Intel Core i3-9100HL vs Intel Core i5-2380P Comparison

# Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data paints a remarkably close picture between these two processors. Across five Cinebench tests, the Intel Core i3-9100HL edges out the Intel Core i5-2380P in every single run, but the margins are razor-thin. The largest gap appears in Cinebench R20 multi-core, where the i3-9100HL scores 1299 against the i5-2380P's 1297, a delta of just 0.2%. Every other multi-core test shows even smaller differences: Cinebench R15 multi-core is a dead tie at 311 for both chips, and Cinebench R23 multi-core shows the i3-9100HL ahead by only 0.1% (3094 vs 3090).

Single-core performance is essentially identical. Both processors score 183 in Cinebench R20 single-core and 436 in Cinebench R23 single-core, with the deltaPct recorded as 0% in both cases. The i3-9100HL technically claims all five benchmark wins, but four of those five are statistical ties. The only meaningful edge, if you can call 0.2% meaningful, is the multi-core R20 result.

Looking at the broader context, both CPUs sit at the 29th percentile among all processors in the database. Their average benchmark scores are nearly indistinguishable: 1065 for the i3-9100HL and 1063 for the i5-2380P. The nearest rivals list confirms this grouping — both chips trade places with the Intel Xeon W3580 (avg score 1064) and Intel Core i5-4570TE (avg score 1062) within a 0.4% band. The AMD Opteron 4376 HE (avg score 1061) sits just below. In practical terms, benchmark results indicate these two CPUs are performance twins, with the i3-9100HL holding a nominal lead that no real-world workload would likely expose.

# Architecture Differences

The underlying architectures could hardly be more different despite the similar performance. The i3-9100HL is built on Coffee Lake, the 14nm process node from Intel, with a die size of 126 mm². The i5-2380P uses the older Sandy Bridge architecture on a 32nm node, with a substantially larger 216 mm² die and 1,160 million transistors. That process shrink is significant — the newer 14nm part packs similar performance into roughly 58% of the silicon area.

Both processors feature 4 cores and 4 threads, with identical cache hierarchies: 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 6 MB shared L3. The similarities end there. The i3-9100HL clocks at 1.60 GHz base and 2.90 GHz boost, while the i5-2380P runs at 3.10 GHz base and 3.40 GHz boost. The older chip's clocks are substantially higher — over 1.5 GHz faster at base — yet the newer chip matches it in benchmarks, which speaks to the IPC improvements in Coffee Lake.

Memory support diverges completely. The i3-9100HL uses DDR4 with dual-channel configuration and a listed memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s, plus ECC support. The i5-2380P uses DDR3, also dual-channel, but no bandwidth figure is listed and ECC is not supported. The i3-9100HL also includes integrated UHD Graphics 630, while the i5-2380P has no integrated graphics at all — it requires a discrete GPU.

Socket and platform requirements differ as well. The i3-9100HL is a BGA 1440 part, meaning it's soldered to the board, while the i5-2380P uses Socket 1155 and is socketed. Both are locked multipliers, so overclocking is not on the table for either. PCIe support is identical: Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU. The i3-9100HL has a launch MSRP of $225 and is marked end-of-life; the i5-2380P has no MSRP listed and its production status is not given. Release dates are nearly seven years apart — the i5-2380P launched in January 2012, the i3-9100HL in March 2019.

# Where Each One Wins

Given the benchmark parity, "wins" here are about platform fit rather than performance superiority. The i3-9100HL's advantages are practical and modern. Its 25W TDP is dramatically lower than the i5-2380P's 95W — a 70W difference that makes the i3-9100HL suitable for compact, low-power builds where thermals and cooling noise matter. The integrated UHD Graphics 630 means basic display output without a discrete card, and DDR4 with ECC support appeals to users who want error-checked memory in a small system. The BGA 1440 socket implies a board-level integration that suits embedded or mini-PC applications.

The i5-2380P's wins are about existing infrastructure and raw clock speed. If you already own a Socket 1155 board with DDR3 memory, the i5-2380P drops in without a platform change. Its higher base and boost clocks (3.10 GHz and 3.40 GHz versus 1.60 GHz and 2.90 GHz) mean it may feel snappier in lightly threaded tasks that don't scale with newer architecture efficiencies, even if Cinebench single-core scores say otherwise. It also runs on a conventional socketed platform, allowing easier CPU replacement or upgrade paths compared to a soldered BGA part.

