Intel Core i3-1115G4E

Intel’s Core i3-1115G4E is a dual-core Tiger Lake-U mobile processor that targets a specific niche: compact, power-conscious systems that still need modern platform features. Its benchmark profile reveals a stark split between lightly-threaded agility and heavily-threaded mediocrity, a pairing that defines where it fits and where it falls short.

Single-Thread vs Multi-Thread Behavior

The Core i3-1115G4E shows a pronounced bias toward single-thread performance over multi-thread throughput, a direct consequence of its 2-core/4-thread design with a 2.20 GHz base and 3.90 GHz boost clock. In Cinebench R23, the single-core score of 642 versus a multi-core score of 4547 yields a ratio of roughly 7.1:1, meaning the chip is far more efficient at executing one demanding task than splitting work across its limited physical resources. This pattern repeats across all tested benches: Geekbench shows 1702 single-core versus 2972 multi-core, a 1.75x spread, while Cinebench R20 posts 269 single versus 1909 multi, a 7.1x gap.

The implication for real workloads is clear. Applications that are latency-sensitive and lightly threaded—such as web browsing, office document editing, spreadsheet calculations, and basic coding scripts—will feel responsive, as the high boost clock compensates for the low core count. Conversely, any workload that scales across threads, such as video encoding, 3D rendering, or batch photo processing, will hit a hard wall. The multi-core scores are low in absolute terms: Cinebench R15 multi-core at 458 and R20 at 1909 place the chip well below desktop quad-cores from the same era, indicating that sustained parallel throughput is not this processor’s purpose. The data suggests a design philosophy of “fast on one thing at a time” rather than “fast on everything at once,” which is typical for low-power mobile parts meant for intermittent, interactive use rather than continuous heavy lifting.

Platform and Compatibility

The i3-1115G4E sits on the Intel BGA 1449 socket, making it a soldered, non-upgradeable part. Its Tiger Lake-U architecture, built on Intel’s 10 nm process with a 144 mm² die, is paired with a 6 MB shared L3 cache, plus 80 KB L1 and 1.25 MB L2 per core. Memory support includes DDR4 and LPDDR4X in a dual-channel configuration, though no memory bandwidth figures are provided; this is a standard mobile memory controller without ECC capability, so error-correcting RAM is off the table.

PCIe support is limited to Gen 4 with only 4 CPU lanes, which is a notable constraint. For a mobile chip, four PCIe Gen 4 lanes are sufficient for a single discrete GPU or a fast NVMe SSD, but they preclude multi-GPU setups or extensive expansion. The integrated UHD Graphics G4 with 48 execution units provides basic display output and light graphics acceleration, but it is not a gaming-oriented iGPU. The platform’s upgrade path is effectively zero—since the CPU is BGA-soldered, the motherboard and processor are a single unit, meaning any future performance improvement requires a full system replacement. The release date of September 2020 places it in the early Tiger Lake wave, and its production status remains active, but the socket and form factor are firmly tied to OEM designs like thin-and-light laptops, mini PCs, and embedded systems. The lack of an unlocked multiplier further confirms its role as a fixed, efficiency-tuned part rather than an enthusiast overclocking chip.

Benchmark Performance

Benchmark results position the i3-1115G4E at the 40th percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 1570. Its nearest rivals, per the data, are a mix of older server and desktop parts: the AMD Opteron 6282 SE (1569, 0% delta), Intel Xeon E5-2608L v3 (1576, -0.4%), Intel Core i5-6600T (1561, +0.6%), and Intel Core i5-4690S (1560, +0.6%). These deltas are all sub-1%, meaning the i3-1115G4E performs essentially at parity with these chips on aggregate, despite being a significantly newer and lower-power design.

