Intel Core i3-9100HL vs Intel Core i5-3335S Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a remarkably consistent picture across all five shared Cinebench tests: the Intel Core i5-3335S wins every single head-to-head matchup, though by margins so small they border on statistical noise. The Core i3-9100HL never takes a single victory, with winsA at 0 and winsB at 5.

In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i5-3335S scores 314 against the i3-9100HL's 311, a delta of just 1%. That is a near dead heat. The R20 multi-core test shows the same pattern: 1310 for the i5-3335S versus 1299 for the i3-9100HL, a 0.8% gap. Single-core results are equally tight. The i5-3335S posts 184 in R20 single-core against the i3-9100HL's 183, only 0.5% ahead. In R23, the i5-3335S scores 3121 multi-core and 440 single-core, while the i3-9100HL records 3094 and 436 respectively, a 0.9% difference in both cases.

The average benchmark score tells a similar story. The i5-3335S sits at 1083, while the i3-9100HL lands at 1065. That is an 18-point gap, roughly 1.7%. The percentile rankings reinforce the closeness: the i5-3335S places in the 30th percentile of all CPUs, the i3-9100HL in the 29th. For practical purposes, these two processors deliver nearly identical raw compute throughput in the workloads measured.

The i3-9100HL's nearest rivals in the database include the Intel Xeon W3580 at an average score of 1064 (0.1% behind) and the Intel Core i5-2380P at 1063 (0.2% behind). The i5-3335S's closest competitors are the Intel Core i5-2320 at 1083 (0% delta) and the Intel Pentium Gold G6505T at 1082 (0.1% behind). Both CPUs are surrounded by other four-core parts from the same era, which is exactly what the benchmark data reflects.

Where Each One Wins

The i5-3335S wins every benchmark in the comparison set, but the margins are so narrow that the practical takeaway is not dominance, it is equivalence. The largest advantage for the i5-3335S is 1% in Cinebench R15 multi-core. The smallest is 0.5% in R20 single-core. None of these deltas would be perceptible in real-world use.

Where the i3-9100HL shows its strengths is not in the Cinebench suite but in the surrounding system context. It supports DDR4 memory with a measured bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s, whereas the i5-3335S uses DDR3 and has no recorded bandwidth figure in the database. The i3-9100HL also supports ECC memory, a feature absent from the i5-3335S. Those differences matter for specific use cases like error-sensitive workloads or building a system around newer memory technology.

The i5-3335S counters with higher clock speeds across the board. Its base clock is 2.70 GHz against 1.60 GHz for the i3-9100HL, and its boost clock reaches 3.20 GHz versus 2.90 GHz. Those clocks explain why the older Ivy Bridge part keeps pace with and slightly edges out the newer Coffee Lake chip in every test. The i5-3335S also has a Geekbench result in the database, scoring 1647 multi-core and 562 single-core, tests that the i3-9100HL does not have recorded.

For users who need a low-power embedded-style part, the i3-9100HL's 25 W TDP is a substantial advantage over the i5-3335S's 65 W TDP. That difference is more than a 2.5x reduction in rated thermal design power. The i3-9100HL is built for compact, thermally constrained systems. The i5-3335S is a conventional desktop part from 2012 with a much larger thermal envelope.

The Verdict

The data points to a simple conclusion: if raw Cinebench performance is the only criterion, the Intel Core i5-3335S wins every measured test, but the victory is purely symbolic. A 0.5% to 1% margin across five tests is not a meaningful performance advantage. The i5-3335S delivers 1083 average benchmark score versus 1065 for the i3-9100HL, and it holds the 30th percentile against the 29th percentile. Those are essentially identical positions in the overall CPU landscape.

The real decision hinges on platform features, not benchmark scores. The i3-9100HL is a 14 nm Coffee Lake part with DDR4 support, ECC memory capability, and a 25 W TDP. It fits BGA 1440 sockets and carries a launch MSRP of $225. The i5-3335S is a 22 nm Ivy Bridge part with DDR3 support, no ECC, and a 65 W TDP. It uses Socket 1155.

For a new build where power efficiency, modern memory, and error checking matter, the i3-9100HL is the logical choice despite losing every benchmark. For a drop-in upgrade into an existing LGA 1155 system, the i5-3335S offers the same performance with higher clocks and a longer track record. The benchmark results will not decide this matchup; the platform requirements will.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i5-3335S scores 1083 on average, while the Intel Core i3-9100HL scores 1065.

Q: How much faster is the i5-3335S in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The i5-3335S scores 3121 versus 3094 for the i3-9100HL, a 0.9% difference.

Q: Does the i3-9100HL support ECC memory?

A: Yes, the i3-9100HL has ECC memory support enabled. The i5-3335S does not support ECC.

Q: What memory types do these CPUs use?

A: The i3-9100HL supports DDR4 with a memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s. The i5-3335S supports DDR3, and no memory bandwidth figure is recorded for it in the database.

Q: What are the TDP ratings for each processor?

A: The i3-9100HL has a TDP of 25 W. The i5-3335S has a TDP of 65 W.

Q: Which CPU has a higher boost clock?

A: The i5-3335S boosts to 3.20 GHz, while the i3-9100HL boosts to 2.90 GHz.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural generations and manufacturing processes. The i3-9100HL uses the Coffee Lake architecture on a 14 nm process node, with a die size of 126 mm². The i5-3335S uses the Ivy Bridge architecture on a 22 nm process, with a die size of 160 mm² and 1,480 million transistors. Both are built by Intel, but the newer 14 nm process allows the i3-9100HL to fit more functionality into a smaller die.

The integrated graphics differ as well. The i3-9100HL pairs with UHD Graphics 630, while the i5-3335S includes Intel HD 4000. Neither GPU is a gaming powerhouse, but the newer UHD 630 supports more modern display and encode features.

Both CPUs share the same core and thread counts: 4 cores and 4 threads. Cache layouts are identical: 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 6 MB shared L3. The PCIe implementation is also the same, Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier.

The i3-9100HL belongs to the Core i3 generation labeled Coffee Lake Refresh and was released in 2019. The i5-3335S belongs to the Core i5 Ivy Bridge generation and was released in 2012. The production status for the i3-9100HL is end-of-life, while no production status is recorded for the i5-3335S.

Specification Differences

The specification table highlights where these two parts diverge. Clock speeds are the most obvious difference: the i5-3335S runs a 2.70 GHz base clock and 3.20 GHz boost, while the i3-9100HL sits at 1.60 GHz base and 2.90 GHz boost. Despite the lower clocks, the i3-9100HL nearly matches the i5-3335S in every benchmark, which speaks to the architectural efficiency gains of Coffee Lake over Ivy Bridge.

TDP differs dramatically: 25 W for the i3-9100HL versus 65 W for the i5-3335S. Socket compatibility is entirely different as well, Intel BGA 1440 for the i3-9100HL and Intel Socket 1155 for the i5-3335S. Memory support splits along generational lines: DDR4 for the i3-9100HL with 42.7 GB/s bandwidth, DDR3 for the i5-3335S with no recorded bandwidth. ECC memory is supported only on the i3-9100HL.

The i3-9100HL has a launch MSRP of $225. The i5-3335S has no launch MSRP recorded in the database. The i3-9100HL carries the part number SRFEK, while no part number is listed for the i5-3335S. The i3-9100HL was released on 2019-03-31, and the i5-3335S was released on 2012-10-31. The i3-9100HL is marked as end-of-life production status, while the i5-3335S has no production status recorded. Both CPUs have 4 cores, 4 threads, identical cache configurations, and the same PCIe Gen 3 x16 interface.