For new builds, the i3-9100HL makes more sense from a power and feature perspective. For upgrading an older Sandy Bridge system, the i5-2380P is the practical choice. Neither chip wins on raw compute — benchmark results show they're effectively interchangeable in performance, so the decision hinges entirely on your platform and power requirements.

# FAQ

Q: Which CPU is faster in multi-core workloads?

A: The i3-9100HL leads in multi-core benchmarks, but by negligible margins. It scores 1299 vs 1297 in Cinebench R20 multi-core (0.2% delta), 311 vs 311 in R15, and 3094 vs 3090 in R23 (0.1% delta). These differences are within run-to-run variance.

Q: Do the single-core scores differ?

A: No. Both CPUs score 183 in Cinebench R20 single-core and 436 in Cinebench R23 single-core. The deltaPct is 0% for both tests, meaning single-threaded performance is identical despite the i5-2380P's higher clock speeds.

Q: Which processor has better integrated graphics?

A: Only the i3-9100HL has integrated graphics — the Intel UHD Graphics 630. The i5-2380P has no integrated graphics at all, so it requires a discrete GPU for any display output.

Q: Can I use ECC memory with either CPU?

A: The i3-9100HL supports ECC memory. The i5-2380P does not support ECC. Both use dual-channel memory, but the i3-9100HL is DDR4 while the i5-2380P is DDR3.

Q: How do these CPUs compare to other similar processors?

A: Both sit at the 29th percentile among all CPUs. Their average scores (1065 for i3-9100HL, 1063 for i5-2380P) are within 0.2% of each other. The nearest rivals include the Intel Xeon W3580 (1064), Intel Core i5-4570TE (1062), and AMD Opteron 4376 HE (1061).

Q: Are these CPUs overclockable?

A: No. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier. The i3-9100HL and i5-2380P both have locked multipliers, so overclocking is not supported on either.

# Specification Differences

| Specification | i3-9100HL | i5-2380P |

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

| Base Clock | 1.60 GHz | 3.10 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 2.90 GHz | 3.40 GHz |

| TDP | 25W | 95W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1440 | Intel Socket 1155 |

| Architecture | Coffee Lake | Sandy Bridge |

| Process Node | 14 nm | 32 nm |

| Transistors | Not listed | 1,160 million |

| Die Size | 126 mm² | 216 mm² |

| Memory Support | DDR4 | DDR3 |

| Memory Bandwidth | 42.7 GB/s | Not listed |

| ECC Memory | Yes | No |

| Integrated Graphics | UHD Graphics 630 | None |

| Release Date | March 2019 | January 2012 |

| Launch MSRP | $225 | Not listed |

| Part Number | SRFEK | SR0G2 |

# The Verdict

The data shows two CPUs that perform identically in benchmarks but serve completely different platform roles. If you're building new and want low power consumption, the i3-9100HL's 25W TDP versus the i5-2380P's 95W is a decisive factor — it enables smaller coolers, lower electricity use, and less heat output. The integrated UHD Graphics 630 eliminates the need for a discrete GPU in basic systems, and DDR4 support with ECC is a modern feature set. The soldered BGA 1440 socket means you're committing to the board, but for a compact or embedded build, that's acceptable.

If you're upgrading an existing Socket 1155 system with DDR3 memory, the i5-2380P is the logical drop-in replacement. Its higher clocks (3.10 GHz base, 3.40 GHz boost) might offer better responsiveness in older software that doesn't benefit from architectural improvements, even if Cinebench shows parity. The lack of integrated graphics is a caveat, but you likely already have a GPU in such a system. The 95W TDP is high by modern standards, but for a desktop with adequate cooling, it's manageable.

The verdict: pick the i3-9100HL for new, power-efficient builds; pick the i5-2380P for socketed upgrades on existing platforms. Neither wins on performance — 0.2% deltas and identical single-core scores mean the benchmark data cannot separate them. Choose based on the motherboard you have or the one you want to buy.