primary benchmark, the N6005 is the clear winner. For users relying on Geekbench, the i3 is overwhelmingly superior.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different Intel design philosophies. The Intel Core i3-8109U uses the Kaby Lake architecture on a 14 nm process node, with a die size of 123 mm². It features 2 cores and 4 threads, with a base clock of 3.00 GHz and a boost clock of 3.60 GHz. Its cache hierarchy includes 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 cache per core, and 4 MB of shared L3 cache. The i3 supports DDR4 memory and features Iris Pro Plus integrated graphics. It uses the Intel BGA 1356 socket and has a TDP of 28 W.

The Intel Pentium Silver N6005 uses the Tremont architecture on a 10 nm process node, with a die size of 63.8 mm². This is a significantly smaller die, reflecting the more advanced process node. The N6005 has 4 cores and 4 threads, with a base clock of 2000.00 MHz and a boost clock of 3.30 GHz. Its cache configuration differs notably: it has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, but the L2 cache is 1.5 MB shared across all cores, and the L3 cache is 4 MB shared. The N6005 supports both DDR4 and LPDDR4 memory with a dual-channel memory bus and a memory bandwidth of 46.9 GB/s. It uses the Intel BGA 1338 socket and has a TDP of just 10 W.

The production status also differs. The i3-8109U is listed as Active, while the N6005 is End-of-life. The i3 has a release date of April 4, 2018, while the N6005 has no release date listed. The N6005 has a part number of SRKGU, while the i3 does not list one. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier, and neither supports ECC memory. The N6005 specifies PCIe Gen 3 with 8 lanes (CPU only), while the i3’s PCIe configuration is not listed. The N6005’s integrated graphics are UHD Graphics 32EU, while the i3 uses Iris Pro Plus.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The Intel Pentium Silver N6005 wins with a score of 4444 versus the Intel Core i3-8109U’s 3544, a 20.3% advantage.

Q: How large is the single-core Geekbench gap between the two?

A: The Intel Core i3-8109U scores 1188, which is 110.6% higher than the Intel Pentium Silver N6005’s score of 564.

Q: Do the two processors have the same number of cores?

A: No. The Intel Pentium Silver N6005 has 4 cores and 4 threads, while the Intel Core i3-8109U has 2 cores and 4 threads.

Q: Which processor has a smaller die size?

A: The Intel Pentium Silver N6005 has a die size of 63.8 mm², while the Intel Core i3-8109U has a die size of 123 mm².

Q: Are both processors still in production?

A: No. The Intel Core i3-8109U is listed as Active, while the Intel Pentium Silver N6005 is listed as End-of-life.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two chips?

A: The Intel Core i3-8109U has a TDP of 28 W, while the Intel Pentium Silver N6005 has a TDP of 10 W.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking result in the head-to-head data is the Cinebench R15 single-core test. The Intel Core i3-8109U scores 138.65, while the Intel Pentium Silver N6005 scores 63. This represents a 120.1% delta in favor of the i3. This is the largest single benchmark gap in the entire comparison, and it highlights the stark difference in per-thread execution between Kaby Lake and Tremont in this legacy test.

The Geekbench results follow a similar pattern but with different magnitudes. In Geekbench single-core, the i3 scores 1188 versus the N6005’s 564, a 110.6% advantage. In Geekbench multi-core, the i3 scores 2454 versus the N6005’s 1469, a 67.1% advantage. These are the i3’s three wins, and they are all by substantial margins. The i3’s average benchmark score of 1235 reflects these strong single-thread results, though its nearest rival list shows it is statistically tied with the Intel Pentium Gold G6600 at a deltaPct of 0.

The Intel Pentium Silver N6005’s wins are more consistent in magnitude. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the N6005 scores 447 versus the i3’s 357, a 20.1% delta. In Cinebench R20 multi-core, the N6005 scores 1866 versus 1488, a 20.3% delta. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the N6005 scores 4444 versus 3544, also a 20.3% delta. The N6005 also wins Cinebench R20 single-core (263 vs 210, a 20.2% delta) and Cinebench R23 single-core (627 vs 500, a 20.3% delta). The uniformity of these deltas—all hovering around 20%—suggests a consistent architectural performance advantage for the N6005 in all Cinebench versions except the legacy R15 single-core test.

The N6005’s average benchmark score of 1218 places it in a tie with the Intel Core i7-3632QM (deltaPct of -0.1) and the Intel Core i5-2500 (deltaPct of -0.2). This places the N6005 in the same performance class as those older desktop parts, despite its low 10 W TDP and mobile socket. The i3-8109U, with an average score of 1235, is similarly tied with the Pentium Gold G6600 (deltaPct of 0) and just ahead of the Xeon E3-1235L v5 (deltaPct of 0.2).

The data shows that the N6005’s five wins all come from Cinebench tests, while the i3’s three wins come from Geekbench and one legacy Cinebench test. This makes the choice straightforward: Cinebench users should select the N6005, while Geekbench users should select the i3-8109U. The 34th percentile ranking for both processors indicates they are mid-range performers in the overall database, but their specific benchmark profiles are nearly opposite.