Intel Core i3-390M

The Intel Core i3-390M is a mobile processor from the Arrandale generation, built on Intel's 32 nm process with 382 million transistors on an 81 mm² die. It features 2 physical cores and 4 threads via Hyper-Threading, with a base clock of 2.67 GHz and no boost clock. The chip sits in the 5th percentile of all CPUs in the database, indicating it is positioned at the very low end of modern performance expectations. Its average benchmark score across all tests is 406, placing it in direct competition with a narrow cluster of older mobile and desktop parts, all within a 0.3% performance delta of each other.

Single-Thread vs Multi-Thread Behavior

The benchmark data reveals a pronounced imbalance between single-thread and multi-thread performance. In Cinebench R23, the chip scores 155 points in single-core and 1098 points in multi-core, yielding a multi-to-single ratio of roughly 7.1x. This ratio is unusually high for a 2-core/4-thread processor, but it reflects the fact that the single-core score is extraordinarily low by modern standards. The single-core score of 155 in Cinebench R23 places it far below even entry-level desktop parts from the same era, indicating that any workload relying on a single thread will struggle severely.

In Geekbench, the split is less dramatic but still telling: 332 points single-core versus 624 points multi-core, a ratio of 1.88x. This closer ratio suggests that the multi-core advantage is largely derived from the two additional threads, but the absolute numbers are low in both cases. For real workloads, this means the processor can handle lightly threaded tasks like basic word processing or web browsing, but any application that depends on high per-core throughput — such as spreadsheet calculations with complex formulas or modern web rendering — will exhibit noticeable lag. Conversely, the multi-threaded scores, while still low, show that the chip can extract some benefit from parallel workloads like video encoding or batch photo processing, though the absolute performance will be far below contemporary processors.

The data indicates that the i3-390M behaves as a strictly dual-core part with modest thread scaling. The lack of a boost clock means it cannot dynamically increase frequency under light loads, so single-thread performance is fixed at the 2.67 GHz base. This is a critical limitation, as rival processors in the same benchmark cluster — such as the Intel Core i3-2350M — also lack boost clocks, but the i3-390M's older Westmere architecture puts it at a per-clock disadvantage in single-thread tests.

Power and Thermals

The i3-390M carries a TDP of 35 watts, which classifies it as a standard-power mobile processor for its generation. This TDP level implies a cooling solution of modest capability — a thin-and-light laptop chassis with a small heatpipe and fan can handle it, but it is not suitable for fanless designs. The 35 W TDP is notably higher than ultra-low-voltage parts from the same era, which typically sat in the 17 W range, but it is lower than the 45 W TDPs of quad-core mobile processors. For a 2-core part, 35 W is relatively high, suggesting that the Arrandale architecture was not particularly power-efficient by later standards.

The thermal implications are straightforward: any system using this chip requires active cooling. The 32 nm process node helps keep heat density manageable, but the integrated graphics — described as a chipset feature on certain motherboards — adds to the thermal load when active. In practice, sustained multi-threaded workloads will push the chip toward its thermal limits, and the absence of a boost clock means there is no thermal headroom to exploit for temporary performance gains. The data does not include any thermal throttling metrics, but the 35 W TDP and the process node suggest that a standard laptop cooler is sufficient, provided the chassis has adequate airflow.

Benchmark Performance

The benchmark results place the i3-390M in a tightly contested cluster of rivals, with all four nearest competitors within a 0.3% performance delta. The Intel Core i3-3227U matches the i3-390M exactly with an average score of 406 and a deltaPct of 0%. This is notable because the i3-3227U is a newer Ivy Bridge part, yet the older Arrandale chip holds its own in average score. The Intel Celeron G555 is 0.1% ahead at 405 points, while the Intel Core i3-2350M is 0.2% behind at 407 points, and the Intel Core i5-450M is 0.3% behind at 407 points.

In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i3-390M scores 110 points, which is a very low absolute figure. The Cinebench R20 multi-core score of 461 is more than four times higher, but this is due to the different scaling of the test versions rather than any actual performance difference. The Geekbench multi-core score of 624 is consistent with the Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 1098, suggesting that the chip's multi-threaded performance is roughly comparable across different benchmark suites. The single-core Geekbench score of 332 is significantly lower than the single-core Cinebench R23 score of 155, but these are different metrics and cannot be directly compared.

