Intel Core i3-9100HL vs Intel Core i5-5287U Comparison

The Intel Core i3-9100HL is the clear performance winner in this comparison, taking all five head-to-head benchmark victories over the Intel Core i5-5287U. Despite the i5-5287U’s higher base clock and earlier release, the i3-9100HL’s newer architecture, additional physical cores, and larger cache deliver consistent double-digit leads across every tested workload. The i5-5287U does retain advantages in platform features like a higher TDP allowance and an older, but capable, integrated GPU, yet the benchmark data leaves no ambiguity about which processor is faster.

Where Each One Wins

The performance split is entirely one-sided. The Intel Core i3-9100HL wins every single benchmark recorded in the head-to-head comparison, making it the outright choice for any compute-heavy task. Its victories span both multi-threaded and single-threaded workloads, meaning it is not merely a multi-core specialist but also a stronger performer in lightly-threaded applications. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the i3-9100HL scores 3094 against the i5-5287U’s 2596, a gap that suggests noticeably faster rendering and content creation. The single-core results follow the same pattern, with the i3-9100HL posting 436 in Cinebench R23 single-core versus 366 for the i5-5287U.

The Intel Core i5-5287U, by contrast, has zero benchmark wins in this matchup. Its only advantages are qualitative: it supports DDR3 memory, features Intel Iris 6100 graphics, and has a 28 W TDP compared to the i3-9100HL’s 25 W. None of these translate into superior processing speed in the available data. The i5-5287U’s average benchmark score of 1072 is actually slightly higher than the i3-9100HL’s 1065, but this is an artifact of the different benchmark suites used for each CPU, not a sign of real-world superiority. When the two are tested on identical workloads, the i3-9100HL wins outright.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel generations and target different market segments. The i5-5287U is a Broadwell-U part, built on a 14 nm process with a die size of 133 mm² and 1,900 million transistors. It was released in early 2015 and is classified as a mobile processor. The i3-9100HL belongs to the Coffee Lake family, also on a 14 nm node, but with a smaller die at 126 mm² and no transistor count listed. It launched in 2019 and is classified as a desktop processor, despite using a BGA 1440 socket.

Core configuration is a major differentiator. The i5-5287U has 2 cores and 4 threads, while the i3-9100HL doubles the physical core count to 4 cores and 4 threads. This means the i3-9100HL does not rely on hyper-threading to fill its execution slots, whereas the i5-5287U uses simultaneous multi-threading to simulate four logical processors from two physical ones. The cache hierarchy reflects this: both have 64 KB of L1 and 256 KB of L2 per core, but the i3-9100HL has 6 MB of shared L3 cache, double the 3 MB found in the i5-5287U.

Memory support differs as well. The i5-5287U uses DDR3 with a dual-channel bus and a memory bandwidth of 29.9 GB/s. The i3-9100HL moves to DDR4, also dual-channel, but with a significantly higher memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s. ECC memory is supported on the i3-9100HL but not on the i5-5287U. PCIe connectivity also improves with the newer part: the i3-9100HL offers Gen 3 with 16 lanes, while the i5-5287U is limited to Gen 2 with 12 lanes. Integrated graphics differ, with the i5-5287U featuring Intel Iris 6100 and the i3-9100HL using UHD Graphics 630, though no graphics benchmarks are provided.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data is decisive. Across five Cinebench tests, the Intel Core i3-9100HL wins every time, with victory margins consistently around 16%. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i3-9100HL scores 311 versus the i5-5287U’s 261, a delta of -16.1% for the i5. The same percentage gap appears in Cinebench R20 multi-core, where the i3-9100HL hits 1299 and the i5-5287U manages 1090. The single-core tests show a slightly larger gap: Cinebench R20 single-core has the i3-9100HL at 183 and the i5-5287U at 153, a delta of -16.4%.