Breaking down the individual tests reveals where that parity comes from. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the 4547 score is competitive with a desktop i5-6600T, which is a 4-core/4-thread Skylake part; however, the i3’s single-core R23 score of 642 is substantially better than what a 3.3 GHz i5-6600T would typically achieve, highlighting the Tiger Lake IPC advantage. The Geekbench single-core score of 1702 is strong for a 15W part, eclipsing many older desktop quad-cores, while the multi-core score of 2972 lags behind those same chips due to halved core/thread counts. In Cinebench R15, the single-core score of 64 is low in absolute terms (likely a driver or thermal quirk in the test environment), but the multi-core score of 458 aligns with expectations for a dual-core with Hyper-Threading.

The critical interpretation is that the i3-1115G4E does not outrun its rivals by any meaningful margin; it matches them on average while using far less power. The 0% delta versus the Opteron 6282 SE, a 16-core server monster from 2012, is particularly telling—it shows that raw core count is irrelevant when per-core performance and clock speed are low. Versus the Xeon E5-2608L v3, it loses by 0.4%, a negligible difference that would be imperceptible in real use. The data does not support any claim of superiority; it simply confirms that this chip is a competent mid-pack performer, not a standout.

Who Should Consider It

Given its benchmark profile, the i3-1115G4E suits a narrow set of buyers. For office and productivity tasks—word processing, spreadsheets, email, and web-based applications—the single-core scores (1702 Geekbench, 642 R23) are more than adequate, and the low power draw makes it ideal for fanless or passively cooled ultraportables. It will handle these workloads with snappy responsiveness, as most office software is single-thread or lightly threaded.

For gaming, the integrated UHD Graphics G4 with 48 EUs is a limiting factor. The CPU’s single-thread strength can push frame rates in esports titles at low settings, but the lack of multi-core headroom will cause stutters in modern games that utilize four or more threads. The 4 PCIe Gen 4 lanes do allow for a discrete GPU in a larger chassis, but the dual-core CPU will bottleneck any mid-range or high-end graphics card, making this a poor choice for gaming-centric builds.

For content creation, the multi-core scores are disqualifying. Cinebench R23 multi-core at 4547 and Geekbench multi-core at 2972 are well below what video editing, 3D rendering, or heavy photo batch processing require; those tasks will see multi-minute render times and sluggish timeline scrubbing. The chip is better suited for light photo editing in single-image workflows, where the high boost clock helps, but any parallel export or render will expose the core limitation. The 40th percentile ranking reinforces this: half of all CPUs are faster, and most of those are better suited to creation workloads. The i3-1115G4E is, therefore, a machine for browsing, typing, and light media consumption—not for pushing heavy workloads.

Power and Thermals

The i3-1115G4E carries a 15W TDP, placing it in the ultra-low-power class of mobile processors. This TDP figure is the key to its thermal behavior: it is designed to operate in thin, fanless, or small-form-factor systems where cooling is minimal. A 15W part can be cooled by a small heatsink or a low-profile heat pipe, without the need for active fans in many chassis designs. This makes it suitable for rugged tablets, industrial embedded PCs, and compact laptops where space and acoustic noise are at a premium.

The implication for cooling is that users should expect a capable air cooler—typically a passive solution or a low-speed fan—to be sufficient. The 10 nm process helps keep heat density low, and the dual-core design means only two physical cores are generating heat under load. In sustained multi-threaded workloads, the boost clock of 3.90 GHz will likely drop to maintain the 15W envelope, as the Cinebench R15 multi-core score of 458 suggests thermal throttling or power limiting under extended stress. For bursty single-threaded tasks, the boost clock is more easily sustained, but the chip’s thermal design is clearly biased toward short bursts of activity rather than long, sustained loads. The absence of an unlocked multiplier reinforces that this is a fixed-power part; users cannot push it beyond its designed envelope without violating the platform’s thermal assumptions. In practice, the 15W TDP means any system builder can design around a small, quiet cooler, and battery life in laptops will benefit from the low sustained draw, but sustained heavy performance will be capped by the power limit.