The key takeaway from the rival comparisons is that the i3-390M is not an outlier in either direction. It sits squarely in the middle of a group of processors that all deliver essentially identical average scores. The 0% delta with the i3-3227U is particularly telling: despite being a generation older, the i3-390M matches the newer part's average performance. However, the percentile ranking of 5% means that 95% of all CPUs in the database outperform it, which underscores its status as a strictly entry-level part. The Celeron G555 being 0.1% ahead is a minor but real result, showing that a desktop Celeron can match a mobile Core i3 in aggregate benchmarks.

Who Should Consider It

Given the benchmark data, the i3-390M is only suitable for the most basic computing tasks. For office workloads — word processing, email, spreadsheets with simple formulas — the single-core score of 155 in Cinebench R23 is sufficient for basic responsiveness, but any complex document with embedded images or large data sets will cause noticeable delays. The multi-core score of 1098 in Cinebench R23 suggests that parallel tasks like PDF rendering or batch file conversion are possible, but they will be slow compared to any modern processor.

For gaming, this chip is not viable by modern standards. The integrated graphics is only available as a chipset feature on certain motherboards, and the CPU's low single-core performance will bottleneck even light 2D games. The Geekbench single-core score of 332 is far below the threshold needed for smooth frame rates in any 3D title. The chip's market segment is explicitly "Mobile," which means it was designed for laptops, not desktops, and its performance profile reflects that constraint.

For content creation, the multi-threaded scores are too low for serious work. Video encoding with tools that scale well across threads might be possible — the Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 1098 is about 7x the single-core score, indicating good thread scaling — but the absolute time to complete any export will be measured in hours for even short clips. Photo editing in raw formats will be sluggish, and any filter that relies on single-thread performance will be nearly unusable. The only realistic use case is as a basic web browsing and document machine for a user with very low performance requirements, or as a legacy system running older software that does not demand much CPU power.

Platform and Compatibility

The i3-390M uses the Intel Socket G1, which is a mobile-specific socket. This limits its compatibility to laptop motherboards designed for Arrandale processors. The architecture is Westmere, codenamed Arrandale, which is a 32 nm die-shrink of the earlier Nehalem architecture. The chip supports DDR3 memory, but the fact pack does not specify the memory bus width or bandwidth, so the exact memory performance cannot be quantified. ECC memory is not supported, which rules out any workstation or server applications.

PCIe support is Gen 2, which is a generation behind modern standards but was current at the time of release. The integrated graphics is described as "On certain motherboards (Chipset feature)," meaning that the GPU is not integrated into the CPU die itself but rather into the chipset. This is a significant platform detail: not all Socket G1 motherboards will provide graphics output, so a discrete GPU may be required for display. The production status is "End-of-life," and the release date is January 8, 2011, which means the platform is entirely obsolete.

The upgrade path is essentially nonexistent. The Socket G1 supports only Arrandale and Clarkdale parts, and the i3-390M is already near the top of that range. The i5-450M, which is 0.3% behind in average score, is the closest rival on the same socket, but upgrading to it would yield no measurable benefit. The lack of a boost clock and the fixed 2.67 GHz frequency mean that there is no headroom for overclocking, as the multiplier is locked. For anyone considering this platform, the data shows that the i3-390M is the performance ceiling for its socket, and any upgrade would require a complete motherboard and memory replacement.

FAQ

Q: How does the Intel Core i3-390M compare to the Intel Core i3-3227U?

A: The two processors have identical average benchmark scores of 406, with a deltaPct of 0%. Despite the i3-3227U being from a newer generation, the i3-390M matches it exactly in aggregate performance.

Q: What is the single-core performance of the i3-390M?

A: The chip scores 155 points in Cinebench R23 single-core and 332 points in Geekbench single-core. These are very low figures, placing the processor in the 5th percentile of all CPUs.

Q: Does the i3-390M support ECC memory?

A: No. The fact pack explicitly lists ECC memory support as false, so the chip cannot be used in systems requiring error-correcting memory.

Q: What is the TDP of the i3-390M and what cooling does it require?

A: The TDP is 35 watts, which implies a standard mobile cooler with active fan cooling. It is not suitable for fanless designs or ultra-thin laptops.

Q: Is the integrated graphics built into the CPU?

A: No. The integrated graphics is described as a chipset feature available on certain motherboards, meaning not all Socket G1 boards will provide video output without a discrete GPU.

Q: What is the upgrade path from the i3-390M?

A: The Socket G1 platform is end-of-life, and the nearest rival on the same socket, the Intel Core i5-450M, is 0.3% behind in average score. Upgrading within the socket offers no meaningful performance gain, so a full platform change is required.