Cinebench R23 results mirror the earlier tests. In multi-core, the i3-9100HL scores 3094, beating the i5-5287U’s 2596 by 16.1%. Single-core performance in R23 also favors the i3-9100HL, with 436 points against 366, another 16.1% difference. These are not marginal wins; they represent a consistent and substantial performance advantage across every rendering workload tested. The i5-5287U’s higher base clock of 2.90 GHz and boost clock of 3.30 GHz do not compensate for the i3-9100HL’s four physical cores and larger cache. The i3-9100HL’s base clock is listed as 1600.00 MHz, but its boost clock reaches 2.90 GHz, which is enough to edge out the i5-5287U in single-threaded tests as well.

FAQ

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

A: The Intel Core i3-9100HL is faster in every multi-core benchmark. It scores 311 in Cinebench R15 multi-core versus 261 for the i5-5287U, and 3094 in Cinebench R23 multi-core versus 2596, a consistent 16.1% advantage.

Q: Does the Intel Core i5-5287U win any benchmark?

A: No. The head-to-head data shows zero wins for the i5-5287U across all five tests, while the i3-9100HL wins all five.

Q: How do they compare in single-core performance?

A: The i3-9100HL also wins single-core tests. It scores 183 in Cinebench R20 single-core versus 153 for the i5-5287U, and 436 in Cinebench R23 single-core versus 366, a roughly 16% lead.

Q: What are the core and thread counts for each?

A: The i5-5287U has 2 cores and 4 threads. The i3-9100HL has 4 cores and 4 threads, meaning it has twice as many physical cores but no hyper-threading.

Q: Which CPU supports ECC memory?

A: Only the Intel Core i3-9100HL supports ECC memory. The i5-5287U does not list ECC support.

Q: What are the integrated graphics options?

A: The i5-5287U includes Intel Iris 6100 graphics, while the i3-9100HL uses UHD Graphics 630. No graphics performance benchmarks are provided.

The Verdict

The data directs a clear verdict: the Intel Core i3-9100HL is the superior processor for essentially all computing tasks covered by the benchmarks. It wins every head-to-head test, with a uniform 16% performance margin in both multi-core and single-core Cinebench workloads. This is not a case where one chip excels at one type of task while the other excels elsewhere; the i3-9100HL dominates across the board. Anyone choosing between these two for a build should select the i3-9100HL if raw processing power is the priority.

The i5-5287U does have some redeeming qualities, but they are not performance-related. It offers a higher TDP of 28 W, which may indicate a different thermal design envelope, and its Intel Iris 6100 graphics could be more capable than the UHD Graphics 630 in the i3-9100HL, though no benchmark data confirms this. The i5-5287U also carries a higher launch MSRP of $315 compared to the i3-9100HL’s $225, yet it delivers less performance in every tested metric. Its only clear advantages are the older DDR3 memory support and the mobile market segment designation, which may matter for specific embedded or laptop applications.

For a desktop or any application where compute performance is paramount, the i3-9100HL is the obvious pick. Its four physical cores, 6 MB of L3 cache, DDR4 memory support, and Gen 3 PCIe lanes provide a more modern and capable platform. The i5-5287U might still be relevant in legacy systems or power-constrained mobile designs, but the benchmark results leave no doubt that the i3-9100HL is the faster chip.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i5-5287U | Intel Core i3-9100HL |

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

| Cores | 2 | 4 |

| Threads | 4 | 4 |

| Base Clock | 2.90 GHz | 1600.00 MHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.30 GHz | 2.90 GHz |

| TDP | 28 W | 25 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1168 | Intel BGA 1440 |

| Architecture | Broadwell | Coffee Lake |

| Process Node | 14 nm | 14 nm |

| Die Size | 133 mm² | 126 mm² |

| Transistors | 1,900 million | Not listed |

| L3 Cache | 3 MB (shared) | 6 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR3 | DDR4 |

| Memory Bandwidth | 29.9 GB/s | 42.7 GB/s |

| ECC Memory | No | Yes |

| PCIe | Gen 2, 12 Lanes | Gen 3, 16 Lanes |

| Integrated Graphics | Intel Iris 6100 | UHD Graphics 630 |

| Market Segment | Mobile | Desktop |

| Launch MSRP | $315 | $225 |

| Release Date | 2015-02-28 | 2019-03-31 |